Featured Illustrator Rebecca Howe

MEET REBECCA

This questionnaire goes back to a popular parlor game in the early 1900s. Marcel Proust filled it out twice. Some of our questions were altered from the original to gain more insight into the hearts and minds of our illustrators. We hope you enjoy this way of getting to know everybody.

1. Your present state of mind?

Tired, excited, hopeful

2. What do you do best?

Believe in impossible things.

3. Where would you like to live?

A warm place near water with nice people.

4. Your favorite color?

I can’t choose just one. Colors make me feel different things.

5. Three of your own illustrations:

6. Your music?

I’ve been going back to India Arie, Tracy Chapman, May Erlewine, Leon Bridges and Passenger a lot lately when I’m working or trying to be chill. We have a lot of family karaoke and dance parties that involve Beyoncé, Sia, Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor and musical soundtracks like The Greatest Showman and Small Foot and many more. Also, I really want to try to figure out how to play Love by Cynthia Hopkins on piano. (Please email me if you figure this out!!)

7. Your biggest achievement?

Learning to forgive and accept myself and others.

8. Your biggest mistake?

Judging people.

9. Your favorite children's book when you were a child?

I mostly watched tv as a kid, but when my 5th grade teacher read The BFG (and many other books) to us, a seed was planted. I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as a senior in high school and eventually convinced my English teacher (who hated my constant interruptions and challenges to her classics) to teach them.

10. Your main character trait?

Uh...  I’m not sure I have one.

11. What do you appreciate most in a friend?

Resonance.

12. What mistakes are you most willing to forgive?

Those made for the sake of learning and helping.

13. Your favorite children's book hero?

Olivia, Matilda, Penpen and Tilly from The Canning Season, Mia Tang from Front Desk, Snap from Snapdragon

14. What moves you forward?

Dreams and purpose

15. What holds you back?

Illness.

16. Your dream of happiness?

Physical and emotional ease, however that manifests.

17. The painter/illustrator you admire most?

I can’t pick just one! I love so many illustrators and artists so let me tell you about some of the ones I admire most and have the pleasure of calling friends: Vanessa Brantley Newton, Kirbi Fagan, Amy O’Hanlon, Heidi Woodward Sheffield, Jenn K. Mann, Elizabeth Stanton.

18. What super power would you like to have?

As a kid I spent a lot of time imagining I could fly and had suction cups on my fingers and toes. As an adult I wish I had the power to understand meaning and insight the first time I try or experience things.

19. Your motto?

Choosing just one of anything feels limiting. I love the Poetry and writings of Maya Angelou, Nayyirah Waheed, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and others.

20. Your social media?

Instagram: @rebeccarhowe

Twitter: @rebeccahowe

www.RebeccaRHowe.com

Featured Illustrator Makiko Orser

MEET MAKIKO

This questionnaire goes back to a popular parlor game in the early 1900s. Marcel Proust filled it out twice. Some of our questions were altered from the original to gain more insight into the hearts and minds of our illustrators. We hope you enjoy this way of getting to know everybody.

1. Your present state of mind?

Motivated.

2. What do you do best?

Not sure. I’m a more rounded type. My daughters say “cooking!” :) 

3. Where would you like to live?

Sausalito or New York

4. Your favorite color?

Yellow

5. Three of your own illustrations:

6. Your music?

ColdPlay, Music from musicals, Studio Gibuli movie sound tracks, JPOP.

7. Your biggest achievement?

My kids.

8. Your biggest mistake?

Not focusing on one thing.

9. Your favorite children's book when you were a child?

This is a Japanese one called “Shirokuma-chan no hot-cak

10. Your main character trait?

Loyal, perseverance

11. What do you appreciate most in a friend?

Kindness, Trustworthiness with some humor. 

12. What mistakes are you most willing to forgive?

Mistakes from trying

13. Your favorite children's book hero?

Hazel from Watershipdown 

14. What moves you forward?

Be a good role model for my daughters

15. What holds you back?

My ancient brain trying to put break on unknown situations.

16. Your dream of happiness?

Learning and creating each day with some time for tennis and travels.

17. The painter/illustrator you admire most?

Pretty much anyone who works as an artist. 

My favorite one, though, might be Dr. Seuss. 

18. What super power would you like to have? 

Read/learn things super fast and remember everything you read/learn. 

19. Your motto?

Be good.

20. Your social media?

website: www.simplymakiko.com

instagram: @kiki68

twitter: @makiko222

Youtube: @PaperLuv

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPtwiLKdrC2l8fXrDR-5gw?view_as=subscriber

Featured Illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw

MEET RUTH (and Charlie)

This questionnaire goes back to a popular parlor game in the early 1900s. Marcel Proust filled it out twice. Some of our questions were altered from the original to gain more insight into the hearts and minds of our illustrators. We hope you enjoy this way of getting to know everybody.

1. Your present state of mind?

Happy.

After 10 years of constant life-changing stress, things are calm, and so am I.

2. What do you do best?

Draw. And write concisely (given enough time to edit).

3. Where would you like to live?

Right where I live now. (Michigan, this house, these bookshelves, these neighbors, these lakes.)

4. Your favorite color?

Blue-green.

5. Three of your own illustrations:

6. Your music?

Detroit Motown. Also Disney hits. And 70s road trip. And intense concentration music. And soft jazz. And Christmas songs in any style. And folk songs. And some country. And whatever I can play on my harmonica.

7. Your biggest achievement?

My family.

My four kids, ages 36, 33, 30, and 22, are good people and close friends with each other. To me, that’s the pinnacle of success.

8. Your biggest mistake?

Lack of confidence. 

Young friends: build it up and preserve it for when you need it.

9. Your favorite children's book when you were a child?

Age 4: Blueberries for Sal.

Age 5: Sugarplum.

Age 6: Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

Age 7: The 5 Chinese Brothers

Age 8: The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

Age 9: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Age 10: Ellen Tebbits.

Age 11: The Little Colonel.

Age 12: Emily San.

10. Your main character trait?

Finding the bright in the dark/creative problem-solving.

11. What do you appreciate most in a friend?

Kindness.

12. What mistakes are you most willing to forgive?

Breaking things.

13. Your favorite children's book hero?

Teachers and librarians.

14. What moves you forward?

Deadlines.

15. What holds you back?

Indecision.

16. Your dream of happiness?

Pay all the bills on time without worries and start a free writing camp for kids.

17. The painter/illustrator you admire most?

The children I observe in schools. Such fearlessness and openness!

18. What super power would you like to have? 

Absolute confidence.

19. Your motto?

You can’t always get what you want. 

(I sing it, like the Rolling Stones do.)

20. Your social media?

twitter: @ruthexpress

Instagram & Facebook: Ruth McNally Barshaw