- What's this illustration for?
This
illustration is for a book called Mbobo Tree, written by Glenda Millard and
published by Scholastic.
It is about a
tree that gives life to its village and a little girl who is found swinging from
its branches in a sling made from mattress ticking.
Tiranamba, as
she is called never speaks a word until one day the tree is threatened, she
finds her voice and her bravery saves the village.
This
illustration shows Tiranamba dancing with the villagers who were not troubled by
her silence, but believed she would speak when she had something important to
say.
- Do you have to wait for a flash of inspiration - how do you start?
I start a book
by finding a quiet space and reading the text, taking note of the immediate
images that spring to mind. They are usually the best
ones.
- How did you get your start as an illustrator?
My first illustration
job was making handmade cards for a local gallery when I was in high school.
While I was at art school, I illustrated a series of cards for a commercial card
company and worked for a publisher in Queensland.
- Who or what has influenced your work?
I have enjoyed reading
fabulous children's books like Alice in Wonderland, the
Magic Faraway Tree and all the A.A. Milne stories and admired great artists like
Daumier, Mucha and Rockwell.
Listening to
great music, reading image-making stories and just being out amongst it all
influences my work.
- What's your favourite media for creating pictures?
I mainly use
water colour.
- Do you experience illustrator's block - if so, what do you do about it?
Sometimes an
idea isn't ready to come straight away, so I move on to another part of the
project where ideas have already formed.
- What's the worst thing about being a freelancer?
The
unpredictability of the workload.
- And the best?
Drawing and
painting for a living.
- Where can we see more of your work?
On
my website: www.anniewhite.com
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