Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Brush & Paint - Inside The Creative Process

by 
Megan Frances, Guest Blogger

One afternoon in grade 3, I stood at an easel in the back of class, and painted a classic childlike image: a large yellow sun with wavy rays smiling down on a garden. When the painting was finished, I added a title, "The Curly Headed Sun."

My teacher was impressed. She thought I'd illustrated a story. I was so delighted to be noticed, I didn't tell her that the story only existed in my imagination. As a child, I was already seeking recognition for developing the connection between picture and story - the same thing I'm doing today as a writer and artist.

Except now, it's much harder. For a kid, the creative process is a spontaneous act. When you grow up, it becomes laborious, complex - even agonizing - and involves two or more parts. Part 1, the concept, could materialize out of nowhere, an immaculate conception. Like those magical mornings when I wake up with a new story idea or concept for a painting perched on the edge of my mind waiting to vault onto the page.

Usually, the concept is easy. I have plenty of ideas backlogged in various notebooks scattered all over the place. The struggle is part 2 - whether it's writing or painting - developing the concept and putting it on paper.

Here's an example of how one concept made it past part 1 to become a finished painting. For the SCBWI-LA Illustrator's Day contest last spring, the challenge was to illustrate the phrase: "It was night and the rain fell; and falling, it was rain, but, having fallen it was..."

First, I thought about it for a while. What would make my piece stand out? I decided to frame my entire painting inside a single raindrop. Next, I needed to develop the composition. Here's where story comes in: First, I envisioned the scene - an urban street. Then, the character - a mouse - setting sail down the flooded gutter. What would a mouse find on a street to use as a sailboat? How about a discarded take-out container and a paper cocktail umbrella? Other elements were a sidewalk, an approaching figure, and a manhole cover. I did a lot of research on manhole covers and discovered they are often elaborate and decorative.

Here's one of my rough sketches:


Here's the finished piece:


After I submitted the illustration, I realized I'd forgotten to give my mouse whiskers. How negligent of me to release the poor little creature out into the world defenseless! I didn't win the contest, but it was one more piece for my portfolio. This year, I'm focusing on writing first, painting second. Now, back to my WIP - a YA novel - no mice involved.

To see more from my portfolio of children's illustrations, go to MeganFrances.com - for more ponderings on kid lit, please visit my blog, On Beyond Words & Pictures.

Pen & Ink Management would like to thank Megan Frances for writing our 1st Guest Blog. Our resident Mexican says, "Megan's a writer, illustrator, journalist... Jeepers! Is there anything she can't do? She's an avid fan of Pen & Ink which shows her good taste in blogs."

26 comments:

  1. I wish I could draw.
    Sincerely,
    Etch-A-Sketch

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  2. Oh, how I wish I could draw! But I appreciate beautiful artwork, and Megan's work is amazing.

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  3. I love reading about your process developing an illustration, and seeing it too! Do you still have any of your childhood sketches? Bravo, Pen and Ink for hosting another use (illustration!) of pen and ink!

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  4. We wanted to post Megan's art in 3D, but we would have to send 3D glasses to all our readers.
    Sincerely,
    20/40

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  5. He's a young mouse. Those are the ones who love to sail in the gutters. That's why he doesn't have whiskers.
    Thanks so much Megan for a look at your process. I love your pictures. I am going to be interested in reading your YA.

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  6. This is beautiful and so interesting. Whiskers or not, he's gorgeous!

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  7. Thank you Julie, Diane, Susan and Nancy for your kind, thoughtful comments. And many thanks to the generous management of Pen and Ink for inviting me to share your wonderful forum. You're right, I am an avid fan!

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  8. That mouse is so cute!! I hope he ends up in a book. The kids I read to at the library would LOVE him!! :)

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  9. Megan, have you given any thought to writing a story about this mouse who rides around town in a take-out carton? I think there is a wonderful mouse adventure just waiting to be written for this little guy.

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  10. I struggle with "part 2" also. I am searching for a way to reverse the transition from childhood exuberance to adult doubt. Thanks for sharing your process and beautiful art!

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  11. Megan, I so agree with Leeraelynne, as soon as I looked at your mouse I felt he simply inviting his story to be exposed.

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  12. Thank you, Kathy, Lee Rae and Joanna! I love the idea of developing my mouse painting into a story! And good luck with the quest for childhood exuberance, Laurie. I always enjoy talking with you about writing.

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  13. Your artwork is beautiful and you should have won that contest.

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  14. Delightful and insightful as ever, Megan. Thank you, and thank you also, Pen and Ink!!

    Laurie--beautifully put: "from childhood exuberance to adult doubt." Fight, fight, fight! (Or don't fight?? Instead, rewind, and remember that creativity is natural??) !!!

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  15. Rita, we at Pen & Ink don't like to brag, but you are welcome.
    Sincerely,
    The Management

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  16. Megan, what a wonderful report on your thinking process! It is very inspiring!
    Pen & Ink thanks for the post.

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  17. Megan, maybe his first adventure would be to find out where he left his whiskers. I also see him on some Popsicle water skis at some point, narrowly missing the baby alligator who escaped from the local pet store. I need to lie down.

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  18. Thank you Michael, Rita and Terry. So glad you liked it.

    Lee Rae, I love the way you think. We should collaborate one of these days! Have a good nap.

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  19. Megan, are you serious, or are you just trying to make me feel better about my unexpected nap?

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  20. It's nice to see the creative process from an illustrator's point of view.

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  21. Yes, I'm serious, Lee Rae. Your ideas are fantastic. It would be fun. And I just got up from a nap myself.

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  22. Thank you Janet Ann. The tricky thing for me is I write too. I need to nap less.

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  23. Megan.
    Lee Rae.
    If you kids collaborate and publish, Pen & Ink reserves the right to brag "It Happened Here, Folks!"
    Sincerely,
    The Management

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  24. Okay, guys. We'll have to negotiate a contract.

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  25. Thinking of your story... "The Sun with the Curly Hair" would be a winner!!! xo Suzy

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  26. Beautiful picture. Very sweet and so creative. I love this insight into your illustrating process, Megan!

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