(Photo credit: Kara Gingras. www.kgingrasphotography.com)
WHY PICTURE BOOKS:
When I was a kid I always loved to draw and make things. Years later, I went to Mass Art in Boston to study animation. I saw myself working in film because I loved characters and stories. What I realized is that it takes a million years to make an animated film. Well, not a million but it does take a long time and I wanted a slightly faster end result.
Soon after I graduated I did a freelance picture book project and that was my “ah-ha!” moment to get into the #kidlit world. It was everything I loved combined into paper form.
When I was a kid I always loved to draw and make things. Years later, I went to Mass Art in Boston to study animation. I saw myself working in film because I loved characters and stories. What I realized is that it takes a million years to make an animated film. Well, not a million but it does take a long time and I wanted a slightly faster end result.
Soon after I graduated I did a freelance picture book project and that was my “ah-ha!” moment to get into the #kidlit world. It was everything I loved combined into paper form.
HOW I WORK:
I make all these texture swatches by hand with paint and crayon and scan them into my computer. Then I digitally cut out the shapes I need and play with getting the colors to my liking. After that I just layer them together to make something.
I make all these texture swatches by hand with paint and crayon and scan them into my computer. Then I digitally cut out the shapes I need and play with getting the colors to my liking. After that I just layer them together to make something.
Behold! A crab made from that blob of paint.
WRITING:
For me, writing picture books is a way to make the art I want to make and create the characters living in my brain (there are a lot of them!). The clearer the personality of the character, the easier it is for me to put them into a story and think of a plot. I like to play with a couple stories at once because I find that when I get stuck on one, I can tinker with the other. Sometimes that helps open roadblocks when I go back. Sometimes it doesn't. Writing is freakin' hard.
I think I've always liked to write. I've kept journals my entire life and I still have all of them. In fact, here is a riveting journal entry from when I was 10. Get excited.
“Wednesday July 15 1998, TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! I am so excited because today is the big day and I can’t wait to see what I got for presents. It’s about 10:00 am and I having my party at 12:30 am so I have to wait a couple hours but that’s ok. I realy tern 10 on July 29 but I am selibrating it on the 15 of July. I only have two friends coming to the pool party but only 1 can sleep over.”
As you can see I loved being positive, I loved details, and I loved being honest (nothing has changed!). But seriously, journals are the best. They just listen to whatever you write and never judge or tell you how many words you misspelled. They are the safest place to write for the love of writing.
SMALLER ME:
I was a funky little thing. I loved Little Mermaid and Zorro and Power Rangers and orca whales.
I was tomboy-ish but also extremely sensitive. I think I cried at least every day in elementary school. One time in second grade, I cried for accidentally getting my pencil stuck in the pencil sharpener. I didn’t want ANYONE to think negatively of me. I still have that issue now, although I’m trying hard to care less. I make sure to be kind and let the rest go, pencil sharpeners and all.
I also loved backpacks and putting things in them. I have this distinct memory of putting a clunky, tan colored rotary phone in my TROLL backpack and riding into the sunset with it on my back. Or just to the stop sign at the end of my block. But I liked to think I was going somewhere important.
I was a funky little thing. I loved Little Mermaid and Zorro and Power Rangers and orca whales.
I was tomboy-ish but also extremely sensitive. I think I cried at least every day in elementary school. One time in second grade, I cried for accidentally getting my pencil stuck in the pencil sharpener. I didn’t want ANYONE to think negatively of me. I still have that issue now, although I’m trying hard to care less. I make sure to be kind and let the rest go, pencil sharpeners and all.
I also loved backpacks and putting things in them. I have this distinct memory of putting a clunky, tan colored rotary phone in my TROLL backpack and riding into the sunset with it on my back. Or just to the stop sign at the end of my block. But I liked to think I was going somewhere important.
RANDOM FACTS JUST BECAUSE:
*I love yoga. It keeps me calm and cool and "not so attached" to my work.
*I used to be an elementary, middle school, high school, and adult art teacher. It was the best. But making books was always my little heart's calling. I heard you LOUD AND CLEAR, Little Heart!
*One time I worked as a hostess at a restaurant and sat Steven Spielberg and George Lucas together at a table. I like to think the way I gracefully handed out the menus inspired their next film.
*My favorite food is potato chips. Any kind. Any flavor. I love them. The end.
*My husband is not related to Robert Frost. Although he does write nice birthday cards.
*My full name is Madison. I was named after the mermaid Daryl Hannah plays in the movie Splash. Woooo 80's!
*In my next life I know I will be a marine biologist (must be the mermaid thing).
*In this life, I live with my husband and dog outside of Boston, MA.