7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #611: Featuring
Up-and-Coming Illustrator April Zufelt
November 4th, 2018 by jules
Welcome to the first Sunday of the month, which here at 7-Imp means the art of an illustration student or one newly-graduated. Today, I welcome April Zufelt, who has previously studied with (and I believe still studies with) illustrator Marla Frazee.
Let’s get right to it. I thank April for visiting and sharing some artwork today.
April: I am an illustrator based in Los Angeles. I’ve always been an artist who loves to draw stories.
Picture books are my favorite form of storytelling. In the same way you watch your favorite movie many times, picture books are meant to be read AND enjoyed again and again. I think of picture books as mini movies. You have the visual narrative of the illustrations, combined with the performance (read-aloud) of the text. It becomes a little piece of theatre. I love that there is the structure of 32 pages, but you have the creative freedom to play with the 32-page format to tell a specific story.
My favorite type of story to tell is funny with heart. There’s nothing better than making someone laugh. Most of my stories have been inspired by real life situations — for example, a weird dinner party, sibling rivalry, a polar bear’s hygiene habits. I carry a tiny notebook with me at all times, because I never know when inspiration will hit.
My go-to mediums are a combination of ink and watercolor or digital. I love the messy, loose quality that can be achieved by both. I do enjoy exploring different mediums to find the perfect one that helps best tell the story I’m working on. I’ve used cut paper, doll furniture, amd clay. That’s the fun part of picture book illustrations: the possibilities are endless, and you can really get creative!
All images reproduced by permission of April Zufelt.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
My kicks this week, one to seven, are that I VOTED EARLY! And please tell me you’re going to vote, too? I have all fingers crossed that on Tuesday we can turn this country in a different direction.
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Oh thank you for the morning smile with April’s illustrations. I the humor and joy. Much needed in today’s world.
Jules, we’ll be voting today. Fingers and toes crossed.
My kicks:
1. Fall leaves.
2. Planning.
3. Decluttering.
4. Napping.
5. Learning.
6. Creating.
7. Reading.
Have a great week.
Good morning, Imps! Happy November! VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Good morning, April! I too love stories that are funny with heart. The fox and the deer are particularly adorable.
Jone: That’s a good list.
My kicks from the past week:
1) Lots of laughter
2) Treats
3) Truth
4) Catching up with folks
5) Bonding with new folks
6) Dressing up
7) Collaboration appreciation
Beautiful illustrations April! You’re an incredibly talented artist. I love them all.
Amazing job April! These illustrations are beautiful and really capture the joy in the characters. I can’t wait to see more from this artist! Your books will be flying off the shelves! Keep up the incredible work.
Funny with heart is my kind of story. Thanks for sharing your artwork April! My favorites are the grinning shark surrounded by smaller fish, the hippopotamus throwing a dinner party, and the polar bear.
Jules – Hooray for early voting!
Jone – I love your list, particularly decluttering, planning, napping and reading.
LW – your kick number 1 is simply the best. Lots of laughter is always wonderful. Did you dress up for Halloween parties or for acting gigs or both? (I imagine you with a superhero cape on under your clothes, like SuperGirl, given how much you are always doing!)
Hi Gina!
My quick kicks:
1) Finally watched Halloweentown, very fun, and gosh Debbie Reynolds was one of a kind.
2) I voted early too, Oregon makes it super easy!
3) Halloween books sent to great-nephews were a big hit.
4) Planning trips for next year with friends and family.
5) Promising new opportunities.
6) Daisy being her usual silly self, pitching fits and rolling around the floor to get attention.
7) Baking cookies for a work-related meeting – went home with an empty cookie container – success!
7.5) Slow and easy Sunday morning with coffee, music, and Daisy.
9) Feeling hopeful. Change is in the air.
Happy November everyone!
Jone, sounds like a very relaxing week after lots of fun travel. Napping for the win.
Little Willow, did you have a particularly inspiring Halloween costume?
Hi, Gina!
Rachel, I feel hopeful, too, but that also reminds me of this SNL skit I saw last night, which made me laugh out loud: https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/midterm-ad/3824032. I’m feeling a little bit like that these days. … Your fourth and fifth kicks are especially exciting. Which cookies did you bake?
Have a good week, you all!
j.
April, you have such a great imagination. Definitely talented!!
April, you are so incredibly talented! These pictures bring so much life to the characters you’re portraying! I can’t wait to share the stories with my grandchildren.
Rachel: Laughter is fantastic. It’s a remedy, it’s restorative, it’s freeing, it’s an acknowledgment, it’s a connection, it’s music. Thank you for picturing me as Supergirl. 🙂 I dressed up simply because it was Halloween. Hi Daisy!
Jules: I did. I’ll send you a message about it. 🙂
April, you are incredibly talented! I love your art work!o