{"id":1279,"date":"2008-05-14T00:01:35","date_gmt":"2008-05-14T06:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1279"},"modified":"2008-05-14T06:54:21","modified_gmt":"2008-05-14T12:54:21","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-julie-paschkis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1279","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Julie Paschkis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"JulieJules<\/strong>: Eisha, Julie Paschkis<\/strong><\/a> is visiting for breakfast this morning! I’m thrilled she’s here, especially since it was a real delight to read her interview responses. <\/p>\n

I remember during Blogging for a Cure<\/strong><\/a> last year when David Elzey at the one-and-only the excelsior file<\/strong><\/a><\/em> featured Paschkis’ beautiful 2008 snowflake<\/strong><\/a> and did this great, little write-up<\/a><\/strong> about her work as an illustrator. I think he summed up the appeal of her art work well when he wrote:<\/p>\n

“. . . there is something in her illustrations that draws me to them. It’s a strange magnetism, a quiet attraction not unlike the way a whisper can pull you closer and cause you to pay more attention over the din that surrounds it . . .”<\/em><\/p>\n

And, in talking about her illustrations for Julie Larios’ Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary<\/strong><\/em><\/a> (Harcourt, 2006), he described her art work as having “a warm glow from within.” I love that. He nailed it. <\/p>\n

And, hey, he also talked about her Boston Globe\u2013Horn Book Award<\/strong><\/a> acceptance speech for Yellow Elephant<\/em> and how she shared a detail of one of her paintings with the audience — in lieu of a long speech. Nice. And you were there, weren’t you?<\/p>\n

\"Covereisha<\/strong>: I was indeed<\/strong><\/a>, and it saddens me to no end that I didn’t know David yet. We could have hung out. But yeah, she did unroll a big poster-size print of a painting she’d done when she’d gotten the news that she’d won the BGHB Honor, and it was just as lovely as you’d expect. He’s right — her work just glows. I adore her use of color — those bright, intricate, swirly figures and flowers really pop against the black backgrounds she often favors. He’s also right in that her images can tell a story all on their own — it’s amazing how much detail she can pour into a single illustration.<\/p>\n

Also, I remember she had on some very cool tights. Lacy, I think. Possibly purple.<\/p>\n

Jules<\/strong>: Well, let’s get right to it, shall we? I know we’re both so honored she stopped by for a cyber-breakfast. And what is Julie’s breakfast of choice? “I have oolong tea — fragrant and floral. About an hour later, I have a huge bowl of homemade granola with yogurt and whatever fruit is in season. I am addicted to Straus Family Farms<\/a><\/strong> plain yogurt. It is so good I wrote them a fan letter.”<\/font> <\/p>\n

\"Julie's<\/p>\n

While we’re setting the table, let’s get the basics from Julie: <\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Illustrator.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

{Ed. Note: <\/em>Julie attached her books-to-date to her interview responses and told me — Jules, that is — to feel free to edit. OF COURSE I’m going to list all of them at the bottom of this interview, since we here at 7-Imp believe that seeing Julie’s art work will improve your quality of life. So, see below for Julie’s bibliography.}<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What is your usual medium, or -\u2013 if you use a variety -\u2013 your preferred one?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Gouache on paper.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: If you have illustrated for various age ranges (such as, both picture books and early reader books OR, say, picture books and chapter books), can you briefly discuss the differences, if any, in illustrating for one age group to another?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I tend to use smaller brushes and put in more details for older readers.<\/p>\n

\"They've
\n

The Paschkis\/Emminger household at Easter<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband, Joe Max Emminger<\/a><\/strong>, who is a painter. We have a cat (Clementine) and dog (Lily).<\/p>\n

\"Joe
\n\"Clementine\"\"Lily\"<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Can you briefly tell us about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I took a class from Keith Baker<\/a><\/strong> in 1991 on how to illustrate children\u2019s books. At the end of the class, I went to New York with my portfolio and dummies -\u2013 one of which became So Sleepy\/Wide Awake<\/strong><\/a><\/em> {1993}, published by Henry Holt. I quit my teaching job, and I\u2019ve been painting and illustrating full time since then. <\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Can you please point us to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: www.juliepaschkis.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: If you do school visits, can you tell us what they\u2019re like?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I am a studio rat. I want to spend all my time painting, so I say no to most school visits, speaking opportunities, etc. This probably hurts my career and helps my life. <\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: Any new titles\/projects you might be working on now that you can tell us about?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I am working on a picture book about the architect Antoni Gaudi<\/strong><\/a>, written by Rachel Rodriguez<\/strong><\/a> (who also wrote Through Georgia\u2019s Eyes<\/strong><\/a><\/em>). <\/p>\n

* * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

\"Mmm.Okay, the table’s set, and we’re ready to sit down and talk more specifics over coffee with Julie (we’ll adjust and make it Six Questions Over Breakfast, since she opted out of the ask-herself-a-question question!) — and Pivot her, of course. Here’s our coffee, but…mmm. Julie’s fragrant, floral tea sounds tempting.<\/font> <\/p>\n

1.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: What exactly is your process when you are illustrating a book? You can start wherever you\u2019d like when answering: getting initial ideas, starting to illustrate, or even what it\u2019s like under deadline, etc. Do you outline a great deal of the book before you illustrate or just let your muse lead you on and see where you end up?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: After I get a text, I let it percolate in my head for a while before I do any drawings. I think about how to approach it in general terms. For example, when I illustrated Glass Slipper<\/strong><\/a><\/em> (Henry Holt, 2007), I decided to approach it through the metaphor of textiles -\u2013 the words were woven together, so I would weave the pictures together. I looked at lots of folk textiles from the cultures that the story takes place in and painted a sample page in the style that I was considering. Then I draw a VERY rough storyboard. Next, I do tighter sketches for a dummy. After I get feedback from the publisher and a rough layout with text, I paint the finals. As I finish each painting, I pin it to the wall so I can see the book as a whole. Here is a photo of the Twist<\/em> paintings on the wall.<\/p>\n

\"Julie's<\/p>\n

\"CoverEvery book has something about it that is hard for me -\u2013 there is always a moment when I am terrified that I can\u2019t do it or there is some aspect that feels overwhelming. There is usually a turning point where I can turn that fear into creativity -\u2013 I can figure out how to approach the problem in a way that is interesting. For example, when I illustrated Through Georgia\u2019s Eyes<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, I was shaking in my knees at the thought of painting O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> paintings. She had already done it -\u2013 much better than I ever could. I called Reka Simonsen (the editor) to see why they didn\u2019t just use her artwork, and she explained that they wanted O\u2019Keeffe herself portrayed in the book -\u2013 not just her work. I went to Santa Fe to do research. At the folk art museum there<\/strong><\/a>, I had a Eureka moment when I saw a Polish Papercut<\/strong><\/a> -\u2013 I could portray her work in cut paper. <\/p>\n

\"Polish<\/p>\n

That method gave me a way into the project. And that interest in papercuts led to making my own papercuts and to the paintings in Glass Slipper<\/em>. I think if you are open to it, everything in your life can feed everything else.<\/p>\n

\"Julie's<\/p>\n

\"Spread<\/p>\n

2.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: Describe your studio or usual work space for us.<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: It\u2019s about sixteen feet square and is overflowing with stuff. I usually shovel it out after I finish a book. I have a long table that I paint on. In the winter, I can see the Olympic Mountains<\/a><\/strong> (peeking over rooftops) out the window over my table. In the summer, I see my neighbor\u2019s trees. I also have a window that looks out into the back yard \u2013- there are a lot of squirrels and birds there that make their way into my paintings. Here are three photos. One is my table on the west side of the room -\u2013 I\u2019m working on the Gaudi book. <\/p>\n

\"Julie<\/p>\n

The second is the east side of the room -\u2013 I tend to have a lot of different things going on and they pile up. On the table are some embroidered linen pieces I\u2019ve been making. There are some paintings\/papercuts on the floor. <\/p>\n

\"Do<\/p>\n

The third picture is the north wall of the studio with the computer and scanners. I don\u2019t draw on the computer, but I use it to send scanned images, for research (Google), for e-mail, and for wasting time. <\/p>\n

\"More<\/p>\n

3.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: As book lovers, it interests us: What books or authors and\/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: The Poppy Seed Cakes<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Maud and Miska Petersham<\/strong><\/a>, Chanticleer<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Chaucer<\/strong><\/a> {and} illustrated by Barbara Cooney<\/strong><\/a>, Stuart Little<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by E.B White<\/strong><\/a> {and} illustrated by Garth Williams<\/strong><\/a>, The Animal Family<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Randall Jarrell<\/strong><\/a> with illustrations by Maurice Sendak<\/strong><\/a>, Norse Myths and Legends<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Ingri and Edgar d\u2019Aulaire<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Andrewshek
\n

Andrewshek from <\/em>The Poppy Seed Cakes<\/strong><\/a> by Margery Clark and
illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham<\/strong><\/a>; 1924.<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

\"Julie's
\n

Julie: “My painting of the Flimflam Man, who I think is Andrewshek grown up.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

4.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: If you could have three (living) illustrators or author\/illustrators — whom you have not yet met — over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Maira Kalman<\/a><\/strong>, Alice Provensen<\/a><\/strong>, Lisbeth Zwerger<\/strong><\/a>. I deeply admire the work of all three of them, and I would imagine that they are interesting people. Sometimes after I\u2019ve looked at their work, I feel like I have the privilege of briefly seeing the world through their eyes. <\/p>\n

5.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: What is currently in rotation on your iPod or loaded in your CD player? Do you listen to music while you create books?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I need quiet when I\u2019m coming up with ideas, but I listen to music and podcasts when I\u2019m doing things like painting patterns. This was the hardest question to answer, because I am fickle -\u2013 I have a different favorite song every day. At this very moment, I\u2019m listening to the song “Cloud Room” by Laura Veirs<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

6.<\/font> 7-Imp<\/strong>: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I lived in Norway for a year between high school and college. I had a burning desire to go there -\u2013 I think it came from looking at the d\u2019Aulaires’<\/strong><\/a> illustrations when I was little. I spoke Norwegian then.<\/p>\n

\"Nasty
\n

Trolls from <\/em>Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures<\/strong><\/a>,
written by Julie Larios (Harcourt, April 2008)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

The Pivot Questionnaire<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What is your favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: “Mazurka.”<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What is your least favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: “Infomercial.”<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I like making things -\u2013 paintings, soup, embroidery, illustrations, paper cuts, pies. <\/p>\n

\"Lovely.\"
\n

Julie’s dove<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What turns you off?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Sanctimony -\u2013 secular or religious.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What is your favorite curse word? (optional)<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: “Well, pothole me.” (I heard someone say that at a Kinko\u2019s once.)<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What sound or noise do you love?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: The call (whistle? song?) a redwing blackbird makes. It includes two notes at once. <\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What sound or noise do you hate?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Anthem rock.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: I\u2019d like to be a deep sea diver — in a made-up world where I don\u2019t need tanks or equipment.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: What profession would you not like to do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: Accounting.<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/strong>: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?<\/font><\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong>: \u201cWell, pothole me \u2026 I was expecting you a while back.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Note: To see more of Julie’s art work here at 7-Imp, visit this post<\/strong><\/a>—a review of Imaginary Menagerie<\/em> with some illustrations from the book—and this Sunday feature<\/strong><\/a> in which Julie stopped by to show us some never-seen-before-at-her-site paintings and papercuts, too.<\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

First spread: Illustration from GLASS SLIPPER, GOLD SANDAL: A WORLDWIDE CINDERELLA by Paul Fleischman, illustration \u00a9 2007 by Julie Paschkis. Published by Henry Holt & Co. Posted by permission of Paschkis. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Second spread: Illustration from IMAGINARY MENAGERIE: A BOOK OF CURIOUS CREATURES by Julie Larios, illustration \u00a9 2008 by Julie Paschkis. Published by Harcourt. Posted by permission of Paschkis. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Third spread: Illustration from ALBERT THE FIX-IT MAN by Janet Lord, illustration \u00a9 2008 by Julie Paschkis. Published by Peachtree Press. Posted by permission of Paschkis. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Julie Paschkis — BOOKS ILLUSTRATED:<\/p>\n

2008 Imaginary Menagerie: Curious Creatures<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Julie Larios, Harcourt<\/p>\n

2008 Albert the Fix-It Man<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Janet Lord, Peachtree Press<\/p>\n

\"Albert
\n

A spread from <\/em>Albert the Fix-It Man<\/strong><\/a>, Peachtree Publishers, March 2008<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

2007 Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Paul Fleischman<\/strong><\/a>, Henry Holt (Winner: A New York Times<\/em> Notable Book, an NCTE Notable Book)<\/p>\n

2007 The Great Smelly Slobbery Small Tooth Dog<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Margaret Read MacDonald<\/a><\/strong><\/a>, August House<\/p>\n

\"Twist:2007 Twist: Yoga Poems<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Janet S. Wong<\/strong><\/a>, McElderry Books<\/p>\n

2006 The Talking Vegetables<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Won-ldy Paye<\/strong><\/a> and Meg Lippert<\/strong><\/a>, Henry Holt & Co<\/p>\n

2006 Yellow Elephant: A Bright Bestiary<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Julie Larios, Harcourt (Winner: A 2006 Boston Globe\u2013Horn Book Award Honor Book for Fiction and Poetry)<\/p>\n

2006 Through Georgia\u2019s Eyes<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Rachel Rodriguez<\/strong><\/a>, Henry Holt (Winner: A Top Ten Youth Biography, Booklist<\/em>; A Bank Street Books Best Children\u2019s Book of 2007; A Notable Social Studies 2007 Trade Book) <\/p>\n

2006 I Have A Little Dreidel<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by Maxie Baum, Scholastic (Winner: A Sydney Taylor Book Award 2007 Notable Book)<\/p>\n

2005 Here Comes Grandma<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Janet Lord, Henry Holt (Winner: Platinum Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio)<\/p>\n

\"Cover2004 Bottle Houses<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker, Henry Holt (Winner: Aesop Accolade)<\/p>\n

2003 Knock On Wood<\/strong><\/a><\/em> by Janet Wong<\/strong><\/a>, McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster <\/p>\n

2003 Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Paye<\/strong><\/a> and Lippert<\/strong><\/a>, Henry Holt (Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, an SLJ<\/em> Best Book of 2003, NY Public Library Top 100, Chicago Public Library Top 100)<\/p>\n

2002 Head, Body, Legs: A Story From Liberia<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Won-ldy Paye<\/strong><\/a> and Meg Lippert<\/strong><\/a>, Henry Holt & Co (Winner – Aesop Accolade Award, ALA Notable book, CBC Blue Ribbon Book)<\/p>\n

2001 The Nutcracker<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by E.T.A. Hoffman<\/strong><\/a>, Chronicle Books<\/p>\n

2001 Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Margaret Read MacDonald<\/strong><\/a>, August House (Winner- Parent\u2019s<\/em> choice award, A Georgia Picture Book Award)<\/p>\n

\"Cover2000 Night Garden: Poems From the World of Dreams<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Janet Wong<\/strong><\/a>, McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster (Winner — one of the N.Y. Times<\/em> 10 best illustrated books of 2000, NCTE notable Book, Riverbank Review<\/em> Books of Distinction Finalist)<\/p>\n

1999 First Steps<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Lee Wardlaw<\/strong><\/a>, Harper Collins<\/p>\n

1996 Happy Adoption Day!<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by John McCutcheon<\/strong><\/a>, Little, Brown & Co. <\/p>\n

1996 Fortune Telling: Palmistry and Tarot<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Dennis Fairchild, Running Press<\/p>\n

1995 So Happy\/So Sad<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Julie Paschkis, Henry Holt & Co.<\/p>\n

1993 So Sleepy\/Wide Awake<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Julie Paschkis, Henry Holt & Co.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jules: Eisha, Julie Paschkis is visiting for breakfast this morning! I’m thrilled she’s here, especially since it was a real delight to read her interview responses. I remember during Blogging for a Cure last year when David Elzey at the one-and-only the excelsior file featured Paschkis’ beautiful 2008 snowflake and did this great, little write-up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogger-interviews","category-picture-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}