{"id":2243,"date":"2011-11-23T00:01:20","date_gmt":"2011-11-23T06:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2243"},"modified":"2015-04-06T20:11:20","modified_gmt":"2015-04-07T02:11:20","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-rafael-lopez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2243","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Rafael L\u00f3pez"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Rafael_Lopez.jpg\" style=\"float:right;\" alt=\"Rafael L\u00f3pez\" title=\"Rafael L\u00f3pez\">Remember <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2087\">this early March post<\/a><\/strong> here at 7-Imp? That&#8217;s still one of my favorite books of the year, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.samanthavamos.com\/\">Samantha R. Vamos&#8217;<\/a><\/strong> <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580892421\">The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (Charlesbridge, February 2011), illustrated by my visitor today, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rafaellopez.com\/#\/editorial\/\">Rafael L\u00f3pez<\/a><\/strong>.  <\/p>\n<p>Rafael received the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ala.org\/ala\/newspresscenter\/news\/pressreleases2010\/january2010\/2010belpre_pio.cfm\">2010 Pura Belpr\u00e9 Illustrator Award<\/a><\/strong> for <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.patmora.com\/\">Pat Mora&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780061288777\">Book Fiesta!<\/a><\/em><\/strong> and is also the recipient of two Am\u00e9ricas Book Awards and a 2006 Pura Belpr\u00e9 Honor. Many of L\u00f3pez&#8217;s stylized folk-art-style paintings, acrylics on wood, are brimming with joy, as you can see below. (L\u00f3pez sent a whole heapin&#8217; ton of art for today&#8217;s breakfast, which is how you win over this blogger.) Colorful, bright, bold, evocative, and even &#8220;eye-filling&#8221; are words that have been used by reviewers to describe L\u00f3pez&#8217;s art. &#8220;His sophisticated, multilayered textures create depth, give form and work together to create an image that is easily readable, humorous and harmonious,&#8221; <em>Kirkus<\/em> wrote about <em>Cazuela<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Rafael has been involved in many other projects, which he describes below. And public librarians all over the nation, who engaged in summer reading programs this year, may recognize this poster artwork:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/One world many stories final poster1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>His choice for breakfast this morning? &#8220;Give me Mexican comfort food,&#8221; he says. &#8220;Chilaquiles. Cooked in tomatillo sauce with a side of nopales and strong cup of Oaxacan coffee with a cinammon stick dipped in it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He already had me at the Oaxacan coffee, but then he had to seal the deal in a most exciting way with that cinnamon stick. Let&#8217;s get right to it by getting the basics while we set the table for breakfast. I thank him for stopping by. <\/p>\n<p><center><font size=4>* * * * * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Colibri poster1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrator. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Cover22.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Cover221.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Cover art for <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pammunozryan.com\/\">Pam Mu\u00f1oz Ryan&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <\/em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580891172\">Our California<\/a><\/strong><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/_La Cazuela_ cover.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">My Name is Celia<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, written by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.monicabrown.net\/\">Monica Brown<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781584302711\">Yum! MmMm! Que Rico! Americas&#8217; Sproutings<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.patmora.com\/\">Pat Mora<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781580891172\">Our California<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pammunozryan.com\/\">Pam Mu\u00f1oz Ryan<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780061288777\">Book Fiesta!<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.patmora.com\/\">Pat Mora<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2087\">The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.samanthavamos.com\/\">Samantha Vamos<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Inside Title page1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Book Fiesta opening spread1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Inside Pages1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read on a hot Air Balloon1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read on a submarine1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read on a whale1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read on an Elephant1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read to our pets1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We read to the moon.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/We dream and play1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Last spread1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Cover art for&#8212;and illustrations from&#8212;<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.patmora.com\/\">Pat Mora&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <strong><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780061288777\">Book Fiesta!<\/a><\/strong><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium, or&#8211;\u2013if you use a variety&#8212;your preferred one?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I use Mexican acrylic color that come in big recycled salsa jars and paint on pieces of wood that I cut and sand till the texture and grain speaks to me.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Central Valley1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Where are your stompin\u2019 grounds?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I live in an industrial loft in downtown San Diego and have a house on a hill in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It is a 16th century colonial town in the heart of my native country. I spend eight months in San Diego and four in San Miguel. When I am in one place, I long for the other. This duality helps me stay visually stimulated and keeps my wife happy, because she\u2019s a Gemini.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Monterrey Bay.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Monterrey Bay1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Monterey Bay<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Sunburst1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Sunburst<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Blue Moon1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Blue Moon<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you briefly tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: A call out of the blue landed me my first book with a small publisher in Northern Arizona, called Luna Rising. They had followed my editorial work, and the Art Director thought I had the perfect style to create a book, called <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">My Name is Celia<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. I thought she had the wrong phone number, because I had never done any children&#8217;s subjects prior to that, just devils, flames, and skeletons &#8212; you know, the stuff that makes Creative Directors feel a bit nervous. Thankfully, she was relentless, and I didn&#8217;t hang up the phone.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/My name is Celia-Cover1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/My name is Celia-Dad tells us stories1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/My name is Celia Book-dancing1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/My name is Celia-She flies away1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Cover art for&#8212;and three illustrations from&#8212;<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.monicabrown.net\/\">Monica Brown&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong><br \/><strong><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">My Name is Celia<\/a><\/strong><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rafaellopez.com\">www.rafaellopez.com<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/rafaellopezbooks.blogspot.com\">http:\/\/rafaellopezbooks.blogspot.com<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Cover.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Cover1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Full jacket art for<br \/><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.samanthavamos.com\/\">Samantha Vamos&#8217;s<\/a><\/strong> <strong><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2087\">The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred<\/a><\/strong><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Page 11.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Inside title spread.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Inside title spread1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Title spread (without text)<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Milking the cow.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-Milking the cow1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;This is the cow that made the fresh milk while teaching the <strong>CABRA<\/strong> that churned the <strong>CREMA<\/strong> to make the <strong>MANTEQUILLA<\/strong> that went into the <strong>CAZUELA<\/strong><br \/>that the farm maiden stirred.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela_Cooking together1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;&#8230;and the <strong>CABRA<\/strong>, <strong>VACA<\/strong>, <strong>PATO<\/strong>, <strong>BURRO<\/strong>, <strong>GALLINA<\/strong>, <strong>CAMPESINO<\/strong>,<br \/>and farm maiden all stirred the <strong>CAZUELA<\/strong> one last time.&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-last spread.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Cazuela-last spread1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Final spread<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>:  If you do school visits, tell me what they\u2019re like.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019m passionate about working with kids, teachers, and librarians. We tell stories, paint murals, and do workshops where we play drawing and painting games and talk a lot about color. These encounters are quirky, unpredictable, and just plain magic. I know how lucky I am to paint for kids, and I want my illustrations to inspire and challenge them. Children are more likely to trust their emotions and respond with fresh eyes, and I find myself constantly challenged to spend time trying to think the way they do. I have spent the last decade painting many murals with children and developed a bold graphic style that is like a giant paint by numbers. The results are amazing, and it\u2019s thrilling for little hands to create something so big. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D7thdNucsY4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<center><em>Video of the mural Rafael did with members of<br \/>the Fort Collins, Colorado, community <\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>When I am painting murals, I connect to my Mexican heritage and I want to involve kids and the community in this process. With so many educational cutbacks, there aren\u2019t enough opportunities for children, families, and teachers to make art. I like to come in and craft that experience, hopefully creating a lasting memory, pride, and excitement in their work.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Colorado Mural first brushstrokes1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Ft. Collins Community Mural, June 2011: First brushstrokes<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Colorado Mural in pregress1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/image_15-rafael.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Touching up Mural1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Community Mural in progress1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Community Mural in Colorado1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Imaginantes leaping1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019m involved with the Link program that teaches illustration to at-risk high school students. I\u2019ve also taught workshops at high schools and illustration for the Art Center at Night program. I\u2019m interested in teaching more than technique but want to help students discover their voice, vision, and viewpoint. It matters more to me that their work comes from within than helping them become proficient in techniques. What&#8217;s inside the mind is far more interesting and can be expressed in many forms. Their innovative ideas are a constant reminder to continue to experiment, to not settle for what is comfortable, to stay fresh and daring, regardless of your age.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Bird Day Poster1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;Conserving birds by connecting people&#8221;; poster created for <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/birdday.org\/\">BirdDay.org<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Reach out1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Blueberries1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Any new titles\/projects you might be working on now that you can tell me about?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Tito Puente- Mambo King- Upcoming book.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Tito Puente- Mambo King- Upcoming book1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Image from Rafael&#8217;s upcoming book; click to enlarge<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019m currently finishing up a new book, <em>My Name is Tito<\/em>, written by my friend, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.monicabrown.net\/\">Monica Brown<\/a><\/strong>. I worked with her on my first book, <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">My Name is Celia<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, about the late great singer, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.celiacruz.com\/\">Celia Cruz<\/a><\/strong>. I\u2019m excited about this book, as this year I created a set of five Latin Music Legends stamps that were released by the United States Postal Service. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Latin Music Legends Stamps.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Latin Music Legends Stamps1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Merengue postal stamp1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Postal stamp from the series &#8220;Bailemos&#8221;<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I feel like I\u2019ve spent the last two years with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.celiacruz.com\/\">Celia Cruz<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carlos_Gardel\">Carlos Gardel<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carmen_Miranda\">Carmen Miranda<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Selena\">Selena<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tito_Puente\">Tito<\/a><\/strong>. Now I\u2019ve got the chance to tell Tito\u2019s life story to children, and I\u2019m having fun. It\u2019s also a great excuse to listen to salsa music and stay in shape while painting.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Musician1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center>Soul Singer <em>(Street Scene San Diego)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Can't get you out of my mind1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Can&#8217;t Get You Out of My Mind<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Morning Coffee1.jpg\" title=\"Mmm. Coffee.\" alt=\"Mmm. Coffee.\"><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Now, normally right here I have a picture of a simple, white coffee mug. Today, though, is Rafael&#8217;s <em>Morning Coffee<\/em>, pictured left. We&#8217;re going to indulge in some of <em>that<\/em>, since the table&#8217;s set now for <em>six<\/em> questions over breakfast. Let&#8217;s get a bit more detailed, and I thank Rafael again for visiting 7-Imp.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>1.<\/font> 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<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: After the panic of saying yes to the project settles, I give myself time to digest the story and start the visual research. Fortunately, this also involves musical research, as in the books of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">Celia Cruz<\/a><\/strong> and Tito Puente. <\/p>\n<p>My second stage is to roam the library and bookstores and look at children&#8217;s books from a distance and see which books visually grab my attention and compel me to pick them up. This is a very important stage, because I want every piece to stand on its own but [all to] work as a group to seamlessly tell a story. I see too many books where the illustrations are far too realistic, <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Dual Life1.jpg\" style=\"float:right;\">and I always wonder why. I believe it is important to give credit to the imagination of kids and not bring them a story in such a literal way. Children&#8217;s books are a great opportunity to express a more personal style, and those are the books that really speak to me. I\u2019m always walking around and thinking, <em>how would this feel if I were a kid?<\/em> <\/p>\n<p>I take an intuitive approach and begin creating the story with pencil sketches. I value these sketches and work to improve them with several revisions. Quite often, I send final paintings with additional elements that the designer never saw. I\u2019m fortunate that they appreciate the additional efforts to make them more special. <\/p>\n<p>My approach to color is also very instinctual. I have a general idea where the painting will end up, but I never give the art director a color sketch, because I feel it might restrict me six months later when I come up with an even better color solution. Giving birth to a book takes about as long as an elephant calf, sometimes 18 to 22 months from the initial reading of the script to delivering the final paintings. The process of creating a book should stay flexible and continue to evolve during the creation of the paintings to keep it fresh. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/San Juan Capistrano1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m constantly searching for visual clues. My process begins by wandering the urban landscape of the city or winding cobblestone streets of my native country with a camera. I catalogue the colors and rich textural history of well-worn doors, layers of peeling posters and paint. If you look closely, you can hear their stories in my work. The skies, backgrounds, or the surface of the skin of a whale in my books reveal secrets of places where I have been. <\/p>\n<p>I buy vivid paints from a little tiendita in San Miguel de Allende. There is no chromophobia in Mexico, so it is the ideal place to shop for the essential ingredients of my paintings. The force of these intense colors is like tasting chiles, and I&#8217;ve learned to blend colors like salsa in different combinations to achieve the desired result. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Chiles1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>For the past twenty years, I&#8217;ve been painting on pieces of wood. There are tactile emotions associated with selecting just the right piece, hand-sanding it and letting those textures guide me. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Conversation1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Conversation<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Hand-rafael.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Hope1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>When I receive a story, I make word lists of key themes or search for poetic parts to post on my wall. I am fueled by the author&#8217;s words but don&#8217;t want to mirror the text verbatim. For this reason, I have always searched for symbols to represent the emotions or spirit of the text. An example in the book <strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780873588720\">My Name is Celia<\/a><\/em><\/strong> is a red bird that is a metaphor for joy.<\/p>\n<p>I am passionate about travel and am inspired by indigenous groups, because they synthesize the important traits of living things in a simple, direct way. Children are way too smart, and they don\u2019t need us adults to remind them about the shape of a dog or that the grass is green. There is no need for watered-down colors or realism. I want to communicate on that magical level that captures their imagination. I run or walk each morning, and on the way I gather rocks, shells, leaves and document found objects and textures that inspire me and then bring them into my studio.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Found objects at the studio1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Found objects at the studio<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Found objects1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/found objects2.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>I make mood boards for my books, and these collages help me to channel the right spirit for my paintings. I&#8217;m looking for more than a visual likeness of my subjects but exploring patterns, decorations, clothing or the way an animal moves, a person dances or makes music &#8212; like <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tito_Puente\">Tito<\/a><\/strong> beating his timbales. I believe everything has a personality, if you work to find it. Character development is essential, and it all begins with sketching to get the right spirit for each person, animal, and object. To get it right, you have to make boatloads of sketches and put pencil to paper. I start with gestural sketches to make major decisions about where elements should go. In this phase of drawing, I consider the direction of things and use arrows and scale to create a focal point. Then I refine my drawings to evolve the character using references on my mood board to create details.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Death Valley1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>I always make a miniature book that includes all my drawings, as I want to see the flow of the story and look for inconsistencies in the visual storytelling. The next step is to prepare my boards with a surface that will receive the carbon and transfer my sketches from tracing tissue to the wooden boards. I like to mask things with tape, so I can paint selected areas of my composition. Surrounded by the photographic references of colors and textures I&#8217;ve explored, I apply colors to the board randomly and in an intuitive way. I then use spatulas, pottery tools, shells, and twigs to scrape the wood and reveal secrets of the surface texture. I keep painting with a variety of brushes to bring in the details and bring visual flavor, color, and texture to the story.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>2.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Describe your studio or usual work space.<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Renovated studio in San Diego1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Renovated studio in San Diego<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font size=4><strong>Rafael<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: My walls are full of visual cues. I\u2019m a scavenger and pick up things, including natural and found objects, as well as images that have no relation to what I am working on. I like to build robots and other characters out of some of the the stuff I find and put them in my space. Some images have been up there for many years and are yellowed, but my instinct tells me to not take them down till I find a use for them. At the right moment, I\u2019ve found these visuals often trigger a direction, and then I can move on. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Studio in San Diego1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>San Diego studio<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Cazuela_sun_72.jpg\">In 1997, we bought an old car garage, built in 1929, in the East Village of downtown San Diego. With the help of a close friend, we renovated it into a live\/work studio. I collect mid-century modern furniture but have eclectic taste. I\u2019ve got a Jean Prouve knock-off table that is covered from end to end with large jars of color. A friend built it for me with no corner legs &#8212; just a central column on wheels. I can easily swing my stool and grab whatever color is calling my name. I keep the telephone and computers far away up on the second floor. <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Cazuela_rooster_72a.jpg\" style=\"float:right;\">It\u2019s a 3,200 square-foot loft that is long like a bowling alley, so I can\u2019t get there on time to pick up the phone or get distracted by email. In this way I can control things that might zap my energy or the flow of painting. I also collect pottery and put some of my favorite brushes and tools in there. I have a handcrafted bookshelf where I keep treasured books and objects that I refer to when creating. My trusty old hairdryer is retired there in a place of honor on the top shelf, covered in colored streaks from past paintings. I created a sliding translucent door that I can open and close to keep the flexible open layout, but shut for privacy.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Channel Islands1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p>To accomplish seclusion in my studio in San Miguel de Allende I set it up in basement of our house, it\u2019s a cave really that used to be the laundry room. There\u2019s comfortable furniture with bright pillows and a deep sink in this space adjacent to the garage. One time I was cleaning my brushes, and a small garden snake, who had slipped in the garage, was trapped on some masking tape in the trashcan. My son and I gave it a little water, and it was on its way.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Oprah Painting 21.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Oprah painting 11.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Oprah Painting 31.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Giving Oprah the Obama poster1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>In 2009, L\u00f3pez was asked to create three paintings for Oprah Winfrey&#8217;s school in<br \/>South Africa and presented them to her at the Chicago conference for the<br \/>National Association for Independent Schools.<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Nuestra Voz1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>&#8220;Voz Unida,&#8221; 2008, selected by the Obama\/Biden campaign as an<br \/>official poster at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Artists_for_Obama\">Artists for Obama<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>3.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: As a book lover, it interests me: What books or authors and\/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font size=4><strong>Rafael<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: When I was ten, my architect parents sent me from Mexico City to live on a communal farm in Exeter, England, with a conceptual and performance artist named <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ehrenberg.art.br\/\">Felipe Ehrenberg<\/a><\/strong>. It was there that I discovered <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Adventures_of_Tintin\">Tintin books<\/a><\/strong>, and&#8212;even though they were in French&#8212;it was clear that these were pretty cool stories of mystery and adventure. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/love of books1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>4.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you could have three authors or illustrators&#8212;whom you have not yet met&#8212;over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.randomhouse.com\/kids\/lionni\/\">Leo Lionni<\/a><\/strong> (his graphic simplicity), <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charley_Harper\">Charley Harper<\/a><\/strong> (visual geometric poetry and can make the most mundane subject look extraordinary), and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.roalddahl.com\/\">Roald Dahl<\/a><\/strong>, who inspires and wisely guides me with words like these: &#8220;Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don&#8217;t believe in magic will never find it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Tiberius the Cat.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>Tiberius the Cat<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Sirena1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center><em>La Sirena<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/La Bruja1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>La Bruja<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>5.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/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<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Feeling the blues1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<center><em>Blues 7<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Blues Angel1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<center>Blues Angel<em> (San Diego Blues Festival)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/UTNE Magazine1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I can\u2019t imagine drawing or painting without music. I like many different genres and artists from around the world. I update my playlists constantly, depending on my mood or project. Once in a while, I hear a song my son uploaded without me knowing, like the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=93jxkqG0gWc\">theme song<\/a><\/strong> from <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt1049413\/\">Up<\/a><\/strong><\/em> or <em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0432283\/\">Fantastic Mr. Fox<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>One of my closest friends, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/gilgutierrezmusic.blogspot.com\/\">Gil Guti\u00e9rrez<\/a><\/strong>, is a virtuoso guitarist, who hails from Oaxaca. He not only plays awesome interpretations, but composes some extraordinary stuff as well. I have played the guitar since I was five, but when I heard him play, I considered hanging it up on the wall.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Chamber Music Festival Poster1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/West Side Story1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Latino Film Festival1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><font size=5>6.<\/font> <strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What&#8217;s one thing that most people don&#8217;t know about you?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: I\u2019m the son of two idealists. My parents were both architects and professors, who knew <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Che_Guevara\">Che Guevara<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fidel_Castro\">Fidel Castro<\/a><\/strong> in the late &#8217;50s. My parents smuggled the young rebels in their Volkswagen Beetle out of Mexico City in disguises to a farm near <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Toluca\">Toluca, Mexico<\/a><\/strong>. It was there that Fidel and Che trained to return to Cuba and fight the Batista regime.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Manifest equality.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Manifest equality1.jpg\" border=1><\/a><br \/>\n<center><em>Manifest Equality<\/em><br \/>(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Peace Angel1.jpg\" border=1><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/alfred.jpg\"><center><font size=4>* * * The Pivot Questionnaire * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Arisenarinaseas.&#8221; Not sure if I spelled that right, but my son says this all the time. I still don\u2019t know what it means, but I don\u2019t care. <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your least favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;Insipido.&#8221; In Spanish, this means a lack of color, texture, guts, flavor. It&#8217;s something half-cooked &#8212; with no spice, no commitment.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: World music, travel, color and texture, international cuisine, love, compassion, a humble spirit, the challenges my son faces with his learning disabilities. <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you off?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: Intolerance, paranoia, stereotyping, and fanatics.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you love?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: A guitar riff, while sitting around the kitchen table in San Miguel de Allende.  <\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What sound or noise do you hate?<\/font> <\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: Car alarms and an endless parade of ambulance sirens in the East Village.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: Architect or professional musician.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What profession would you not like to do?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: Gun dealer.<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"000066\"><strong><font size=4>Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?<\/font><\/p>\n<p><strong><font size=4>Rafael<\/font><\/strong>: &#8220;You\u2019re just in time: The Latin jazz is still going on for another week.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Guitarlopez.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/El Puerto de mi Corazon1.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Letting go.jpg\" border=1><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/RLPortrait.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><center>* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p><em>All artwork and images used with permission of  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rafaellopez.com\/#\/editorial\/\"><strong>Rafael L\u00f3pez<\/strong><\/a>. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, \u00a9 2009 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mattphelan.com\/\"><strong>Matt Phelan<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Cazuela_maid_72a.jpg\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Remember this early March post here at 7-Imp? That&#8217;s still one of my favorite books of the year, Samantha R. Vamos&#8217; The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred (Charlesbridge, February 2011), illustrated by my visitor today, Rafael L\u00f3pez. Rafael received the 2010 Pura Belpr\u00e9 Illustrator Award for Pat Mora&#8217;s Book Fiesta! and is also the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2243","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\/2243","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\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}