{"id":3358,"date":"2014-03-24T10:43:54","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T16:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3358"},"modified":"2014-03-31T20:51:18","modified_gmt":"2014-04-01T02:51:18","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-klaas-verplancke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3358","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Klaas Verplancke"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
 

\nKlaas Verplancke<\/a><\/strong> simply doesn’t have breakfast without a single or double espresso. If he has his way, he also has a glass of champagne to kick off his day. <\/p>\n

I’m down with both espressos and<\/em> champagne, so we’ll pretend to have some here, as we chat today. <\/p>\n

Now, all<\/em> my illustrator interviews are pretend. Someone once asked me how I manage to do these interviews when folks live all over the globe; they truly thought I was meeting them for breakfast in person<\/em>. I WISH. I’d be game for a children’s-lit version of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. Oh, would I!<\/p>\n

But, even if these weren’t cyber-interviews, I’d still have to have a pretend breakfast with Klaas, because he’s in Bologna this week for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair<\/a><\/strong>. And if I can’t be there (which I can’t — I’m very much sitting in my home in middle Tennessee), I can at least bring my readers some art from over the pond, as they say — in honor of the fair. Verplancke himself lives and works in Belgium. <\/p>\n

As you’ll read below, Klaas has been illustrating for years, yet only a couple of his children’s books have been brought here to the U.S. In 2012, we got to see Applesauce<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (which I wrote about here<\/a><\/strong> at Kirkus<\/em>), originally published in Belgium in 2010 and released here by Groundwood. I like that book, but I won’t go on about it here; you can read why at that link. Applesauce<\/em> was included in the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art exhibit in 2013<\/a><\/strong>, and it received a bronze medal at the No. 10 Picture Book Show<\/a><\/strong> at 3×3<\/em>. <\/p>\n

I think Verplancke’s work is best summed up by illustrator Steven Guarnaccia<\/a><\/strong>: “[His] work is strange, yet strangely comforting. Beautifully crafted, and beautifully bonkers.” Yep. What Guarnaccia said. <\/p>\n

This morning, Klaas shares lots of thoughts on children’s books, lots of passion, and lots of art below, so let’s get to it. I’m curious to know what he’s up to now. I thank him for visiting 7-Imp. <\/p>\n

(Note: Klaas may be the first interviewee—I <\/em>think? There have been many interviews here over the years—to ever direct a question at other illustrators, if anyone wants to chime in. See question #7.)<\/em> <\/p>\n

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

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrating author. I puzzle with mostly images, sometimes with words, in function of the story. I start from the idea that everybody is born with the tools for visual reading. We have to cherish and develop this talent. But unfortunately, what usually happens when growing older is the narrowing of our imagination and a growing fear for our spontaneity and intuition to understand what we see and feel.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

(Click to enlarge slightly)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Almost 150 titles — and more then 60 translations so far. Too long to list here. Only two titles are available in English: The First Klaas Book<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and Applesauce<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (Groundwood Books, 2012). Please check my bibliography<\/a><\/strong> on my website.<\/p>\n


\n<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“A thunder daddy is no fun. Stupid Daddy<\/strong><\/font>, I think.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“But then suddenly it’s quiet. I smell applesauce<\/strong><\/font>.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Above: Art from <\/em><\/em>Applesauce<\/a><\/strong>
(originally published in Belgium in 2010 and released in the U.S.
by Groundwood Books in 2012)<\/em>
(Click images to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your usual medium?<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: My usual medium is my brain. My way of thinking is my style, not a specific technique. Form follows function and usually arises out of experiment. <\/p>\n

Recently, I started exploring monotype<\/a><\/strong>. But I also like to work with acrylics, gouache, colored pencils, Photoshop and Pentel brushes.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: A story must find an author and readers, not vice versa. Therefore, the potential reader is never the starting point of my writing — but the angle or the viewpoint of the characters in my story, which will ultimately determine what readers my story will attract. When you tell a story about a house and you describe the value, the dimensions, and the construction, then you will attract other readers, as opposed to describing the color of the tiles or the flowers on the wallpaper.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n

Hansel and Gretel<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

I always get curled toes in the discussion on the suitability of books for children. One always throws all children on a pile, as if The Child exists. Like a baker would bake his bread for a particular kind of child. Let’s apply this reasoning to adults to show how absurd this argument is: Not all adults understand and read Kafka’s books. So, the books of Kafka are not suitable for adults.<\/em><\/p>\n

In assessing books, one mistakenly starts from the perception that ‘not understanding’ is a problem. “We think we understand the rules when we become adults, but what we really experience is the narrowing of our imagination,” said David Lynch<\/a><\/strong>. Maybe we should assume that \u2018not understanding’ creates fascination and imagination, that we should understand that there is something called mystery, and that children intuitively assume that they need to learn if they want to grow. Let me quote Guus Kuijer<\/a><\/strong>: “If we don\u2019t want to learn, then everything is elitist and unintelligible, even opening a door.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Brugge, close to the Groeninge Museum<\/a><\/strong>. My neighbors are Bosch<\/a><\/strong>, Memling<\/a><\/strong>, and van Eyck<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you tell me about your road to publication?<\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: I produced my first illustrations when I was still in uniform. It is a career born more or less out of need: As I was liable for military service, I helped shape the military weekly, Vox<\/em>, and when there was a lack of photos, I filled in any empty spaces with drawings. I studied Advertising Graphics and Photography from 1982 to 1986 in an art high school in Ghent, Belgium. After my military service, I worked for a few advertising agencies and continued to do my illustrating after office hours. In 1990, I decided to become a full-time illustrator. Advertising acted as a handy training ground for my new profession, teaching me to analyse issues and to get a story across to the public at large.<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you please point readers to your web site and\/or blog?<\/font> <\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: http:\/\/www.klaas.be<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n


\n
\n

Above: Klaas at the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art opening, 2013<\/a><\/strong>;
Klaas and Klassen<\/a><\/strong> at the opening<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you do school visits, tell me what they\u2019re like.<\/font> <\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: I lecture for students. I try to make them familiar with visual literacy and storytelling so that they can apply this in their future jobs — and convey an enthusiasm and love for books.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell me how that influences your work as an illustrator.<\/font><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Every day I do a lot of things intuitively in my artwork. Teaching requires me to bring these actions into words. In other words, teaching is a constant self-reflection, which is so very instructive for me. I give a lot, but I get a lot back from the students themselves. Their questions, thresholds, and viewpoints broaden my way of seeing and evaluating.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Some editorial work<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: A new picture book after the success of Applesauce<\/em> is particularly difficult and confrontational. I have a dozen books going through my head. <\/p>\n

In the meantime, I\u2019m engaged in two new animation projects as an art director, which is very exciting. Here are character designs and storyboard sheets:<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

Below is a preview of another new book project, a series of humorous interviews with daily objects. The title in French (the language of the original rhyming text was written by Pierre Coran<\/a><\/strong>, inventor and creator of this concept and father of another famous french writer, Carl Norac<\/a><\/strong>) is Paroles d\u2019une casserole & d\u2019autres bricoles<\/em>. Google translates this as Words of a Pan and Other Odds<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Every spread combines two objects\/interviews in one surrealistic, weird, or crazy scene. I use a special digital technique, which I cannot yet reveal completely, but it is based on a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — and inspired by vintage Polish and Russian picture books. The first book of this series will be published by the end of this year. <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n<\/a>
\n<\/a>
\n<\/a>
\n

(Click each image to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

In addition, I am currently working on two new picture books, for which I wrote the text — but they will be illustrated by two other illustrators. Very exciting! One is a famous illustrator from Japan; the other, an author from Poland, not yet known. But, unfortunately, I cannot reveal the names yet. When writing these stories, I obviously had particular ideas in mind. Now it is extremely exciting and interesting to compare my personal vision with the imagination of another illustrator. It opens my mind, broadens my horizons, and obliges me to question certain evidences or automations.<\/p>\n

These are sketchy illustrations I made for the Dare to Dream<\/a><\/strong> project:<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\"Mmm.Okay, our espressos (and champagne) are ready, and it’s time to get a bit more detailed with seven questions over breakfast. I thank Klaas again for visiting 7-Imp.<\/font> <\/p>\n

1.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/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


\n

A a self-portrait drawn by Klaas’s son Pieterjan,
whose questions were the inspiration for <\/em>Applesauce<\/center><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Picasso once said, “There are artists who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but some artists transform a yellow spot into a sun.” I would like to suggest a variation on this quote: There are illustrators who transform a word into an image, but some illustrators transform an image into a feeling or a thought.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n

Klaas’s character studies, based on Pieterjan’s self-portrait<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

Drawing is reproducing what you see. But Ren\u00e9 Magritte<\/a><\/strong> was right: “Ceci n\u2019est pas une image.” What you see is not an image but imagination, and we all look and imagine different about the same. That\u2019s why the storyteller in The Little Prince<\/a><\/strong><\/em> draws a sheep in a box with two holes. What we look at is a shell. What\u2019s really important is invisible.<\/p>\n

We look, we understand, and we feel. That\u2019s the process of seeing. He who understands this process understands how to imagine.<\/p>\n


\n<\/a>
\n

Early sketch and final spread from <\/em>Applesauce
(Click to enlarge second image)<\/center><\/p>\n

When I illustrate, I try to draw what we see when we close our eyes, to capture the invisible in images. All those feelings we all experience ourselves but we cannot represent in any way: How do you draw joy, loneliness, being in love, hope, sorrow? How do you give a face to such abstract concepts that are both surprising and immediately recognizable? <\/p>\n

That is why I fret a great deal before I actually get down to drawing. I have to delve long into a story before I can get something out of it. Images emerge from a chaos of thoughts, impressions, and memories — and gradually take shape. It’s a long, tough, and unknown road between the image in your head and the final result on paper or in a book. It\u2019s an adventure, because you never know which obstacles you may encounter en route. But you always come home differently than when you left, even after 22 years of making books.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Early ballpoint-pen sketches from <\/em>Applesauce<\/center><\/p>\n

The silence of an image is deafening significant. It is the secret place where reader\/viewer and story meet. I like this intriguing contradiction in terms, because it\u2019s a sort of perfect definition of the essence of a good illustration (or image, in general), namely the lack of response or the suggestion that stimulates the soundless process of thinking and searching for the meaning, the story behind the layers we see in an image. That respect for mystery<\/em>, to not fill in everything, is in my opinion one of the essential differences between print and digital media. The reader of a soundless, static image has to create the third, fourth, and fifth dimension within his imagination. What happened before and after the image I see?<\/em> Whereas in digital media every aspect is determined.<\/p>\n

Seeing is believing. Or should we say: Seeing is feeling, and feeling is believing. Really happened<\/em> is not important as long as it is true. The art of illustrating is that the reader images that the image is his own imagination. <\/p>\n

2.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Describe your studio or usual work space.<\/font> <\/p>\n


\n
\n
 

\nKlaas<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: I think the pictures speak for themselves. A long time ago, this place was a factory. It looked like this:
\n
 

\n
\n
\n
\n
 

\nNow it looks like this:
\n
 

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n

3.<\/font> 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

Klaas<\/strong><\/font><\/strong>: Like every true Belgian, I was a big fan of the famous Belgian comics, such as Tintin<\/a><\/strong>, the Smurfs<\/a><\/strong>, Guust Flater<\/a><\/strong>, Suske & Wiske<\/a><\/strong>, Lucky Luke<\/a><\/strong>, and Jommeke<\/a><\/strong>. Apart from that, I was a slow reader of children’s books, but I read all the Flemish and Dutch classics. One of the most intriguing books was, no doubt, Koning van Katoren<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Jan Terlouw<\/a><\/strong>. I loved this book, because it was an adventurous, exciting, and at once classic and modern fairy tale I did not fully understand. It continued to fascinate me, and the layering of the story and the themes became clear later.<\/p>\n

4.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: If you could have three (living) authors or illustrators—whom you have not yet met—over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose? (Some people cheat and list deceased authors\/illustrators. I won\u2019t tell.)<\/font><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: God, Jeroen Bosch<\/a><\/strong>, and myself at the age of 80.<\/p>\n


\n

With Peter S\u00eds<\/a><\/strong> at a USBBY<\/a><\/strong> conference in St. Louis<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

5.<\/font> 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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Everything between Monteverdi<\/a><\/strong>, Rammstein<\/a><\/strong>, and complete silence. It depends on the mood. Right now I\u2019m listening to some ambient mix.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Portraits<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: I can hold my breath for two minutes. I prefer well-baked bread, especially the crunchy tops. And I have an obsessive technique for filling the dishwasher.<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n

7.<\/font> Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Is there something you wish interviewers would ask you — but never do? Feel free to ask and respond here.<\/font><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: In fact, this a question I would like to ask to my colleagues: When do you know an image is finished? When and why do you stop?<\/em><\/p>\n

Honestly, it\u2019s the deadline that decides when I finish a drawing. I use all the time I have, and still it is always different from what I imagined. Every nuance, every space, every line is a choice and means the release of other ideas and opportunities. You draw a lot to draw little. It\u2019s a strange cocktail of excitement and frustration. Finishing a detail and then back stepping. These three, four seconds without doubts — these are the happiest moments in my work. <\/p>\n

But I can live with the imperfection. That makes art human. A ten-year-old girl once said: “Children need to see art from time to time, so that we never forget that some things in this world are made with love and passion.”<\/p>\n


\n

Klaas: “This is an accidental snapshot made by Junko Yokota<\/a><\/strong>,
while I was posing as a stand-in for a portrait shoot for someone else.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What is your favorite word?<\/font><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: “Yes.”<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: “No.”<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Everything that looks or sounds seemingly common or simple, but hides conviction, sacrifice, vulnerability, sustained hard labor, and profound thinking — such as, Ella Fitzgerald<\/a><\/strong> singing, or Hopper\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> painted light, or the reflection in van Eyck\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> jewelry. <\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What turns you off?<\/font><\/p>\n

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Pretension and immodesty. Heroes do not exist. You\u2019re nobody, when nobody is watching.<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: “Miljaardenondedjubegot.” Don\u2019t try this at home. It\u2019s Dutch.<\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Crunchy bread. <\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Chalk scratching on a chalkboard. <\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Being Bach<\/a><\/strong>, Picasso<\/a><\/strong>, Magritte<\/a><\/strong>, and Santa Claus at the same time. <\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: Painting dots on dice. <\/p>\n

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

Klaas<\/font><\/strong>: “Well done lad. But next time you should be drawing instead of losing time on Facebook.”<\/p>\n


\n

me, myselfie, and i<\/em> (the first of a series)<\/center><\/p>\n

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

All artwork and images are used with permission of Klaas Verplancke<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

APPLESAUCE. English translation copyright \u00a9 2012 by Helen Mixter. Published in 2012 by Groundwood Books, Toronto. The APPLESACUE art and sketches are re-posted here from this 2012 post<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The spiffy and slightly sinister gentleman introducing the Pivot Questionnaire is Alfred, \u00a9 2009 Matt Phelan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Klaas Verplancke simply doesn’t have breakfast without a single or double espresso. If he has his way, he also has a glass of champagne to kick off his day. I’m down with both espressos and champagne, so we’ll pretend to have some here, as we chat today. Now, all my illustrator interviews are pretend. […]<\/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-3358","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\/3358","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=3358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3358\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}