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Before illustrating, Jacqueline taught high school art and photography. She won the inaugural We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) Illustration Mentorhsip Award, as well as the WNDB Walter Grant<\/a><\/strong>. Below, she shares some process images, as well as a bit of final artwork, from the book and also talks about her other work in the field of illustration. <\/p>\n I thank her for visiting. Let’s get right to it. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I ended up with the above characters that the reader follows through the story, though I really tried to make the illustrations about all the unity of the players \u2014 helping each other, playing tough, and celebrating each other\u2019s victories. In addition to picture book illustration, I illustrate for different markets, including architecture, fashion, and video. I love to keep expanding my familiarity of styles, techniques, and mediums, so I love when a really random project comes up and it challenges me in that way. Jules again. Thanks again to Jacqueline for sharing today. I’ll close with one of my favorite illustrations from The Field<\/em>. . . . Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 1)<\/strong><\/font> The inaugural Robin Smith Picture Book Prize<\/a><\/strong>! <\/p>\n 2)<\/strong><\/font> Three new tunes<\/a><\/strong> from Margaret Glaspy.<\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> I have tickets to see her live in April. <\/p>\n 4)<\/strong><\/font> Signs that Neko Case<\/a><\/strong> may have new music soon. <\/p>\n 5)<\/strong><\/font> Lady Bird<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/7pics\/2018\/03\/ja0small.jpg\")
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\nJacqueline<\/font><\/strong>: [Baptiste’s] manuscript didn\u2019t specify who the characters were or what they looked like, so I had a lot of fun dreaming up the cast of players! I wanted to create a group of people with dynamics similar to any pick-up game \u2014 the fun of it is in the unpredictability. I wanted to include the kids who are reallllllly good, as well as their little sisters or brothers who tag along, a fruit vendor, the town Rastafarian, etc. <\/p>\n
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\nWhen I had trouble deciding what the main character\u2019s outfit should be, I enlisted some help from a kindergarten class in New York. They voted on their favorite, and that\u2019s the one I used in the book.
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\nThe early sketches were so much fun to do. I drew dozens upon dozens of sketches of kids and adults around the world playing soccer \u2014 from dusty favela street games to a floating field in Thailand. It was so interesting to learn how different countries play the game.
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\nI love to think about lighting in illustrations, so this book offered great opportunities in light variations. The time change \u2014 from a hot, lazy afternoon to the clouds breaking post-rainstorm to sunset at dusk \u2014 was a joy to paint.
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\nI wanted to capture that feeling of running home at dusk when you feel totally exhausted from playing all day. Those days are the best. <\/p>\n
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\nI enjoy doing copies and interpretations of classic paintings. Here\u2019s my favorite, The Interior of the Palm House on the Pfaueninsel Near Potsdam<\/em><\/a><\/strong>:
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\nHere’s a portrait of Frank Sinatra I did for NBC\u2019s Chicago Fire<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (should be in the background on the March 1st episode, hopefully not going up in flames!):
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\nThis is album artwork\/portrait for a Chicago hip hop artist:
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\nWhen I\u2019m asked what my favorite medium to work in is, I always want to say collage, even though its not how I typically create my illustrations. I love cutting, arranging, and gluing tiny bits of paper. I like the endless ways to play with digital collage as well.<\/p>\n
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\nTHE FIELD. Text copyright \u00a9 2018 by Baptiste Paul. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2018 by Jacqueline Alc\u00e1ntara. Published by NorthSouth Books. All images here used by permission of Jacqueline Alc\u00e1ntara.<\/em><\/p>\n
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