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\nIt’s not<\/em> the first Sunday of the month, which is when I tend to feature student or newly-graduated illustrators, but sometimes I just like to break the rules. <\/p>\n
Today, I’ve got the work of a newly-graduated illustrator to showcase, and I’m happy she’s visiting. Genevieve Irwin<\/a><\/strong> lives and works in New York and did her senior thesis with none other than Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca<\/a><\/strong>. She tells us below a bit about her work and, lucky for me and my blog readers, shares some art. I thank her for sharing. Let’s get right to it. …<\/p>\n 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> Genevieve’s artwork is my first kick. Beautiful. <\/p>\n 2)<\/strong><\/font> A visit from out-of-town friends this week. <\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> Convincing them to read Long Way Down<\/a><\/strong><\/em> by Jason Reynolds<\/a><\/strong> (who will be in Nashville this week, and I sure do hope I can see him speak). <\/p>\n
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\nGenevieve<\/font><\/strong>: I am an illustrator, based in Manhattan. I received my MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts<\/a><\/strong> last spring and my BA in Comparative Literature and Visual Arts from Princeton University in 2012.
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\nAs a child, I poured over the illustrations in books before I could read the accompanying words \u2014 content with the information my imagination filled in. I especially liked picture books based on the author\u2019s childhood, such as Allen Say\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> Tree of Cranes<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, which takes place in Japan. I was absorbed in the details of the boy\u2019s life that were simultaneously relatable and different to my own, from the unusual shapes of the snacks he ate to his wooden bathtub that was tall enough to stand in.
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\nAs I begin to write and illustrate my own stories, it is this same desire to experience the world through a different lens that drives me. I have found that one of the best ways to understand a subject is to have to describe it oneself. At the moment, I am particularly interested in stories involving animals. What better way to step out of one\u2019s own shoes than getting to experience the world as an otter or an elephant? I love the research that goes into recreating an animal\u2019s world. I had the great pleasure of working with Brian Floca<\/a><\/strong> on my senior thesis project, a children\u2019s book based on the true story of an orphaned Siberian tiger. Brian\u2019s enthusiasm for distilling factual information into an emotive narrative was contagious.
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\nI also love drawing on location as a way of stumbling across a story. The necessity of working quickly to capture a changing scene has helped me develop a visual language that prioritizes light and gesture. My goal is to bring the energy of my sketchbook to more referenced and crafted work.
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\nCurrently, my favorite combination of mediums is walnut ink and watercolor. The walnut ink and a dip pen allow me to create a fluid and dynamic line, while the watercolor is conducive to a fresh sense of light and color.
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\nAll artwork used by permission of Genevieve Irwin.<\/em> <\/p>\n
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