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\nIt’s the first Sunday of the month, dear Imps, which means a student or debut illustrator visits. Today, I have the latter: Annelouise Mahoney’s<\/a><\/strong> debut picture book will be released next year, and she’s here today to tell us more about herself and her artwork \u2014 and to tell us a bit about that book, too. <\/p>\n
I thank her for sharing. Let’s get right to it!<\/p>\n
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Annelouise<\/font><\/strong>: Hello. I am Annelouise Mahoney. I\u2019m an author-illustrator, based in Southern California. I grew up in Massachusetts, living by the woods and playing outside \u2014 a lot. A large part of my work is influenced by growing up there.<\/p>\n My passion is picture books. I\u2019ve loved them before I could read. They have the power to comfort us and make us believe anything is possible. Some stories, like the classics that I listened to as a child, have nestled their way in my heart and grown up with me. Picture books are little paper theaters, and I adore them. They hold the possibility to take you anywhere and bring you safely home. My stories are of friendship, relationships, and family. My debut picture book comes out summer 2020 with Two Lions. It has a working title of Julius and Mouse<\/em>. It\u2019s an enchanted tale of friendship and heroes. It\u2019s about what it is to be a friend \u2014 and how to be brave and have courage in the face of things that may be scary. My little heroes need each other; just like in life, we all need someone on our side. Here are some sketches: Thanks, Annelouise!<\/p>\n For those who would like to see more art, Annelouise’s website is here<\/a><\/strong>, and you can find her here<\/a><\/strong> on Instagram. <\/p>\n All artwork reproduced by permission of Annelouise Mahoney.<\/em><\/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> During the holidays, there was maybe about a week where I had no<\/em> work, and I planted myself on the couch and read and read and read. <\/p>\n 2)<\/strong><\/font> I am devouring Elena Ferrante’s<\/a><\/strong> Neapolitan Novels<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> The music of Max Richter<\/a><\/strong>. (I bet he has shown up in my kicks before.) <\/p>\n 4)<\/strong><\/font> Lena Coakley’s<\/a><\/strong> Wicked Nix<\/em>, our current, fabulous read-aloud:
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\nI want to make the kind of books you want to hug and carry around with you. I have two daughters. Reading stories to them, their friends, and their classmates \u2014 and also playing out their favorite stories \u2014 has influenced the work I want to do. I care a lot about children, their view of the world, and their feelings. Each day brings a discovery, everything is new \u2014 such as, making friends, feeling scared, making choices, and discovering their own capabilities. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nAnd here is one piece of final art from the book:
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\nI work in various mediums, depending upon what is needed, but I always begin with a pencil sketch. I use both traditional and digital mediums \u2014 and sometimes mix the two. I love to draw animals, mostly because there is a universality to them. They are all-inclusive and speak to all of us.
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\nI love that it takes a village to create a book. I think my respect for the effort and teamwork in creating something is influenced by my work in animation. I was a background painter, which is the art you see behind the characters; it is their stage, a small part of something much bigger. A background layout artist drew the stage, and I brought it to life with color with the help of the art director and producers.
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\nSome of the illustrators that inspire me are Lisbeth Zwerger<\/a><\/strong>, Stephanie Graegin<\/a><\/strong>, Emily Winfield Martin<\/a><\/strong>, Holly Hobbie<\/a><\/strong>, and my teacher Marla Frazee<\/a><\/strong>. I admire how Marla isn\u2019t afraid to take risks with her books; she believes in them. She taught me to find the emotion in the story and to dig for the heartbeat and pull that thread through the book to tie it in the end. She taught me that it\u2019s okay to be afraid and to feel vulnerable \u2014 but do the work anyway. Her art is an extension of her heart. I would love to reach that level and do the same; that\u2019s a steep climb for me. I hope to make stories that people feel connected to and create characters who have their own little heart beat. I want to build a world and characters that show us that anything is possible. I want to take you somewhere special and bring you safely home.
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\nThank you, Julie, for bringing me onto Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast<\/em> and offering a seat at your table.<\/p>\n
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\n5)<\/strong><\/font> We are wrapping things up at Calling Caldecott<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, and awards day is nigh. <\/p>\n