There’s one particular lie I’m quite prone to telling. It goes like this, “Oh how I wish I could illustrate.” And really I don’t. I don’t wish I could illustrate. My head is too full of words. There’s no room in there for pictures as well. Sometime I notice that my children are talking to me and I’ve forgotten to listen because I’m too busy composing sentences in my head. Sometime I notice that I’m driving my car in the wrong direction and I’ve forgotten where I’m going because I’m too busy composing sentences in my head. And sometimes I notice that I’m in bed but I’ve forgotten to go to sleep because I’m too busy composing sentences in my head.
I don’t actually want to add illustrating to an already crowded head but I lie to convey my admiration for illustrators and their work. I say, “I wish I could illustrate,” to express the respect I carry for these artists who can do something I can’t. I can’t illustrate and couldn’t even if I really wanted to and tried very hard. I can only marvel at an illustrator’s ability to tell an entire story with pictures and I can only marvel at an illustrator’s ability to transform or enrich a story with pictures. I love it when my own stories are illustrated. It feels like a gift to watch the original text grow without me. But while I am often in awe of the artwork in picture books I don’t wish to create it myself. Writing brings me peaceful happiness. I’m content enough with that.
Yet even without the talent or desire to illustrate I still have ‘illustrator envy’.
Here are the four reasons why:
- Fancy Signatures I’ve always had messy handwriting. When I sign a book I feel a bit like I’m spoiling it, mucking up the pretty front page. Illustrators have curly jaunty handwriting. They can add a dramatic flourish to a dedication. Then, after signing their own name in a look-at-me-artsy-script they can include a quick little illustration too. A picture as well! Now that’s just showing off. I wish I could do that.
- The Easy Blog Post Because when you’re an illustrator even your drafts look impressive you have the luxury of being able use some of your work on your blog when you don’t have time to prepare anything special. I love reading these blog posts. They’re fun, visual and relevant and, I imagine for the illustrator, easy! I wish I could do that.
- The Wordless Store Appearance or School Visit Illustrators can create something while others watch. Instead of just talking about the creative process, or sharing an already finished product, illustrators can turn a blank page into something alive and then simply give it away to a happy observer. Far out. I wish I could do that.
- General Coolness Illustrators are just cool. They have a cool job and wear cool clothes. Sometimes they even have flecks of paint on their clothes or ink on their hands. So cool. I wish I was that cool.
Anyone else have illustrator envy? Someone else at work you envy?
Illustrator Envy © Katrina Germein 2010
Tags: Illustrator Envy
I hear ya, sister! That’s me to a T. You’ve just reminded me that I’m worried about my messy signing of my name in the front of SAMUEL’S KISSES… *heads off to practise*
Ohhhhh yessss… Ruining the book with messy handwriting is me me me. I hope I redeem myself just a little smidgen with my katswhiskers… but don’t ask me to diversify on that pic. One style fits all.
But… ummm… I must confess that I’m a little greedier than you – because I suspect I have a more fullblown illustrator envy. I really DO wish I could illustrate. Not all my stories… But some, I have these pictures in my mind… Would love to create them!
So many of my favourite PBs are author/illustrator works. Pamela Allen, Lynley Dodd, Jez Alborough, Alison Lester… perfect combinations of words and text seemlessly working together… Just makes me wish… *sighs*
I’m not an author but have always coveted the handwriting of artsy people- not just the signatures, but all the writing! My handwriting is so ordinary. Not bad, just ordinary. I’d love my handwriting to look pretty!
I bet those people with gorgeous hand writing take it for granted and don’t even realise how many people dream of their skills!
LOL! That’s so funny reading that because just this morning I was thinking about my book launch coming up next week and about My Signature (which is VERY flourishy I must admit) and what little picture I would draw next to it! ha ha.
Didn’t realise that was a source of jealousy though! I won’t flaunt it too much
Fancy handwriting AND, on your blog, ‘An Easy Blog Post’. http://bit.ly/cEOSw0 (And a very gorgeous post too by the way.) Congratulations on the new book. It looks beautiful.
I’m with Kat. I want illustration talents too! And an artsy signature. Was thinking, maybe with the right font, I could print my name off and trace it until I have it down pat.
[...] write picture books. I don’t illustrate them. I can’t illustrate them and I don’t really want to illustrate them. I believe that both the illustrations and text in my books are of equal importance. They play a [...]
Hmmm . . . but what if you’re an illustrator with messy writing and a non-flourishing signature, and a deep seated insecurity about adding little drawings to them in case you REALLY muck up the pretty front page. There are plenty who can pull it off, but some of us need a few drafts (like any good writer) to get our scribbles to a state that they can be shown to the world . . . I have illustrator envy too and I am one!
ps – and I do totally agree that the best picture books are a perfect combinations of words and text seemlessly working together… and it doesn’t necessarily have to be the same person – Armin Greder and Libby Gleeson for only one example.
lol I hadn’t thought of that one Sally.