COMING HOMEThe internet is filled with clear examples of...

COMING HOME

The internet is filled with clear examples of artistic
success: entire blogs dedicated to displaying paintings, sculptures, music, and
books in their curated, final form. For those hoping to break into their chosen
field, it can be daunting to imagine how to get there. Or how to even start.
I’m writing this entry to let you know that even for those of us that make our
living with our art, it is hard work. And as far as I can tell, it stays that
way.

At the end of February, I finished my last painting for
RETURN, the final book in my wordless trilogy that started with JOURNEY. It’s
now December, so it’s been a full nine and a half months since that exhilarating
moment. During that time, I’ve generated hundreds of pages of journal
scribbles, several folders of fleshed out book ideas, and drafts upon drafts of
stories. It’s all necessary and good work; there are morsels of stories that
will probably one day see the light of day, but none of it is ready for
pitching.  

At first, my approach was to go in the opposite direction of
JOURNEY and do a lot of writing (with words this time instead of pictures).
I’ve heard it said that to be an illustrator, you have to be a storyteller
first and I’ve always enjoyed using that side of my brain. The most ambitious
story that I’ve been working on has grown into an illustrated novel and it will
take me a few more years to work that one out.

I’ve also spent time on other forms; early chapter books,
activity books, lyrical manuscripts for picture books. Something inside of me
wanted to see what I was capable of. A friend told me a few weeks ago that it
seemed to him I was trying to touch the boundaries of my talent. I tend to be
unbelievably optimistic and figured the sky was the limit. And while this
delusion has helped me dig for new ideas, it’s also put me through the
proverbial wringer.

This past week, I finally decided I needed to take the
pressure off. I contacted my agent and suggested some different approaches;
maybe collaborating with an author or simply illustrating someone else’s
manuscript. And just like that, an idea for a new wordless picture book came to
me. Actually, about four of them at once. I’ve distilled them all down into
something that is working and the ideas are flowing effortlessly.

I’m glad I’ve taken the road of trying out new things. I do
think that in the long run I will be able to find my way back to some of those
stories. But for now, boy does it feel good to be home.