Many talented illustrators participated in this year’s SCBWI Western WA conference Art Portfolio Showcase. With so many wonderful art portfolios, our faculty agent and editor judges had a difficult time choosing the winner. After much deliberation, the first place winner is Leanne Hatch, 2nd place winner is Andy Musser, and 3rd place winner Suzanne Kaufman. Below is Lily LaMotte’s interview with Suzanne Kaufman.
LILY LAMOTTE: Please briefly explain your creative process, favorite mediums, etc.
SUZANNE KAUFMAN: My process is all about play and emotion. I draw very loose and experiment with composition. I do a lot of traditional work that I incorporate in my final digital image.
LILY LAMOTTE: Where do you find your ideas? Do you have a process?
SUZANNE: I am inspired by my neighborhood of Beacon Hill in south Seattle. I actually base my main character on people I know. When I get stuck I will ask them how they would deal with the situation. Crazy huh.
LILY: How do you deal with creative blocks?
SUZANNE: I draw. I cry sometimes and I call a good kidlit friend.
LILY: Who are your illustrator heroes? Influences?
SUZANNE: Midcentury female illustrators like Ipcar Dahlov, Mary Blair, Adrienne Adams, Helen Borton.
LILY: Any words of wisdom you want to share?
SUZANNE: “The greatest teacher, failure is.” YODA
LILY: Work in progress?
SUZANNE: I am working on the followup to All Are Welcome and I am failing a lot which means I am growing.
LILY: Was it easy to tell your story?
SUZANNE: Absolutely not. You need to love the process. I love everything about books. The words, the pictures, the page turn, the rhythm even the touch and smell of a book are precious to me.
LILY: Where did the story come from?
SUZANNE: Here is the true story behind All Are Welcome. Two years ago, in December after the announcement of soon-to-be President Trump’s planned travel ban, I felt deep sadness and completely helpless. My daughters’ school is comprised predominately of immigrant families from all over the world, from many different religious backgrounds. I wanted the kids in my community and all children to know they were safe and welcome at their school the next morning. Then I remembered a quote by Nina Simone. “You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” I felt instantly compelled to do something, with the one thing I could freely give, my art. I created a poster with children from all different backgrounds with the text “All Are Welcome” and posted it on social media to a print for classrooms. I hoped it could help other teachers and schools support their students. Since posting, it has been printed by educators nationwide to let their families know they are safe and welcome in their schools.
My husband and I are fortunate to be raising our daughters in Beacon Hill, a multicultural neighborhood, nestled above downtown Seattle. It is among one of the most diverse zip codes in the U.S. Almost half of the residents are foreign born and roughly 60 percent speak a language other than English at home. It’s not uncommon to see girls in our school wearing hijabs. It’s also not uncommon for the whole school to gather to learn a Vietnamese dance or celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year with a Lion Dance blessing.
Our school’s PTA meetings have the feel of a mini-United Nations and diversity and community are not just protected, but celebrated.
Around the same time I published my art, Alexandra Penfold received a letter (as did all the other NYC school parents) about how the schools would protect students right to receive an education and not turn over any immigration information. There are 25 different languages and dialects spoken in her son’s school and 80% of children speak a language other than English at home. It was a shot to the heart for her to say the least. That night before she went to sleep she saw someone had shared my poster on social media. It was one of the last things she peeked at before going to bed. She also felt the strong urge to put something out there that’s reassuring to these same kids and woke up in the middle of the night with an idea for a story to go with the poster.
I received a wonderful letter from Alex with her inspiration. I read her text and cried. I knew I wanted to make this book and it could only be done with my dear agent and friend Alex. We felt another opportunity to give back and create a book that reflects the school communities we’re both part of. A book that celebrates diversity, and gives encouragement and support to all kids. We were very lucky to create this book with Erin Clarke and Martha Rago. These two supported us and pushed us to make it better than anything I have ever done. My heart ached when it was done but I am so excited for you to see this book so dear to me and Alex.
LILY: How do you work from traditional to digital?
SUZANNE: I mix both. Book dummies, roughs, process, etc… I probably make the book a hundred times between dummies, sketches and final art and I still love to do it.
LILY: Many thanks to Suzanne Kaufman, Andy Musser, and Leanne Hatch for sharing their process and inspiring words with us!
About the interviewer
Lily LaMotte writes middle grade graphic novels and picture books. She is the Weekend-on-the-Water Retreat coordinator for SCBWI WWA and a member of the King County Library System Foundation Gala Committee to support all things library. She is repped by Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
About the guest
Suzanne Kaufman is the Illustrator of The New York Times best-selling picture book, All Are Welcome. She has written and illustrated her own book, Confiscated, for Balzer and Bray. Her current illustrated work includes books: Take Your Pets to School Day, 100 Bugs, Naughty Claudine Christmas, and Samanthasaurus Rex. She is the recipient of 2019 The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Mentorship and Portfolio Honors. Her books have been awarded Bank Street College Education Best Children’s Books of the Year Honors, Notable Books for a Global Society, Mathical Honor Award and Amazon Best Children Book of the Year. She has presented at Tucson Book Festival, Los Angeles Festival of Books and Penguin Random House Book Festival. She has lectured about illustration around the US, England, Japan and Peru. Visit her at www.suzannekaufman.com.
What a great story! Thank you for sharing!