Please welcome author and book illustrator extraordinaire Courtney Pippin-Mathur. It wasn’t until college and an awesome teacher that she realized she could draw for a career. She switched from government to Studio Art and never looked back. After graduating with a Studio Art degree she got married, had a baby and moved to the east coast. Find out more at her web site http://www.pippinmathur.com/.
Q: When did you get started as a book illustrator for children? What did you do before?
A: In college, I majored in Studio Art taking photography, life drawing and watercolor classes. I always knew I wanted to illustrate children’s books, but I didn’t start pursuing it seriously until my daughter could occupy herself in the studio while I worked.
Q: Your newest book released this month is “Maya Was Grumpy” which you also wrote. What did you find the most challenging thing about the creation of this book?
A: I wrote the story pretty quickly and my editor was incredibly helpful with revisions. I think the process of illustrating a picture book is a monumental task. You don’t realize the vast amounts of revisions you will go through to get it “right”. I remember despairing about 2/3 of the way through, after painting after painting didn’t work. With (my style of) watercolor, if it doesn’t work, there is no going back and adding a new layer. You have to start over again from scratch. Now that I survived, I appreciate the process a lot more and look forward to going through it again.
Q: You have a very unique style. Did it take you a long time to arrive at a place where you felt satisfied with your signature look?
A: It’s funny, but my style is constantly evolving. When I started corresponding with my editor years ago, my work was a bit more “wild”. After a few years of rejections, I was working towards taming my style. When my editor and I started working on the book, she encouraged me to return back to the more vibrant washes that I had previously discarded. It was like returning home again, but it took a while for me to get back into that style of creating. Then, I started to take my paintings into Photoshop and that further evolved my style. So, I guess I’m still not completely satisfied. 
Q: Will there be more Maya adventures in the future?
A: None in the works. Yet. 
Q: What other children’s books have you worked on?
A: This was my first book.
Q: What are you working on now? Do you have any other art projects you’d like to talk about?
A: I am in the land of subbing now, getting my stories into the hands of editors.
Q: Do you do non-children’s book art (licensing, fine art, etc.) or art just for fun? Is that art similar or different from your art as a children’s book illustrator?
A: Not really. I do create a few custom pieces for clients. But it’s usually similar to my watercolor illustrations.
Q: Can you explain your art process?
A: I start with a very rough sketch. Then I draw on watercolor paper (smooth or rough, usually 140 pound or 300 pound if it’s for a book) I ink my lines, erase the pencil marks and paint with watercolors and watercolor pencils. Then I scan it into Photoshop and clean up and tweak the paintings.
Q: What is your favorite medium to work in? Have you always worked in this media? If not, why did you switch?
A: Pencil and Watercolor always. Since college when I would create large abstract watercolor paintings.
Q: Do you use models/source pictures or do you draw from your memory/imagination?
A: I look at photos or sketch from life then draw from those sketches.
Q: What gets you through an illustration when you’re stuck for inspiration?
A: Usually walking away from it. Then I try to fill my brain with something interesting, like a trip to the museum, other illustrators work that I admire, going to a national park and just hanging with my kids. When I return after a few days, I can usually find a solution immediately.
Q: If you could be anything other than a book illustrator, what would you be?
A: A writer or teacher.
Q: What book do you remember from when you were young?
A: Shel Silverstein and Roald Dahl books ere my favorite.
Q: Is there a children’s book illustrator whose work you gravitate towards in the bookstore now?
A: Polly Dunbar, Oliver Jeffers, Peter Brown, Marla Frazee to name a few…
Q: If you could illustrate any writer’s new work, who would it be?
A: Ack, that’s a hard one! I’ll go with Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein, since they were my favorites growing up.
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Thanks so much for visiting, Courtney. Congratulations on your first book. I’m sure it will be one of many.
My husband and I took a mini get-away vacation last week. I packed up a small suitcase and we headed west to KC for Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. It was A May ZING!!! I got to meet some of my artistic idols and spend uninterrupted time with my honey. We so rarely have a chance to get away from it all together.
