I love to hear about how the illustration process happens. I didn’t know about “Easter eggs” in illustrations until I saw the sketches and ideas from Sally Wern Comport for HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. Indeed, it’s a thing! Here, local critique partner Julie Rowan-Zoch shares some of her own special touches and a bit of her work on just-released STOPPING BY JUNGLE ON A SNOWY EVENING, written by Richard T. Morris. I have to tell you, this book is a hoot!
GIVEAWAY! Julie is offering a copy of STOPPING BY JUNGLE ON A SNOWY EVENING to one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment below.
Momentos for Momentum by Julie Rowan-Zoch
I LOVE films, but especially DVDs (from my library) because if available I am definitely going to watch the director’s commentary. I am always curious to learn what they were thinking while bringing the story to life – and love
behind-the-scenes nuggets!
Illustrating another author’s manuscript is similar but not the same. I also pay good attention to the “film” that plays visually in my head while reading a manuscript. Like a director’s story board, the dummy sketches allow me to focus on composition, visual pacing and readability, action, and atmosphere. And a director’s choice of media will play a role just like it does in picture books. I believe similar things happen for the whole team, from the author, to the editor, the art director and designer. And getting it just right is everyone’s priority.
But while it’s wonderful to feel the support of a team there is also the challenge of doing my part of the work at home alone. I can keep energized doing research, like finding out hares actually stand and punch opponents, or Beatrix Potter’s favorite breed of sheep. I can make my workplace (sofa and sometimes bed!) comfy, add some music or allow a familiar film to keep me company. I always have coffee AND tea made before I begin.
There are plenty of moments where energy is l o o o w , and I am not doing a good job at motivating myself, or life just interrupts, sometimes with joy or grief. And sometimes all these things have a way of working themselves into my work too. Hiding personal Easter eggs can be a great pick-me-up, my very own little memories and momentos: like a nod to a favorite childhood picturebook over an entire spread with CAPS FOR SALE in NOT ALL SHEEP ARE BORING! or my mother’s pin cushion, or the same cloud-pattern sheets my kids had in which the boy and bear snuggle in LOUIS.
Some things are added subconsciously, like landscapes incorporated in SHEEP from period films I was watching-not-watching, or the Sonoran Desert setting in HARE, on the edge of which part of my family actually lives. Did I add an owl in my newest release just for my mother? She loved to have me show her owl clips on Instagram and she passed while I was finishing the art. The tennis ball was certainly for her!
All these eggs will remain treasured momentos for me, and hopefully some will be fun for kids to find, just like I enjoy finding them in other people’s work.
*There is another ‘egg’ in JUNGLE from a film I enjoyed as a kid, The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Let me know if you find it!
Don’t forget to leave a comment below to get in on the GIVEAWAY! (US addresses only, please. Winner announced 12/13/24)
And if you enjoy a book, please support authors and illustrators by leaving online reviews. 😃
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 
I’ve always enjoyed looking for Easter eggs in illustrations…and also always think I’m missing something (because I’m not that observant and probably am missing a lot). 😀 I can’t wait to read this book because I have been a HUGE fan of Julie’s art for over 10 years now! Congrats on the latest greatest, Julie!
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I think we are moving into our 13th year of friendship and mutual admiration, Teresa, but we have yet to meet in person!
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I can’t believe we have yet to meet in person, too! That doesn’t seem right….
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What fun to get this peek into your process, Julie. Notes I want to return to this PBs and look anew at the illustrations ☺️
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Thanks for taking the time to pop in and take a peek, Patricia!
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Thanks for having me, Beth! I should have included how lucky I am to have such incredibly supportive critique partners too!
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LOVE the mods to the ephemera of life that unlocks memories and makes connections even when we’re not expecting them!
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Amazing how little we are actually in control of our own thinking!
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Easter eggs are so fun in a book! Love your illustrations, Julie! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Kim!
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Ah – my fondness for a certain sheep [Mike H] who loves pickles and pickle pops!
Fun topic and post! 😀 Congrats on the new book Julie!
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Thanks, Cathy! I have a soft spot for Mike H too!
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Easter Eggs are so much fun to find. I also loved The Incredible Mr. Limpet and can’t wait to find your tribute to this movie (I have a feeling what it is).
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I wish, I wish, I wish! ☺️
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