Clip-Art Interview: The Purple Caterpillar

1. Could you tell us a little bit about your art background? 

I minored in art in college (way back in the 90's!), eventually graduating with a Liberal Arts degree with Special Ed emphasis.  

I've never taken graphic design or any other computer art course in my life!  I still work just with a pencil and paper until I have my final piece.  I only use the computer for scanning and digitizing.

I've done commissioned work, (both paintings of various subjects and pencil portraits), and sold jewelry I made or other crafts at a few local craft shows over the years.  Nothing really ever took off, though.

2. How did you get into creating clip-art? 

A teacher friend knew I was an artist and thought I would do well making clip art for TPT, so she helped me set up shop!  Between her and the wonderful, supportive TpT Clip Artist Tribe, I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator (at least enough to get my work to end up as transparent .png files with the right resolution!!), what teachers find useful, and a little bit of marketing help.  Ok, a whole lot of marketing help.  I stink at marketing.

 3. What is something you've learned in your experience as a clip-art illustrator?

It's a good thing to stick to my own "thing."  It was really hard at first not comparing my clips to others.  I don't have that clean, created-in-Adobe-Illustrator look.  I wondered if anyone would even like what I was doing since it is so different and I really fought (and still fight!) self-doubt.  But I just keep telling myself it's ok to be the tortoise.  He got there by steady work and not being dismayed by his limitations, his style, or his pace.

4. Give one unique fact about your art background. 

When I was younger, I dreamed of being an artist or a special education teacher.  When I got to college, my practical side took over.  The world didn't really need another artist, I thought, and I'm not as good as some of my peers anyway.  So, I majored in Special Ed instead.

5. Tell us about your best-selling clip-art set.

 That would be the Aliens and Monsters.  Did NOT expect that!  I actually drew them back in 1997 as characters for the teacher I was an aide for.  She was going to do an outer space theme the next year and needed some fun guys for the kids.  They were drawn on cheap printer paper with black Crayola markers!  And those very drawings are the ones I scanned in for the line art!  

Really fun fact:  The guy with the big nose is named Oswald for my husband's mother's side of the family.  They have very distinctive noses.  He always said that's where he got his Oz-schnoz!  ;)

6. Describe an experience in your educational or artist background that inspired you or helped you on your journey as an illustrator.

I really have to credit my mother with nurturing my artistic bent.  She spent lots of time taking my sister and I out in nature and pointing out details of the things we saw.  We took time to look, smell, touch, and then go home and draw or write about what we did.  She always had art and craft supplies on hand and lots of ideas of things to make.  Later on, it was my elementary and high school art teachers who were so affirming of my work.  My high school teacher even allowed me in my junior year to do an independent study with her during her prep period.  It was an honor I'll never forget, especially knowing how precious that break time is for teachers!

7. What is your favorite type of subject matter to draw? Least favorite? 

Animals and children are at the top of my list.  I also really enjoy technical illustration for different areas in biology.  I LOVE detail!

I enjoy drawing people, but I get anxious about doing them.

Least favorite? things that need to be in perspective and have straight lines.  I'm a swirly, curvy person.

Thank you so much for the great interview!  I can't wait to see more of your unique style!