Krista Brennan's The Storytellers - Q&A

Illustrator and fine artist Krista Brennan’s great attention to detail and colours found inside The Storytellers left us wanting to know more… so, we interviewed her. 

Q: What was it about Robert's story that drew you into illustrating it?

A: I think the whole premise of the story is very personal to me since I'm a creative person myself. I really felt a connection to all the characters, particularly the illustrator Imani. 

Q: At the beginning of this project how did you visualise the concepts Robert Vescio presented through text? 

A: I have a really visual internal life, so whenever I read or listen to anything I see very clear images in my head. Even in answering these questions, I can picture someone sitting in front of their computer reading the answers! Growing up this was very distracting and made focusing really difficult (and I now know it's a part of my ADHD), but it has been such an asset to illustration. So, as soon as I read the text, I can see the pictures forming clearly in my mind. The image on pages 16-17 where Imani is sketching, and the images are forming in front of her in the air is a representation of what it's like for me. Robert also gave some guidance on what he thought the pages might look like, and I would often work with those ideas as a base.  

Q: Do you have an example of a page where you believe you've enlarged on what is explicitly presented in the text? 

A: I'm always thinking about how my illustrations can enhance what is happening in the text, and one of the main things I added was the visual theme of the dragon on various pages through the text. There's not quite a dragon on every page, but I wanted to have referenced throughout in various ways, developing from a small wisp on pages 6-7 to a full dragon on 12-13, and then becoming more solid and real until it's at the entrance to the theme park on page 28.

Q: What page or spread are you the proudest of in The Storytellers and why?

A: I think I'm most proud of the cover, and it captures all the characters in their childhood, when they are first finding their creativity, and brings them together in a way that doesn't happen in the story. I like the warmth and dreaminess of it, and it makes me think of happy moments in my own childhood, climbing trees and being imaginative.

Q: Can you tell us about your design journey and how easy or difficult this particular project was compared to your previous body of works?

A: I always start with storyboard sketches and character designs to get a sense of how things are going to look. Having so many different characters is always a challenge as it means I have to design several people (and each person at two different ages) so it took a little while to get that right. I was also using a new program to paint these illustrations so there was a bit of a learning curve in knowing how to use the brushes and tools properly. The hardest part was the book shop scene on pages 20-21 as I had to paint the cover of each book by hand. I wasted some time trying to work out if there was a short cut way to do it, but it never looked the way I wanted, so in the end I just did them all individually! I think the piece of design I was happiest with was the dragon, because it had a personal significance for me. When I was around 11 years old, I drew a dragon and entered it into an art competition at my school. I didn't win, but only because the judges thought it looked too good and I must have had help from a parent! The dragon in this story is the same style of dragon I drew for that competition, so I'm really happy to think it can finally have a place in the world (and no-one will tell me I had help with it!)

Click here to get your copy of The Storytellers

Click here to watch The Storytellers book trailer

Robert Vescio's The Storytellers - Q&A

Come with us as we interview Robert Vescio, the award-winning talented author in his newest children's book The Storytellers where his story and love of tales in bursting right from the pages. 

Q: At what age did you discover your own love for storytelling? 

A: I think I was six when I discovered my love of storytelling. It all started with a mouse – Disney’s Mickey Mouse Brave Little Tailor vinyl Record and Book. It was a See, Hear and Read 7” Record + 24page Book. The narrator reads every word as you see it in the book. It’s a great way to assist non-readers to learn and help beginners to read. And you knew it was time to turn the page when Tinker Bell rang her little bell. There were only three books available at the time: Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs and Mary Poppins. So, my parents bought the other two in the series when they saw how excited and engaged I was with the first book.

Q: What was the most essential part of this project for you, the diversity, the overall message, or another? 

 

A: I wrote this story to show children how an idea can lead to another aspect of artistic expression. For a book to be created, somebody had an idea and wrote about it. The idea was submitted to a book publisher who in turn found an illustrator to illustrate the story. Once the book was published, it was distributed into bookstores and libraries and then promoted. And sometimes, books are made into movies. And also turned into rides at theme parks. The most important part about The Storytellers is that a story can reach so many people around the globe and touch them when they need them the most. Storytellers come from all walks of life from every corner of the globe – they start off as young children doing what they like best and then grow up to pursue their dreams. Their lives are weaved together. They are all storytellers, bringing something different to the same story.

 

Q: Where did the central theme of the dragon come from? 

A: That’s all thanks to Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon book series. Plus, who doesn’t like dragons?! But to be honest, I’ve actually written a junior fiction story about a boy named Eric who goes on a quest to find a dragon. I thought this was the perfect backdrop for The Storytellers.

Q: What advice would you give your children readers who have self-doubts about achieving their storytelling dreams? 

A: Don’t be scared and don’t worry about making mistakes. Good things come from making mistakes. Surprises. When you make a mistake, you are creating something new. Something no one has ever seen before. There is only your story so make it count.

Q: Out of the characters in your The Storytellers book who do you relate to the most?

A: That’s a tough one. I like them all. Why? Because they’re all creators of their own destiny. When you create, you bring something special to the world that gives our lives meaning and happiness. And that’s exactly what the storytellers in the book are doing.

Q: What is or has been your favourite thing about your chosen career as a storyteller?

A: That’s easy – I get to share my stories with children. Help to inspire and enthuse them to read and write their own stories. And, along the way, make some fans!

 

Click here to get your copy of The Storytellers now!  

Click here to view The Storytellers book trailer!