Q&A - Diana Ting Delosh

Before I introduce myself via the Drawn to Picture Books' Q&A, I'd like to say how happy I am to be a part of this group. FYI: we will be posting weekly on wednesdays by noon, introducing ourselves over the next few weeks.

What are you working on?
Currently, I'm working on a few stand alone illustrations, sort of as a warm-up before I dive into my picture book dummy.

Groundhog Waltz

© Diana Ting Delosh

What is your medium?
Ink, Watercolor, Pencil and Photoshop. Currently, I make my lines with: brush pen, marker, Rapidiograph pen. Sometimes there's pencil showing through for texture and subtle delineation. I mostly paint in the colors with water soluble colored inks. Sprinkle in some Photoshop magic and voila!

Little Red

© Diana Ting Delosh 

Who are your creative influences?
To name just a few, on the illustration side there's Beatrix Potter, Richard Scarry and Maurice Sendak. I think you can see some of their influence in my art.  Then on the writing side, there's Jane Yolen and Ray Bradbury. This is not to say I write like them just that I aspire to beautiful lyrical writing. There are also gazillion other illustrators and authors whose works I adore but I think the artists and writers of my youth are the ones who made the strongest impression on me. My childhood art heroes definitely helped me develop my visual language.

Nerdy Chick
© Diana Ting Delosh

Your picture book process: do the words come first or the images or both?
I tend to daydream my stories until they're more concrete. And then it depends on the story, which comes first: the writing or the drawing. Most of the time when I try to write down the story the words evade me. Sometimes I draw out the story in very rough, hairball sketches and add captions.  Then do more drawings and go back and forth between writing and drawing until I have something cohesive. Every now and then I begin a story with the words. My current project started with the words.

Ballerina Bunny
© Diana Ting Delosh

If you were an animal what would you be?
Rabbit. If I were to draw myself as an animal I would immediately personify myself as a bunny. Perhaps it's the Beatrix Potter influence.

Strawberry & Cream Cupcake
© Diana Ting Delosh
Hope it's chocolate cake underneath that cream.

What is your favorite yummy?

Cake, preferably chocolate.

Fox Dreams
© Diana Ting Delosh

Website: dianadelosh.com

Illustration Blog: The Hare Illustratere

Follow me on Twitter: @dtdelosh