Q&A - Deborah Cuneo

Self Portrait - Digital Sketch

www.deborahcuneoillustration.com

Hi, I'm Deborah...illustrator, art teacher, Mom, fabric hoarder quilter, lover of marmalade and curator of several, rather large collections of Oaxacan wood sculptures, nutcrackers and sock monkeys (just to name just a few!).

Any Good News? / What are you working on? 

I'm very excited to announce that I recently signed with Sky Pony Press for my first book as both author and illustrator and I'm looking forward to Spring 2017, when Little Dragon makes his debut! Aside from Little Dragon, I'm working on a couple of new picture books and a graphic novel.

 

Little Dragon - Digitally Colored Character Sketch

 

What is your Medium? 

Medium has really been an evolutionary process for me. While I started out in kid-lit with pastel pencils, I've created with everything from markers to watercolors, colored pencils and acrylic. Most recently, I've moved on to digital and "whatever". I really like the freedom that painting with a digital tool provides, but I feel I always need to keep my hand in some sort of traditional medium as well. I do love experimenting and playing with all sorts of combinations so, stay tuned!!

Beagles - Acrylic/Colored Pencil

Down the Shore - Acrylic/Colored Pencil/ Digital

What attracted you to the field of kidlit? 

I had an aunt that supplied me with what turned into an incredible library of great picture books! I was never much of a tv watcher so, when I wasn't making art or playing sports, I spent hours looking at these books and loosing myself in the stories the illustrations told. I decided back then, that I wanted to be creating picture books at some point in my life! 

Who are your creative influences? 

For writing, I would have to say my grandfather, a former teacher, who was always writing and telling his own children's stories. Illustratively, when I was younger, I loved Rockwell, Sendak, Little Golden Books, Dr Seuss and of course, Disney! As an adult, I came to discover and appreciate the amazing work of David Wiesner, Chris Van Allsburg, Sophie Blackall, Shaun Tan, Chris Sheban, Renata Liwska, Helen Ward and Brian Wildsmith, just to name a few (ha, ha). And with each new illustrator I discover, I always take away something that I learn and love from their beautiful artwork and then I have to add them to my ever-growing list! 

Down the Rabbit Hole - Acrylic/Colored Pencil/Digital

Your Picture book process: Do the words come first or the images or both?

Definitely the pictures. When I get an idea, it's like a movie that suddenly starts playing in my head! 

GN Sketch - Pencil

 

What inspires you?

Everything does...For me, life is one big inspirational, shiny button moment after the next! 

Website: www.deborahcuneoillustration.com
Blog: Creating Out Loud  deborahcuneo.blogspot.com
Facebook: Deborah Cuneo Illustration
Twitter: @debcuneoart