Friday, October 8, 2010

Visit with Kit Grady, Illustrator

 It's my great pleasure to share with you a little about Kit Grady, the illustrator of Animal Sound Mix-up. I'm sure you'll agree with me that her illustrations are delightful, and it's interesting to learn what was involved in the artistic part of this book. Please be sure to leave your comments or any questions you might have for Kit, and enjoy!

Animal Sound Mix-up was a manuscript that when I saw it, I knew it could really be an enjoyable book to illustrate. What great creatures Connie had filled into this story with a wonderful message. I began my process of illustrating “Animal Sound Mix-up” by breaking up the manuscript, allowing for good flow and visual possibilities. I pulled out my sketch pad and began drawing. After several weeks and lots of drawing paper used, I scanned the art into my computer. I used Photoshop and my wacom tablet to work on the illustrations and do the coloring and tweaking. A couple of months later, I emailed the art  to the editor, Lynda Burch at Guardian Angel Publishing. She publishes in print and also ebooks which is a bonus in this ever changing world of publishing.
   
It was so much fun, yet there were challenging things like making  the illusion a deer honk, a bird oink, or having a bear baa. Animals are my favorite things to draw, so this book was a delight.

Connie and I conversed  a lot about  ideas and thoughts by email.  I haven’t met Connie in person yet, but since our imaginations seem to click in the same way I’m sure looking forward to meeting my author of “Animal Sound Mix-up.“

Thank you so much, Kit, and I'm really looking forward to meeting you as well. Here is one of Kit's illustrations from Animal Sound Mix-up, and you can see more of her art by visiting her website.

"What if when you went to the zoo,
all the monkeys were to moo?"

See the schedule for the rest of the tour and the prizes on the Blog Tour Begins post. Be sure to leave a comment to enter drawings for Amazon gift certificate and Animal Encyclopedia and let me know when you purchase a copy to enter the drawing for an animal ornament set. Animal Sound Mix-up can be purchased from Guardian Angel Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most online bookstores.

18 comments:

Janet Johnson said...

Love the pictures! And the book sounds like a lot of fun. I'm sure my kids would love it. :)

Connie Arnold said...

Thanks for coming by and for your comment, Janet! Yes, the pictures are so cute, aren't they? Be sure to let me know if you get them a copy so I can enter you in the drawing for the animal ornament set.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Oh, Connie! You showed my favorite page! I love the dialogue and the thought of monkey's saying "moo." It's such a fun picture book...You make a good team!

Connie Arnold said...

That's one of my favorites too, Sharon! Can you just imagine those monkeys saying "moo"!

Cheryl said...

I love Kit's work. She does such a lovely job.

Best of luck with your book, ladies.

Cheryl

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Connie and Kit .. wonderful to read about .. and to have that ability to draw pictures like that .. is so lovely to see ..

Fantastic that you've got such wonderful people to work with .. the kids will love the story, the pictures and the sounds .. they'll laugh so much ..

Loved reading it .. thanks Hilary

Connie Arnold said...

Cheryl, I agree that Kit does a lovely job. Thanks for your good wishes!

Connie Arnold said...

Hilary, thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comment. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Mayra Calvani said...

Kit illustrated one of my picture book. It was a pleasure working with her and she has a real talent when it comes to drawing animals. They're just delightful!

Connie,
She did a marvelous work with your book! I havne't had the time to review it yet, but will do so soon.

I just became your follower. I hope you will follow back.

Connie Arnold said...

Mayra, Kit sure is talented! I knew when I saw samples of her work that I wanted her to do the illustrations for Animal Sound Mix-up and am so thankful she agreed to do them. Thanks for following my blog. I tried to follow you before, but Google Friend Connect hasn't been working for me. I did manage to follow using Twitter account.

Kit said...

Thank You Thank you for such kind comments-Connie's book was so much fun to do, and so was Mayra's -Humberto the Bookworm Hamster
Kit Grady

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss connie! i got here from miss sharon mayhews blog. you did a really neat interview over there. ilooooove all kinds of animals mostly raccoons so i love the idea of your book and the pictures are soooo neat. it just sounds like a really fun book. i like rhyming stuff a lot and picture books are sooooo much fun. i hope you get lots of them sold so everyone could have fun reading it and smile with you.
...smiles from lenny

Connie Arnold said...

Kit, you must have such fun with all the great illustrations to do!

Hi Lenny, thanks for coming by with your fun comment and smiles! Your visit made me smile, and I enjoyed visiting your blog too.

Lydia Kang said...

I love these illustrations! I love drawing too but I am always in awe of professional illustrators. Thanks Connie and Kit!

Connie Arnold said...

Lydia, I'm in awe of someone with a talent like Kit's too! Thanks for stopping by.

Sangu Mandanna said...

It sounds like the two of you had such a great relationship while you worked together! Yay!

Melissa Sarno said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog, Connie! I didn't think about how hard it might be to illustrate 'sound' which is a big part of your book. What's so great is that it's meant to be read out loud. It's actually making me think a lot about sound in my writing in general. But I digress...thanks for sharing this insight into the illustration and good luck with your book!

Connie Arnold said...

Sangu, it's a great relationship even though we've never actually met in person!

Melissa, it takes a talented artist like Kit to illustrate sound!