What helped you get your start in children's book illustration?
My initial inspiration came from watching Mickey Mouse Club on TV when I was a kid. I was inspired by watching Roy Disney draw the Disney characters on that giant sketch pad. At five years old, in first grade, I decided that I wanted to be an artist and writer when I grew up. Little did I know at the time that when I grew up I too would become a fast-draw artist like Roy Disney. As a matter of fact, I will be getting up early tomorrow morning to drive to a school in another town to do an all-day program. My school visits are one of my favorite career pursuits.
Do you do research for your projects or illustrations? or
How much research is needed for one of your illustrations?
My answer is probably the same as most other digitally inclined illustrators working today. Google Image has made a world of difference for me. I use it almost daily. I did seven illustrations of old world sailing ships today using Google Image as my only resource. No more driving to the library and thumbing through reference books. All of the reference for my story blog, The Trowbridge Chronicles, comes straight from Google Image.
Have you been published anywhere?
Yes, I've been published by numereous sources. If anyone should want to see a fairly complete list, you'll find one at my web site, www.bronsmith.com, in the "Portfolio" section.
Did you go to Art School?
I went to the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.
What motivates you?
I'm never lacking for motivation. That's the least of my problems. I have a constantly burning drive and love for being an creative person that takes me from shortly after six in the morning till around midnight most nights. Weekends too. I reserve most of Saturday to write and illustrate Health Capsules, my daily syndicated comic panel.
How do you stay inspired?
I'm inspired by looking at other people's work and reading about their careers. I've run across a lot of amazing work by being involved in the blogospere. You can find a lot of talented people just by checking out blog rolls.
Tell us about your workspace. Do you have a studio?
My work situation couldn't be more unconventional. I Try to work in my studio as little as possible, because of phone, email, and other daily interruptions. So I grab my bag in the morning and head for a sunny window seat of a nearbly coffee shop. I spend most of the day outside of my office in nearby eateries. I come home for lunch, but even doing that tends to send me on a bunny trail. I'm such an afternoon regular at a nearby McDonalds that they recently gave me a big blue mug which entitles me to free ice tea or whatever beverage I choose for life. What a deal.
I do need to return to my office to color my art work. If I had a laptop, I could put the color on outside of my office and my wife may not see me for weeks.
How do you work?
I pencil or ink the artwork somewhere outside of my office, then I bring the drawing back, scan it in, and color it in Photoshop. I'm only home for the color phase of my work. I also do all of my writing as outside of my office. I write in longhand, then type into the computer back at my office.
Do you make school visits? What do you feel is the benefit?
School visits are a regular part of my work. If you would like to take a closer look at my school programs, you'll find a "School Visits" page at my web site. That's me in the "tacky khaki" jungle costume. I open the school day with an all-school assembly, then I spend the remainder of the day doing workshops in the classrooms for each of the grades. Most of my school visits are for grades K through 6, though I've done some middle schools and high schools as well.
What are you working on now?
I'm always working on various cartoon map projects for my cartoon map company, Fun Maps USA. I just finished a cartoon map of the U.S.A. for a school in Virginia. It's posted it at my cartoon map web site: www.funmapsusa.com. I will soon be starting a cartoon map of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, as well as other cartoon maps, some of them in Canada.
I'm just finishing up a grueling 110-page book on famous explorers. I've been working on it for a while, so it will be a relief to have it behind me. But it's been a fun project. I've done a portrait of every notable explorer that ever lived, plus I drew maps of their treks or voyages.
My story blog, The Trowbridge Chronicles, assures me that I will have little or no time to rest. I try to do a new episode every week, and it's always a sacrifice. Sometimes I wonder how long I can keep up the schedule of my regular work, plus Trowbridge. I work on it late nights, early mornings and weekends, writing and drawing as fast as I can from Friday until its done. Then, shortly after it's done, it's time to start over again. You have to really enjoy what you do to live like this.
I'm also 15,000 words into a book called 75 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Without Drugs. It comes out of four years of research into the subject. So my hours are long, but it beats working for a living.
What is something about you that kids might like to know?
During my assemblies and classroom visits at schools, I give kids pep talks. I tell them that life is more exciting when you live it to the fullest, with dedication and passion for what you love. I find that passion is a scarce commodity. I rarely meet children or adults who are highly motivated. Maybe I've just met the wrong people. But it discourages me that I'm always trying to encourage people to strive to be their best and strive for their goals, and I usually get a blank stare. I'm thinking: "Hello? Anyone home in there?"
What advice would you give to those hoping to write and illustrate children's books?
My advice may be a bit unconventional, and it may not square with what I said in the above paragraph. But I don't encourage most of the children or adults that I meet to make a career of their art or writing. The reason: You have to be incredibly motivated AND talented to make a living from writing and illustrating. Few people are blessed with both gifts. The people who ask me about it rarely have the combination of traits necessary to feed a family from the art or writing.
Having said that, I think it's great if someone pursues their art or writing on the side, to test the waters first. It may be best for them to do it on a part-time basis, for extra income. I know a watercolorist who lives here in the Northwest. He's perhaps the most notable watercolorist working in this part of the county. But for most of his working life he sold window blinds by day and did his beautiful watercolors by night. It's only been in the last few years that he decided to do it full time.
I also think it's a great job for female artists or writers whose husbands are gainfully employed, who can provide a secured income. That secured income is all-important. Unfortunately, I feel that most people couldn't launch out and quickly feed a family from an art or writing income. In most cases it would take months or years to build up. Of course, there are exceptions, but I think that's the reality. That's the advice I give. It's not sugar-coated...but it's realistic.
