“Self-Professed” Writer & Illustrator
SELF-PROFESSED WRITER
Over the years when someone asked me what I did for a living I would describe myself as a “self-professed” writer. I used that term because I didn’t have the confidence to say, “I’m a writer.” I felt that way, in part, because I never earned a steady income writing, nor had I been validated as a writer in some other way. It didn’t matter that I studied journalism in college and did short-term and freelance writing before and after graduation, because that, still, didn’t feel like enough. I didn’t realize until this year that all along I had been suffering from “imposter” syndrome. In spite of my education or accomplishments, I doubted my abilities, so to call myself a ‘writer’ felt fraudulent.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Even though I doubted my abilities I never doubted my passion for writing. That started as a child and never waned. In fact, it increased and took on a whole new purpose after I became a born again believer in Jesus. It was in 1997, about a year or two into my walk with the Lord, that I began to write the Theodore and All God’s Creatures Christian children’s book series’. I was on fire for Jesus and the stories sprung out of an overwhelming desire to share my new found faith and love for God and His Word with children and families.
SEARCHING FOR AN ILLUSTRATOR
Original Theodore drawing
Once the writing was complete I began to look for an illustrator, but my efforts were fruitless. One day I shared my dilemma with a friend and she suggested that I illustrate the books myself. I thought that was absurd. I wasn’t an artist. She remembered that I had done some sketching in college, but that wasn’t the same. I didn’t realize it then, but she had planted a seed in me.
Within a year of that conversation that seed began to sprout. After an intense night of prayer, the next morning I woke up and drew the Theodore character. That was the beginning of creating and bringing all of my characters to life. Still, I felt the same way about my drawing as I did about my writing. I never called, or to this day, call myself an artist or illustrator, not even “self-professed”.
MY PROCESS
People are often curious about my writing and drawing process. Like any creative, when ideas come to me I scramble to write them down on whatever I can find, a scrap of paper, the notes program on my iPhone, the back of an envelope, or one of the many notebooks I have strewn around. Then I start writing and rewriting, draft after draft.
Illustrating is a different story. In spite of my lack of formal training, other than grammar school art classes, I am fairly good at drawing what I see. So, I spend a lot of time studying other drawings or photos, particularly facial expressions, shading and body positions. I do almost all of my drawing freehand on the computer in Adobe Illustrator, using my mouse as my pencil. Drawing is not easy for me and the process is generally long and arduous, but it’s all worth it when I see that character or story emerge.
NOT THE WORST, NOT THE GREATEST
Fast forward 25 years. I’m still writing and illustrating. The pictures I create are far from perfect. I’m sure trained artists would have a field day picking apart my drawings, but I’m okay with that. They were never designed to win awards or impress professionals. God created me to create them just as they are, to tell a story about Jesus, to capture the imaginations of children and inspire them to love Him and His Word. I am God’s workmanship and I was created by Him for this purpose. I’m not the worst writer or the greatest illustrator, but I’m used by God and I’m grateful. It is all a part of His plan.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10
NOTE: I’d like to thank my friend, Jeff Jenkins, an incredible artist, who graciously gave of his time and talent to help me fine tune my drawing skills. Jeff gave me shading tips and proportion advice. I credit him with normalizing the size of my character’s eyes. Thank you, Jeff. You are a blessing to me.
