Today, a guest blog by J. D. Holiday:
When I first started out, I found many challenges in being both the author and
illustrator of children's books. I
self-published after many years of trying to get published the traditional
way. Though doing my own artwork was not
something I found easy, I wrote for twenty-five years without doing the
illustrations for two reasons. The first was traditional publishers told
authors in those days (and still tell them) that if authors did their own
illustrations that they, the publishers, might not want the book. Publishers
reasoned they might like the stories but not the pictures—which would make them
reject the book entirely. Secondly, I didn’t feel confident enough to do my own
art work because to that date, I had painted for fun and enjoyment.
It took me some time to get to the point in a painting
where I felt that the painting was heading in the right direction. Also, it took me a
while to work with digital art programs to do whole paintings that way. Previously,
I used my paint programs for touch ups to my drawings and paintings.
Now, my being the author and the illustrator is actually
helpful in putting the story together. Doing both allows me to easily move back
and forth between the story and the pictures. I can easily revise the story
line and the paintings to match. Once I let myself go and commit to doing the art work myself, being
both the author and illustrator became an asset.
Since I am the artist, too, I don‘t have to worry who will
do the drawings and paintings for my books. Nor will I have to split the money
made on the sales of my books with someone else. I alone have the
satisfaction that comes from doing it all and having a good product.
