Hello, friends! You're just in time. Joyce Wan, author-illustrator of many cute-as-can-be picture books, has offered to give us a tour of her studio! I'm so excited! And nervous. How do I look?
I brought along a copy of her brand-new book -- PEEP AND EGG: I'M NOT HATCHING. Do you think she'll sign it? It's the first title in a funny new character-driven series for toddlers in which a reluctant chick overcomes her fears. Kirkus calls it "delightful and right on target."
Oh! We're here. I'll knock on Joyce's door.
<<Knock, knock.>>
JW: Hello, Mr. Pig! You made it!
MP: Thanks for having me, Joyce! You look pretty in pink. Do you love pink, too? I love pink. I am pink. Oh dear. I'm a nervous oinker . . . I mean, talker. Oink!
JW: Don't be nervous. Come on in! I'll show you my studio. Hope you don't mind walking up a lot of steps.
JW: Well, here we are! My workspace is in the finished attic of my home. I’ve only
been in this space for less than a year as we moved into this home just last
year. Um, do you need to catch your breath?
MP: Me? No! <<pant, pant>> Your studio is adorable -- just like your books. Tell me about it.
JW: The attic was already a finished space when we moved in but I had new
floors installed and repainted the space including the chalkboard wall which is
one of my favorite parts of the studio! Whenever someone visits I have them
make their own mark on the wall.
MP: I love that idea. I'll write "Mr. Pig was here." What's on the other side of the room?
JW: My desks. I work on two desks, a computer desk and a drawing desk,
depending on what I’m working on. I’m at my computer desk when working in the
digital medium and attending to administrative and marketing tasks. When I’m in
the sketching phase of a book or when working on books where I render part of
it in pencil I’m at my drawing desk. I often go back and forth between the two
desks as I am an expert multi-tasker!
MP: What are you working on now?
JW: Right now, I am in the middle of working
on a few book projects and preparing for the launch of my upcoming picture book
PEEP AND EGG: I’M NOT HATCHING. Here are some of the illustrations for it.
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| From PEEP AND EGG: I'M NOT HATCHING. Illustration copyright 2016 by Joyce Wan. |
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| From PEEP AND EGG: I'M NOT HATCHING. Illustration copyright 2016 by Joyce Wan |
MP: Ooooh! I love Peep and Egg. And that beautiful desk on the right.
JW: Thanks! My drawing desk is a vintage
adjustable Anco Bilt drafting table that was made around the mid-20th century.
My agent told me about it when she saw it at a vintage furniture store in New
Jersey and I couldn’t resist picking it up. It is one of my favorite pieces of
furniture in my house.
JW: Over here is where I pin up postcards, photographs, quotes,
scraps of paper, fabric, notes, and photos that people send me – anything that
inspires me or makes me happy.
JW: Being an author and/or illustrator can be a very solitary
profession, luckily I have these guys to keep me company.
MP: Cute! Where did you get the giant Peep?
JW: It was a
gift from the Easter Bunny last year.
JW: This is where I put all sorts of fun knick knacks. I love to
surround myself with all sorts of cute, happy, and lucky items! I particularly
treasure my collection of lucky cats. I think it's really important to
create a space for yourself that nurtures your creative spirit.
MP: I agree! Your cheerful studio puts a smile on my face. Thank you, Joyce, for the tour! I hope you can sign my book.
JW: Of course! Thanks for visiting, Mr. Pig!
READERS, YOU CAN WIN A SIGNED COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW BOOK!
* To enter to WIN A SIGNED COPY of Joyce's new book -- PEEP AND EGG: I'M NOT HATCHING, written by Laura Gehl -- leave a comment below.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 18th!
____________
About Joyce Wan
Joyce
Wan is an award-winning author and illustrator of many best-selling
books for children, including YOU ARE MY CUPCAKE, WE BELONG TOGETHER,
and THE WHALE IN MY SWIMMING POOL, which was a Junior Library Guild
Spring 2015 selection. When she’s not working on books, she teaches
courses at The School of Visual Arts in New York City. Joyce
is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and currently lives in
Ridgewood, New Jersey. Through all her work, she hopes to inspire people
to embrace the spirit of childhood and follow their dreams.
About Joyce's books
YOU ARE MY CUPCAKE
by Joyce Wan
Published by Cartwheel Books, August 2011
ISBN-13: 978-05453-0741-3
"Embossed for a satisfying tactile effect, Wan's digitized characters,
reminiscent of Japanese animation, have chocolate-brown eyes and rosy
cheeks. 'Baby, I could just eat you up!' concludes the adoring final
spread. All that's left of the cupcake is its smiling, green liner.
Presumably, no actual cupcakes were harmed in the making of this
crowd-pleasing plum." --Publishers Weekly
SLEEPYHEADS
by Sandra J. Howatt
Illustrated by Joyce Wan
Published by Beach Lane Books, May 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1442-42266-7
* "Sleepyhead readers explore a hushed woodland at dusk, where they
discover animals nestled in their cozy places at bedtime. Yawning little
listeners will fall immediately and effortlessly into the rhetorical
rhythms of this surefire good-night book. . . . A superb execution of
soporific shapes and sounds perfect for the bedside table." --Kirkus, starred review
THE WHALE IN MY SWIMMING POOL
by Joyce Wan
Published by FSG, April 2015
ISBN-13: 978-0374-30037-1
"Her curvilinear and comforting style recalls Hello Kitty and other
Japanese pop art in its fat dark lines and squat characters, but the
hero has an antic physicality and a wide range of emotional expressions.
Her world feels safe and joyful, even as the hero experiences anger and
frustration." --The New York Times
