Mr. Pig Visits . . . Liza Woodruff!

Heigh ho, friends! Mr. Pig here. I'm on the road today, enjoying a gorgeous area of Vermont, nestled between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain. Author-illustrator Liza Woodruff invited me to visit her studio today! Care to come along?

Liza has illustrated some of my favorite picture books, and has just finished her first authored book, EMERSON BARKS, published by Christy Ottaviano Books in August, 2016.

And look, there she is now! Hello, Liza! Who's your furry friend?

Liza: Welcome, Mr. Pig! This is my dog Emerson, inspiration for my book EMERSON BARKS.

Mr. Pig: What an honor! I brought my book for you to sign. Maybe Emerson could add his paw print, too?

From EMERSON BARKS. Illustration copyright 2016 by Liza Woodruff.

Liz: Come inside! This is where I work.

Mr. Pig: Cozy! Why do you have two desks in your studio? 

Liza: Well, I paint and draw with traditional media on this one:

And I write and create digital art on this side. 

Mr. Pig: You sure have a lot of books! Which ones are your favorites?

Liza: Here are two of my new favorites:

And two of my old favorites:

Mr. Pig: Ah, yes! Fun fact: my second cousin appeared in The Year at Maple Hill Farm. Speaking of family, tell me about your pets here. 

Liza: I work mostly when my family is out of the house, but I am never alone.

Emerson keeps me company. 

So does Angus. Our bunny, Pepper, lives in a cage in my studio. Sometimes I take him out to play too. 

I keep this dog angel on the wall in my studio. I got it at gallery of the late artist, Stephen Huneck. It reminds me of our sweet old dog, Ilse, who used to keep me company too. 

Mr. Pig: Sweet! And what's this other art on your wall?

Liza: I keep these two old postcards illustrated by Molly Brett on my bulletin board. I love anthropomorphic illustrations. It’s fun to imagine animals in their little worlds. 

I keep the little mouse house that I made on a shelf in my studio:

Liza: I love to draw animals and children. Right now I am working on an illustration for my portfolio. I have some story ideas to go with it as well. 

Illustration copyright 2016 by Liza Woodruff.

Mr. Pig: Oooh! Will you share them with me? Perhaps over a snack? Or two? (Hint, hint.)

Liza: Of course, Mr. Pig. And thanks for visiting me in my studio!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liza Woodruff has loved to make art for as long as she can remember. Her interest in children’s literature developed while working at The Horn Book Magazine during art school. The beautiful, funny and creative picture books that filled the offices of the book review magazine inspired her to focus her studies on children’s book illustration.

After receiving her BFA, she dove into children’s books and has since illustrated twenty-three of them. It had long been a goal of hers to write her own stories to illustrate. Her debut picture book, Emerson Barks, was published in 2016 by Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt.

Liza lives with her husband, two teenage children, and their various pets in an old farmhouse in Northern Vermont.

To learn more about her, visit her website: Lizawoodruff.com.

EMERSON BARKS

Bird, squirrels, the mailman--Emerson can't help but bark his loudest when he gets excited. But when his bark scares one of his neighborhood friends into hiding, Emerson's girl Eva must forbid him from barking altogether. Can Emerson adjust to a life in silence? Or will he find a way to put his powerful bark to good use?

Emerson Barks is a charming dog story that shows how good intentions can triumph over mistakes.

“A story that may especially stand out for those who know or own—or are—a small barker." 

—The Horn Book

"VERDICT: Emerson’s enthusiasm and good intentions will have readers rooting for him. A fun read-aloud for storytimes and small group sharing." 

—School Library Journal

Mr. Pig Visits Joyce Wan PLUS A GIVEAWAY!*

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.

From PEEP AND EGG: I'M NOT HATCHING. Illustration copyright 2016 by Joyce Wan.

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. 

Visit Joyce online at www.wanart.com.

  














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

Mr. Pig Visits . . . Stephanie Ruble

Hello, picture book fans! It is aye, Mr. Pig. Do I have a treat for you today! Author-illustrator Stephanie Ruble, has asked me to visit her studio -- and EWE, er, I mean YOU are invited to come along. So hurry up, we don't want to be late. . . . 

Stephanie's debut picture book, EWE AND AYE, received rave reviews. EWE is a sheep with a feel for wheels. AYE is a lemur with a thing for wings. I brought my copy with me. I hope she'll sign it!

From EWE AND AYE by Candace Ryan. Illustration copyright 2015 by Stephanie Ruble.

From EWE AND AYE by Candace Ryan. Illustration copyright 2015 by Stephanie Ruble.

Oh! Here we are at Stephanie's house. Step right up. Don't be ... sheepish. (Hardehar.)

<<Knock, knock.>>

 

SR: Hello! Welcome, Mr. Pig and friends! Come on in. 

MP: Thanks for having us, Stephanie. We can't wait to see your studio.

SR: I call it my Art Cave. Take a look. I'm using a card table for a desk right now because my old desk, which you can see next to the table, doesn't work well with my laptop. It worked well when I had a desktop computer, but now I use it mostly as a bookcase. I needed a bookcase, so that worked out well. Now I need a new desk! 

I actually picked out a new desk a couple of years ago, but we've moved twice since then and will most likely be moving again soon. Waiting to see what our new place is like before I get my new desk. 

MP: Wow, your Art Cave is so tidy.
 
SR: My space isn't usually quite so clean. (I straightened things up a bit for you.) It's usually more like organized chaos. What you don't see are my scanner and my printer. They're not that interesting, so you're not missing anything, promise.

MP: What's this fun area over here?

SR: This is my old desk. It has a keyboard tray, which I slid out for your visit. The keyboard tray is a really handy place to put picture books to look at for inspiration. The books keep changing, depending on what I'm working on and what inspires me that week. To the right of the desk is a tabouret which has drawers where I keep art supplies.

MP: Are these your copies of your picture book EWE AND AYE?

SR: Yes. My old desk has an enclosed space below that I use as a bookcase now. It's also where I'm currently keeping copies of my book, EWE AND AYE. It has space for a shelf, but it didn't come with a shelf. If there was a shelf, it would have more books on it!  

MP: Look at those cute little guys.

SR: On top of my old desk are some drawers for filing things and an organizer for holding pens, papers, postcards, bookmarks, etc. It's a great place for my finger puppets to hang out. 

MP: Now I wish I had fingers.

MP: Oooh, what's on top of your old desk?

SR: A box that shows animals at a circus. I got it when I was really little. It has a matching garbage can with animals in the jungle. There are toys inside the circus box! Next to the box is a stack of notebooks and a great reference book for picture book writers (WRITING WITH PICTURES by Ann Whitford Paul).

  
MP: Have you kept anything else from when you were a kid?

SR: Actually, yes! On top of the tabouret, there's a cup with animals on it that I got when I was little. I keep other items there, too -- pens and markers that I use regularly, some fun magnets, a picture of a painting by one of my favorite painters ('Blue Horses' by Franz Marc), and a copy of my book in case I need it for reference when asked questions about the art or story. I wouldn't have thought I'd need it so much for reference, but it's amazing how much fades when the art is done a year before the book comes out.

MP: Aha! I spy your art! 

SR: You do. On that second card table next to my desk, I keep paper for drawing, and a stack of art to file. I'm not great about filing art and sketches after I finish them, but I do try to keep it all in one place. This pile is actually quite small, which makes me wonder what happened to the other art that used to be out on the table. I think I filed it. I hope so, otherwise there will be a missing art mystery! 

MP: *Gasp!* Really?!

SR: Um, no. I just wanted an excuse to say "missing art mystery," but things do go missing once in a while when you're busy and not paying attention to where you put things.

SR: I do a lot of digital art, but I love to a paint. (I actually majored in painting in college.) I still like to get out my paints and have fun. In this picture, I was working on two paintings: 'Carpe Diem' and 'Crabbe Diem.'

MP: That's some clever wordplay. Just like in your new book, EWE AND AYE. Can you tell us about it?

SR: Sure. EWE AND AYE was written by Candace Ryan. Ewe is a sheep with a feel for wheels. Aye is a lemur with a thing for wings. But it isn’t until Ewe and Aye find one another that things really get off the ground. 

MP: The Cottagers love this story about celebrating togetherness -- and we love ewe. (Sorry. I just can't stop myself.) Thank you, Stephanie, for the tour of your colorful, inspiring Art Cave. 

SR: Thanks for visiting me, Mr. Pig!

******** 

Stephanie Ruble has been drawing and painting since she could hold a crayon. Soon after that, she started telling stories to go with her drawings. Not much has changed since then. If you look hard you can see many of her early creative influences (animals - especially cows, toys, newspaper comic strips, Halloween), poking through the layers of her writing and art. Visit Stephanie online at http://www.sruble.com









 
EWE AND AYE 
by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Stephanie Ruble
Disney Hyperion, December 2014
ISBN 1-978-142317591-9

EWE was a sheep with a feel for wheels. AYE was a lemur with a thing for wings. But it wasn't until Ewe and Aye found one another that things really got off the ground.

"Ryan's punning is nicely expanded in Ruble's zippy illustrations.... Lots of fun." --Kirkus

"The goggle-wearing animals in their heart-soled sneakers are expressive and charming.... The wordplay is clever, and the art is sweet." --School Library Journal

"But the real attraction is debut illustrator Ruble--she brings an exuberant energy to each scene." --Publishers Weekly

"Positive and inspirational, this will strike a chord with young readers who have big dreams." --Booklist