Q&A
Tell us something interesting about yourself:
My first job was as a magician's assistant (backstage, luckily!).
Current job title:
Illustrator.
Tell us your favourite medium for reading:
Books made of paper and ink.
Tell us your favourite location for reading:
Tucked up in a cosy bed.
Book title:
Rajiv’s Starry Feelings.
What inspired your creative process in writing or illustrating your book?
Drawing the area where I live informed the look of the book. I also thought a lot about my Dad while illustrating Rajiv’s Dad.
Favourite character or moment from the book – and why?
I love how kind, thoughtful and gentle Rajiv’s Dad is.
What themes or messages does your book raise?
Talking about and understanding emotions.
How would you describe your artistic or writing style in three words?
Painterly, energetic, warm.
What aspect of the story did you most connect with, and how did it shape your illustrations?
I loved the parent and child relationship in this story. With every image I tried to feel each character’s emotions as I was drawing — remembering what it was like to be a child with a lovely parent when drawing Rajiv, and how it feels to be a parent trying to help your child make sense of the world when drawing his Dad.
Materials and techniques used for this book’s illustrations:
Watercolour, pencil, wax crayons, ink, digital.
Favourite illustration – and why?
The illustration of Rajiv feeling sad and his Dad hugging him. It's simple but I like how it sums up their relationship.
Connect
IG: @nanetteregan
