Today on POP we're talking cats. Or, rather, imaginary cats, because I'm interviewing Ella Okstad, the extremely talented illustrator of the Squishy McFluff series.
Thank you for letting me interview you, Ella, and welcome to POP! First off, could you tell us a bit about how you got into illustration?
Thank you so much for having me!
I have always had a pencil at hand, for as long as I can remember. I knew from an early age that I would have a creative occupation. After college, I studied 2 years of graphic design in Norway. My work was always very illustrative, so I decided to go abroad to do further studies. I came to the UK in 1996 and took a foundation year and a BA in illustration at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, in Maidstone. I haven’t regretted it!
You’re represented by the Organisation. What drew you to that particular illustration agency?
The lovely people at the Org approached me at my degree show in London when I graduated from the Kent Institute in 2000. I have been with them since then. Wow, it`s actually been 14 years now! They really do have tons of experience and a lot of contacts in the market.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
As I draw a lot of kids in different settings, a great source of inspiration is observing my three boys and their friends. They are now 6, 8 and 13. These days I also draw a lot of cats (invisible and visible ones). As we don’t actually have one living in our house (I’m slightly allergic), I love watching the neighborhood cats (from a small distance). Cats are great!
Then there are of course books! When I need to go into town to do the occasional shopping, I always end up in the bookshops with my nose in a picture book. I almost forget the socks, and the groceries I went out to buy. I sometimes buy a new book or two for my already over-packed bookshelf. My kids love them too! There are so many great ones out there!
You have worked on books for a range of ages. Is there a type of book you enjoy illustrating the most?
I like working with all ranges of children’s books, but I do enjoy working with picture books. I love the fact that I can play around with the lines and the colors across the pages. The text and the images are allowed to interact with each other in a special way.
Which part of the book-making process is your favourite?
There are several parts of the process that I like. I enjoy reading through the text. Images start to appear in my head from the first sentence. Then there is the process of finding the characters with my pencil on a blank piece of paper. I often need to erase or start over, and when I feel frustration creeping along, I take a coffee break. When I get back it is easier to find them. I love it when they suddenly pop out. The last, finishing touch is also really satisfying. And of course having the finished book in my hands. Lastly, I love having feedback from kids reading it and enjoying the illustrations!
If you could meet any authors or illustrators, alive or dead, who would they be?
There are quite a few I would love to have a chat and a cup of coffee with. Here’s a selection: I enjoy the shapes and colors in the work of Czech illustrator Kvĕta Pacovská. I once had the pleasure of attending one of her lectures. I adore the work of Tove Jansson, I love reading the stories of Roald Dahl with the hilarious work of Quentin Blake, it’s fantastic to watch the universe of Hayao Myasaki and Studio Ghibli, be enchanted with the figures of Marc Boutavant, enjoy the landscapes and peculiarity of Shaun Tan’s work.
What are your views on the picture book market right now?
I think its fantastic! I went to the Bologna Book Fair last year for the first time and was overwhelmed. There are so many brilliant authors and illustrators with a wide range of different styles around the globe. The picture book market is a really exiting place to be at the moment.
What advice would you give to illustrators looking to crack into the children’s book industry?
It is a jungle out there, but don’t be afraid! Take a deep breath. Go in there and hold on to your personal style and be true to what you love. Find an agent. They are good guides. Make stories, make illustrations. Wave your flag and be visible! Show work through your website, blog and social media. Create a network of fellow illustrators and people in publishing. Twitter is a good place to be. I’ve just joined by the way! Lastly, have patience, because things may take some time.
And, for my last question, please describe yourself in five words
Curiously creative with kind spirit.
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