Q&A with Author and Illustrator Samantha Bayly

• What types of children’s books did you read as a child? Were any your favorites?

My parents would often read a wide range ofchildren’s books to me when I was young, some of my favourites were Shaun Tan’s,The Lost Thing, Graeme Base’s, The Waterhole and anything andeverything Roald Dahl.

When I got older, my love of books did notstop and I continued to read multiple books at a time, but instead of picturebooks I explored young adult fiction, such as Michael Grant’s Gone series and Patrick Ness’s trilogy, Chaos Walking.

• Take usa bit into your creative process; what illustration art medium and tools do youuse?

I work in a traditional format, so I usewatercolour paints to create my illustrations on watercolour paper, around A3in size. I will typically do a light graphite sketch and then use a combinationof wet on wet and wet on dry techniques to create the desired textures,finishing the artwork with a small brush using watercolour and white gouache tocomplete the intricate details.

• Have youalways used this style of art or do you plan to explore other mediums of art?

Originally, I hated painting with watercolourand painting in general as I loved the control of graphite and coloured pencil.However, when I started my University degree I was forced to go outside of mycomfort zone and try a variety of mediums, one of which being watercolour,which I now love. I look forward to using acrylic paint again as well astrialing oil paint when I have the opportunity in the future.

• How longhave you been an illustrator?
  I have been drawing and creating since I was a young girl, always finding a wayto implement some colour into my days. I spent 4 years at University studyingNatural History Illustration, expanding my skills, however in a professionalsense, it has been approximately 2 years.

• What doyou enjoy most about illustrating, and, what is your dream for illustrating?
  I love being able to create something from basic tools, the entire process ofusing water, pigment and fibers from a brush to create a life like piece of artis extremely rewarding.
  My dream within the world of illustration would be to create art that inspirepeople of all ages to appreciate and love the flora and fauna in the world andto take care of our environment before it is too late.

• Have youauthored or collaborated on any books, if so, what are they?
  I am the author and illustrator of TheIllustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and this is the first book I haveever worked on. It has been a massive learning curve over the past 2 years, asI discovered the process of creating a book as well as dealing with thepressure of having to paint and write an immense amount. But I am so glad thatI have had the fantastic opportunity to learn and experience the book industryat a young age.

• In ourdigital age, how important are children’s books to you?
  I believe it is vital to have children read books, and not just ebooks oraudiobooks, but a physical/tangible hardcopy so that they are able to learn anddevelop by reading and turning the pages in front of them. It is important toencourage and celebrate education by incorporating it at a young age andteaching children that learning is vital to growth and allows for so many opportunities.

• If you could be ANY character in a book, what would it be and why?
  This is such a tough question, as I have connected with so many characters during my years of reading, however, I would have to say being the main character in Shaun Tan’s book, The Lost Thing. A young boy who stumbles upon a weird and bizarre creature in suburbia, tries to return it home while everybody else is seemingly unbothered, despite its enormous size and vibrant colour. As a child, I often felt a connection with the weird and wonderful creatures of the world, and that has not faded, so being able to come across one in the streets of my city and bond with it as I helped it home would have been a dream come true.

• Do youstruggle to come up with your next project?
  I certainly struggled to come up with the theme for my next book, as I wasgetting so many requests from people that I started to doubt what it was that Ireally wanted to do.
  I also found it difficult to not feel as though every topic out there hadalready been turned into a fantastic children’s book. I now realise that theremay be books based on the topic you wish to explore, however, if you are ableto bring a fresh take and create something unique based on the idea then youcan make a book on anything you want.

• How do you deal with artist’s block if so?
  Like all artists out there, I too deal with artist’s block. Whether it be that I am feeling unmotivated due to a lack of a deadline, stuck because I have so many ideas/projects and don’t know which to start first, or simply that I am just not in the mood.
  The best ways that I have learned to deal with it is to not waste any more time by obsessing over the fact I am struggling, but instead move onto something else until I am ready, such as doing some chores around the house, working on my written aspect instead or just going for a walk.