Interview with Annie Parsons
ILLUSTRATION STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Agent Kyle: Describe your illustration style in three words—and tell us why you chose them.
Annie: Handmade- My pieces always have some kind of handmade element to them. I love the texture, depth, and imperfections that traditional media provide.
Detailed- I love books where there are little Easter eggs or hidden jokes to find on repeated readings, so I always like to put a few in my own work.
Sincere- There are people out there who make amazingly snarky and cynical picture books, and I love them, but I am an incurable softie. I often fiddle with expressions and
poses until I get exactly the emotion I’m going for on the page.
WHY CHILDRENS BOOKS?
Agent Kyle: What led you to illustrate for children’s books specifically?
Annie: I’ve always loved reading, art, storytelling, and working with children. When I started working in the children’s department at my local public library, I realized that picture books combined all of those passions. Now I’ve got thousands of beautiful picture books at my fingertips, so I never run out of ideas.
FROM SKETCH TO FINISHED WORK
Agent Kyle: What does your creative process look like, from idea to finished illustration?
Annie: I like to start with 8-10 rough thumbnails to try out different compositions and get ideas out on paper. Then I’ll develop one of those into a bigger, cleaner pencil sketch to start nailing down the details. For my mixed media pieces, I create all the characters and elements of the scene in gouache, watercolor, collage, and other found materials.
Sometimes I composite them digitally, and sometimes I glue them down on a big background like paper dolls. These days I’m trying to do as much traditionally as I can.
STUDIO RITUALS AND CREATIVE HABITS
Agent Kyle: Do you have any rituals or small habits that ground your artmaking—like tea, music, or sketching outdoors?
Annie: Early morning is my most creative time. My cat hangs out with me in my studio space while I’m working- she likes to wait for a scrap of paper to fall so she can bat it around.
There’s usually something in my headphones like a podcast or an audiobook, but right now it’s cheesy Christmas movies.
WHAT I HOPE CHILDREN FEEL
Agent Kyle: What do you hope children feel when they see your illustrations?
Annie: I hope kids feel seen and considered as whole people with thoughts and feelings that matter. I hope they’re entertained and delighted, and maybe inspired to pick up a pencil or brush themselves.
WORK THAT FEELS PERSONAL
Agent Kyle: Is there one piece that feels especially personal to you? What makes it meaningful?
Annie: Can I pick two? The first one would be the Goodnight, Irene spread- it’s based on an old folk song that my grandparents would sing at the end of gatherings (a not-so-subtle hint that it was time for everyone to go to bed). My mom re-wrote the lyrics to make it a bedtime story.
The second is my Biblical piece, I call it Talitha, Koum. It’s from the story in the Gospels of Jesus bringing a little girl back from the dead. As someone who came to faith as a child, I’m always so moved by the dignity and care Jesus shows to children in the Gospels.
INFLUENCES AND VISUAL LANGUAGE
Agent Kyle: Which artists, books, or places have shaped your visual language the most?
Annie: Sophie Blackall, Eric Carle, and Christian Robinson are a few artists who inspire me with their use of collage and unconventional materials. I’m also a big art history nerd: I recently sneaked a reference to Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing into one of my pieces.
My home in Appalachia has also shaped me with its long traditions of storytelling and craftsmanship. I’m surrounded by gorgeous nature and a vibrant artistic/literary
community up here in the mountains.
STORIES I’M DRAWN TO
Agent Kyle: Are you most drawn to magical, quiet, funny, or emotional stories—or something else entirely?
Annie: One of my favorite tasks in my library life is hosting storytime, so I’m drawn to books that will make great read-alouds. Humor, onomatopoeia, and a strong sense of setting and atmosphere are some of my favorite manuscript things.
HOW MY WORK HAS EVOLVED
Agent Kyle: How has your art evolved as you’ve grown?
Annie: In the last year or two I’ve become more adventurous with mixed media- I’ve started collecting things like envelopes, packaging, and wrapping paper to use in illustrations. I’m also using color more thoughtfully- I naturally gravitate towards bright, splashy colors, but I’m starting to appreciate the different moods you can achieve when you tone things down a bit.
WHAT I HOPE TO EXPLORE NEXT
Agent Kyle: What kinds of stories or collaborations do you hope to explore next?
Annie: Anything with food! I love cooking and I did several food-related illustration projects before I pivoted to children’s books. Some of my favorite picture books have illustrated recipes in the back.
I also love stories about the everyday or seemingly mundane- libraries, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Kids find a lot of joy and excitement in their routines, and I would enjoy exploring that.
