Happy Thursday Critters! Today we have an interview with an author and illustrator, whose newest book, CHAMELEON CAN BE, came out this past fall with Yeehoo Press. I love Chameleon and all his friends and the message of the book is wonderful! The art is brilliant, bright, and charming and I can’t wait to share this fantastic book with you all!
So without further ado, please welcome Carolina Farías!
Where do you live?
I live in La Plata, Argentina, home of the beautiful National University of La Plata, 40 minutes away from Buenos Aires.
How many years have you been in publishing?
I have been working in children's illustration and editing books for nearly twenty years.
How did you first get published?
My First book was “En el Principio”, an adaptation of the Bible for kids. The main difference is that the story takes place in the room of Paco, a little kid whose mother is in charge of the Creation of the world that surrounds him. The book took two years of hard work and I had the privilege to work with the amazing art editor Daniel Goldín and be published by the “Fondo de Cultura económica”.
Do you write and illustrate full-time?
Yes, I do! And I also find the time to give classes both at the faculty and the high school of art in La Plata. I find teaching very inspiring and motivating for my daily illustration work.
What inspires you to create picture books?
Inspiration can strike at any time and anywhere, any moment in everyday life. Perhaps something that is visually interesting lights a spark, so I take a photo to reference later. My love and constant research on illustrated books also drives my work. There is a part of me that still enjoys going into those worlds contained within the pages of those beautiful books I used to read when I was a little girl.
What surprised you the most working as an author/illustrator?
The mere notion of working as an illustrator was a novelty to me!
I was fortunate enough to attend one of the best universities in the country and get a degree in fine arts, but I never thought as time went by that children's illustration was going to be the perfect place for me.
What is your favorite thing about being an author/illustrator?
I love telling good stories, and one way of achieving that is finding interesting characters. I take my time to give my characters some distinctive personality. It is funny because I try to get in their shoes and imagine what they are thinking or feeling, even if they turn out to be a dog or a lion!
As a teacher in illustration it’s great to interact with the kids and explore their imaginations. It’s amazing how unusual and interesting some of their ideas can be. I try to encourage them, especially the ones who think that they can’t draw. They are usually the ones who don’t come up with the obvious stuff.
What do you find difficult working as an author/illustrator?
Finding focus! There are so many options and so much work to do that sometimes you just have to force yourself to stop and take things slowly.
I’m very passionate about my work. Sometimes I get so many ideas floating around that I have to take a thousand notes, and filtering them to get the best ones is sometimes a really tedious task.
What do you do to shake the rust off or get new ideas?
Most ideas start small so the most important thing is to know that we shouldn't rely on an ideal ´eureka´ moment or a rush of sudden inspiration. Instead, ideas are to be found in our everyday activities and in the most random things we stumble upon in life.
When working on a book I always reflect on my own childhood memories, how I was feeling and reacting to the world around me. As a child, the only place where I felt safe and useful was in front of a blank sheet of paper.
Anything you are habitual about when it comes to creativity?
Although inspiration can strike anytime and anywhere, I play my part to create my ideal setting: random local coffee shops where to sip some cappuccino and enjoy chocolate cake. I usually make some notes and tuck them away. Then one day in the future a new story may begin to emerge. All the best ideas need time to brew by themselves.
Can you share a positive experience you’ve had in the Kid Lit community?
I love being able to share different experiences with colleagues. It’s always great to have another perspective and a different look regarding the same issues we encounter in our everyday work on an illustration. It’s wonderful to get so much help and support!
Recommended reading?
I have all of my favourite books here on the shelf of my studio. I love Argentinian Cartoonist and Illustrator Carlos Nine and I collect everything published by Quino. His humor and illustrations are amazing. I’m completely obsessed by his work!
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I think interacting with young students is always a joy. Apart from that, I would say that I loved working for the movie Where the Wild Things Are based on the books by Maurice Sendak and collaborating with Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo (Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo), an Argentine human rights organization with the goal of finding the children stolen and illegally adopted during the military dictatorship of the late seventies.
And of course my last book Chameleon can be has also been one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had.
What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started writing/illustrating?
Such a big question. I think it’s important sometimes to broaden your influences. It is fine sometimes to put aside picture books and start looking for inspiration in the work of writers, artists and directors who may not have much to do with illustration!
Can you tell us about your newest book?
Chameleon Can Be came to life in a very small room while having a session with my therapist. I was opening up to her and expressing some concerns I had about one of my kids, when she suddenly said something that has stuck in my head ever since: "Well, she will have to find out who she wants to be"
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
I carried that phrase with me for the next few days. I started working on a short word list. English is not my native language, but some words sounded perfect for what I had in mind: CAN BE… CHAMELEON…BEAUTIFUL …FLOWER… FRIENDS… and with those concepts in mind I started doodling on my iPad.
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
At some point I sketched this very messy drawing of a Chameleon as a beautiful flower. I really liked it, so I drew it over and over. Then some other characters came up: a ladybug, a bee and a frog. Chameleon and his friends were born!
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
Interior art from CHAMELEON CAN BE by Carolina Farías, published by Yeehoo Press
I hope that kids and adults reading this book will fully enjoy the journey and take the trip to find out who they want to become.
What’s up next for you?
I have always been intrigued by writing about those romantic concepts that bring us together, such as love, kindness and connection. Currently I’m working on a book about the things that make us different, unique and special.
Anything else you’d like to share with aspiring authors and illustrators?
I think the best piece of advice I can give to someone starting out is to work really hard and follow your heart. And always trust your gut!
And last, but not least, favorite 80s movie?
I can’t pick just one. I love Forrest Gump, E.T. and Back to the future!
If I stumble upon them on TV I can’t resist watching them until the very end.
Huge thank you to Carolina for stopping by Critter Lit today! Congrats on your beautiful book!
Carolina Farías is an award-winning author and illustrator of over 40 books. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in art, she began teaching at the University of Graphic Design and Visual Communication in La Plata. Her artwork is created using a variety of mediums with traditional and digital techniques. Carolina is part of the White Ravens 2008 list for the Bologna Book Fair, where she has also been selected to represent Argentina. She currently lives in La Plata, Argentina.
FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Carolina online: www.carolinafarias.com/ar
Instagram: instagram.com/fariasillos
BUY THIS BOOK To order CHAMELEON CAN BE, click here.
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