The manuscript serves as my primary source of inspiration. The characters, locations, and plot all influence the choices I make as an illustrator. A story filled with fun might suggest the use of bright colours, while a narrative centred on loss or grief may require soft, muted tones. If the setting is a jungle, a green palette would be fitting, whereas a story set in the city might demand tall buildings.

As I read through each manuscript, I take notes. My vision for the illustration is shaped by my personal experiences. As a children’s book illustrator, I tap into my childhood memories to visualise each page, which may differ from the author’s own experiences. This is where the author’s vision and my vision as an illustrator merge, creating something greater than ourselves.

At some point, I have to sit down and start working. For instance, if the story is about a child dreaming of flying to the moon, I’ll explore various picture books on similar themes. I examine the colours they use and how they represent space and rocket ships. If you don’t have an extensive picture book library, you can visit websites that showcase other illustrator’s work. When I first began, I maintained a large library of reference material, tearing out images from magazines and organising them in folders within a filing cabinet. This has since developed to using Google image searches. Recently, I’ve relied less on Google as more search results are AI-generated.

Many artists find inspiration by keeping sketchbooks, they sit in a park to sketch what they see each day. This practice sharpens your observational skills, which you then bring into your illustrations. I have never kept a sketchbook, but I do draw something every single day.

Ultimately, artists are great collectors. We examine the work of other illustrators, observe the world around us, and repurpose those images into something new.

What inspires me may not inspire you. I know illustrators who find motivation in art galleries or through travel. Personally, I enjoy watching movies and taking note of how directors frame their scenes. Illustrating a picture book is much like storyboarding a movie, so I pay attention to the different camera angles they use and consider how I can apply that knowledge to my next project.

Happy drawing!

Vaughan