Illustrating for the Non-Artist and the Fabulous Ashley Wolff

     One of the most memorable classes I took at Hollins, taught by the multi-talented Ashley Wolff, was designed for those of us who are not illustrators. Ashley has written and illustrated many picture books. One of my favorites is COMPOST STEW.

This book is a mixed-media delight.

Ashley taught us the basic terminology related to book making, showed us how picture books tend to be configured, then demonstrated how to make a book dummy using photographs, paper, collage, and other mixed media options. Before I knew it, I was crafting my first picture book.

     Although I went to Hollins hoping to write my Betty Bronson story, I didn’t have enough research completed. I called my longtime friend, Luci Collins, who was the first Black woman to make the 1980 Olympic team for gymnastics. 1980 was the year we boycotted the Summer Games, so Luci’s achievement didn’t get the attention she deserved. She gave me permission to use her as my subject as I began my writing journey.

     My first attempt at writing a picture book featured a beginning gymnast who is learning how to stretch correctly: LUCI LEARNS TO STRETCH. The story has nothing to do with Luci’s actual experience, but it did highlight the enthusiasm Luci had as a young gymnast.

     A friend took pictures of her daughter in various stretching poses, and she emailed them to me for the project. Armed with paper, glue sticks, cut-out images, a little impromptu sketching, and my story came to life.

We covered each illustration with a piece of paper on which we wrote the text. Obviously, this is my rough and tumble cover. It got a little squished.

For the cover, I drew a gymnast stretching, then I cut the image out of paper before glueing it to the cover.

The story is a light-hearted take on a little girl who stretches every day and everywhere. I mixed a rough sketch with a photograph for each entry.

That’s supposed to be an elevator, in case you couldn’t tell.

     I won’t bore you with any more of my artwork. I think you get the idea. In any case, this class taught me the importance of not lamenting on what I can’t do, but to lean into what I can do. Even a person with no drawing skills can illustrate a picture book dummy. I will be forever grateful to Ashely for this valuable lesson.