A Mini-Interview with Laura Jacobsen

This is the third week of our Mini-Interview Series and we are starting Laura Jacobsen‘s week.

Do you know Laura? Have you seen her work? Have you seen her books? Have you? Have you?! Her work is bold. Her illustrations are beautiful and her sketches are fantastic. As a person, Laura is also bold, beautiful and fantastic but she’s also generous and honest – two qualities I so admire from her. Laura was the first real-3D-bone-and-flesh children’s illustrator that I ever met. Ever. And I’m really glad it was her. But that’s a long story that I won’t tell you now. This week is all about her: the wonderful Laura Jacobsen.

Do we have a Giveaway this week? Heck, yeah! Laura is giving away a signed, matted original (that’s real pastel on real paper!) from the Animal Mischief book and a signed copy of the book so don’t forget to read below for how to enter. You are up for a real treat so get ready! Without further ado, the most talented Laura Jacobsen!

About Laura Jacobsen

Laura Jacobsen is a children’s illustrator, dog mama and baker of a mean butterscotch oatmeal cookie. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter or on her website at www.laurajacobsen.com

 

Would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Sassy, soft-hearted, snarky, sentimental and strange.

 

Now tell us how you got started as a children’s author and illustrator in more than 5 words.

Growing up reading, writing and drawing, one would think I would have been planning this since the beginning, but in reality, it didn’t really dawn on me until my high school art teacher offered me a scholarship to The Columbus College of Art and Design. I was all set to go off to a “regular” college, but my Mom and I went down for a visit anyway. I still can clearly remember saying to her as we left “I HAVE to learn how to do this, I just HAVE to.” And that was that, much to my PhD in Analytical Chemistry father’s trepidation (sorry Dad, and thanks for all the support anyway.) Even then I intially majored in Retail Advertising (WHAT was I thinking) and it wasn’t until I realized that I despised all of my major’s classes that I started looking at Illustration. Telling stories is what I love the most, whether in words or pictures. It seems so obvious now.

 

What was your favorite book as a child?

Books were such a pervasive part of my childhood, I’m not sure I can come up with just one. They were always around, stacked in piles, sliding out of those paper library bags with the handles my Mom would re-use until they fell apart. I did not own many books, books were special gifts since you could get them for FREE at the library, so the ones I returned to again and again on the shelves in my bedroom were the few that had belonged to my Mom and a handful I received as birthday gifts. “Ferdinand the Bull” by Munro Leaf, “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton and Richard Scarry‘s “What Do People Do All Day” stand out in my memory, as well as the first book I ever received and love deeply to this day, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. See, can’t stop at just one.

 

One lesson you have learned from working in this industry.

Make your own content, don’t wait for it to come to you. I only just recently learned this. Yes, I’m a bit slow. O.K., I’m A LOT slow.

 

The happiest moment of your career.

Rather than a singular moment, I would have to say the best part, and the thing that makes me happiest, is being able to do what I love thanks to the support and unshakeable belief from my wonderful hubby and the tribe of artist and writer friends to which I belong. When I take a moment to really contemplate my good fortune I am so filled with joy it would make you want to puke.

 

What’s next for you?

Hopefully good health and old age. In addition to that, I’d really, REALLY like to move on to publishing my own stories (see Question 3 above.) I would also like to learn to ski, go on a wine tour of Italy and finally do something with all the batik supplies in my garage.

Laura’s Giveaway

Laura is giving away a signed, matted original (that’s real pastel on real paper!) from the “Animal Mischief” book and a signed copy of the book. The winner will be randomly chosen from all entries, and announced Monday November 21, 2011.

Ways to enter:

• Leave a comment below
• Follow Laura on Twitter @LauraJacobsen1 and copy this retweet on your status:
  RT @LauraJacobsen1 Enter to win an original illustration #giveaway
• Friend her on Facebook

Part 2 of Laura’s interview continues tomorrow at Molly’s blog.

Part 3 will be posted Thursday at Mikela’s blog and the Grand Finale will be posted Monday at Laura’s blog so follow the Post Trail!
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This post is part of a very informal and fun 4-week Mini-Interview Series to Children’s Illustrators who happen to be friends and happen to live in Arizona. In these posts, we will be interviewing:

• Molly Idle – November 1-4
• Mikela Prevost – November 8-11
• Laura Jacobsen – November 15-18
• Juana Martinez-Neal – November 22-25

You can learn more about the guests and the Series here.