Something that’s crucial to developing great minds, regardless of where you come from, is stories. But children can’t exactly read a story, at least not initially, which is why artists like Natalie Vilter are so important. Her skills in illustration helped her create beautiful works of art in children’s books, helping to guide the creative minds who are reading them.
Today Natalie Vilter was so kind as to answer a few of our questions here today! So, let’s go on ahead and dive into it.
Who are you!?
“My name is Natalie Vilter (she/her). I’m a children’s book illustrator who graduated with a BFA in illustration and a minor in teaching artists from MCAD almost a year ago (which is so bizarre). I’m currently living in my hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin. I’ve been super fortunate to have some freelance illustration work since I graduated. I also work part-time as a Gallery Service Coordinator at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau which is a financial comfort when I don’t have any illustration work available
My work revolves around memories of growing up in the rural Midwest. I enjoy using playful perspectives and energetic shapes to create flowing illustrations. Currently, I work digitally and with watercolor and gouache. I find with these mediums I’m able to replicate the grainy textures I see in tree bark, dirt, and fallen pine needles.”
We’ve seen some amazing work done on your book illustrations. How do you decide what book to work on?
“Oh my goodness! Thank you! A lot of the books I decided to illustrate are about my childhood experiences. I grew up on a hobby farm surrounded by chickens. I spent a lot of time playing with the birds, so I think that’s what drew me to illustrate my own version of The Seven Ravens. Adeline’s playful relationship with her raven brothers is how I recall interacting with the chickens. Similarly, I grew up falling asleep to the frogs from a small wetland across the street which inspired the book, Concert on the Bog. I think overall, I’m involuntarily drawn to works that relate to how children interact with nature around them. How it inspires them and brings comfort.
I also work for a company that has caught on to my interests, so they often send me books to illustrate about children playing outside and how they interact with nature and animals.”
What’s your process look like?
“With my process, I start with a mood board on Pinterest for inspiration. I create a series of thumbnails about potential composition ideas. I normally pick two thumbnails for each page to execute further. I normally create a grayscale and create a few color studies for the work. If I illustrate the work digitally, I start drawing the illustration and when it’s done, I do a little bit of color correcting on Photoshop. If I do the work in gouache, I print off a final outline of the illustration and trace it on watercolor paper. Afterward, I do a wash in watercolor and then begin to lay out the colors in gouache. Incorporating acrylic, salt, and oil pastels also brings in some really fun textures. Then, I scan the work into Photoshop and do some minor tweaking.”
Are you developing any books written by yourself?
“Since the frogs are beginning to sing again this spring, I want to continue illustrating Night on the Bog. I’ve also been thinking about how to execute a book called The Ghastly Goose (a book about a ghost goose that is stalking a kid) and Bird Soup (a book about making an imaginative soup with raspberries, rainwater, pine needles, etc).”
Now here’s the question, do you have a personal favorite work?
“I’m very drawn to my illustrations involving frogs. Creating frogs with sappy eyes and playing around with vivid colors that surround the frogs has been very therapeutic.”
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We’re going to see Natalie’s art in our children’s classes in the future and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Art like hers will help shape creative minds, we know it. Natalie, keep up the good work and illustrate your heart out!
Never let that light fade out!
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