Member Interview: Illustrator Laura Fisk

Where did you grow up, and how did that place (or those places) shape your work?

I grew up in Fairfield, CT and lived 10 years in New York before moving to Austin. The New England mindset is deep within me, as is the spirit of being a New Yorker, which, for me, is kinda a brusque kindness. I try to get back to the northeast at least once a year, and it really grounds me. I’m also grateful we moved to Austin, and it was absolutely the right choice, at the right time. It is a wonderful place to raise a kid. I love the creative community here, especially SCBWI, of course! There are so many things in my life that I know would not have happened if not for moving to Austin. 

Did you always want to be an illustrator, or did that come later?

When I was little, I always said I wanted to be a cartoonist. I don’t think I knew fully what an illustrator did. I loved the Saturday morning funnies, and I still love drawing Iittle comic ideas. So, I pretty much hit the bullseye as a kid, even though I took a long road to get back to illustrating. I didn’t go to art school—or even take many art classes in high school (even though I wanted to). But, I found my way back—and so happy I did. 

If someone were to follow you around for 24 hours, what would they see?

Who’d like to go on some errands with me? Or, better yet, format some files? I do a lot of running around—a lot of logistics. I’m the mom of a middle-schooler and also have a part time job, so “lifeing” takes up quite a bit of time. 

For illustration, I try to start some work in the morning, and then (more often than not) do work in the evenings. I am a natural night owl, but I try not to stay up too late because I have to be up early as well. I also spend a fair amount of time working on the business of what I'm creating, which also takes a lot of time away from the actual art; but I try my best.

How does your everyday life feed your work?

My own childhood helps inform my work, as well as watching how my kiddo interacts with the world. So much of my humor is based on what I saw as a kid. I also delight in seeing the weirdness in the world. Nothing is stranger than real people and real life; and I am always incorporating that when I can. 

Tell us about some accomplishments that make you proud.

While I am proud of specific achievements, such as my new book coming out, I’m really most proud to be living a creative life. I know I couldn’t be happy any other way. There are challenges that come along with a creative life, but those challenges are “trade-offs” I’ll take any day. I get to make things that someone can interact with, which is really, really special. I’m also incredibly proud of being a part of building the SCBWI community, during my tenure as the chapter’s Illustrator Coordinator. This organization means so much to me. 

What surprises you about the creative life?

Honestly, at this point, the only thing that really surprises me is that I can still be surprised. Creative life is full of twists and turns, and you truly don’t know what to expect. I kinda expect to be surprised now, and that makes it kinda fun. 

When a reader discovers your work, what do you hope they find?

I hope they find something fun—something that brings them joy. I love adding little details or humor into my work, so I’m always hoping they pick up on those as well. 

Quick-Fire Questions:

Favorite part about SCBWI?

That it’s an encouraging and welcoming place. I genuinely found my community with Austin SCBWI. If you want to get into children’s publishing, there’s no better place to start.

One thing you’ve learned from illustrating?

Oh, gosh, so much! I’m always learning something new, every time I draw. I really think while I draw; my ideas come out of that. It is the process of drawing that is so crucial. The image is the outcome of the thinking. 

Favorite coloring book when you were a kid?

I really only have memories of drawing my own pictures as a young kid, but I had many favorite books with illustrations. Memories of illustrations by Sandra Boynton and Richard Scarry are always so clear to me. Quentin Blake’s illustrations were as important to me as the writing in Roald Dahl’s books, for instance. I remember the illustrations in so many books. I would pore over those, studying all the details. 

If you owned a crayon factory, what colors might you create?

Oh, man … my favorite Crayolas as a kid were the green-blue or the blue-green; I can’t remember which one I loved. Either way, I’d make sure that one was still being made. Also, a good, bright, red that is a pinky-red; those are always hard to find. Or, a delightful mustard color, or a delightful Yves Klein blue—like a really, really good cobalt blue. I could keep going … !