Picture that and add a Text

By: LaVonne Sauls, ENGL 336.002

Vincent, a non-traditional student in his third and last semester at Frostburg State University, is a Liberal Arts major, concentrating in Illustrating Writing combined with Creative Writing with Art. Exposed to art, as an adult, a few years ago; received a grant to go back to school, a training certificate for graphic design, he learned he had skills for design and illustration. Getting feedback from professors he decided to go in the path of illustration rather than commercial art. Not knowing what he wanted to do with illustration, he figured a picture book would be a good way to practice.

As maturing in his illustration path, Vincent realized that he did not have much writing experience as well as 2D art. Gaining the knowledge of both writing and 2D art, Vincent has worked on two childrens’ books in the past two years. He takes his skills and puts them into action by observing and mimicking how children drawings look, “it’s all about design and choices of color” Vincent says with confidence.

The first book, called A Worm, being for very younger children who will enjoy the pictures as someone reads to them is about “a worm that goes around eating things” says Vincent. The second book is the book that he is in the process of publishing called The Visitor. In The Visitor, he puts his personal experience as a child into a story. As a child Vincent lived in Alaska, surviving off of hunting and trapping. One winter day his father found an owl, brought it to their cabin, which they lived, and they took care of the owl until he held. Letting the owl go on its way, Vincent experienced it and put it into a story as a book for children to read.

Besides illustrating childish picture books, Vincent is working on other projects and exploring different types of illustration. One project he started last year is a graphic novel being in its “dummy book” phase as Vincent puts it. A “dummy book is what you use in that first step in trying to get a work published” he explains. Vincent is expanding his illustration skills suitable for all age groups, “going in many different directions, not know what will work professionally” he says.

Vincent has experience, education, and is on a great track to becoming a successful “free-lance” illustrator.

Learn the steps in becoming an illustrator.