Well, everything surprises me about the writing process because illustrating comes much more naturally to me than writing does.
I’ve always loved children’s books – it’s not that I didn’t like them, I just didn’t think I wanted to do that. But then I suddenly realized I did...
Like a mermaid rising from an ocean of paper, the girl emerged across the room.
In that moment, the machinery of the world lined up. Somewhere a clock struck midnight, and Hugo’s future seemed to fall perfectly into place.
My house had suddenly turned into a hospital ward.
Since I spend such a long time making each book, I only choose books that I’m really interested in and that I really love.
It’s fun to see how other artists adapt my work.
Even if all the clocks in the station break down, thought Hugo, time won’t stop. Not even if you really want it to. Like now.
Once I’m given an idea for a story I have a million ideas on how it should be illustrated, but I don’t have a big shoebox full of unfinished ideas.
I think from an early age I was aware of how a camera can tell a story, how a movie camera can affect how the narrative is told.
I think the most important thing you can do is to keep drawing no matter what. And to not be afraid of drawing whatever interests you. If there is something that you want to draw, to make, then I think you should pursue it and not let anybody tell you that you cant do it.
I guess I see a part of myself in everyone I write about. I tend to write about kids who are obsessed with something, and even though I have never been good with machines the way Hugo is, I did love miniature things when I was a kid.
I can draw pencil lines to show something is moving, but if I’m writing, I struggle with how to write it. The boy ran down the hallway? The boy ran quickly down the hallway? The boy ran down the marble hallway? I agonize over the words. So my editor works very hard. I’m lucky to have her.
But I’m a fairly mechanical worker – I tend not to think about themes so much as plot. I want to get the feeling right. If it’s moving through tunnels, I ask myself, what is it like to move through tunnels?
I love illustrating for other writers because I am given stories I never would have thought of, and my work as an illustrator is always in support of the story.
I hope the snow covers everything so all the footsteps are silenced, and the whole city can be at peace.
I address you all tonight for who you truly are: wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers.
I love being an illustrator because I get to read really great stories, work with amazing people, travel and see places I never would’ve seen. And I get to draw all the time.
I majored in illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, although I never had any intention of being an illustrator and didn’t take any classes in illustration there. It was just that the illustration degree had no requirements.
I think I always knew that I would do something with art because it was the one thing that I knew I was really good at.