This month we speak to Jan Fearnley, author of our picture book of the month, Milo Armadillo. She tells us what inspired her to create the character Milo and we take a look behind the scenes at her studio (and meet her pet cat!).
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From where did you draw inspiration for the character Milo Armadillo?
As an artist, I’ve always liked strange, quirky-looking creatures. I find hippos, tapirs, pigs, red river hogs, echidnas and armadillos incredibly cute and charming. I think armadillos are amazing – apart from the fact that they don’t live here in the UK, (which immediately makes them exotic), they have such beautiful detail on their strange, armoured bodies. I was looking at some photographs of armadillos and the lovely texture of their skin, and it struck me that they almost look as if they have their own ‘knitted chain mail’... this set me thinking, and after exploring these thoughts in my sketchbook, Milo was created.
As soon as I drew him, I knew that he was not only very cute, but he’d be really cool too. He’s brilliant at everything, a fantastic playmate and most importantly of all, a steadfast friend. I wanted his character to convey huge emotion, intelligence and kindness, but in a very understated way. Notice how we never hear him speak, and how he doesn’t even have a drawn- on mouth, but he speaks volumes, all the same. (Each time his feelings are hurt, his tail unravels.) That, to me is much more powerful and moving …
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Do you have a favourite passage or picture in the book?
I have a few, but I think my favourite is the big picture where Gran is sitting in her chair, knitting a pink fluffy rabbit for Tallulah and she’s getting into a terrible muddle, with the wool flying everywhere. It was a lot of fun to draw and I like the energy of ‘drawing’ with the wool too. I even made my own lettering out of wool for the “clickety- click “ bits, which was great fun!
Can you tell us a bit about the mediums and materials you work with and why?
It’s a long story. A few years ago I was faced with the possibility of losing the sight in one of my eyes. I couldn’t see properly and I was very, very frightened. Writing, drawing and creating illustrations is so important to me. It’s a huge part of my life and I didn’t want to have to give it up. So I started to explore other ways of ‘drawing’, of creating interesting textures and details, to keep me going through the bad days.
Because Milo is a knitted creature, I dug out some wool and started to knit, something that I hadn’t done in ages. I figured I’d create textured pieces of fabric and use them like exotic papers, actually fixing the textiles to the page. I took samples of these in to the lovely people at Walker and I was struck by the reaction everyone seemed to have to the knitted textures. Everyone would stop and stroke the little bits of knitting and even cuddle them! It was such an interesting reaction and it made me want to take it further...
Milo Armadillo is made using pencil and watercolour and some collage. It took me months before I was happy with him. And then, when I had settled on how he should be, I decided to knit him, just like Gran does in the story! It was a challenge to marry up my drawings with the textiles, so I started scanning my fabrics into my computer, and taking the 2D images and using them like exotic papers in collage. But not just any old collage! I decided to make it very personal and started using some of my own favourite clothes and special bits and pieces that I’ve hoarded for many years. In the book there’s my favourite shirt (an original 1960’s one, bought in San Francisco for a buck!), the bandana my beautiful dog Bryn used to wear, my husband Paul’s scarf, my favourite trousers and some lovely old pieces of crotchet (made by my Mum) amongst many other special pieces. It’s all very personal to me, and it gave me such comfort to use all these ‘friendly’ bits of fabric. After cutting up a favourite jumper and ‘sewing’ it onto my artwork, I realised that if I carried on in this manner I’d run out of clothes, so I scanned and copied them and used these papers in the art.
I developed this theme and used actual stitches like pencil marks on the artworks. I also used wool to draw with, as I like the warm, fluid line it makes. I even made my own type out of it! It was great fun to draw with textures and layers, to make leaves and water appear out of fabric and a challenge to juxtapose all of this with my graphite line, as well as creating a new character. (It’s also been an important lesson to have something so wonderful come out of what was a truly horrible situation.)
Is there any particular routine involved in your writing/illustrating process (favourite paintbrush, lucky charm, favourite place you particularly like to work)?
I have a studio where I like to work. It’s great to have a space where I can make as much mess as I like! I have my sketchbooks – which are essential. The shelves above my drawing table are dripping with books, it’s like being in a jolly, colourful cave! On a shelf above my table live a collection of knitted creatures, including two strange beasts which are made from recycled socks. If the light is poor, I go outside and work in my garden, or go somewhere different to get me thinking. It could be a museum, a gallery, or even a park.
What does a typical day involve for you?
It depends. Some days I’ll spend all my time illustrating. Or recently, I’ve been visiting a lot of schools – which is always a treat – and doing a few lectures. There’s a lot of travelling. If I’m going by train, I try to work as I travel.
Do you have any pets or a favourite animal?
I have two Cornish Rex cats called Merle and Kira. Kira likes to sit on my lap when I’m painting, which isn’t always practical! She also likes to pinch things off my table. She thinks I don’t notice. But I do. I adore animals. If my husband would let me, I’d have dogs, horses, chickens, pigs, sheep, ducks and geese... and an armadillo! I’d love to cuddle an armadillo…
What subject did you enjoy most at school... and least?
English, art, biology and physics were my favourites. I’m afraid maths was my least favourite. I was rubbish at it!
When did you first feel that you wanted to be a writer and illustrator?
I’ve always wanted to illustrate, ever since I was a child. I suppose I decided to really try and do it when I was teaching. I used to be very fussy about the books I used with my class. I would become frustrated by the books on offer, and want to make some myself. So I did.
What were your favourite books as a child? When I was very small I remember being given Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy World. I loved it. I wanted to travel all around the world and meet the characters, especially Sneef the detective.
Do you have any hobbies?
I have an allotment, which I love. It has a fab blue shed made from old packing crates and a pond with newts and frogs. I love growing things and I love to go there just to think. It always makes me feel creative! I’ve even written stuff sitting in my shed! And also, thanks to Milo, I’ve discovered knitting. I’ve just finished a cardigan! I also like to cycle when the weather’s good, and I suppose I do all the usual things. I like to walk and look at nature, and go to theatre, galleries.
I collect stones with holes in them (yes really), sea glass, and kitsch ornaments, which my cats like to try and destroy. They think they’re the style police. I have some very good pals called Shelly and Mark and every time we go on holiday, we have a competition to see who can bring back the worst bad-taste item. They’re winning at the moment, with a wind-up balalaika...
Who are your favourite artists/ do you have a favourite painting?
Oh. What a question. Don’t you realize it’s too hard to choose?! I love and appreciate so many artists and illustrators – classical and modern. I refuse to answer this question, because some paintings talk to you in different ways on different days. It depends on how you’re feeling, and what you want to see. I just feel so lucky to be able to appreciate all of these things.