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    The Children's Book Review

    Inside the Studio with Shawn Harris, Illustrator of Her Right Foot

    Guest PostsBy Guest Posts4 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Cultural Wisdom Picture Books
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    The Children’s Book Review 

    Shawn Harris is an artist and musician who lives and works in Morongo Valley, California. Her Right Foot (Chronicle Books, 2017) is his first book. Learn all about his studio (including the name of the ghost that resides there), his artistic process behind Her Right Foot, and be sure to enter the giveaway below, too!

    Inside Shawn Harris’s Studio

    I work in the desert, underground, in my house’s basement, where I keep cool and hide, like the rest of the animals out here.

    Illustrator Shawn Harris Dessert

    My art studio doubles as my music recording studio, so there are tape machines next to reams of paper, next to brushes and ink, next to speakers and a laptop computer, which also serves double-duty.

    Illustrator Shawn Harris Studio

    The couple that built my house in 1947 dug this hole that is now my studio, and lived down here while they built the rest of the house above me. When they had visitors, they let them sign the rafters. There is a ghost that protects this place, and I’ve decided, of all the visitors, he is probably named Max Cooley.

    Illustrator Shawn Harris's studio rafters

    I was building a new door out on the porch one day, when from right behind me, a deep-voiced man warned, “…Sure hope you’re the new owner of this place.” I replied that I was, turning around to find nobody at all. My dog was losing her mind, barking at thin air. But he must have been satisfied with my answer because he hasn’t bothered us since.

    Shawn Harris’s Creative Process

    When I’m illustrating, I make a mess of the basement until I have no more space to work, then I migrate to the kitchen table, upstairs, forcing me and my wife to eat dinner on the couch. When eventually, the heap of papers on the kitchen table forces me to the couch to work, I know that I should be nearly finished with my project.

    I start every project at the library. I have a 25 book limit, and am constantly having to weed out a selection or two at the checkout desk, with an impatient line forming behind me. I love doing research and figuring out the backstories that might not appear in the text I’m illustrating, behind who and where my characters are.

    Then I start sketching. There’s usually a really rough gesture or shape sketch . . .

    Shawn Harris Sketch

    . . . followed by another in which my subject matter can be recognized . . .

    Shawn Harris Her Right Foot Sketch

    . . . followed by a digital mockup in photoshop that always feels pretty finished, and I can’t imagine why I’m going to spend so much time inking and cutting paper when this looks so good . . .

    Shawn Harris Her Right Foot Photoshop

    Except when I do spend the extra time inking and cutting paper, it makes the digital mock-up feel like a basketball without air, or a deer lying by the side of a road, and I’m glad I didn’t settle for the computer drawing.

    Shawn Harris Her Right Foot Digital mock-up

    Sometimes I ink directly onto the cut paper.

    Shawn Harris Her Right Foot Ink on Paper

    Sometimes I use a light table (or my laptop’s glowing screen) to paint the ink on a separate piece of paper that will line up with the paper shapes when I digitally overlay them.

    Shawn Harris Artistic Process Step

    I always photograph, never scan, the cut paper. I like the dimension that a more pronounced shadow adds to my work. I intend to build an overhead rig for my camera, but until then, I shoot my work through the rungs on this rickety ladder that is not safe to climb anymore.

    Shawn Harris Artistic Process Photograph

    Her Right Foot by Dave EggersHer Right Foot

    Written by Dave Eggers

    Illustrated by Shawn Harris

    Publisher’s Synopsis: If you had to name a statue, any statue, odds are good you’d mention the Statue of Liberty. Have you seen her?

    She’s in New York.
    She’s holding a torch.
    And she’s in mid-stride, moving forward.
    But why?

    In this fascinating, fun take on nonfiction, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America’s most emblematic statue. What they find is about more than history, more than art. What they find in the Statue of Liberty’s right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential to an entire country’s creation.

    Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Chronicle Books | 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1452162812

    Available Here: 

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    What to Read Next:

    1. Inside the Studio with Gilbert Ford, Illustrator of Soldier Song: A True Story of the Civil War
    2. Inside the Studio with David Litchfield, Illustrator of When Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon & Garfunkel
    3. A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park | Book Review
    4. Silent Days, Silent Dreams, by Allen Say | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Acceptance American History Book Illustrator Books Set in New York Chronicle Books Dave Eggers History Illustrator Illustrator Interviews Inside the Studio Non-Fiction Picture Book Shawn Harris Statue of Liberty Books
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    The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by a guest author.

    7 Comments

    1. Carol Luciano on September 29, 2017 2:58 am

      Such an interesting story about where his studio is located. I enjoyed reading it. Very creative and unique.

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on September 29, 2017 6:11 pm

        Agreed! And glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Pingback: Sweepstakes & Giveaways October 2017 – Ms. Cat's Honest World

    3. Bianca Schulze on October 23, 2017 9:13 am

      *Drum Roll*

      Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris, is certainly one of the best books of the year! So congrats to the winners of this giveaway:

      Grand Prize: Marilyn K. (NY)

      Runners-Up: Victoria S. (AL) and Susan P. (FL)

      Not a winner? That’s o.k., you can find purchase links on the giveaway page . . .

      Reply
    4. Victoria Scott on October 23, 2017 9:50 am

      Yea!!!! My daughter is going to be thrilled! Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on October 23, 2017 10:25 am

        You’re welcome! Come back and let us know what you both think about the book. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Carl on October 24, 2017 8:59 am

      Congrats winners!!

      Reply
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