Axel Scheffler: The Interview

My interview with the illustrator of The Gruffalo and other books by Julia Donaldson could not be reproduced in full in StarMag today because of the lack of space (books don't get many pages and I think that's not just in Malaysia).

Anyway, it's just as well that this blog exists.

Interview by DAPHNE LEE

Meeting the Illustrious Illustrator

THE Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson is one of my favourite books to read to kids. In fact, any one of Donaldson's picture books are ideal for storytelling sessions thanks to her gift for catchy rhymes and rhythms, not to mention her sense of humour and interesting characters. Of course, the appeal of her characters are due largely to the way they are depicted by the illustrator who has worked with Donaldson on more than 10 books, and counting - Axel Scheffler.

Scheffler's illustrations were part of the Contemporary Picturebook Illustrations in Germany exhibition organised by the Goethe-Institut and held recently at the Sarawak State Library in Kuching. The London-based German illustrator was in Malaysia to launch the exhibition and also to speak about picture book illustration at the above venue and also the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

I've read The Gruffalo so many times to my children that I know it pretty much by heart and so our appointment to meet for lunch and a chat was quite a red letter day on my calendar. Scheffler obligingly autographed a whole stack of his books for me, drawing a character from each one alongside his signature! When I told him that during the next storytelling session I do, I would get the children to draw their own versions of The Gruffalo, he said, "I've often wondered how another illustrator would have drawn the gruffalo."

Donaldson's description of the monster is pretty detailed - there's the wart at the end of his nose, the orange eyes, black tongue and purple prickles on his back. Scheffler added the horns and made him furry whereas in interviews Donaldson has spoken of children drawing something scalier, more reptilian.

He said he would not mind if the story was re-published with someone else's drawings as he tends not to form emotional attachments to his illustrations and approaches each assignment with quite a practical, workmanlike attitude: "Maybe it is because they are not actually my characters or stories."

He doesn't think he will write his own book though. "I am not a storyteller," he insisted and laughed at my suggestion that he produce a textless picture book. However, his eight-month-old daughter is named Adelie and as there is a species of penguin by that name, he concedes that he might well draw a book about a penguin in the future!

I think Scheffler's depiction of the gruffalo is really indivisible from the character, just as it's hard for those of us who grew up with classic Pooh rather than Disney Pooh to think of the bear without thinking of Ernest Shepard's illustrations.

Scheffler names Shepard as one of his favourite illustrators. He also likes the work of William Steig, Jean Jacques Sempe, Tomi Ungerer and Edward Gorey. Although he doesn't aspire to illustrate any classic children's books, believing that, for example in Pooh and Alice, the original illustrators have done jobs that can't be improved upon, he is actually currently working on illustrations for a new edition of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - due out in the fall of 2009, which Scheffler calls his "year of the cat" as there is also a project with Donaldson book about a cat: Tabby McTat, "a busker's cat, who falls in love and deserts (his owner)."

In the meantime, September will see the publication of Stick Man, also written by Donaldson, with illustrations by Scheffler. This is a partnership that seems to be thriving although Scheffler looks somewhat bemused when discussing its success. They do not work on the books together as some may suppose ("No, she writes and I just draw the pictures.") and do not work exclusively with one another either.

"I don't illustrate all Julia's stories," he said. Tyrannosaurus Drip is one book he turned down because it didn't feel right to him (it was eventiually illustrated by David Roberts), but the others, like Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant, The Snail and the Whale, Tiddler, Room on the Broom and the Tales from Acorn Wood series, are definitely paying the bills.

"I am lucky," said Scheffler. "It's still hard for illustrators to make a living."

His transition from a student (he obtained a first class degree in illustration from the Bath Academy of Art) to professional illustrator was quite smooth. Early work included commercial illustrations for English and German advertising companies, magazines and newspapers. At the same time he and his portfolio did the rounds of publishers. Faber and Faber was the first to show interest and he illustrated The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell and The Bottle Rabbit and its sequel by Bernard McCabe for that house. In the late 1980s Scheffler illustrated Jon Blake's You're a Hero, Daley B for Walker Books.

He hit pay dirt in 1993 when Macmillan paired him with Donaldson. The author had written a song (A Squash and a Squeeze) for the BBC children's programme Playdays, and when it was turned into a picture book, Scheffler was chosen as its illustrator. The Gruffalo followed in 1999 and has sold over two million copies worldwide and been translated into 20 languages, the latest being Chinese. There has been a stage play and an animated movie is due for release in 2009.

Scheffler also illustrates German books, taking care that there is "no conflict" between these projects and the picture books he illustrates in Britain. He sees a distinct difference between the picture books produced in his adopted country and his country of birth (he was born in Hamburg in 1957). "There is more editorial input in England," he said. "Publishers in Germany are less concerned about what a book should look like. They seem to have less preconceived notions of what is suitable for children." He feels that German picture books are, therefore, stylistically and conceptually more daring. "Authors and illustrators can tackle more serious subjects and themes that in Britain might be considered too 'artistic' or sophisticated for children's tastes."

I can certainly imagine the illustrations that are featured in the Contemporary Picturebook Illustrations in Germany exhibition provoking quite strong responses in Malaysians who might not be used to the idea of children's literature dealing with darker, more serious themes. Many of the images are haunting, some might even say disturbing. As Scheffler pointed out, most Malaysian children's literature are of "mass market quality and don't have very interesting stories or pictures." He thinks this will change in time: "As the society becomes more affluent, and people are more exposed to a variety of literature, they will be more discerning and also come to expect more of local authors and illustrators."

His advice to aspiring illustrators is to practise hard. "You must possess the joy of drawing. You must also look at other illustrators' work. And you must be interested in art. But, above all, you must practise."

 

Comments

[Daphne]

Hello Nancy. You know I don't think I asked Axel about the medium he works in. I can't tell from the illustrations. Acryllic perhaps? Or mixed. When he autographed my copies of his books, he drew pictures in them using a black marker.

[Nancy Cote]

I am curious as to what medium Axel Scheffler works in for the illustrations in his picture books?

[Daphne]

Hi Sandra, Scheffler has a charming style and I am curious to know what his work for German publications is like.

I am a fan of Gorey and so am also looking forward to Sheffler's illustrations for T. S Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", which Gorey illustrated too.

[Sandra Dutton]

Oh my, you've named some of my favorite illustrators--Steig, Shepard, Ungerer and Gorey, so I'm sure I'll like Axel Scheffler's work--what an interesting review! I must look at "The Gruffalo" and other Scheffler works--

Sandra Dutton
www.SandraDutton.com
www.DearMissPerfect.com