MIM
MIM: WHO IS NANCY VALA? NANCY: My major in college was Writing & Illustrating for Children’s Literature but I never did anything with it until now. I thought it was too frivolous and turned my back on it. I’ve worked as a graphic designer, newspaper artist, Illustrator, book designer and writer and had kids of my own so maybe the blend of skills, knowledge, confidence and timing is finally right.
U.S.
MIM: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK, LUCETTE SPAGHETTI? NANCY: Lucette is based on the childhood of my friend Donna Carins. She grew up on Long Island in an Italian family. Like Lucette, she always took a bath on Saturday night and looked forward to meatballs and spaghetti for Sunday dinner. Simple childhood rituals - being wrapped in a towel, a bedtime story - bring a sense of security and love. And Lucette is a free spirit!
“I’m also a book designer so I was able to do everything from design to production” MIM: WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? NANCY: I love all the old fairy tales and their illustrators: Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Aubrey Beardsley. Treasure Island and N.C. Wyeth’s illustrations. The geniuses of colour: Matisse, Kandinsky, Gauguin. Or just a faded cigarette package on the sidewalk. MIM: WHAT TECHNIQUE DID YOU USE TO CREATE THE ILLUSTRATIONS? NANCY: The illustrations are done with Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics program. It’s basically connecting the dots, bending lines and filling in colour. I’ve used it for a long time so I can start my sketch on the computer and then refine it. I’m also a book designer so I was able to do everything from design to production. I’ve recently gone back to oils and watercolors but my favorite tools are just a pencil and paper. MIM: YOU ALSO HAVE PAPER DOLLS OF LUCETTE. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE? NANCY: When I was 11 or 12 years old I was the go-to person for handmade paper dolls. Friends of friends would see them and want their own set. So it’s come full circle! For the Lucette paper dolls I was inspired by the 1950s Betsy McCall paper dolls that come with a little story. There will be a new Lucette paper doll set every month. MIM: WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE AS A CHILD? NANCY: I dreamed about being a passenger on the train that ran through our back yard -- I just wanted to get out of town!
Mim: We love Nancy’s simple and happy style, it’s make us smile. thanks Nancy!
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