George Carruth on Writing Children's Books
The creation of children's books has somehow always been a goal of mine. The problem has always been finding time, and deciding on a look or technique. As for writing the stories, ideas appear everywhere and take a short time to put down on paper. When my daughter Libby was still at Columbus College of Art and Design during her senior year, I suggested she try her hand at illustrating for me.
Using a story I had written a year or two earlier, she began illustrating some of the scenes and turning them in for homework projects. By the time she graduated, a good portion of the book had been completed. Not long after graduation, she married Micah Krock who is also an artist. After moving to Portland, Oregon, she and Micah were ready to start their careers and explore their potential. During this period, Libby focused on finishing this book titled "The Boy Who Loved Birds". She had completed 29 illustrations and was preparing it for the printer when the Thanksgiving holiday arrived. With the book ready for the printer, she and Micah left Portland to spend the holiday with Deb and me.
After returning to Portland they discovered their apartment had been burglarized. The computer containing all of the illustrations, sketches, and layouts for the book was gone! Since this first book was refined on Photoshop in the computer, only very rough beginning sketches were left behind. Libby would have to start over. It took a full year for her to re-motivate herself and start working on the book again. But now she was more experienced. During the year away from the book, she and Micah had worked on paintings and were enjoying selling their art in Portland.
With new enthusiasm, Libby completed all the required illustrations in several months. With the excitement of receiving the book from the printer, we decided to start another book titled "What Stinks". This time, Libby wanted the illustrations to be done in acrylic paint and colored pencils. The computer could sit this one out. Since we lived in different states, all communication was done by emails.
I took great delight in going to the computer and discovering what scenes Libby had decided to paint, and how she would interpret them. I would see a new email from her, hit the button and POW! There was a newly completed page for the book.
By the time we finished our third book, "If I Were A Dinosaur", other children's book authors had discovered her talents. She is now illustrating children's books for other authors, and I am back to my true passion of sculpting. Due to our collaboration on the 3 books, we were invited as guest speakers at the Mazza Museum in Findlay, Ohio. This is the only museum in the United States dedicated solely to the art of children's book illustrations. It immediately became my favorite museum! They have over 4000 original children's book illustrations that are rotated and displayed in their gallery. I guarantee it will bring back fond memories.
Libby Carruth Krock is an artist and illustrator, and the daughter of Deb and George Carruth. After graduating with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design in 2003, Libby and her husband, Micah, moved to Portland Oregon, where they welcomed a son, Caleb, in September of 2009. As a freelance artist and illustrator, Libby has had the pleasure of adding her creative touches to the pages of numerous books, including three for her father, in addition to creating portraits, murals, sculptures and various other works of graphic art for a variety of clients and friends.