{"id":731,"date":"2010-01-20T11:27:14","date_gmt":"2010-01-20T17:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/?p=731"},"modified":"2010-01-20T14:26:34","modified_gmt":"2010-01-20T20:26:34","slug":"chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/","title":{"rendered":"Children&#8217;s book illustrator &#8211; John Lechner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"744\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/johnlechner_signing\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"220,307\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"johnlechner_signing\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing-214x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"johnlechner_signing\" width=\"220\" height=\"307\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/johnlechner_signing-214x300.jpg 214w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nSay a big hello to John Lechner. He is the author and illustrator of four books for children, A Froggy Fable, Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burwood Forest, The Clever Stick and Sticky Burr: The Prickly Peril, all published by Candlewick Press. Thank you for joining us today.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When did you get started illustrating for children? What did you do before?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My first book, <em>A Froggy Fable<\/em>, was published in 2005, but I have been writing and drawing my whole life. Before being published, I worked as a graphic designer, puppeteer, animator, interactive designer and art director.<br \/>\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=creatwebsiand-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;asins=0763621234&#038;fc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;lt1=_blank&#038;m=amazon&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;bc1=000000&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;f=ifr\" style=\"width:120px;height:240px;\" scrolling=\"no\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tell us a little bit about the recent books you wrote and illustrated, <em>The Clever Stick<\/em> and <em>Sticky Burr: The Prickly Peril<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The Clever Stick<\/em> is a fable about a stick who is sad because he cannot speak. He has many thoughts he wants to share, but doesn\u2019t know how. In the course of the book, he discovers his \u201cvoice\u201d. My other recent book, <em>Sticky Burr: The Prickly Peril<\/em>, is about a group of burrs who live in the forest, and what happens when their village is attacked by the wicked Burweena and her spiders. It\u2019s part comic book, part storybook, part nature journal.<br \/>\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=creatwebsiand-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;asins=0763639508&#038;fc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;lt1=_blank&#038;m=amazon&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;bc1=000000&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;f=ifr\" style=\"width:120px;height:240px;\" scrolling=\"no\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> <iframe src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=creatwebsiand-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;asins=076364580X&#038;fc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;lt1=_blank&#038;m=amazon&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;bc1=000000&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;f=ifr\" style=\"width:120px;height:240px;\" scrolling=\"no\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are you working on right now? Do you have any other books or art projects you\u2019d like to talk about?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Right now I\u2019m working on a novel, which is very different from my other books. I also launched a blog last fall called <a href=\"http:\/\/untendedgarden.com\">The Untended Garden<\/a>, where I highlight artists and writers inspired by nature. I think it\u2019s ironic that even though we know more about nature than ever before, we are becoming more and more isolated from it. Art and literature have always helped us see our world in new ways, and I hope to bring that sense of discovery and exploration to today\u2019s readers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You work in animation and interactive storytelling. What project are you currently involved in? How do these disciplines differ from picture book illustration?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lately I\u2019ve been very interested in interactive storytelling, combining the elements of an illustrated book and an animated film into something new. I\u2019ve been working on my own interactive story for over a year now, which I hope to launch this spring.<\/p>\n<p>I love animation because it\u2019s a unique kind of visual storytelling, and combines many different art forms. It is a lot like book illustration, except you multiply the number of illustrations exponentially, and look at them REALLY fast. You are still telling a visual story, but showing every action and scene, leaving less to the viewer\u2019s imagination. In this way, it is a less intimate experience than reading a book, since much of a book\u2019s reality takes place inside the reader\u2019s imagination. But you can also add things to animation like music and sound effects, which can enhance your story in ways that a book can only dream of.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you do non-children\u2019s book art (licensing, fine art, etc.) or art just for fun? Is that art similar or different from your children\u2019s book art?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Besides book illustration, I love to draw and paint for fun. I like painting with watercolors outdoors, though I don\u2019t have much time for it. You can see a lot of my miscellaneous work on my website gallery <a href=\"http:\/\/www.johnlechner.com\/gallery\/index.html\">http:\/\/www.johnlechner.com\/gallery\/index.html<\/a>. It\u2019s not too different from my children\u2019s book art, but a bit more eclectic.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/backyard.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"752\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/backyard\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/backyard.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"400,486\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"backyard\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/backyard-246x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/backyard.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/backyard-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"backyard\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-752\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Do you illustrate full time? If not, what else do you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I work full-time as an Art Director at the children\u2019s media company FableVision. There I do everything from animation to web design. One of my recent projects was designing a new website for <a href=\"http:\/\/pbskids.org\/rogers \">Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood<\/a> which was very exciting and humbling to work on. My latest project is co-directing the animated film <em>The North Star<\/em>, based on the book by Peter H. Reynolds, which will be released later this year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When you illustrate a picture book how do you decide what scenes and details to draw? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/cleverstick_tree2.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"734\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/cleverstick_tree2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/cleverstick_tree2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"180,215\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cleverstick_tree2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/cleverstick_tree2.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/cleverstick_tree2.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-734\" title=\"cleverstick_tree2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/cleverstick_tree2-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/em><br \/>\nI usually visualize the story in my head, and draw what I see. There is no system or structure to my sketching, I just try out different views and angles until I have something that flows together. I try to give each scene some visual drama, even if it\u2019s just a field of flowers. And it\u2019s important for the drawings to work together as a sequence, both visually and dramatically. You can\u2019t just focus on each page as a self-contained picture, you always have to think of how it fits into the book. That\u2019s what separates great picture books from ordinary ones, when the pictures flow together so seamlessly that you don\u2019t even notice you\u2019ve turned the page. That\u2019s something I\u2019m still striving for.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_sketch.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"735\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/froggy_sketch\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_sketch.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"467,247\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"froggy_sketch\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_sketch-300x158.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_sketch.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-735\" title=\"froggy_sketch\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_sketch-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_finished.jpg\"> <img data-attachment-id=\"736\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/froggy_finished\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_finished.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"500,268\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"froggy_finished\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_finished-300x160.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_finished.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-736\" title=\"froggy_finished\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/froggy_finished-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>When illustrating picture books do you include a visual storyline not mentioned by the text or include animals or people you know?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I draw many things that aren\u2019t in the text, such as recurring background characters, or changes in color or composition to reflect the mood. Since most of my stories are about animals or insects, I don\u2019t usually include people that I know (at least, not consciously!)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can you explain your art process? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After I have the final sketch dummy (which is the result of many revisions with pencil and paper), I will sketch out the final illustrations on watercolor paper, actual size. I prefer actual size because I like to work small, and it also shows me exactly what the final page will look like. After sketching, I will draw the final lines using black India ink and a fine brush. Then I will erase the pencil lines, and paint the illustration with watercolor. I usually work on several paintings at a time, since the watercolor has to dry after each section so it doesn\u2019t run. I will often do the whole illustration over, if it doesn\u2019t turn out the way I want. I think the entire book <em>A Froggy Fable<\/em> was illustrated twice, because I wasn\u2019t satisfied with my first attempts.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"756\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/stickkyburr_studio2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"320,229\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"stickkyburr_studio2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2-300x214.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"stickkyburr_studio2\" width=\"320\" height=\"229\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/stickkyburr_studio2-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have a favorite color or palette?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most of my stories take place outdoors, and I love greens and browns, especially yellow ochre.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your favorite medium to work in? Have you always worked in this media? If not, why did you switch?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I prefer watercolor and ink, which I have used for all my books. I\u2019ve tried other mediums over the years, but watercolors seem to best express the ideas and feelings that I\u2019m trying to convey.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/burweenatree1.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"754\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/burweenatree1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/burweenatree1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"440,592\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"burweenatree1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/burweenatree1-222x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/burweenatree1.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/burweenatree1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"burweenatree1\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-754\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/tower.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"755\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/tower\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/tower.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"271,490\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"tower\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/tower-165x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/tower.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/tower-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"tower\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-755\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Did you always want to be an artist when you grew up?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes, along with a musician, puppeteer, writer, filmmaker, and many other things.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you use models\/source pictures or do you draw from your memory\/imagination?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I mostly draw from my imagination, though I often model my scenery on real places. For instance, the tree at the beginning of <em>The Clever Stick<\/em> is an old apple tree from my backyard. And for the Sticky Burr books, I research all the animals and insects that I draw, then simplify them to make them fit the style of the story.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you could be anything other than an artist, what would you be?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If I weren\u2019t making books, I would love to be a musician and composer. I play the violin, guitar and ukulele, and I actually wrote the songs in the back of my Sticky Burr books.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What gets you through an illustration when you\u2019re stuck for inspiration?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Deadlines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What book do you remember from when you were young? (list one or multiple books)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I had many favorite books as a child, including everything by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.randomhouse.com\/kids\/richardscarry\/\">Richard Scarry<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.billpeet.net\/\">Bill Peet<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.seussville.com\/\">Dr. Seuss<\/a>. I liked books with lots of visual details, but also a good story.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is there a children\u2019s book illustrator whose work you gravitate towards in the bookstore now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m always drawn to illustrators whose work is very different than my own, particularly those with a bold sense of texture and design like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lanesmithbooks.com\/\">Lane Smith<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.melissasweet.net\/index2.php\">Melissa Sweet<\/a>. I love artists who can create a unique world that the reader can get lost in.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you could illustrate any writer\u2019s new work, who would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Lately I have been very inspired by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dianawynnejones.com\/noflash.htm\">Diana Wynne Jones<\/a>. Her writing is so rich, so imaginative, it would be an honor to illustrate even a single sentence of hers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who do you want to be when you \u2018grow up\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t plan to.\u00a0 In fact, I think I might start growing younger instead of older, and spend more time making things, jumping in puddles, and exploring the world around me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Say a big hello to John Lechner. He is the author and illustrator of four books for children, A Froggy Fable, Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burwood Forest, The Clever Stick and Sticky Burr: The Prickly Peril, all published by Candlewick Press. Thank you for joining us today. When did you get started illustrating for children? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[6,168],"tags":[618,247,242],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Children&#039;s book illustrator - John Lechner -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wendymartinillustration.com\/wordpress\/chilrens-book-illustrator-john-lechner\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Children&#039;s book illustrator - John Lechner -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Say a big hello to John Lechner. He is the author and illustrator of four books for children, A Froggy Fable, Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burwood Forest, The Clever Stick and Sticky Burr: The Prickly Peril, all published by Candlewick Press. Thank you for joining us today. When did you get started illustrating for children? 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