Three Times A Charm with Hazel Mitchell


Welcome to Three Times A Charm. I love meeting new authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the children’s publishing industry and sharing their careers with my readers.

Today’s guest is illustrator and author, Hazel Mitchell. (Isn't she adorable?) Welcome Hazel. Tell us about you, please.

Originally I am from Yorkshire, England, but now I live in Maine, USA creating books for children. It's my dream job! I went to art school in England, then got sidetracked, joined the Royal Navy, later ran a graphic design business and then moved to America and began illustrating. When I'm not drawing I love to sail, read, garden and look after my animals. I have 2 horses, 2 dogs, a cat and several snow shovels. I still miss England, especially fish and chips and mushy peas, but I'm learning to love lobster. See more of my work at www.hazelmitchell.com. 
  

Mushy peas? Really? Ha ha. Can you tell us about your latest book?


'1,2,3 by the Sea' is my newest book. It's a counting book by Dianne Moritz and published by Kane Miller. I had a lot of fun drawing seaside scenes! I also have a book out in fall this year called 'One Word Pearl' by Nicole Groeneweg and published by Charlesbridge. It's about a little girl who cuts out and collects words - until one day they go crazy and chaos follows. 

Both publishers you’ve mentioned produce such lovely books! You must feel very blessed to be working with them.

Now, for the Threes. Share with us your top 3’s to help us know you a little better.

·  Top 3 books you recommend reading and why you recommend them.

'Making Comics' - Scott McCloud - if you are working on a graphic novel, which I am, it's a great resource.  

'Second Sight' by Cheryl Klein- great stuff on writing and process.  

'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books' by Harold Underdown - first book I ever read on kidlit and still relevant. 

·  Top 3 tools of the trade you couldn’t live without. 

Photoshop - I started using it when it was still in the software cradle (1987ish?) and have used it for a variety of work ever since. Now it's mainly for colouring, layout and manipulating my hand done artwork. It's an important part of my process.  

Mechanical pencil - there is nothing like a GOOD pencil. I always used Derwent pencils, but a few years ago I began using a mechanical and now I love not having to sharpen. But I do use very soft pencils in my illustration work to get a good black line. 

Scanner - a good scanner is imperative when working digitally from hand produced work. I'd love a large format, but right now I have an Epson V600 Perfection. I stitch large pieces back together in photoshop. I also use it for scanning textures and objects for collage. 

(K. C. Snider, the illustrator who did my Weaver Tales covers says the same thing about her scanner. SO important.)

·  Top 3 skills to hone for people just starting in your business. 

Craft -Learn your craft, learn everything you can. Never stop learning, never stop drawing, never stop writing.  

Network - get out there and meet people, in real life, online, at conferences and workshops. If you are shy, take a public speaking class - but this is a people business! 

Patience - you soon learn that waiting is a skill you will need. 


Where can our tech-savvy readers go to keep up with you and your work?
Email: hazel-mitchell@hotmail.com 
www.hazelmitchell.com 
http://hazelmitchell.blogspot.com/ 
https://lookbackincandour.wordpress.com/ 
http://turbomonkeytales.blogspot.com/ 
http://pixelshavings.blogspot.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/HazelMitchellSketchbook 
Twitter: @thewackybrit 

Thank you for charming us on this week’s Three Times A Charm, Hazel. Best of luck to you, your art and your writing. Readers, be sure to browse her sites and see her wonderful work! If you have any questions, leave them in comments. I'm sure Hazel will be happy to answer them. 

THANKS!

GUESTS WELCOME!  I am always looking for guests for Three Times A Charm. If you are an author, illustrator or book reviewer, an agent or an editor. If you have something related to children’s publishing that you’d like people to know about, feel free to contact me about a future appearance.

Comments

  1. Barbara WatsonApril 24, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    I 'tumbled' across Hazel on Tumblr not long ago. I love the sketches she shares there. Her style is just what I love and what makes me smile when it comes to illustrations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hazel MitchellApril 24, 2013 at 7:15 AM

      Thanks Barbara ... that's a wonderful compliment.

      Delete
  2. JoannaApril 24, 2013 at 7:22 AM

    Yay, I have read two of your three book recommendations! Lovely interview, ladies. I am a big fan of Hazel's art and can't wait to see her writing published too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hazel MitchellApril 24, 2013 at 7:28 AM

      I am with you on that Joanna .. working on it ... xx

      Delete
  3. Beverly Stowe McClureApril 27, 2013 at 1:44 PM

    Hi Hazel. Very nice interview. I enjoyed "meeting" you. the books are lovely. Contratulations and best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 28, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    Thanks for stopping in to visit with Hazel, Barbara, Joanna and Beverly! Always nice to see your smiling faces.

    ReplyDelete

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