Visual artist Elly MacKay chatted about illustrating the children’s book “The Enchanted Symphony,” which was written by Dame Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton.
Daily inspirations as an illustrator
On her daily inspirations as an illustrator, she shared, “I find it everywhere really but what really makes me want to get back to the studio and create are the moments when I’m out on a hike and see a dramatic landscape. I love watching the clouds and seeing how the light and shadow change the land below.”
“I am always wondering how I might create something similar in my little theatre. That is how I create my illustrations. I set up layers of painted paper like a stage set, light the scene and then photograph it,” she explained.
Working with Dame Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton
MacKay opened up about working with Dame Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, both of which co-authored “The Enchanted Symphony.”
“It was pretty surreal hearing that Julie Andrews and her daughter wanted to work with me,” MacKay said. “I was sent the story and could imagine Julie narrating it as I read it, such a fairytale. I love her voice… I could see the story like a movie. It was a complex story to illustrate though so there was a lot of back and forth through our editor and art director at Abrams.”
MacKay continued, “One thing Julie and Emma really wanted was more houseplants in the theatre seats. I had gone a little overboard with flowers but fortunately with the way I work I was able to replace them and rephotograph the scene quite easily.”
“It is nice working this way because it is so flexible. I can add or subtract, take photos from different angles, change the composition and play with the lighting too,” she added.
Lessons learned from the children’s book ‘The Enchanted Symphony’
When asked if this children’s book taught her anything about herself, she said, “The story really emphasizes the importance of the simple joys in life and I really reflected on that while working on this book.”
“Walking with my friends along the trails is what grounds me so I now make that a priority every week. It is so easy to replace that time with work or other responsibilities when you are a freelancer but I know it is pretty much essential for my mental health to get outside and be with friends,” she said.
The digital age
On being a visual artist in the digital age, now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent, she said, “That is a big question. For every new technology there are opportunities and drawbacks.”
“I wouldn’t have a career without putting my work online but the scraping of our art by AI is completely unethical. I hear friends talking about what jobs they will do when illustration as a career becomes obsolete and it so disheartening to hear,” she said.
“On the other hand, I see really interesting possibilities with building dimensional illustration in virtual worlds. There will always be change I suppose and I see interesting avenues for creativity and storytelling emerging through tech as well,” she added.
Technology in her daily routine
Regarding her use of technology in her daily routine as an illustrator, she said, “When I am doing the sketches for my books I begin with pencil and paper. I take those drawings into the app, Procreate on my iPad, and play with color and the placement of the text. I find Procreate a really useful tool and a great way to put together a book dummy for my publisher.”
I don’t post to Instagram every week but I do enjoy connecting with readers and other artists and writers there pretty much every day.
Advice for aspiring illustrators
For young and aspiring illustrators, she said, “It is easy to be consumed by the work and over do it, even if you love what you’re doing. Actually, Julie Andrews had some good advice recently when talking about happiness and balance. She was saying that if you feel unhappy in one part of your life, shift your weight. I think that is sound advice.”
“There will be times when you need to work until two in the morning to meet a deadline but you can’t do that all the time. You have to know yourself and be aware of when you need to make a change,” she explained.
Success
On her definition of the word success, MacKay said, “I’ve always liked to imagine myself as an old lady, going for a swim in the lake and then sitting outside at a table with friends and family, eating a good meal.”
“I want to grow old doing the things I love with the people I love. I hope I will always be to create art. That’s important to me too,” she added.
Closing thoughts on ‘The Enchanted Symphony’
MacKay remarked about the book, “What I loved about the story and what made me want to illustrate it is that in a time when everything feels polarized, this fairy tale celebrates what unites us – music, nature, and community. I hope it resonates with others in the same way.”
“The Enchanted Symphony” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
To learn more about Elly MacKay, follow her on Instagram.
Read More: Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton talk about “The Enchanted Symphony.”
