Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Energetic colour, animal adventures, a hint of mystery, nostalgic tones
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A myriad of collected books, a smattering of traditional tools, and my trusty iPad.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love working digitally on my iPad with the app Procreate.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Bill Peet, Richard Scarry, Julia Sarda
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would visit the golden age of scientific and botanical art in the 18th and 19th centuries. It would be incredible to see how art and science merged during that time period.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I was always reading as a kid, mostly picture books, chapter books with illustrations and later on, books that painted pictures with words. I realized I was drawn to creating illustrations and characters that went on adventures like the ones I loved when I was a kid.
I was always reading as a kid, mostly picture books, chapter books with illustrations and later on, books that painted pictures with words. I realized I was drawn to creating illustrations and characters that went on adventures like the ones I loved when I was a kid.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have a cosy corner in my San Francisco apartment that overlooks the southern part of the city. I work mainly on an iron garden table with a cat bed underneath it and have a bright red bookshelf behind me filled with children’s books, art supplies, and trinkets. I added a chair big enough for my cats to share with me since they enjoy being a part of whatever I create.
I have a cosy corner in my San Francisco apartment that overlooks the southern part of the city. I work mainly on an iron garden table with a cat bed underneath it and have a bright red bookshelf behind me filled with children’s books, art supplies, and trinkets. I added a chair big enough for my cats to share with me since they enjoy being a part of whatever I create.
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What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The beginning, brainstorming and research part of the process where the possibilities are endless. And then whittling ideas down to create focus.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Keep experimenting, really get in touch with what you love to do and create, and keep making art!
Torey Butner is a San Francisco-based children’s book illustrator. She is the illustrator of the My Mushy Matzah Ball series (2021), Carissa The Crane And The Construction Crew (2022), and Too Many Moose (coming out August, 2024!).