Creating art for Maya Rose finds a grandmother.
When I made the decision to illustrate Maya Rose Chooses a Grandmother, the style of illustration seemed an easy choice. I always try to give children an experiential element which allows them to “feel” something about the time and place where a story might have happened.
In this case, I chose rich handmade papers like those used for celebrations in India. Batik has been used for story telling there for centuries, so I incorporated materials which lent themselves to the feeling of that medium. I used the stylized movements of figures in stories told in dance, bas relief carvings, shadow puppet shows.
I used handmade paper, scraps of batik and colors which lent themselves to the magical feeling of the story.