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As a child, award-winning author/illustrator Catherine Stock experienced many different cultures first hand: born in Sweden, she lived with her family in France, England, South Africa, Hong Kong, and the United States.

Known since 1978 for creating amazing water color and pastel illustrations for the works of a roster of highly acclaimed authors, Catherine has also authored and illustrated a number of her own award-winning picture books, including A Spree in Paree and Guga's House. Her books introduce children to the diversity and vastness of the world by taking them on journeys to places like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Greece, France, China, Mexico and more.

She currently lives in the village of Rignac, in the historic Dordogne Valley, in the South of France.

Her online gallery features images of children at play from various of her books.
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Q&A

How did you get into children's book illustration?

I studied fine art, education and then got a Masters in Design from the Pratt Institute, in New York. My art always had a light touch, and I studied printmaking and illustration under Katrine Harries at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, in Cape Town.

When I was in New York, an old school friend from New Orleans, who was staying with me, had just done the Radcliffe publishing course, and someone she met there was working at Scribners as an editorial assistant.  This person took in some of my work to show Lea Deadricks, the editor-in-chief, who soon after asked me to do a book for them based on some of my ideas, that she liked.

What's your creative process like?

At the moment, I have what I can only call a sporadic work style.   I spend a lot of time working on my garden and vegetable patch, going for walks, cooking, and reading. I don't have a consistent work routine, but I think I am really trying to break new ground and I am always thinking about my work.

Where do you go or what do you do when you need inspiration?

I am often inspired by something that has little to do with the project I am working on.  For instance, I am just finishing a picture book called After the Kill by a zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History. It's about all the animals that progressively benefit from a zebra kill.  A painting by Picasso of a cat killing a bird inspired my approach to the project. For some reason, this project has also lead me to read Joseph Campbell's lecture series about life, myth, ritual, belief systems and death. I spend a lot of time just thinking and reading.

My childhood memories are also very special to me and a constant source of inspiration.

Has your art been influenced by your move from New York to southwestern France?

Probably - mostly in the sense that I have more time to do what I really want to do here.  I have a much simpler and less expensive life style in rural France than I had in Manhattan, as you can imagine.

Do you have any new books coming out soon?

I have two books coming out with Charlesbridge. After the Kill by Darrin Lunde, and a biography of Emily Dickinson and her dog, her constant companion for sixteen years, and to whom many of her poems were addressed.

Posted June 2010

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