Getting to Know the Locals: Andy Rash

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Andy Rash. He is an incredible illustrator who has done everything from books to animation. I have followed Andy’s work for a number of years and have always enjoyed his vibrant colors, use of shapes, and his jocular character design. Here is what he had to say about his work…

Q: Please give a short description of yourself and your work.

A: I am a picture book author and illustrator. I have seven of my own books either out or coming soon, and eleven that I illustrated for other authors. I have created some animations for Nickelodeon and often illustrate for magazines and newspapers.

Q: What first piqued your interest in illustration?

A: I think I have always been interested in it. I can remember imitating illustrations I loved in picture books from when I was very, very young.

Q: What inspires your illustrations?

A: For inspiration, the internet is a firehose from which to drink. I’m inspired by my friends’ illustrations and books, and by the ideas and drawings my kids show me.

Q: Whose work do you follow?

A: I am very lucky to be a part of a large community of illustrators working in several fields. There are too many to name, but I’ll name some influences from the past instead. Edward Gorey, Jim Henson, Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, Jim Flora, and Mary Blair.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Right now, I am finishing up writing and illustrating a picture book called Unstinky about a stinkbug who doesn’t fit in because he only makes good smells. It will be out next fall from Scholastic. I’m also writing and illustrating a new picture book for Viking called The Happy Book, which will be out the following spring.

Q: What work of yours are you most proud of?

A: I am very proud of a picture book I wrote and illustrated called Archie the Daredevil Penguin (Viking, 2015) and the animated trailer I created to promote that book.

Here is where you can find the animated trailer for Archie the Daredevil Penguin: http://www.rashworks.com/animation/2015/9/4/archie-the-daredevil-penguin

Q: Do you have a favorite knick-knack in your studio?

A: I have a Brown County Book Award, which is a glass maple leaf, for a book I wrote and illustrated called Are You a Horse. I was very happy to receive the award, but the glass leaf is quite beautiful as an object. Also, I have a can of Spam signed to me from Amy Poehler when she was shooting the original Wet Hot American Summer.

Q: Where can your work be found?

A: Aside from my books, and animations on Nickelodeon, my illustrations appear in Boy’s Life, Entertainment Weekly, Fortune, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Wired. I also have a blog for my pixelated portraits at iotacons.blogspot.com, and my regular web site at rashworks.com.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: I teach illustration and a yearly picture book elective at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

It was wonderful getting to know Andy Rash better and I am looking forward to his new books, Unstinky and The Happy Book, coming soon!

Stephanie Marie Steinhauer