Getting to Know the Locals: Bonnie Leick

Bonnie Leick is a local children’s book and magazine illustrator. Her illustrations are full of amusing scenes and eccentric characters. Many of her pieces include one-of-a-kind monsters that transport the viewer to a fantastical new world. It was a great pleasure discovering her work and learning about her process.

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

A: I illustrate children’s books, working primarily in watercolor. Although I illustrate a wide variety of subjects my favorite one is, monsters. My previous career was in animation, but I had always wanted to illustrate children’s books.When I had the opportunity, I took it.

I live in Sister Bay, WI in beautiful Door County with my husband Doug and Zoe, my French Bulldog. I have two (adult) sons, Ryan and Connor.

Q: What first piqued your interest in illustration?

A: My mother loved to sit with me and draw. She had many books filled with wonderful illustrations. I also liked to make up stories as a kid. Sometimes I would use words with pictures to tell the story but then I started to tell the story without words. Later on, I got into animation because of my desire to make my drawings move.

Q: What inspires your illustrations?

A: In my professional illustration, obviously the inspiration starts with the manuscript. Once I dig into the story, I start to “live” it in my head. I see the characters, the mood, and the color.

My French Bulldogs (Zepplin and Zoe) have been the inspiration for the “French Batdog”. This character appears in one of my books and has art donated to the French Bulldog Rescue Network.

At times, the work of other artists inspires me to step out of my bounds and try something new. Successful or not, it is very fulfilling.

Inspiration also usually comes when I am trying to meet a deadline and I have no time for anything else. Visions start to swirl in my head, and I sketch them; a story comes after.

Q: Whose work do you follow?

A: One of my favorites is Eyvind Earle. He uses color and shape in both a simple, yet detailed manner. It’s truly incredible how much mood is portrayed in his work. I also like Edward Gorey. I love his ink and pen work but even more so, his twisted sense of humor. Jill Barklem, who sadly passed away recently, is another artist who inspires me. I love the detail she put into the cozy little worlds that she created.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I have recently started working on my “dream” book. It is the third book in the “Little Monster” Series (Two Lions) and is entitled, “It’s Halloween, Little Monster”. The books in this series have all of the cute yet icky, creepy crawly things that go along with monsters. I am able to go all out with a Halloween themed book!

I am also illustrating the covers for two different series of adult novels. It is not what I normally do, but my agent asked me if I would consider it. After speaking to the publisher, I decided that I’d take the chance. It was a great decision. The books take place in quaint towns, show no gore, and instead of humans, there are cats (and I’m a dog person)!

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

A: There are many of my personal pieces that I really like, but when it comes to my books, the Little Monster series is my favorite. I love the other books that I have done but this series (“Goodnight, Little Monster” and “Go to School, Little Monster”) allowed me to be ultra creative. My Art Director tells me to “do what I do” and I do! I also love to look back on the sketches for the books too. You can really see what I was thinking at the time.

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

A: I have more than one (e.g. robots, rocks and insects). However, after two moves in the past two years, the one item that made its way out of the moving boxes and onto my desk each time was a small Siamese cat figurine (did I mention that I am a dog person?). It came from a cheap 1970’s decoration and the rest of it has disappeared ages ago but the cat keeps finding its way to me. (On a side note, a Lego man that I built years ago and better known as “Annoying Guy”, also keeps showing up on my desk…)

Q: Where can your work be found?

A: My work can be found on my website at bonnieleick.com. It can also be found online at any book retailer.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: Children’s book illustration can be a tough business but the reward is much greater. Whether it’s art that you do for yourself or are hired to do, it allows you to bare yourself to the world. I am lucky that I am allowed to do just that.

It was wonderful getting to know Bonnie and her monsters a little better. I’m looking forward to her next Little Monster book! I’ll see you in the next interview!

Stephanie Marie Steinhauer