Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Kurilla.
Renee, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am currently a children’s book illustrator, but before I went down this path I worked at an animation studio in Boston called FableVision. For nearly a decade I was a Lead Artist and designed many of FableVision’s products including websites, games, an animated series, and even a few graphic novels.
While I was working on the graphic novel, Zebrafish in 2006(ish), I got my first freelance job illustrating a children’s book series. All of a sudden, I was illustrating so many books and realized how much I loved doing it, so I pursued it as a career. I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and learned how to cater my portfolio and market myself to publishers.
I always call my time at FableVision my incubation period, because, without the everyday creative challenges they provided for me, I wouldn’t be where I am today! For some people (like me) it takes a long time to figure out where you feel comfortable. I am so happy now illustrating books, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it was definitely not easy! (It’s still not easy, to be honest.) I can’t even describe in words how long it took me to develop my art style and how much I practiced and still practice. There is SO much talent out there, so how do you even begin to stand out? It takes an incredible amount of patience and persistence.
The way I try to look at my ongoing journey is that if it was easy- it would be really boring. I am never satisfied, I am always trying to get better and stay relevant.
It’s exhausting…but it can also be incredibly rewarding. I do a lot of deep breathing. 🙂
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business mostly focuses on art for children’s picture books and chapter books. My specialties are character design and visual storytelling. I love using bright, bold colors but I also do a lot of black and white work as well.
Currently, my work is geared towards a bit of an older audience (kids transitioning from picture books to chapter books with more words), but I am interested in working on books for younger readers as well. I have a 1-year-old and we spend a lot of time reading and flipping through board books, which gives me so many ideas! I’d love to illustrate a board book or two… or five!
I am, however, so very proud of the catalog of books I have produced so far. I can only hope that kids like reading them as much as I like working on them. I have a picture book coming out soon that I am particularly excited about called CHICKS RULE. It was written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and is being published by Abrams Kids in March of 2019. It was so fun to work on AND has a great message of inclusiveness. I can’t wait to share it with the world.
What were you like growing up?
So, so shy! Ugh.
But, I loved cartoons and spent a lot of time copying characters like Marvin the Martian and Michigan J. Frog in my sketchbooks. I have always loved silly, goofy stuff and I think a lot of that translates into my work now as I’m basically just a grown-up kid.
I’m so lucky to have such supportive parents who provided me with endless art supplies and inspiration. They recognized that I loved drawing early on and encouraged me to pursue art as a career, even though I think it was a bit scary for them!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kurillastration.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/reneekurilla
- Facebook: facebook.com/kurillastration
- Twitter: twitter.com/reneekurilla
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
