5 Questions for Heidi Griffiths
who believes that it's never too late to start again
Like so many self-taught artists, Heidi Griffiths (43) knew early on that she had an affinity for art. She even went to art college at the age of 16 but for some reason or another, she opted for graphic design instead of fine art. Fresh out of college, she got a job as a graphic designer which she disliked so much that she decided to turn her back on this profession. For the following fifteen years, she had a non-creative job until the birth of her daughter turned her world upside down. Since she required a lot of medical care, Heidi found herself spending endless hours in hospitals and to pass the time, she began to draw.
Out of those tentative beginnings would eventually grow murals and other decorative things Heidi made for her daughter’s bedroom. This in turn caught the attention of her friends who began asking for paintings which ultimately led Heidi to open an Etsy shop.
With time, her interest in narrative illustration grew and she took several online courses like MATS and the Good Ship Picture Book Course before being contacted out of the blue by a publisher with whom she would go on to illustrate her first book Grow, Forage and Make.
She has since illustrated a further three books.
Having always felt that she had missed out on the opportunity of going to university, Heidi decided last year that the time had come to make up for it. She is currently doing an MA in children’s book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art intending to focus on her own authored and illustrated books in the future.
1. You are a great proponent of the idea of ‘it’s never too late’. In fact, you are currently undertaking your first university degree at the age of 43. What is this experience teaching you and what words of encouragement do you have for someone who maybe feels like they have left it too late?
Oh, it’s definitely not too late!
Whether you are thinking about embarking on a degree or pushing your creative self forward towards illustrating children’s books, there is NO age limit, or deadline to achieve things by.
I fell in love with drawing the second time around at the age of 31. I had to teach myself to draw again, and as terrible as I was, I enjoyed the process of creating much more than the outcome. I still really enjoy the process and learning and this has kept me creating.
I am also very determined (stubborn), and if you love what you do and you are determined I'm sure you can complete a degree or land your first book job. If I can do it, then so can you.
The publishing industry does not discriminate against age. Some of the most renowned children's book illustrators are still working in their 80’s. So if I’m 43 now, that means I could have at least another 43 years left of my career. What a privilege that would be.
So, age is irrelevant- Go and do it!!
2. Your first year on the children’s book course consists of a lot of observational drawing. Through that, you’ve been discovering sketchbooks for yourself and have been drawing a lot in public places. For those who are eager to ‘get a book done and published’ this might seem like a waste of time. Why do you think it is actually time well spent?
I understand this well.
A few years ago, the idea of sketch booking seemed a waste of time and irrelevant. But now I’ve come to realise that, for me, it’s an essential part of the process.
Initially, I was making work that I thought publishers wanted to see. There were trends that came along and I would jump aboard thinking I was on the right train to Publish Central.
However, early feedback from agents was that my work lacked personality. I mistook that as my characters lacked personality. I didn’t really know who I was as an artist- and it’s still a progress of discovery.
Using a sketchbook every day is like keeping a diary. You find out so much about yourself. What really interests you, what media you like to use what colours you lean towards. But also drawing quickly on location makes you draw in a way of laying down essential lines and marks which will be unique to you. However, this only comes from drawing A LOT.
Sketchbook observational drawing not only helps me technically, but it allows me to see, hear and feel the world in greater depth which is essential for good storytelling.
3. Before that fateful day when you got an email from a publisher out of the blue, you did go through a period where you knew that you wanted to work in children’s book illustration, but it wasn’t happening (yet). How did you deal with the frustration that can arise when we know what we want, we’re putting in the work, but the doors refuse to swing open?
Yes, this is tough.
When my youngest started school I gave myself a year to get a book job. I had 5 days a week from 9-3 pm. 10 months on and still no book deal. I felt deflated and started to look for a job as I could no longer support myself on my Etsy sales alone.
It’s really difficult when you feel like you have given it your everything but still not getting anywhere.
However, I have always had a blind kind of optimism. I would look towards learning something new to improve my illustration. I sent my work to lots of agents - some of whom kindly took the time to call me and offer feedback. Feedback is always so valuable. Take it when you can, the good and not-so-good! I would also recommend you find a great group of illustrator friends who can give you honest feedback and who know what it is like to go through the ups and downs of this industry.
I met some fantastic people on the Make Art That Sells course and also through the Orange Beak Patreon. There was a happy ending to this story, at the very end of the year at the 11th hour, I got a very exciting email. MY FIRST BOOK JOB! I’m also a big believer of - ‘things will happen at the right time’.
4. You’ve experienced both working with an agent and without one. What would Heidi from today tell Heidi from 2019 regarding getting an agent?
In 2019 I laid all my success on getting an agent.
I thought that if I had an agent I could kick back and just wait for the book deals to come rolling in. But, it doesn’t work like that!
I would say there is nobody better to promote your work than you. KEEP SHOWING YOUR ART. Send it out to publishers. Post it on social media. Enter competitions.
I never sent my work to publishers. I was too terrified. How ridiculous! But lucky for me an art director spotted my work on Instagram.
5. You are currently taking quite a risk. Over the past few years, you have established yourself as a children’s book illustrator with a certain style. Now, you are focused on your MA and you hope to emerge from this period with something entirely different and much more YOU. What would you say makes taking this risk worthwhile? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
All of the work I’ve done to this point is definitely ‘me’. But perhaps a slightly naive version of me.
Because I have never had the opportunity to experiment and investigate what a picture book could be.
For example; I’ve never before tried printing techniques that may become part of my picture book voice in the future. I think the books I will make after this course will be much more enriched. Who knows?
But I admire artists whose work changes and develops as they themselves change.
I don’t see this as a risk, as I’m not relying on books to support me financially. I do (unfortunately) have a non-creative job that pays the bills.
There’s no risk in self-development, but I would hate to think that I would never make a book again. Even if this was the case, I would never stop drawing; as long as I can keep drawing I’d be fine.
There are lots of things that I have already gained from doing the MA. New skills, friendships and creative confidence. But I hope that with practice, experimentation, and the support from my amazing tutors, I will go on to author/ illustrate children’s books in my own voice and in a way that makes me happy.
This is all that really matters to me…… but if I were to end up the highest-paid author/ illustrator in the world ever…then I’ll be fine with that too. Haha!
Connect with Heidi
Website - www.heidigriffithsart.com
Instagram - instagram.com/heidi_griffiths_art
Substack - substack.com/@heidigriffiths
What inspired you the most about Heidi’s story? What did you learn from her interview? Let me know in the comments.
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What a pleasant read! Not at all surprised to hear such spot-on insights from Heidi!