[null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-2VBDkJ7a4/UKDpsaRQFCI/AAAAAAAABXg/WkqCRAG3KlM/s200/Sam+Bell.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-2VBDkJ7a4/UKDpsaRQFCI/AAAAAAAABXg/WkqCRAG3KlM/s200/Sam+Bell.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Sam Bell", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 138}, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnkgGPw0vOg/UKDtOGW2BnI/AAAAAAAABYA/YSiKyThNoM8/s200/sam+5.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnkgGPw0vOg/UKDtOGW2BnI/AAAAAAAABYA/YSiKyThNoM8/s200/sam+5.jpg", "formatted_filename": "sam", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 157}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RH4hFazIzak/UKDvfcRTeTI/AAAAAAAABYY/CKzw38agSxA/s200/Pelican-High+Resolution+Photo.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RH4hFazIzak/UKDvfcRTeTI/AAAAAAAABYY/CKzw38agSxA/s200/Pelican-High+Resolution+Photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Pelican High Resolution Photo", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 200}, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8oDCUKmagk/UKDvj3fvyLI/AAAAAAAABYg/fkJJMDqARYA/s200/sam+3.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8oDCUKmagk/UKDvj3fvyLI/AAAAAAAABYg/fkJJMDqARYA/s200/sam+3.jpg", "formatted_filename": "sam", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 150}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "//lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AyVVT2W9SNU/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAACWo/Y_0PevQ0arE/s80-c/photo.jpg", "src": "http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AyVVT2W9SNU/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAACWo/Y_0PevQ0arE/s80-c/photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "photo", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFTjO0yyz4M/WWEvNzxNliI/AAAAAAAACoA/6954Wby7Urwq97Rt1YyJ7rZkT6U4eh7BgCK4BGAYYCw/s300/Beulah%2BLand%2BCover.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFTjO0yyz4M/WWEvNzxNliI/AAAAAAAACoA/6954Wby7Urwq97Rt1YyJ7rZkT6U4eh7BgCK4BGAYYCw/s300/Beulah%2BLand%2BCover.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Beulah BLand BCover", "alt_text": "Beulah Land (Young Adult Novel)", "rendered_width": 198, "rendered_height": 300}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ov6To8moD8/UIKRKtl3JJI/AAAAAAAABVM/PwFlKAHp29c/s250/literary%2Bclassics%2BGOLD%2BAWARD%2BSEAL.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ov6To8moD8/UIKRKtl3JJI/AAAAAAAABVM/PwFlKAHp29c/s250/literary%2Bclassics%2BGOLD%2BAWARD%2BSEAL.jpg", "formatted_filename": "literary Bclassics BGOLD BAWARD BSEAL", "alt_text": "Literary Classics Gold Award for Sea Turtle Summer", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 250}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bg3Z-Xatjo/UIKZz2VkLiI/AAAAAAAABV4/SHu6dSCxOCY/s250/literary%2Bclassics%2BSILVER%2BAWARDS%2BSEAL.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bg3Z-Xatjo/UIKZz2VkLiI/AAAAAAAABV4/SHu6dSCxOCY/s250/literary%2Bclassics%2BSILVER%2BAWARDS%2BSEAL.jpg", "formatted_filename": "literary Bclassics BSILVER BAWARDS BSEAL", "alt_text": "Literary Classics Silver Award for One Pelican at a Time", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 250}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TMiJ4zQ2qfI/AAAAAAAAAB8/YoYhFCkLt70/S250/Facebooksmall.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TMiJ4zQ2qfI/AAAAAAAAAB8/YoYhFCkLt70/S250/Facebooksmall.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Facebooksmall", "alt_text": "Visit me on facebook", "rendered_width": 62, "rendered_height": 62}, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWn5H0j_Rh8/T7fEV9WqnUI/AAAAAAAABBM/qWovNz_K4A0/s250/CLC%2BSeal%2Bof%2BApproval%2Bsimsilvfoil.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWn5H0j_Rh8/T7fEV9WqnUI/AAAAAAAABBM/qWovNz_K4A0/s250/CLC%2BSeal%2Bof%2BApproval%2Bsimsilvfoil.jpg", "formatted_filename": "CLC BSeal Bof BApproval Bsimsilvfoil", "alt_text": "Sea Turtle Summer Wins Children's Classics Seal of Approval", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 250}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnIiC6IepLM/T4Ze6kOWZuI/AAAAAAAAA4s/S0tfduFLGkE/s250/Lit.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnIiC6IepLM/T4Ze6kOWZuI/AAAAAAAAA4s/S0tfduFLGkE/s250/Lit.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Lit", "alt_text": "One Pelican at a Time Wins Literary Classics Seal of Approval", "rendered_width": 194, "rendered_height": 190}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TSz5JEM62fI/AAAAAAAAAFs/SzoJmiJWT9E/S250/Twitter.png", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TSz5JEM62fI/AAAAAAAAAFs/SzoJmiJWT9E/S250/Twitter.png", "formatted_filename": "Twitter", "alt_text": "Follow me on Twitter", "rendered_width": 182, "rendered_height": 51}, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fe2RBYFy_3A/UTNPuiXZQUI/AAAAAAAABkM/kCxZcMJcgy4/s300/Hernando%2Bbook%2Bfair.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fe2RBYFy_3A/UTNPuiXZQUI/AAAAAAAABkM/kCxZcMJcgy4/s300/Hernando%2Bbook%2Bfair.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Hernando Bbook Bfair", "alt_text": "Hernando County Reading Festival, Brooksville, FL", "rendered_width": 225, "rendered_height": 300}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69Ee6KJR2Ic/UP1Lruqw3ZI/AAAAAAAABfg/1ac1ZgGS9g0/s300/Ellen%2BHopkins%2BNancy%2B%2528SCBWI%2529.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69Ee6KJR2Ic/UP1Lruqw3ZI/AAAAAAAABfg/1ac1ZgGS9g0/s300/Ellen%2BHopkins%2BNancy%2B%2528SCBWI%2529.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Ellen BHopkins BNancy B SCBWI", "alt_text": "SCBWI Miami Mid-Winter Conference, 2013", "rendered_width": 225, "rendered_height": 300}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z11j-ArXGqI/T98fN0Lry0I/AAAAAAAABEs/tWY7sbA-8-8/s250/Nancy%2Band%2Bcritique%2Bgroup.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z11j-ArXGqI/T98fN0Lry0I/AAAAAAAABEs/tWY7sbA-8-8/s250/Nancy%2Band%2Bcritique%2Bgroup.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Nancy Band Bcritique Bgroup", "alt_text": "SCBWI Florida Mid-Year Conference (Walt Disney World Yacht Club, Orlando)", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 188}, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1S-T_I55Co/UUMeci1JVqI/AAAAAAAABlQ/BpCoPnTj2to/s300/2013PPT.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D1S-T_I55Co/UUMeci1JVqI/AAAAAAAABlQ/BpCoPnTj2to/s300/2013PPT.jpg", "formatted_filename": "PPT", "alt_text": "Download Nancy's Presentation from the 2013 Illinois Reading Council Conference", "rendered_width": 300, "rendered_height": 228}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TMiGRy366HI/AAAAAAAAABs/_ROsty6Z08s/S250/GuardianAngelsmall.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TMiGRy366HI/AAAAAAAAABs/_ROsty6Z08s/S250/GuardianAngelsmall.jpg", "formatted_filename": "GuardianAngelsmall", "rendered_width": 147, "rendered_height": 135}, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://www.commonfloor.com/images/green-community.jpg", "src": "http://www.commonfloor.com/images/green-community.jpg", "formatted_filename": "green community", "alt_text": "Green community"}, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-qv5Hrt9vY/Txl1KtAh0sI/AAAAAAAAApE/UtD_3Ht4_AU/s250/IMG_0972.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-qv5Hrt9vY/Txl1KtAh0sI/AAAAAAAAApE/UtD_3Ht4_AU/s250/IMG_0972.jpg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "SCBWI Miami Conference-2012", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 188}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQIohKKatU/TeuBZWy7MOI/AAAAAAAAATE/DMn0Z6kpjvI/s250/Book%2BNook%2B%2528Nancy%2529.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMQIohKKatU/TeuBZWy7MOI/AAAAAAAAATE/DMn0Z6kpjvI/s250/Book%2BNook%2B%2528Nancy%2529.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Book BNook B Nancy", "alt_text": "Book Nook by the Bay--One Pelican at a Time Reading & Signing in Aid of World Oceans Day", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 188}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/2012/11/samantha-bell-artist-for-all-seasons.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TP1ec-iSUwI/AAAAAAAAAC4/40BvkvGrBz0/S250/Be%2BThere%2BBedtime%2BStories.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e1MgbbQ2vtc/TP1ec-iSUwI/AAAAAAAAAC4/40BvkvGrBz0/S250/Be%2BThere%2BBedtime%2BStories.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Be BThere BBedtime BStories", "alt_text": "Guardian Angel Publishing teams with Be There Bedtime Stories", "rendered_width": 160, "rendered_height": 113}, null]

Samantha Bell--Artist for All Seasons

It is my great pleasure to have as my guest today, Samantha Bell. She is a fine illustrator of children's books, and she works in many media, including watercolor. Sam was the illustrator who brought Bella and Britt to life in the Bella and Britt series, (Guardian Angel Publishing) for which I am eternally grateful! As every writer of children's books knows, the written word is only half of the book.  Without the illustrator's talents, the book is not a book at all.  The illustrator brings it to life.  Gives it bones upon which to hang the story.  When I think of Britt and Bella, the words I wrote telling their story are not what comes to mind.  Rather, it is the girls themselves--the lovely, spunky, fearless girls that Sam's creative talent brought to the series.

NS  Please tell us about your earliest illustrating. School, even earlier? How did it happen? SB  My very earliest illustrations were for a story I wrote when I was about seven years old. The story (or stories, rather -- it was a series!) was about the adventures of a cat named Kitty De Dums. I typed them up on half-sheets of paper and added an illustration to every page.

NS  Your illustrations are so lifelike. Do they come from models, your head, both? SB   I'm all in favor of reference material! :) I find models for the people I illustrate and use reference photos for the other things in the picture. I love using models, because then the children who pose for me can literally see themselves in the books!

My typical process is this: After reading the manuscript, I work out a story board for each page, deciding what will be in each illustration. I do this with little scribbles, and I'm probably the only one who can tell
what the scribbles are supposed to be. From this, though, I know what I'll need for each illustration -- models, animals, objects, etc. -- and then go from there. NS   What is a typical day like for an illustrator? Do you have a studio?

I'm not a full-time illustrator, but rather a full-time mom, so I don't think I ever have a typical day. With four children at home, my day might go like this: Wake up, work in some illustrating time, get the family up and going, run through the day's activities of schoolwork, appointments ,lessons, errands, housework, and meals (with a little illustrating time squeezed in again), get folks off to bed, and illustrate some more. I have some really good lighting in my studio, so I can work late at night if I need to. And my studio? A tiny room at the front of our house that used to
be the nursery for my youngest. We just call it the "art room", because sometimes my kids work on projects in there too.

NS   You illustrate animals so beautifully, too. Do you use some real animals as models?

SB  It's harder for me to work from life when illustrating an animal; that is, unless it's sleeping! So I find or take my own reference photos, coming up with a collection that shows the animal from lots of different angles so I have enough to work from. NS  The illustrations you did for the Bella and Britt series are so gorgeous. I feel that I know these girls as well as my own children. I am always amazed at how well you capture their personalities. How do you do it?
SB  It must be my models! When I meet with the girls, I take along my storyboard and tell them what I need them to do. They are so much fun to work with! They "act out" the story as I take a million photographs --they are so patient!

Posted by Nancy Stewart at 8:16 AM Labels: artist, Children's Book Illustrator, Guardian Angel Publishing, Illustrator, One Pelican at a Time, Samantha Bell
 Beulah Land (Young Adult Novel) Coming November 16, 2017 (Interlude Press) Literary Classics Gold Award for Sea Turtle Summer This is such an honor. Literary Classics Silver Award for One Pelican at a Time Thank you, Literary Classics. Visit me on facebook Bella Saves the Beach Now Available! Sea Turtle Summer Wins Children's Classics Seal of Approval Second Award for the Bella and Britt Series One Pelican at a Time Wins Literary Classics Seal of Approval Katrina and Winter Now Available! Buy a Personalized, Autographed Copy of Sea Turtle Summer Buy a Personalized, Autographed Copy of One Pelican at a Time Hernando County Reading Festival, Brooksville, FL Wonderful day with kids and books! SCBWI Miami Mid-Winter Conference, 2013 Fabulous YA author Ellen Hopkins and Nancy Download Nancy's Presentation from the 2013 Illinois Reading Council Conference Special Book Book by The Pier with Katrina St. Petersburg, Florida Channel 10 (Tampa-CBS) Katrina Feature with Ginger Gadsden One Pelican at a Time Nominated for Global eBook Award Popular Environmental Books for Young People on Amazon "A Dazzling Amazon Bestseller!" SCBWI Miami Conference-2012 Book Signing with Medeia Sharif Beach Inspiration! Subscribe on JacketFlap Guardian Angel Publishing teams with Be There Bedtime Stories