I’m Booked: Thomas Gonzalez
Written by Ally Abruscato, Graphic by Anna Porter
The world of children’s books is a fascinating place. What might seem easy at first glance requires a lot of collaboration, precision and creativity. Illustrating picture books is a dream for many SCAD students. For Thomas Gonzalez, a SCAD alumni, it is a reality.
After a long career at Coca-Cola, Gonzalez found himself as a freelance illustrator. When a friend suggested him for a children’s book, he made a pitch presentation, just like how he would at Coca-Cola. After that, Gonzalez says, “they felt that I was perfect for the project, [and] they gave me a contract for a book titled “14 Cows For America” written by Carmen Agra Deedy. The book reached The New York Times Best Sellers List in its category and then was followed by another request from another publisher to do a book and then on and on.” Since then, Gonzalez has worked on numerous children’s books covering a range of illustration styles and topics.
Picture books require a lot of collaboration between the illustrator and the author. For Gonzalez, “the process begins with some discussions about what specifically the author likes about my work.” After this, he normally creates “a presentation that includes a suggestion for a cover, a typical layout of one or two spreads, and some spot images to get the cohesion and synergy going with not only the author but with the publisher, as well.” Even though so much work is done digitally these days, Gonzalez still illustrates on paper. With a mix of watercolor, colored pencils, pastels and fine-tip pens, he is able to create dazzling illustrations that jump off the page. Gonzalez has gone through this process time and time again, but most recently, for his newest book, “Behold the Hummingbird!” written by Suzanne Slade.
“Behold the Hummingbird!” pairs beautiful illustrations with detailed facts about hummingbirds. During the creation of this book, Gonzalez became a “temporary expert” on hummingbirds and discovered “how physical they are as they are able to fly as much as 23-30 miles a day.” For anyone interested in learning more hummingbird facts, you’ll find plenty in “Behold the Hummingbird!”
For any current SCAD illustrators interested in picture books, Gonzalez suggests that you should “immerse yourself in other illustrator’s styles and see what makes them unique.” Finding inspiration from others is always important and can allow for a lot of creative growth. However, it is vital to remember that “it’s not so much the technical ability, although that’s important, but the personality of what you create. It’s not easy getting a children’s illustration gig, but once you have one or two, it becomes easier. Consistency and reaching out to publishers and agents should be a habit. Also, just try to be a great illustrator for not just picture books. There are other venues, as picture books are time-consuming, and you should plan on gaining other types of work. The picture book process takes a couple of months, sometimes more, and you should have other short-term projects with quicker turnaround times to be able to support yourself better.”
Make sure to check out “Behold the Hummingbird!” and stay up to date with Gonzalez and his art! I’ll be back soon with another book review, but until then, I’m Booked.
As Editor-in-Chief, Ally Abruscato leads and supports a talented group of staff and contributors in pursuing their creative endeavors. At SCAD, Ally majors in Photography and minors in Advertising & Branding. She regularly offers pop culture insights through movie reviews, articles and her weekly column, “I’m Booked.” When she’s not writing or taking photos, Ally’s probably outside, reading or running.
