Angela Barrett What gave you your ideas for your fabulous pictures in Snow Goose?
It was the story itself. The first time I read it I could see in my mind how some of the scenes would look. Others I had to work at harder – I read the story over and over again until some more ideas came. I’ve spent a lot of time walking in marsh land, so my head was full of images of that.
About a year - but also a lot of preparation, rough drawings etc. The finished pictures, the ones in the book, probably took about 9 months.
Thank you for saying they’re life-like – I’m not as good at drawing as I would like to be. The sort of landscape in the pictures, I have observed for many years so its just ‘gone in’. People I look at too, though trying not to stare. I don’t use models, I remember poses and facial expressions and I use myself in the mirror and, sometimes photographs. I have seen a lot of images of Dunkirk over the years and I went to the Imperial War Museum to look at some more and made sketches. I have to use photos for the birds as they move so fast. I’ve never seen a snow goose, so far as I know, but I took the opportunity to look at geese flying over or in the park. Once, when I wasn’t looking a goose had the sandwich from my hand!
Yes, I did enjoy drawing them very much. I didn’t have to start any of the pictures all over again. I did lots of sketches in my notebook first and then full-size rough sketches so this gives everyone a chance to point out any blunders early on. I did have to alter a drawing of Fritha because her ear was in the wrong place.
My favourite part of Paul Gallico’s story is the ending where the snow goose returns briefly to the lighthouse and Fritha says farewell. It is very sad and very beautiful.
I decided to illustrate this book because I love the story and could see that is was full of things I would enjoy drawing and be capable of drawing fairly well. Also, the person who suggested it to me and the people I worked with on it were all people I liked and trusted. And, last but not least, they offered me enough money to live on while I drew the pictures.
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