INSPIRATIONS FROM THE BOOKSHELF Nora Racz

 

Every illustrator and writer has grown up with inspirations from a variety of sources.
This week illustrator Rekha Salin wanted to find out what gives illustrator
Nora Racz the most inspiration.


Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi! I’m Nora, a children’s illustrator based in Gloucestershire, UK where the beautiful, calm countryside keeps me inspired every day.

I picked up a pencil and started drawing at a very early age and never stopped! Even when I was sitting at school or later when I had non-illustration jobs at various workplaces I was constantly doodling wherever I found a suitable spot.

Other than drawing I also enjoy reading, (mostly children’s and YA fiction books), picking up new crafts like crocheting, knitting, cross stitching, macramé, (and then forgetting about them!), nature walks, travelling, bird watching, watching the neighbours’ cats, going to cafés, treasure hunting at charity shops, keeping my plants alive, watching movies and series, listening to the same music I did 15 years ago, getting lost in Wikipedia, spending quality time with friends and playing video games.


Which genre do you illustrate for?

Any kind really, from fairy tales to nonfiction, as long as my style is suitable for the subject. 


Nora's brilliant collection of books

What inspires you to pick up or buy a book from the library/bookstore or buy online?

That’s a tough question! I’ve got more books than I could ever read!

One of my favourite things to do is going book hunting in our local charity bookshop where I can spend ages picking up books, reading the descriptions on their backs, marvelling at the covers, all the beautifully illustrated pages in the case of picture books and pondering whether I should add another book to my already creaking bookshelves.

As for what inspires me to pick up a book from the shelf... it could be an interesting title, the colour and details on the spine, the type of font used for the title, the author, the illustrator or whether I’ve heard or read a recommendation somewhere etc.


Are you inspired by books from multiple genres written/illustrated by the same author/illustrator?

Of course! It’s always so inspiring and great to see all the different creative sides of an author or an illustrator.


Do you bring your inspirations into your work?

It’s a wonderful thing that we are constantly inspired by a myriad of things we come across every day in our lives even if only subconsciously. So I would say yes – it would be hard not to!

What inspires me most artistically are all the wonderful illustrators’ works I follow on Instagram or artwork I find on Pinterest, see in books, at exhibitions or in animation. Sometimes it’s real life – seeing some animals acting funny, a lovely older couple at a café, children playing in the park, people bickering on the street, a weird plant, gorgeous scenery etc.


How do you keep your work fresh, original and unique and avoid looking like your inspiration?

I think focusing hard on trying to avoid looking like an inspiration or the opposite, to look like an inspiration, would exhaust anyone mentally and creatively rather quickly. It could make you feel like losing your voice and then you need to spend a lot of time trying to find that voice again.

Creating something involves pouring, (a bit of), yourself into your work and focusing on whether your art looks too much or not enough like your inspiration obstructs that flow.

So I try to avoid focusing on either and instead dip down to find how drawing and creating felt as a little kid. It’s very liberating and allows me to enjoy drawing the way I do without dwelling too much on whether my illustrations look too much or not enough like an inspiration. 


Does your bookshelf have all the books that you love or inspired you?

Not all of them – some books I loved were borrowed from libraries or friends, some are back at my parent’s and grandparents' houses, but some I do actually have here.

There are some old books that I’ve forgotten about but have definitely inspired me early on. Like the ones I discovered this summer as I was rummaging through a drawer full old bits and bobs back at my grandparent’s house. They were a tad bit mouldy and some were falling apart but they were still there! It was so much fun to open the pages and remember “this is where I saw this picture!”.


Which are the main few books that have inspired your work and yet not on your bookshelf?

Most picture books I loved growing up but cannot recall by title anymore or books I’ve read at bookstores/libraries throughout the years!

I also read a lot of comics online but they’re only taking up residence on my digital bookshelf, (aka tons of open tabs).


Are there any books that have inspired you in a way that you really wish you worked on a text like that or you wish you thought of the unique way of storytelling?

There are far too many to just name one or two!


*Header image: Ell Rose and Tita Berredo
                                                                                                                                                                                  

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Nora is a self-taught illustrator living in the sunny UK. She enjoys drawing for children and grown-ups who love sweet, fun, whimsical pictures.

In her free time Nora enjoys the outdoors, petting puppies, bird watching, crocheting, reading and watching series online.

See more of her work on Instagram & her Website


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Rekha Salin has three books published as an illustrator. Two picture books, one in 2020 and the other in 2022 and also a recipe book, (for adults), in 2022 published by ABV Publishing. 

She is currently working with Gnome Road Publishing and this will be available in 2024.

See more of Rekha's work here. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter



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Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures. 
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter or www.titaberredo.com.
Contact her at: illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org

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Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.
Find their work at www.fourfooteleven.com.
Follow them on Instagram and Twitter
Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org



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