JACK FOSTER An Interview with Lon Levin

When did you first think about art as something you wanted to do? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

When I was in first grade, the teacher, Sister Rose, asked the class to draw a self-portrait. I drew myself walking home from school. At a parent teacher conference, Sr. Rose showed the picture to my mom and told her that she thought I had artistic talent because in the picture, I was leaning forward as I walked against the wind and my tie (yes, we wore ties to school back then), was blowing over my shoulder. Sr. Rose told my mom that knowing how to draw was just a small part of art. Perception was the rest. So my mom hung my self-portrait on the fridge and told me what Sr. Rose said. I knew that I liked to draw, but the encouragement I received from my mom and Sr. Rose ignited a passion in me that has never died down. My dad on the other hand was a hard working sheet metal worker and tried to discourage my art and pushed me to focus on a trade where I could make money. To this day, I’m not sure if the motivation to succeed as an artist came from trying to prove my mom right, or trying to

prove my dad wrong. What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?

I was a very quiet kid, the eldest of seven. We were raised just northwest of Chicago. I loved baseball. Every day during the summer, we would walk around the neighborhood with our bats, balls and mitts, gathering the “regulars” together for a game. In grammar school, I was a bit above average, but excelled in art and would volunteer to do posters for library events. In the evenings, my family would gather around the TV. I would take the Sunday paper comics, which I guarded with my life all week, lay them out across the kitchen table and trace them or draw them freehand. Drawing a daily comic strip for the newspapers was my dream. So naturally

some comic strip artists became a big influence in my art, which is still obvious in my work. Mort Walker was my biggest influence in my early days. He drew a strip called Beetle Bailey and another called Hi and Lois in which he teamed up with Dik Browne. The strip is still going today being produced by his sons Brian and Greg

along with Browne’s son, Chance.Of course Walt Disney was a huge influence. I read his biography at a young age and was fascinated by him. And the fact that he grew up in Chicago was even more of a “draw”. When I was about 13 years old, the Muppets came on the scene. I loved how Jim Henson could get his puppets to show facial expressions with just eyebrows and a mouth. Jim Henson has really influenced the large eyes, bright colors and character design in my work.

Your style is very unique. Did you work on developing a style or is that what naturally came out of you?

Throughout the years of submitting to the newspaper syndicates, my style changed drastically. I would send out a

packet of 30 strips every other week, and when they would be rejected and returned, I would redo the strips, altering my style a bit. Some rejection letters would be the standard “No, thanks. Good luck.” But once in a while an art director would give me some advice. One director pointed out that my characters were “too cute” for the comics. So of course, I tried to ugly them up a bit, but they kept coming out cute and kept getting rejected. I submitted for 25 years, so you could imagine the metamorphosis my style went through. Ultimately I landed on my own style which was the most comfortable for me to draw, made the most sense to me and was easily recognizable.

There isn’t any of your political artwork on your site. Why is that? What inspired the change in the direction of your work?

Yes, you are right. In my pursuit to be a comic strip artist, I took a job as a political cartoonist. It didn’t pay much, but I thought it was a foot in the door. I did it for a few years, however, even though I have a good sense of humor, satire didn’t really suit me. I have filed away all my political cartoons. Maybe one day I will revisit them. Even though my political cartooning stint didn’t open any comic strip doors for me, working for/with an editor did give me valuable experience in the publishing world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything

I notice your blog “Mr Biblehead” uses your artwork and is instructive in a very positive way. Is that another passion of yours? To help people understand about being a better person?

Thank you for noticing. Yes, I have a passion to teach children about the Bible and want them to read it for themselves. So ten years ago I began illustrating the Bible from

the beginning, in hopes of giving kids the context in an easier, simpler way and a way to apply it to their lives. I offer all my biblically based artwork on the site for free to Sunday Schools and anyone who wants to share the “Good News” with their children. It has been so rewarding. I have received emails from children’s ministries in 19 different countries thanking me for the artwork and teachings. I have also received emails from adults telling me how the illustrations and teaching have affected them. Two years ago Mr.BibleHead was picked up by FreeBibleImages.com (a UK based ministry that supplies free powerpoint presentations, and artwork to third world countries to help children learn about God’s amazing love). Every year they send me an encouraging email listing all the countries that have downloaded my work. To date, Mr.BibleHead has been downloaded more than 60.000 times in 177 countries! It is hard for me to believe how God is using my simple blog to reach so many kids. What a blessing!

Has the computer affected your work? Do you work traditionally and digitally?

In 2007 my daughter Jenny suggested that I learn digital art. At that time I didn’t own a computer, as a matter of fact, at my first class I had to ask the teacher how to turn it on. LOL! So here I was, 50 years old and back in college, but I was glad I took my daughter’s advice. Previously I was an airbrush artist and even though my work now is digital, it still shows through in my art. I still enjoy working with pencil, ink and paint, but the computer has opened up a whole new world for me. (and a lot less clean-up LOL!) I still do all my story boards and character design with a pencil and paper. Then I scan it into Illustrator, clean up the lines, add base color, and then export into Photoshop where I paint it. Digitally I can adjust colors and tone, which is something I could never do traditionally and it’s a big part of my process.

What’s going on in your head when you work on a piece? Your fears, anticipation, confidence , etc. How do you know something is finished?

When I first get a manuscript, I have to be able to see it in my head before I agree to illustrate it. I work for self-publishing authors as well as several publishers. My publishers are pretty good at matching me up with something that fits my groove. Once I sign a contract, there is always the initial fear of not meeting a deadline, not pleasing the author, computer malfunction, or permanent brain freeze. But the moment I get something solid down on paper as far as a character or background is concerned, all fears dissipate and I am in Kid Book mode. I start to see the pages in my head as if it is already complete. Sometimes it turns out like I envisioned and sometimes not and sometimes better. I usually like to work on two books at a time so I don’t get too burnt out (drawing a penguin over and over for 2-3 months). To me, it seems like a book is never really complete. Sometimes I will review it and add a small detail here and there. Then, the fear kicks in again! The file usually doesn’t get sent for a couple days. Is it done? Will they like it? Did I mess up somewhere? Sometimes I depend on my wife, Aleithia, to convince me that all is well and to hit the send button that my index finger has been hovering over for 15 minutes. So, there is fear before I begin, and after I am finished, but while I am working, it’s pure contentment.

What made you focus on children’s books? Who if anyone influences your work?

After I completed the digital art class in 2008, I still was focused on doing some kind of comic strip. I knew my digital skills were not up to par yet, so I set up a goal for myself. I’d illustrate 3 digital pictures a day for an entire year. I figured by the end of a year, I would have 1000 illustrations complete and hopefully a better skill set. So after a year, I posted some of my best work in an online illustrator group. One of the members, John Blackford, saw my characters and emailed me. He said that he knew a publisher that was on the lookout for someone with my style. And would I be interested in doing children’s books. Well I hadn’t really thought about it, but thinking back on those 25 years of rejections from the newspaper syndicates, there was a mention a time or two about trying kid’s books. (But I was too stubborn to consider deviating from my cartoon strip dream) Now, I was open to the idea. (It only took about 28 years to get through my thick head LOL!) I submitted a very minimal portfolio along with a query, and to my surprise, Guardian Angel Publishing hired me to do 2 books! My first book ever was called Poodle and Doodle, written by Donna Shepherd. I educated myself in current and past children’s book illustrators and have come to admire many of them. One of the biggest influences in my kid’s book work has been Will Terry. He not only is a great illustrator and has many books under his belt, but he is a teacher. He is very generous with his knowledge and he has online classes at SVS learn. (Society of Visual Storytelling) I have learned so much from him and my work reflects his influence.

I have always loved drawing animals. So if a script with our fourlegged friends comes across my desk, it is hard for me to turn down. But I will turn down a manuscript that doesn’t match my beliefs or is not uplifting in some way. We have a great responsibility as producers of kid lit to incorporate positive morals and values and to inspire goodness and caring. Which leads right into the second part of your question. The Bible has many inspiring stories. God has created all men equal. He loves each and every person and asks us to do the same. So hopefully by illustrating a lot Bible stories, some people may crack open the Good Book and let the light shine in their hearts.

What do you do to promote yourself and get work?

I don’t do a lot of promoting. Every time I finish a couple of books, I think to myself, “Okay, now it’s time to start advertising”. But inevitably, for the last 8 years, another book or two comes along and I haven’t had to look for work. I guess word of mouth is the best promotion. I am on social media however and I have a website: www.jackfosterart.com

What’s the future hold for you? Any ultimate goal?

Well, my three year goal is to illustrate my 100th book. I am up to 86 now, so I think it is a reachable goal. I am also hoping to get an agent. I really don’t like negotiating and looking over contracts, and I am hoping to do some work for some of the larger publishing houses like Zonderkidz, Tyndale House, Penguin, Simon Schuster etc… (Agents have the inside track on the bigger houses). My ultimate goal is to illustrate the complete Bible for kids. I am almost half way through and I started 10 years ago, so hopefully I will survive long enough to complete it.

If you could meet anyone in the field you’re in who would it be and why?

When I was a kid, Bambi and Dumbo captured my imagination. I loved the characters and the animation, I always wish I could have met Walt Disney, but he died when I was 9 years old. As an adult, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin completely mesmerized me with the artistry and animation. Aaron Blaise is an artist and an animator that worked on all these films for Disney. He loves drawing animals as I do. He has been all over the world photographing and sketching elephants, giraffes and many more creatures. His blog is even called Creature Teacher. He does a live drawing and painting show with his son. He seems like such a good guy, and he is an amazing artist!

I'm highlighting the last part of my interview with Jack because it is a message we should all appreciate ––

Jack, please add anything you’d like to say along with these answers. And thanks for being a positive influence to kids and parents thru your artwork. My sincere belief is if we artists contribute positive messages thru our work we can help bring more peace and love to the planet. - Lon

Thank you Lon. Yes I agree. We can bring a little joy and be a positive influence.

I would just like to say an encouraging word to any upcoming illustrators that may be reading this. If your passion is to create, don’t get discouraged. Every setback is an opportunity to improve your work, strengthen your character and add a little more heart to your art.

"We have a great responsibility as producers of kid lit to incorporate positive morals and values and to inspire goodness and caring."