Storystorm 2024 Day 4: Courtney Pippin-Mathur Thinks On It

by Courtney Pippin-Mathur

Hello Storystormers!

When Tara approached me about doing art for STORYSTORM, I was thrilled. I have been a participant and an occasional guest author, but this was different. I was excited. I was determined. I was nervous.

I started with a few sketches. I love drawing gnomes, fairies and elves, so thought I would try that. I added some carrying or thinking of lightbulbs.

But it didn’t feel quite right.

When I wasn’t sketching ideas, I thought on it. Thinking on it is one of a writer’s greatest tools. You can do it anywhere. Doing dishes—Think On It. Drawing an elf for a monthly challenge—Think On It. Take a shower—Think On It.

During my Think on It sessions, I came to two conclusions:

I wanted the character to be an animal.
I wanted the “storm” part of STORYSTORM to be a blizzard.

So I started sketching animals. I filled up a page of various animals with lightbulb ideas.

Two stuck out to me: the lion and the bear.

When an idea or sketch is appealing to me, I draw it again.

The little lion was really appealing to me; I loved his wee raincoat. But as I sketched him more, I realized I liked him BUT he wasn’t right for the STORYSTORM blizzard idea. So, I put him aside to use sometime in the future. Maybe as a picture book idea?

I went back and sketched the bear in different positions and ideas. (For the participation badges, winner badges, banner, etc.)

Then I sent it to Tara to see if she liked the idea. She did, so I started on the color. Actually it was a week or so later. My art creation process is usually a series of scribbly twists and turns instead of a simple line. It used to frustrate me, but now I accept it as part of the process and look for any extraneous sketches or ideas that I can use in the future.

When I came back to start the final art, I decided I wanted the bear to be a full sized bear instead of a little guy. So I did drew it again.

I played around with compositions and finally came to the ½ view you see in the “Participant” badge.

Added color…

Tara and I hopped on a Zoom to find the perfect font. (Which Tara is better at than me.)

And ta-da…

I was very happy with him. So much so, that I added color to the earlier sketch-version and have it on my website for my winter welcome page. (And as stickers!)

I love projects that inspire other art or illustrations and since STORYSTORM is all about inspiration, it seems perfect.

P.S. While all of these revisions were happening, I WAS THINKING ON IT. In the banner, there are several ideas (lightbulbs). Some are easy to find—like on the trees, some are closer to home, some are half-buried in the snow—you just half to go look for them. See how many you lightbulbs you can find in the banner. And good luck on finding your 30 ideas!

Courtney Pippin-Mathur is giving away one 30-minute “Ask Me Anything” Zoom plus a pack of stickers from her Etsy shop to one lucky Storystorm winner.

You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm 2024 participant and you have commented only once on today’s blog post.

Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.

Courtney Pippin-Mathur is an author/illustrator of picture books. IT’S HOLI, written by her sister-in-law, Sanyukta Mathur, will be released February 2024 from Holt BFYR. When she’s not teaching at Highlights Foundation, writing, or making art, she’s playing with clay or working her local bookstore. Visit her at PippinMathur.com.