Q&A with the illustrator of "Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas"

Four questions for Loveis Wise, illustrator of the gorgeous new kids book on the life of Alma Thomas

Hi y’all! This is a special newsletter for DrawTogether subscribers. Every week or two we send out a special interview, activity or some artistic inspiration to DT Subscribers. Today in the DT newsletter we’re celebrating two things:

1. It’s 2/2/22 - or 22.02.2022 depending on where you grew up. Either way, it’s once in a lifetime, and at 2:22 I hope you join me as I look up, smile, and draw the sky.

2. A new, gorgeous book for kids on the life of Alma Thomas is out today! It’s called Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas. It’s written by Jeanne Walker Harvey, and illustrated by Loveis Wise, and it’s a spectacular, energetic peek into Alma’s life and influence.

Cover of Ablaze with Color. Published by Harper Collins, 2022.

In last week’s podcast, we learned about artist Alma Thomas while drawing colorful patterns inspired by her artwork. Today, we speak with the amazing illustrator Loveis Wise who illustrated this new book about Alma’s life.

To illustrate a book is to take a deep visual dive into a subject, and translate it through our own style. I was curious about Loveis’ experience illustrating Ablaze with Color, their process and takeaway. What follows are some excerpts from the book and thoughts from Loveis. Enjoy!

text copyright Jeanne Walker Harvey; illustrations copyright Loveis Wise

WM: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Loveis! What is one interesting thing you learned about Alma Thomas through illustrating this book that you didn’t know before you started?