Mary GrandPre: Deathly Hallows an 'intriguing' title

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Daniel: Who or what inspired you to be an artist?

Mary GrandPre: I don't know that anyone inspired me to be one; I've kind of always been drawing since I was about five. I think it was maybe who inspired me to be an illustrator, and that would be John Collier.

Daniel: How did you come about working on the Harry Potter series? And what was your reaction when you realized it was such a huge success?

Mary GrandPre: It started out like any job, it was just a call from another art director in New York and he wanted me to do a book cover, and at that time it was just one cover, so we had no idea how big it would be...and so it was just a call that came from some of my previous work and I guess when we realized it was going to be a big success it was just kind of disbelief on how big something could be and it's just amazing that it was getting that much recognition and becoming so big.

Daniel: Could you describe the process of illustrating for a Harry Potter book?

Mary GrandPre: Well, first they send the manuscript and it's just usually on typed sheets of paper on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets, and it's usually a pretty big stack. Then I just read through and highlight visual descriptions of people and places so that I know how to draw them. I make ideas for chapter headings and ideas for cover art. Then I sketch out all the ideas and send them to the art director in New York and he either approves or has me redo, and then it just kind of goes back and forth a little bit during the pencil stages. Then, after it's approved by the art director, the publisher, and J.K. Rowling, then I start the final artwork with pastels, and I just take that through final stages.

Daniel: Do you ever talk to J.K. Rowling about the cover? Does she make suggestions?

Mary GrandPre: I don't talk to her during the production of the book, but I have met her and talked to her on a more social level, but no. Publishers usually like to keep the artist and the author separate so that they can both kind of do their jobs.

Daniel: How does it feel to know that the books you have illustrated have been read by millions of people around the country, and maybe even the world?

Mary GrandPre: Kind of embarrassed (laughs). I guess, you know, I feel really fortunate to be part of it, and just really fortunate to influence young artists and meet lots of kids and talk to them about art and books and making pictures for books, so that's really great. But you know, really, when I think about the popularity of the book, it's more about the story than the pictures. I mean, I know people really get into the artwork and all that, but I think, you know, without the story, of course, there wouldn't be anything else. So I think the real craze is about who Harry really is and the story, and so that's, you know... J.K. Rowling really is the one who's made the book so popular, and so I just kind of feel like I'm along for the ride, and that's great, you know...

Daniel: Having their artwork featured on the cover of Time Magazine is quite the artist's dream, so what advice would you give to those magazine cover hopefuls out there?

Mary GrandPre: Just to keep trying and just to do your best. I would give the same advice to anybody who is just trying to be successful in their work whether they wanted to do a magazine cover or whether it was just to do gallery work or whatever. I would just say that you just have to listen to yourself about who you are as an artist and what makes you happy when you draw and when you paint and just try and work really hard and be true to who you are. Sometimes it's easy to do what's popular or to do what's really hot at the time, but if it's not who you are then it's not going to be your best work, and it's not going to go any farther than out the door. I mean, you just really have to find out who you are, just like you would have to do that if you were a singer or a musician or a writer, you just have to listen to your own voice.

Daniel: You have received national recognition through various prominent artistic awards; after graduating Minneapolis College of Art and Design, did you ever think you were going to be as well-known and successful as you are now?

Mary GrandPre: I never thought or gave it much thought about being well-known; all by itself I would be successful. But there are a lot of successful people who aren't well-known, so don't equate success with popularity, but yeah, I guess I always felt I'd be successful just because it's everyone's dream at some point in their life, but you know, if you believe in yourself you're going to be successful to some degree in something. So yeah, I did think that, I just didn't think I'd be that popular, I guess.

Daniel: Many people have described your artwork as "approachable," but how would you describe your artistic style?

Mary GrandPre: Well, right now it's going through some transitions, but the major body of my work, I would kind of describe it as probably representative of the subject at matter but still stylized, and I think "approachable" is a pretty good word, because I think I don't abstract something so much that people can't connect with it. I guess I'd describe it generally for maybe a younger audience and stylizing it a bit. Right now I'm experimenting and working on more personal gallery work, too, so... it's kind of hard for me to describe my work, because I'm working for something new.

Daniel: What do you think of the upcoming Harry Potter book's title, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"?

Mary GrandPre: I don't know, I think it's just going to unfold as we all learn about what it means. I think it kind of leaves you wondering what this is about. I think it's intriguing - an intriguing title. I don't know what it means yet, and it sounds kind of scary. I don't know... I hope it means good things (laughs).

Daniel: What are your feelings and thoughts knowing that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the last book in the series that made you incredibly popular?

Mary GrandPre: I'm anxious for this to be the last book as much as I've enjoyed the journey. It's nice to kind of wrap it up and celebrate it as a whole and to just kind of look back and take a deep breath and go, "Whew! That was quite a ride!" so you know... I'm excited for it to end and to find out how it ends and yeah, I might be a little sad about it, but generally I'll be really happy that this check's closing and that I can kind of go on to other things personally and creatively. Yeah, so I'm happy about it, I'm happy that it has come to this point.

Posted by Andrew on Feb 11th | 61 Comments

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