Calling all the artsy gals! Ever wondered what it’s like to illustrate a real graphic novel? We sat down with Ellen T. Crenshaw, the adapter and illustrator of The Baby-sitters Club: Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter—and got the scoop on taking a story from sketch to shelf. If you’re a big BSC fan, future cartoonist or aspiring animator, you’re gonna want to take notes…
Girls’ Life: How do you balance staying true to Ann M. Martin’s original story and adding your own creative voice?
When I read the original books to adapt, the first questions I try to answer are, “What is Ann trying to say with this story?” and “What do I, personally, get out of this story?” Keeping the answers to those questions in my head is like bearing toward a North Star. I can explore page design, pacing, creative expression, character and emotion, and as long as I stick to that North Star, I won’t lose my way.
GL: Were there particular scenes from the book you were most excited to bring to life visually?
I was really excited for the snake, Barney’s, escape! There were big emotions, high stakes and lots of fun action. The sitters were forced to swallow their fear (and their pride) to get him back home.
GL: How do you draw animals that look realistic but still full of personality?
The trickiest part was finding my groove. I draw humans a lot, so I know how to draw them in all kinds of poses and situations—without having to think too hard about it. I had less practice drawing certain animals, so it was harder to show their personality because I kept having to ask myself, “Does this look like a hamster or a mouse? Is this the right way to draw a turtle’s toes?”
GL: Do you have a favorite pet scene you illustrated in this book?
There’s a scene late in the book featuring a hamster that I don’t want to spoil, but it reminded me of a pet-sitting experience from my childhood. To this day, I’m a little afraid of hamsters (or their teeth, at least)! I also love when Jessi goes on her first walk with the dogs. I enjoyed the opportunity to really let loose with their distinct shapes and identities. Cheryl the Great Dane is my favorite—she’s like a horse and a dog in one! She’s a cartoonist’s dream to draw.
GL: What’s the most important lesson Jessi learns in this book?
In the series we’ve seen Jessi take on unique responsibilities, and Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter further shows how she’s willing to challenge herself with a new kind of charge. I think Jessi learns the strength of her voice in this book. She speaks up for herself and does what she thinks is right, even if it risks causing conflict with her friends.
GL: Were there any funny pet moments you got to exaggerate or highlight in the illustrations?
I had a blast showing Jessi’s reaction to Barney. The contrast between her abject horror and the wee little snake in his tank was hilarious to me. The colorists, Braden Lamb and Beniam C. Hollman, made it even funnier and more dramatic!
GL: Did any real-life pets inspire the way you drew the animals in the book?
Nearly every animal in the book is inspired by a pet from my experiences growing up and today. When I was little, my neighbor had a ball python, and I can still remember his silky scales slipping along my skin—something I tried to convey in the way Barney coils around Mrs. Mancusi’s hands.
Frank’s appearance was based on a parrot that nearly bit off my mom’s finger! The cats are louder and more demanding than they were in the original book, inspired by my own kitty, Tibbs. And I couldn’t help but infuse some of my terrier, Delilah’s, body language into the storm of energy that is Pooh Bear.
GL: How long does it take to adapt a novel into a full graphic novel, from first sketch to finished book?
It starts even earlier than the first sketch, when I write an outline and then a script adapted from Ann M. Martin’s original book. Next, I plan out the entire graphic novel with tiny, scribbly sketches called thumbnails. Then I tighten the sketches into cleaner drawings, called pencils, and draw the word balloons and dialogue, which is called lettering.
Finally, I draw the whole book again with clean, black lines in a step called inks. This process takes me anywhere from a year to a year and a half. Afterward, a colorist takes the line drawings and adds color to every page, which can take a few months.
GL: What do you hope readers—especially animal lovers—take away from Jessi’s story?
Mainly, I hope that readers take away the joy that loving an animal brings, even though it can be hard or scary sometimes. I hope Jessi inspires kids to use their voices in service of the things that are important to them. When Jessi stood up against Kristy’s wishes, she was nervous that she would lose her friendship. In the end, she not only maintained the friendship but also earned Kristy’s praise.
GL: Any advice for aspiring artists out there?
Truly anybody can draw…it just takes practice to do it well. Try drawing from life. Look at an animal and draw what you see, not what you know is there. (Sometimes a cat looks like just a round loaf with a head, even if you know it has legs and a tail, too.) Make a bunch of drawings of the animal and put them in a sequence.
Do you see a story there? Can you make one up? Does it make animal sounds, or does it talk like a person? Does something happen like it can in real life, or does your imagination take you someplace more fantastic? Either is great! The best thing about comics is that you don’t need fancy materials or anybody’s permission to make one—all you need is paper, something to draw with and your brain.
