Anderson, Sarah N.
IN BRIEF
Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson is an illustrator with a background in design, earning a degree from Massey University in Wellington. Her first illustration work for a book publication was The Were-Nana, written by Melinda Szymanik, and nominated for the 2009 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. Anderson is also the illustrator of Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella (2009).
ProfilePlace of residence: Auckland, New Zealand |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anderson, Sarah Nelisiwe (1983 - ) was born in London, and moved to New Zealand as a child. She attended schools in Whitianga and Hamilton before studying at Massey University of Design in Wellington. In addition to working as an illustrator, Anderson's past jobs have included designing her own clothing range, and teaching English for 5 months at a school for the blind in Poland.
She has illustrated The Were-Nana (2008) and Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella (2009). The Were-Nana: Not a Bedtime Story, written by Melinda Szymanik, won the Children's Choice Award at the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The work was also listed as a 2009 Storylines Notable Picture Book. Anderson says Szymanik's imaginative writing and the scariness of the unknown inspired her illustrations in The Were-Nana. The Were-Nana was highly recommended by reviewer Margaret Kedian in the November 2008 issue of Magpies, and it was also reviewed favourably by John McIntyre on Radio New Zealand.
Tiny Miss Dott and Her Dotty Umbrella, written by Michelle Osment and illustrated by Sarah N. Anderson, was listed as a 2010 Storylines Notable Book.
Anderson says that what she enjoys most about illustrating is the 'feeling of creating something that didn’t exist before – bringing imaginary characters and places to life'.
Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson lives in Auckland.
writers in schools information
KAPAI: Kids Authors Pictures and Information
Auckland.
What books do you read?
Picture books and short stories.
Who is your favourite writer and/or illustrator and why?
My favourite illustrator is Shaun Tan because he is incredibly imaginative and his pictures really make you feel whatever he is after.
How do you think up your ideas?
I get inspired by other artists’ pictures and spend a lot of time doodling ideas. I decide on the main thing I want to get across in a particular picture and then brainstorm lots of different ways of showing it – e.g. colours, objects, view points, shadows and lights…
What is the best thing about being a writer/illustrator?
The best thing about being an illustrator is making an imaginary world and characters come to life, and creating feelings and emotions in whoever is looking at my pictures.
Primary School Students
What sort of pets do you have?
I have a pet plant called Planty, and a stray cat called Rascal has just decided to move in.
What is your favourite colour?
Purple.
What is your favourite food – why?
Fejoas – they are sooo delicious, and remind me of childhood summers lying in the sun by a fejoa tree and eating way too many!
What is your favourite movie?
The Labyrinth.
What is your favourite game?
Pictionary.
Where do you go for your holidays?
I often go back to Whitianga in the Coromandel, which is where I grew up, and we still have family back there.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I was definitely a goody-good at school! The naughtiest thing I did was make some fake spew so that I could get out of cross country…
Secondary School Students
How did you get started?
I did a Bachelor of Design degree at Massey University and used my portfolio of work from that to apply to different publishers. I managed to get a couple of jobs for Learning Media, illustrating School Journals and other picture books for in schools and have built up from there.
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
A couple of my illustration tutors at Massey were inspiring and encouraging. Illustrators like Shaun Tan, Quintin Blake, Ralph Steadman, James Jean, and Jon Foster were also very inspiring.
What advice would you give an aspiring writer/illustrator?
(Illustrator) Start drawing, keep drawing and don’t stop! So much of being a good illustrator is just practice. Draw anything you are interested in, from life and from your imagination. Find other artist’s work that excites you.
Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?
It is quite hard to make a living as an illustrator in New Zealand but it is definitely do-able! My first year I couldn’t live off it at all, but I just kept persevering and eventually it started working out. You do have to be careful with your money, and take some work that you don’t find very exciting, but it’s worth it!
Media links and clips
- Book review of The Were-Nana on Radio New Zealand
- Sarah N Anderson’s website (up in late 2009)
