What sparked your interest in illustrating children’s books?
My biggest inspiration was my love of nature and all things cute and fuzzy. I was often found in my backyard sketching flowers and plants, but drawing animals was what I loved most. My desire to capture the sweetness in the little faces of the baby bunnies that I nursed back to health after rescuing them from the jaws of Calico, the neighbors’ cat, inspired hours of sketching. To me, nothing was cuter than the big sparkling eyes and the tiny twitching noses of the little field mice my brother caught in our shed. Even after we released them into the woods behind our house, I would continue sketching, trying to remember every detail. Going back to my earliest memories, every person who saw my fuzzy animal drawings—family, friends, teachers, and neighbors—had the same response: “These pictures look like they should be in children’s books.” I guess it was destiny!
Can you walk us through your creative process?
My creative process always starts with visualization. Whether I am illustrating books, greeting cards, or fabrics, or creating models and plush toy designs, I always start by visualizing the entire project before I put pencil to paper. When illustrating stories I’ve written, I visualize every scene as I formulate the story. Illustrating stories written by other authors is very much the same, only I am visualizing the pictures as I read the story. Sometimes an image will pop into my head immediately, and others may take days, but when I am finally ready to start sketching, every picture and how the book flows is crystal-clear in my head. Then, I merely copy what I see. After the publisher approves the sketches, I trace the sketches to my paper of choice for this project and begin to paint. My final art is scanned, and minor adjustments are made digitally if needed. Bright, fanciful watercolors by Lisa McCue capture the lively spirit of Mother Goose rhymes that have delighted generations of young children. This small treasury of classics is sure to be a story time staple!
What is your favorite medium to work with?
I’m not sure I can say I have a favorite medium to work with. My projects are so diverse that one day my studio floor may be covered in faux fur and the next my hands are covered in clay. But I am happiest when I am illustrating a book, lost in what my husband calls “my fuzzy world.” I know right now you’re thinking, “But what is your favorite medium when illustrating?” Well, here too I am very diverse. My most comfortable go-to mediums are watercolor and acrylics. I also love to work on scratchboard.
What are your perfect working conditions?
Over twenty years ago when my family moved to Annapolis, Maryland, my husband and I bought property on Chesapeake Bay and began to design our own house. This is when I asked myself that very same question. I wanted a space separate from the household activity, and I definitely needed a space big enough to express my every creative whim. So, an entire third floor was added for my studio space. I have a section designated for illustrating, a sculpture station, a sewing station, and lots of floor space to spread out and create!
