Creator Interview PLUS Giveaway: Shelley Hanmo

Hand-Cut Paper Collage Artist and Illustrator!

Whenever I write a new manuscript, I daydream about what the illustrations might look like if my book were to be published. I am drawn to many styles of illustration and really appreciate different mediums. I came across Shelley Hanmo's website when I was browsing #KidLitArtPostcard on Twitter and was drawn to her hand-cut paper illustrations.

Shelley creates beautiful art from repurposed paper materials that simply radiates with whimsy and imagination.

A creative through and through, Shelley is also a classically trained concert pianist with a doctorate in music. She teaches art workshops and is active in her local SCBWI chapter. And I am not the only one who was drawn to her art on Twitter: her agent, Marietta B. Zacker of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, spotted her there as well!

Shelley is generously offering one lucky winner their choice of either an Ask-Me-Anything call OR a Portfolio Review for new illustrators/illustrators who do paper art! Read through her interview below for details on how to enter the giveaway!

"Your stories will make a child feel happy, empowered, loved, and empathized. So don't ever stop your dream of becoming a kidlit creator. Because it is all worth it!"

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First, brag about yourself! Tell us about your career so far and any credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognitions.

I am a classically trained concert pianist. I received my doctorate in music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington) in 2019. Being a pianist, I also won national and international awards and performed in music festivals across North America. Since pursuing my passion as an illustrator back in 2020, I am very fortunate to have opportunities to learn about the magic of illustration from mentors/teachers from around the world. Earlier in 2023, I was awarded the BIPOC Scholarship to attend the SCBWI Winter Virtual Conference. It was definitely a boost of confidence for me to know that I was doing something correct! In May of 2023, I was one of 22 illustrator mentees selected from hundreds of international applicants to participate in the AOI Mentorship, studying remotely with illustrator Rachelle Panagarry. Meanwhile, I landed my first ever picture book deal with a publisher (details announced soon). My agent Marietta B. Zacker spotted me on Twitter around this time as well. I was in the process of preparing to query agents and little did I know my wonderful agent already had her eyes on me. Since then, I have been busy working on book illustrations, teaching art workshops, and collaborating with brands. I can't wait to share some exciting projects that I am working on with you in the near future!

How did your journey as a KidLit creator begin?

As a child, I was always fascinated by paper art medium. Though I never went to school for art, it stayed with me as a hobby for many years while working as a professional musician. During the 2020 lockdown, since I couldn't really do much but stay at home, I decided to pursue my passion in illustration and launched my art studio Junonia Arts to share my hand-cut paper art with the world. Since then, my hobby grew into a career, and I am excited to see where my paper art will take me to next!

What is your favorite thing about creating for children?

I get to think like a child and see the world from a child's perspective.

This is an industry full of high highs and low lows. What are some of the peaks and valleys you've experienced in your career?

Since I started my path as an illustrator a few years ago, it wasn't all smooth sailing. At first, I didn't have much confidence in my art style because it isn't very "trendy" or "popular" like many other art mediums and styles out there on social media. I wasn't sure if my art would ever be accepted or appreciated by other people. There were many valleys during the first two years of my journey. I submitted my art to many places hoping someone would pick up my works. But I heard back from almost no one during that time. However, amongst all the disappointments was also a glimpse of hope. I queried an agent during my second year working as a freelance illustrator, which was way too early to query now I look at the art I was submitting! What was I thinking?! Though the agent didn't offer me a representation, she told me that she saw something unique and special in my art. That agent also told me some tips that could make my artwork stand out more. Her response to my query was probably one of the most important moments during my creative journey thus far. Over the years, I gradually learned my system of photographing and editing my paper illustrations to make them "pop". Though I am still considered an "early-career" illustrator, I am fortunate to have met mentors, teachers, art directors, and agents who believe in me and saw my potential as an illustrator.

Do you have a "day job"? If so, what is it, and how do you create balance between your "day job" and your work as a creator?

I don't really have a "day job" besides teaching piano lessons on the side. I am thankful that my husband works full time so I could work from home and freelance.

Describe your perfect writing/illustrating/creating day.

My perfect illustrating day would be to start my morning with some prep works such as sketching, painting paper, or sorting paper. And then start collaging the designs. My absolute favorite moment during my creative process is when everything comes together in the end.

What motivates you to keep going when this industry gets you down?

My motivation is the fact that children need stories that resonate with them. As an immigrant and Asian American, I want to create stories that will connect with children out there, especially those children who may come from an immigrant family, who may be looking for books with characters looking like them, and who are curious about cultures from around the world.

What is a favorite craft tip you'd like to share with other creators?

If you are a collage artist, the final steps that bring your work to life is as important as the collage process. You may choose to scan your works, or to photograph your illustrations. Think about what effect you want to have will help you decide which method to use for your art. Scanned works are usually flat, with no shadows, but very clean and easy to edit. Photographed works have depth, with lots of shadows, but a bit tricky to edit because you are essentially editing a photo. There are tutorials on photograph editing that you could learn from. They were super useful for me when I first learned how to edit my pictures on Photoshop, Lightroom, and Camera Raw.

What are your top 3 favorite books of all time (any age range)?

Calvin and Hobbes books that teach us about life; Charlie Brown Series that is filled with whimsical characters and stories; Fairytales of Hans Christian Anderson (I grew up with them).

Who are some authors or illustrators that inspired your style as a creator?

Eric Carle, the master of collage who inspired me to pursue my passion in paper art medium; Dinara Mirtalipova, the award-winning illustrator who showed me that being self-taught isn't a handicap in the illustration world; Christian Robinson, the storyteller who believes in the power of sharing stories from unique perspectives.

What advice do you have for someone considering starting their journey as a KidLit creator?

My motto is: "Learn as if your life depends on it!" If you are considering starting your journey as a kidlit creator, please don't expect it to be a "fast and easy" route. Being a kidlit creator is HARD WORK. You will have to be absolutely certain that it is something you are passionate about. Being a kidlit creator means there may be many valleys ahead. You will probably never hear back from your favorite agent, or desired publisher, or that one gig you really wanted. It is absolutely the truth that each and every one of the kidlit creators face many valleys at some point during their career. BUT, don't let my descriptions scare you away. Because being a kidlit creator means that you get to create unique worlds for children out there. Your imagination is your canvas. You are the storyteller, the world-builder, the character-creator. Your stories will make a child feel happy, empowered, loved, and empathized. So don't ever stop your dream of becoming a kidlit creator. Because it is all worth it!

Is there anything else about you, your career, or the industry that you'd like to share?

Taking online courses are some of the most effective ways to learn from the industry professionals. For illustrators, I would suggest looking into Make Art That Sells, Storyteller Academy, Highlights Foundation courses, and more!

Shelley, THANK YOU so much for taking the time to share your journey with other KidLit creators! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to see all of the amazing projects you'll be sharing soon!

Speed Round: This or That!

Let us get to know you better! You must pick ONE- no "I don't know" or "neither" allowed! Ready... Go!

Summer or Winter?	Winter
Chocolate or Vanilla?	Chocolate
Cats or Dogs?	Dogs
Playlists or Podcasts?	Playlists
Text or Call?	Text
Unicorn or Dragon?	Dragon
Ice Cream or Cake?	Ice Cream
Physical Books or E-Books?	Physical Books
Coffee or Tea?	Tea
Sunrise or Sunset?	Sunset

It's Giveaway Time!

Shelley is generously offering one lucky winner their choice of an Ask-Me-Anything Call or a OR a Portfolio Review for new illustrators/illustrators who do paper art! To enter the giveaway, comment on this post with your name and email address so we can contact you if you win!

For an extra entry, share this post on Twitter (X)!

That's it! The giveaway closes on Tuesday, November 28th at 11:59pm EST!

Be sure to connect with Shelley! Visit her website or follow her on social media (IG, X, FB, BlueSky, Threads): @JunoniaArts