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Interview
with Javaka Steptoe
Author
and Illustrator of
The Jones Family Express
By Yvonne Terry
Yvonne:
What
inspired your writing of
The Jones Family Express
Javaka:
The idea for the story came from my grandmother. She had a
triple bypass operation and was not able to get around much
because she was confined to a wheelchair. So a friend of mine
that traveled for work decided to send her postcards from the
different places she went. My grandmother liked it a lot. I also
like traveling and think that learning about the world is
something that we should all aspire to do. I see people today
who don't leave their block, their neighborhood, or don't leave
Brooklyn. I just wanted to do something to inspire people to see
the world.
Yvonne:
Based on some of your work, one can tell that the family theme
is important to you. Is this true? Why?
Javaka:
Family is important to me. Family decides so much about whom we
are going to be and how we feel about ourselves. I think that
when a lot of kids grow up, they think, "my family is not
like this family or that family," and I just wanted to
share parts of my life and show that there is no normal. Everybody's
family has imperfections and it doesn't take away from you as a
person or what you can accomplish. I wanted people to look at
the bright side of their family.
Yvonne:
Who are some of the people who influenced your life and work?
Javaka:
Definitely, my father and mother, who were both artists. They
are probably the biggest influences of my artwork. Other
inspiration comes from my environment. It can be anything from
spray paint on the wall to a piece in a museum or something I
see in a magazine. In essence I am inspired by the world.
Other
artists that inspire me include Romare Beardon, Betty Sarr, and
Picasso.
Yvonne:
My students are familiar with some of your father's books. What
is alike and what is different about your writing styles?
Javaka:
That's a hard question because I don't have as much written work
as my father to make a good comparison. I could say that the
similarity is that we use experiences from our lives to create
stories and we project our values in our art and writing. What's
different is that I probably have a little more humor to my
work. I could be wrong but offhand I would say I have a little
more quirky personality in my stories.
Yvonne:
Many of my students love to draw, did you find yourself drawing
all the time as a young student?
Javaka:
Yes, I found myself drawing all the time. I used to create my
own comic strips and superheroes. I love watching and drawing
cartoons too.
Yvonne:
My students want to know how old you were when you first started
to draw?
Javaka:
I really don't remember. I have always been drawing. I always
remembered being interested in drawing. My mother and father
used to give me pencils and paper all the time, being that they
were artists, art was always around. Plus we didn't have
television, so I had to be creative.
Yvonne:
Did you know when you were very young that you would be an
illustrator?
Javaka:
I knew it was a possibility. I had artistic ability. Many people
would ask me because they knew I could draw and they knew my
father was an illustrator. It definitely doesn't surprise me
that I became an illustrator.
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Yvonne:
Your illustrations are alive and vivid, what makes them
different?
Javaka:
The way I illustrate a book is different because I look
at every book as an experiment. I don't have one type of
style to put everything into. My approach is more fine
art and I am growing as an artist. I am trying new
techniques, approaches, and am learning as I go along.
Maybe at the end of the day, there will be a style that
is considered "Javakaesque," but right now I
am having fun with it. |
Yvonne:
How did you develop your talent? What schools did you attend to
enhance your skills?
Javaka:
I attended my home, and the reason why I say that is because my
father and mother had the most influence on me. I could go to
them and say, " how do you draw a hand" or how do you
draw a face?" They definitely were my number one teachers.
Then after that, I did after-school programs, attended The
Children's Art Carnival, and I attended the high school of art
design. I got my bachelor's degree from Cooper Union College.
Yvonne:
What advice would you give to a young person interested in
becoming an illustrator or a writer?
Javaka:
Make sure that it is something that you love to do. I say that
because when you do something out of love, you have a different
attitude about it. Art is not a field that is easy to go into.
As an illustrator, I have to work with a lot of different people
and personalities. I don't get a steady paycheck every week or
every two weeks. Some people might see the occupation as scary,
but for me, I know I need to be an artist.
It doesn't make sense for me to do anything else, because
art is something I love doing.
Yvonne:
When did you become interested in becoming a writer?
Javaka:
I always wrote, but I was never a big writer. Most of my writing
was used to support my artwork, for example when I made comic
books. As an illustrator I see a lot of wonderful stories, but I
also have stories of my own that are not being told. I feel that
as a children's book creator I have a certain responsibility to
get across certain ideas and I can't just sit and wait for
someone else to write it in order for me to speak about it.
Yvonne:
You seem to like children, what other projects are in the works
for you?
Javaka:
I am finishing the illustrations for a book entitled, "A
Hot Day On Abbott Avenue," which is about two girls who
learn about what it means to share. It was written by Karen
English.
Yvonne:
I have noticed that more and more African-American students are
developing a love for reading. Do you have any ideas about how
we can further encourage a love for reading in our youth?
Javaka:
I think that parents need to buy books. I know that books can be
expensive, but we need to invest. We buy things like X-boxes,
but a favorite book can last just as long and even longer. We
need to encourage kids and let them know that being a writer or
illustrator or someone who uses words is important too. We have
to let our children know that there is value in proper English
and the ability to write. Parents need to read to their kids. The
library is always an option. Parents can lead by example by
reading themselves. Also teachers and parents can create
projects that involve reading and writing that are fun. I think
that reading, writing, and art can be incorporated into any
project from math to science.
Yvonne:
At Waverly Elementary School, we encourage writing, beginning in
pre-kindergarten. Students carry writer's notebooks to write
down seed ideas that come to them throughout the day. How long
did you work on The Jones Family Express? Did you follow
a writing process over a period of time?
Javaka:
The Jones Family Express took me 3-4 years to complete,
but that was because I had four different editors. It was a bit
frustrating and that is when your love for what you do comes in.
Each time there was a new editor, there was a new direction, and
so for this book, getting it finished was not an easy process.
But most of the time, authors have one editor that lasts
throughout from start to finish and the process doesn't take
nearly as long. In book publishing sometimes projects get tossed
to the side.
I learned a lot from the process of
writing. Writing children's books isn't as easy as it seems. You
have to say a lot but you have to say it in a few words. You
have to make sure that it is being understood by your audience.
It is a group project. You are working with an editor and art
directors who are looking at your work giving you their opinions
and suggestions. You have to be open to change and their ideas,
but you must always stand up for what you believe in.
Yvonne:
Are you married? Do you have children.
Javaka:
No, I am not married and I do not have children.
Yvonne: We the ChickenBones: A Journal staff would like
to thank you for this interview. We wish you much success in the
future. |
