MY DAY WITH DAD: An Interview with Rae Crawford

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? How did you decide to become an artist?

My name is Rae Crawford! I’m a biracial full-time designer by day and freelance illustrator by night. I’m from the most mysterious regions of the Chicagoland suburbs. When I’m not at my day job, I’m working on my children’s books and my webcomic, I’m Broken, Send Help. I lived in NYC for 8 years until recently when I moved back to Illinois with my partner.

The decision to be an artist wasn’t mine. I just always have been. It’s been ingrained into my interests, hobbies and goals my whole life. My decision to pursue a professional artistic journey was made early into my life when I realized how much joy drawing brought me and others. I saw the need in the world for beautiful images. The journey has been a wild ride of ups and down but I am excited to be sharing my first book with the world!

On May 23rd you’re launching your debut children’s book, MY DAY WITH DAD – congrats!!! Tell us about the book. Where did the idea come from? What’s your favorite thing about it?

In many ways, my father-figure, Uncle David, and I wrote this story together through our fun adventures together as father and daughter. However, the story is mostly based on a series of images I drew for Father’s Day for him as a card. They were vignettes of my favorite things we’ve done together: watching movies, making breakfast, and having a pillow fight. I posted them to social media and a couple of people asked me if I had a story to go with it so I made one. This is that story. My favorite thing about it is the little details that included from my childhood. No one else will notice but I do and my parents do. It makes us smile and we bond over it. I hope people who read the book will feel the love I put into it.

Who do you see as the audience for MY DAY WITH DAD, and why is it a great book for them?

When you create an early reader, which this is, there’s the technical answer. The audience is parents with kids around the age of 5 who want to share a nice story about a girl and her dad. However, I would like to think this story reaches kids who have and are growing up in unconventional co-parenting settings. I made it to celebrate fathers and their kids everywhere and I think that will come across to the audience.

Do you have a dream project in the future? If so, what is it?

It’s hard to choose one as I’ve been keeping a list since grade school. However, many of my recent projects are grounded in reality, so I’m craving working on something that’s surreal, whimsical, and fun. My dream is to make stories in lands of perfect nonsense and imagination with characters full of personality and heart.

What has been improving your creative process recently?

For me, since I recently moved, it’s been curating and customizing creative spaces within our new home. I think having the right environment sets the tone for a productive creativity session. I’m especially proud of my office space!

What artists, creators, books, or websites are particularly inspiring to you right now? Where do you go when you need a dose of creative inspiration?

Since most of my books are still packed away, I mostly google my inspiration! My go-to recent top searches from movies and media are anything from Cartoon Saloon (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, The Secret of Kells), Studio Ghibli, Steven Universe, Adventure Time, or mostly recently, Bluey (Those backgrounds are gorgeous!!!)

I also reference comic artists frequently. I look up Craig Thompson (Particularly Habibi and Goodbye Chunky Rice), Lucy Knisley (Particularly Stepping Stones and Relish), and Lisa Hanawalt’s zines (Hot Dog Taste Test and My Dirty Dumb Eyes). I’m also very blessed to have a long list of inspiring artists in my circle to gain inspiration and insight from. This is not to mention the inspiration I find in everyday life. It’s all around!

You have a day job working in book design at Scholastic. How do you juggle graphic design with writing and illustration work?

Honestly, some days it feels impossible. With doing both, the hours are rough. I procrastinate, then I cry because I procrastinated. I literally ask myself, what am I doing?

But my dad always told me, "where there’s a will, there's a way." And I have so much will and love for what I do. It’s like living a double life and both lives are hard work. But in Japanese culture, there is a principle called Ikigai. At the intersection of what I’m good at, what the world needs, what I can get paid for, and what I love is Ikigai. And in my professional life, I have found that harmony in living in two worlds.

How do you market yourself as an illustrator, and how do you do it while holding down a day job and doing your art? (Lots of creators feel overwhelmed by this and are dying of curiosity about how other people do it!)

For me, the art is the easy part. It’s the marketing that’s so much energy for me! It’s been a struggle especially lately. On top of juggling things professionally, I’m juggling personally as well. But I think I have some fun and creative ideas coming to promote this title and others in the future!

That being said, I think the key to marketing yourself in the modern age is to keep it small enough to be able to do it consistently and across multiple platforms. Big marketing campaigns are only as good as their execution. I also find having a strong network of friends, family and colleagues really helps as they will be your support not only in marketing but through the process and in your life.

Do you ever feel “artist’s block”? If so, what do you do to get “unblocked”?

Is there a creative out there who doesn’t experience artist’s block? If there is, I haven’t met them. I experience it all the time.

First, I try to work on projects that play to my strengths. It is much easier to unblock yourself if you’re enjoying what you’re drawing and you’re good at drawing it. It also helps to choose projects to work in a style I’m comfortable in.

My second method is to look at inspiration. When I work on my books, I have stacks of art books, comics and children’s books to fuel me and to get me to think outside of myself. It’s also so important to look at references for what I’m drawing. You can burn yourself out trying to remember what trees look like.

Lastly, I try to keep in mind that perfection is the death of completion. I just have to trust in my abilities and work through it. If all else fails, I go to my artist friends for a good pep talk. Especially with deadlines, these methods help me immensely.

Do you have any advice you wish you could give your younger self? If so, what is it?

There are many things I would say to a younger version of myself. But top of my list is ‘Life is tough, but so are you. It doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.’

I love that! Where can people connect with you and find out more about MY DAY WITH DAD?

You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @itsraecrawford! My website is www.raecrawford.com with even more details.

The book is on sale through most of the major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Target.

by Janna Morishima