Illustrator Spotlight: Lauren Simkin Berke


© Lauren Simkin Berke

Nov. 27, 2020

We are excited to feature illustrator Lauren Simkin Berke and their debut picture book, WERE I NOT A GIRL: THE INSPIRING AND TRUE STORY OF DR. JAMES BARRY, by Lisa Robinson (Schwartz & Wade, Oct. 2020). Enter to win a copy!



Tell us about your background and how you came to illustrate for children.

I consider drawing to be my first language, and while I knew quite young that I wanted to always be making art, I didn't have a clue as to what kind of job might make sense. It didn't occur to me that illustration might be a fitting career until I was a senior in college. I have a BA in Anthropology from Cornell University, and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts (NYC). I have worked as an illustrator for the last 15 or so years, primarily for editorial and trade book clients, and I teach in the MFA in Illustration program at FIT. I draw for clients such as The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Simon & Schuster, and Seal Press. 

© Lauren Simkin Berke

WERE I NOT A GIRL: THE INSPIRING AND TRUE STORY OF DR. JAMES BARRY is my first picture book. I have spent a fair amount of my career drawing period based work, which came out of a personal practice of drawing from found photographs and ephemera. Rachael Cole, the art director for the book, and I have known each other for 19 years (we were in the same class in grad school), and asked if I would be interested in illustrating the book. I can only assume that when you put my period based work, a good portion of which is set in the Victorian era, together with the fact that I am trans, it is easy to see why I would be a good fit for this book in particular.

© Lauren Simkin Berke



Congrats on your recent picture book, WERE I NOT A GIRL: THE INSPIRING AND TRUE STORY OF DR James Barry.  Tell us about the book & how you approached the illustration assignment.

WERE I NOT A GIRL: THE INSPIRING AND TRUE STORY OF DR. JAMES BARRY is a biography about a military surgeon in the British Army in the first half of the 1800s, who also happens to have been trans. James was assigned female at birth and lived as male his entire adult life. He served as a surgeon in the British Army from 1813-1859. He was stationed in many places throughout the world, and earned the rank of Inspector General of Hospitals by the end of his career. He was known to be brusk, at times unlikable, but a very skilled surgeon who spent his career working towards innovations to help improve healthcare conditions for soldiers and prisoners. 

© Lauren Simkin Berke

I approached illustrating the book by doing as much research as I could to understand the period, people, and places that would be depicted. I spent a lot of time drawing from my research before applying that work towards rough sketches for the book. While the drawings for the book are rather loose, I wanted them to be as accurate as possible. The art for the book was created in pieces, in pencil, watercolor, and ink separations, and assembled in photoshop. Any pencil that appears in a color was drawn with an HB pencil and colored digitally. I dream of being able to create illustrations where the original is one physical item, but my background in editorial illustration has led me to a process of image assembly, which makes revisions possible in a fairly easy way without having to start from scratch.

Was your road to publication as a picture book illustrator long and winding, short and sweet, or something in between?

I had an illustration rep for ten years, during which time I created a fair number of picture books ideas that they were unable to find a home for. In the 4 years I've been representing myself I have worked on these ideas, developed new ones, and in one case made attempts to find a publisher on my own (I got very close). I am currently seeking representation by a literary agent, as I would love to be illustrating more picture books, both my own and those written by others.
© Lauren Simkin Berke




What projects are you working on now?

I am currently in the early stages of developing some new projects, including a graphic novel memoir about my childhood called "When I Was Shorter," I am co-organizing A.I.R. Gallery's participation in Printed Matter's upcoming Virtual Art Book Fair, and preparing revamped versions of the spring and summer courses I teach in the MFA in Illustration program at FIT. 

© Lauren Simkin Berke


What advice would you give to your younger self? Is this the same advice you'd give to aspiring illustrators?

I would suggest practicing drawing rough sketches, lots and lots of rough sketches, as that was something I learned on the job, and I imagine it would have been preferable to have that skill much stronger before taking on client work. For those who have studied illustration in college, this might be less of an issue. 

© Lauren Simkin Berke



What is one thing most people don't know about you?

Jon Scieszka was my 5th and 6th grade history teacher.

© Lauren Simkin Berke



Where can people find you online?

website: simkinberke.com
twitter and instagram: lsberke




LAUREN SIMKIN BERKE is a Brooklyn based artist, illustrator, educator, and, when time allows, publisher of art books and zines under the name Captain Sears Press. Lauren draws for clients such as The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, and has illustrated book covers including Katie Rain Hill's RETHINKING NORMAL, the Paris Review's THE WRITER'S CHAPBOOK, and the first edition of Susan Stryker's TRANSGENDER HISTORY. Lauren teaches in the MFA in Illustration program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. WERE I NOT A GIRL: THE INSPIRING AND TRUE STORY OF DR. James Barry is their first picture book.


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Comments

  1. Wow, think my twins would enjoy this book! Great story and love the art!

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  2. This will be a great book for all of my granddaughters to have.

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  3. This sounds like a terrific book that should be on every school book shelf. I never knew about James Barry, and now I want to know more. I love your illustrations also. I definitely must read this book!

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  4. This is a fascinating part of history and I'm glad it's being introduced to kids (and their parents).

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  5. Wow. Thanks for sharing this fascinating part of history. Congrats!

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  6. I have never heard of this important historical figure and can't wait to read your book. I added it to my TBR.

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  7. Great interview, and fascinating subject. How cool that Jon Scieszka was your teacher!

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