Pam Fong, Author-Illustrator of ‘Claire and the Cathedral’

An interview with Pam Fong, presented by The Children’s Book Review.

Pam Fong is the author-illustrator behind visually striking picture books like Claire and the Cathedral, where a limited palette and the thoughtful use of color become characters in their own right. In this interview, Pam shares how her process unfolds from sketchbook to final art, the inspiration she finds in nature’s smallest details, the illustrators who have shaped her work, and why some of her best ideas begin with a few simple marks—often with a sleeping cat nearby.

I make art because …

I have too many emotions. Making art helps me to understand the range of human emotions by giving them form. When a mark that I make can communicate exactly what I am feeling, that is pure magic. I pursue art for those moments. It does not always happen easily. And I don’t always understand how to make it happen. But as long as I work at it, it seems to eventually happen. Art has given me an opportunity to trust in myself.

My latest published book is …

Claire and the Cathedral, a wordless picture book, primarily in black and white, in which the sparse use of color is a primary character. I love this approach and have used it in previous books.

Art medium used …

For my book illustrations, I create elements in Procreate and compile full scenes in Photoshop, using digital pencils and watercolor brushes. Working digitally allows me more freedom to explore and to change my mind, which happens constantly.

Artistic process …

I work big to small. First, I consider the overall composition of the spread, page, or vignette by making loose sketches with big shapes. Then I consider values and light sources. I create a limited color palette (and stick to it) to create harmony. Only then do I begin to draw in the details, color the shapes, and add shadows and highlights based on the light source.

I am inspired by …

Almost everything found in nature. Mostly, I pay attention to small details (the worlds within worlds) and how light at different times of the day can transform our feelings. Additionally, I believe inspiration is all around us, begging to be recognized.

My favorite place to create and illustrate is …

Anywhere near my sleeping cat.

My most used art supply or tool is …

I have a large-format sketchbook that I mark up as soon as a spark of an idea hits me. Some of the marks are very simple and go nowhere. Some are more developed and remain final characters. There are thumbnails and full compositions, as well as beginning, middle, and ending lines of a potential story. Sometimes, I am clear on an idea and could launch into creating, but I still feel the need to get a few marks into this sketchbook before “officially” starting. It’s like a safety blanket where my ideas have to appear first before they can become anything more. After that, I’m on my iPad for the final artwork.

Illustrator idols …

There are so many, but if I had to pick:

Giovannetti was my very first inspiration.

Isabelle Arsenault for her delicate yet expressive lines.

Émilie Vast, the queen of shapes.

Torben Kuhlmann for his mastery of the craft.

Jean-Jacques Sempé – each mark is magic.

Shaun Tan for just about everything.

All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t illustrate…

Again, it’s hard to pick just one, but in my opinion, Shaun Tan’s The Arrival is perfection!

A literary character to create art with …

Sherlock Holmes. My hope is that he would show me a logical and rational method of creating art, if such a thing exists.

Currently working on …

I am always working on a number of picture book ideas, but currently, my main focus is on a middle-grade chapter book, which represents a new learning curve for me, and one that I have enjoyed exploring.

About the Book

Publisher’s Synopsis: In this showstopping masterpiece from author-artist Pam Fong, a young girl finds unexpected beauty in a rainy day, demonstrating the power of giving thanks and giving back. Wordless and illustrated in striking black-and-white artwork with pops of rainbow color, this is for fans of Wolf in the Snow, Journey, and Home in a Lunchbox.

When Claire’s mother takes her to the cathedral to pass the time on a rainy day, poor Claire could not be more bored. Soaring architecture, beautiful sculptures, historical significance—blah! Then a momentary ray of light shines through the famed Rose Window and brings color back into Claire’s world. Soon she realizes there are rainbows all around her, if she looks closely.

This wordless picture book celebrates the power of observation, gratitude, optimism, generosity, and the arts. Pam Fong makes a splash with her astonishing, intricately detailed black-and-white illustrations—light and music are the only elements shown in full-color glory. Claire and the Cathedral is ideal for readers who love books by David Wiesner, Barbara Lehman, Aaron Becker, and David Macauley.

Buy the Book

About the Author

Pam Fong is the creator of several picture books, including A Spark in the Dark, When the Fog Rolls In, and The Little Cloud. She earned a degree in visual arts and art history from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She then had a successful career in arts management and curation before turning to her own projects. Pam Fong lives in San Diego, California.

Discover more books like Claire and the Cathedral, created by Pam Fong, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Wordless Books, Art, Gratitude, and Picture Book. Be sure to follow along with our Illustration Inspiration series.