✨Illustrator Zoe Bennett 🎨

Meet illustrator Zoe Bennett 🖌️

Zoe Bennett is a children's illustrator based in Sydney, Australia. She creates digital illustrations which aim to capture the playful candidness of childhood. 🤸‍♀️

Q) Let’s talk about your latest release, Bernie Thinks in Boxes! What was your favourite part of this book to illustrate?

🎨 Tough one! I absolutely loved the entire process from start to finish! 

I think designing Bernie’s character. I like to say Bernie drew herself. As soon as I read Jess’ manuscript, she existed so clearly in my mind.

Usually it takes a bit of experimentation to bring a character to life, but Bernie pretty much ended up looking exactly how I first envisaged her.

I have a bit of an obsession with dressing my characters in quirky outfits, so Jess did have to talk me down a little bit when it came to the eccentricity of Bernie’s wardrobe. But overall, the Bernie you’ve met is the same Bernie who walked onto the page on Day 1! 

I also loved creating Bernie’s world. I’m always a bit of a sucker for creating elaborate back-stories for all my characters, even if they only ever exist in my head. In my mind Bernie lives in the inner city suburbs of Sydney with her cat and her solo mum.

One morning during the development stage of the book, I took myself on an excursion to Annandale- a gorgeous inner city suburb of Sydney full of old terrace houses. A cup of tea in hand, I walked the streets and took photos. So the illustrations you see in the book are actually based on real-life locations!

Q) Do you have any advice for aspiring illustrators?

💡 It honestly feels a bit surreal to be asked this because I struggle to comprehend that I am no longer an ‘aspiring’ illustrator myself. 

I didn’t have any formal art education. I studied science at university and although I dreamt of illustrating books, I never ever thought I could actually do it. But apparently I could!

I think I’d want more people to know that, at the end of the day, it seems to me like all this stuff is less about training and more about luck, hard work, willingness to learn, and pushing through self-doubt.

So if you want to illustrate, just do it. Dive in. Put yourself out there. Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready’.

I started my Instagram account in the midst of Covid isolation with absolutely no expectations. Only a couple of months later, Claire reached out with an offer to illustrate her debut book, Lily the Inventor.

In some ways, I was woefully unprepared. I look back at my early posts and cringe at how awful I think they are. I knew nothing about the industry and I’m still learning on the spot.

I’ve had to improve my skills very, very quickly. It’s a steep learning curve but a fun one. And it’s totally possible for anyone who wants it.

And also, drawing style. It’s a BIG one. It can feel like the all-encompassing dilemma for artists. What is ‘my style’? Honestly, I'm still trying to work it out myself.

I think the key things I've learnt are to keep experimenting, trust your instincts and not force styles that don't come naturally. I spent years trying to draw like other artists but then I ended up coming full circle and now my style is reminiscent of how I used to draw as a kid!

Also don't be afraid to let it evolve - you don't need to land on one look and stick to that forever. Take the pressure off. 

Q) How does it feel that Bernie Thinks in Boxes is out in the world?

🚀 SO exciting! I’ve been looking forward to seeing this book out in the world since before I’d even started the illustrations. Bernie’s character and her story hold such a special place in my heart.

She’s my favourite character I’ve illustrated and I think she has some really important things to teach littles and their grown ups. I’m not Autistic but I do resonate with Bernie’s vivid inner world and struggles. 

I’m also so excited for Jess to finally have her debut book on shelves!

She has worked so hard to get here and has been a huge support for me since I joined the kid lit community. I know this book is particularly personal to her and I’m so honoured she let me help bring it to life. 

✨ Zoe’s website: www.zoebennett.com.au

✨ Follow Zoe: @zoebennettillustration