Illustrator Spotlight: Ebony Glenn

Jan. 18, 2019

Today we are excited to feature illustrator Ebony Glenn and her recent picture book, BRAVE BALLERINA: THE STORY OF JANET COLLINS, written by Michelle Meadows (Henry Holt & Co. BYR Jan. 8, 2019). Be sure to enter to win a copy!

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

Ever since I was a young girl I’ve known that I wanted to be an artist. Illustration has always been my way of escaping reality to an imaginary world, yet it wasn’t until after college that I began to explore the idea of turning my passion into a career.

While working a part-time job in the day, I worked on my portfolio at night. I believed in my ability to create compelling imagery for children’s books so I sought out ways to improve my skills and gain knowledge of the children’s book industry. I studied the artwork of many successful illustrators, experimented with different artistic mediums, read plenty of books on the subject, and joined the organization SCBWI to help me meet other like-minded people.

Then in 2016 I was fortunate enough to be approached by The Bright Group for artistic representation, and it’s been a blessing ever since.

Congrats on your recent picture book, BRAVE BALLERINA: THE STORY OF JANET COLLINS. Tell us about the story and how you researched the illustrations.

Thank you! BRAVE BALLERINA is a picture book biography about Janet Collins, a dancer who wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s—a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States. She pursued dance with a passion despite being rejected from discriminatory dance schools.

For the research of this children’s book, I spent a lot of time scouring the internet and reading plenty of books about ballet and Ms. Collins. There aren’t many photos of her nor are there many personal accounts of her life, but I found her biography, Night’s Dancer, written by Yaël Tamar Lewin, to be extremely helpful.

Was your road to publication long and windy, short and sweet, or something in between?

I’d say something in between. In the beginning of my illustration career, I spent my time strengthening my portfolio and finding my artistic style. As the years went by, my focus eventually began to change towards learning more about the industry as well as finding my niche as an illustrator. Each phase has had it’s own ups and downs, but each helped me become a better artist.

What projects are you working on now?

At the moment, I am currently working on illustrating three children’s books; INVENTOR GARRETT MORGAN, by Joan DiCicco (Lee & Low Books), THE RED SHOES, by Karen English (Scholastic), and FLYING HIGH: THE STORY OF SIMONE BILES, by Michelle Meadows (Macmillan Kids).

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

These words are not mine, but it’s such a valid piece of advice:

“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” – Les Brown

When I was starting out I met a lot of resistance and discouragement from others about my dream to illustrate children’s books. It’s not easy to fight your own feelings of self-doubt when you’re also combatting the harsh opinions of others. Therefore, I highly recommend tuning out negatives thoughts, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and most importantly, believing in yourself.

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

I LOVE ghost stories! I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent listening to paranormal podcasts as I illustrate my books!

Where can people find you online?

My website: ebonyglenn.com

Twitter and Instagram: @artsyebby

And also on Facebook: Ebony Glenn Illustration.

Ebony Glenn is a children’s book illustrator who enjoys bringing stories to life with whimsical imagery. A passion for the arts and great storytelling, she aims to make illustrations that will provide rich literary experiences for young readers.

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