Illustrator Spotlight: Elizabeth Sparg

© Elizabeth Sparg

 

August 1, 2024

We are pleased to feature illustrator Elizabeth Sparg and her banner design and art. Welcome!

© Elizabeth Sparg

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

I studied fine art at university and majored in painting (and Psychology). After university, I worked as a freelance graphic designer (and website developer) and occasionally got illustration jobs from my clients. In 2017 I took an online “illustration bootcamp” class just for fun, with Make Art That Sells. The class had a children’s book character design project among the assignments. I loved it and signed up for their full children’s book course, which was brand new then. It took me a while to learn how to create art for picture books and out of head, as I came from a more realistic painting approach. I had a lot to learn, but I felt like I had finally found an art career that suited me and excited me. It was a few years of developing my portfolio before I got my first picture book job. In 2021 I was selected as one of the winners of the international Picture This competition.

© Elizabeth Sparg

Congrats on your banner design for Kidlit411. Can you tell us how you approached this project? 

I had been watching funny anteater videos on Instagram and they kept coming up on my feed. I thought they were hilarious with their long snouts and extra-long, slurpy tongues. When I looked at the shape of the banner design for Kidlit411, the anteater popped into my head as the perfect fit for the wide format. So, I did a few sketches of an anteater and then had the idea of ants on his tongue carrying the letters KIDLIT 411, “feeding” the anteater all the useful info you share. It made me laugh and I hope others find it amusing too. 

© Elizabeth Sparg

I painted it with acrylic gouache and colouring pencils.

What projects are you working on now?

I am currently working on two picture books for Indie authors. I am also making new work for my portfolio and writing some stories of my own to pitch. I recently signed with agent Kyle Williams (Wendy-Lynn & Co) who now represents me in the USA, which I am very excited about!

© Elizabeth Sparg

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

I don’t know that I’m in the position to give advice, but if I have to, I will say that I think it is important to believe in your own work and ability to succeed, even if you are not there yet. In the meantime, keep learning and improving. I take a lot of online classes to keep pushing myself to raise the standard of my work to where I want it to be.

© Elizabeth Sparg

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

I rowed for South Africa at the World Champs and World Cup many moons ago, with the goal of going to the Olympics one day. But I never made it that far. Now I barely do any sport aside from going surfing sometimes, and people don’t believe I used to be an athlete.

I also once had a brain tumour the size of an orange.

© Elizabeth Sparg

Wow! Where can people find you online? 

Everywhere!  Website: https://elizabethsparg.com/; Instagram: @elizabethsparg;  Cara: @elizabethsparg;  Threads: @elizabethsparg  ;  Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn

Elizabeth Sparg is an illustrator from Durban, South Africa. She uses acrylic gouache and coloured pencil to create her playful and painterly illustrations. Her illustration projects include children's books and surface pattern design. Elizabeth loves drawing expressive animal characters, and bold and textured environments. In 2021 she was selected as one of the regional winners of the international Picture This competition. You can view her work at elizabethsparg.com.