My Bed Book
To begin the process of creating artwork for the book, Salley read the manuscript carefully to see if the narrative evoked strong imagery in her mind’s eye. She knew from her previous experiences illustrating books, that a clear vision is important since making the illustrations can take up to two years to complete.
To portray a distinct sense of place for each culture, Salley researched the children, architecture, furnishings, and landscapes of different regions. She then sketched out the pages of a thirty-two page children’s book. After showing the mockup to her editor and getting the go-ahead, she gathered materials from her extensive supplies and started stitching. First, she made the children and fell in love with the characters, which motivated her to build places for them to live. It took from 6 weeks to 2 months to complete each scene, which she worked on entirely by hand, one stitch at a time.
Each artwork is much like a shallow stage set, with scenery, props and characters assembled in shadow-box frames. They are made with a variety of materials, including fabric, beads, wire and found objects, with techniques that the artist developed during her extensive career.
Salley feels a great responsibility to connect with children through picture books and create their first introduction to art. Adults appreciate her labor-intensive and inventive approach to illustrating; children respond directly to the emotional impact of the imaginative world. There is something for all of us to experience, young and old, as we travel the world through the pages of this remarkable book.
Piecing it together…
