Mercer Mayer : The Reality of Imagination What do nightmares, Valentine s Day, snowmen, bubble baths, appointments at the dentist, monsters under the bed and puppies all have in common? They are very important lifelessons for kids, and these topics are among many that have been addressed by Mercer Mayer in his wonderfully illustrated children's books. "The world is a very strange and mysterious thing, full of anything possible," reflects Mercer. "To a child, their imagination is reality. To them, whatever they imagine could be real. Learning to deal with things in life - friends, pets, monsters, whatever is a hard thing." Helping kids learn to deal with the possibilities life holds, and discover the realities life brings, all in a fun and engaging manner, is a talent Mercer has been expressing since he began illustrating children's books in 1966. Since then, he has written and illustrated over 150 books, and although his tools have changed over the years, his process remains fluid. Usually an idea will ruminate in the back of Mercer's mind for a period of time while he works on other projects. He might make a quick sketch or jot down some notes, but he allows the story to form on its own in its own time.
"One thing people assume when using technology for creating art, is that the computer can help you become an artist. That is not the case. What it can do is help you with the medium. The paint won't dry out, you can zoom in, you can use brushes that are finer than in real life..." Mercer continues, "but the results are sometimes too slick - too perfect. I have to add "grit" to make it more real." "Stories are almost like independent beings that wander around out there," Mercer muses. "You have to stay out of their way and they come in." After his story idea solidifies, he alternates sketching with writing, allowing it to flesh itself out as he works. Often he discards large parts of what he's created, as the flow of the story moves him onto something else, something better. Fortunately, technology allows Mercer an easy way to make changes to his work, without losing everything he's done or starting over from scratch. Mercer works exclusively on Apple Macs, with several G5s and 21" and 23" Cinema Displays spread through his home and studio. In the beginning, he would start with a pencil sketch, scan that into the computer, and then "paint" in Photoshop using a Wacom 18" tablet. In 2002, when computers got fast enough to give him the same instant response as pencil and paper, he began drawing and conceptualizing right on the Mac with a Wacom Intuos 18" tablet. This removed a few steps and made the creative process easier.
Because of the need for a more ergonomic work environment, in December 2005 he purchased a Cintiq 21UX from Wacom reseller Safe Harbor Computers. This monitor functions as a drawing tablet, allowing Mercer to draw right on the screen. The pen that comes bundled with it allows him to use the custom brushes he set up in Photoshop. One of his favorite features of the Cintiq is the TouchStrip controls, which came pre-programmed for various functions in Photoshop. "I love the TouchStrips," says Mercer. "They allow zooming and selecting with just the tap of my finger." Since most of Mercer's illustrations are delivered near or above 500dpi, the very high resolution of the screen (1600 x 1200) is an added benefit. It allows him to work in sizes far larger than print resolution, giving him the means to create much finer details than he could otherwise. He has also found that Cintiq provides better painterly effects - the tablet is very interactive and the brushes feel more realistic. The portability is a boon as well; Three stages of an image from The Little Drummer Mouse. Mercer begins with a rough sketch using Cintiq and Photoshop s conte crayon and pencil brushes. Then on separate layers he lays down the colors, with the finished image shown on the far right.
oftentimes, an idea will strike and he'll plop the monitor on his lap and start sketching, just like paper and pen. Drawing with the monitor on his lap is very comfortable, but does lead to the one thing Mercer would change about it - the weight. At 19 pounds, Cintiq is one hefty pad of paper! "I think the most important feature, which really sums it all up, is that whether I'm using Cintiq on my desk or on my lap, I can really fall (maybe dig is the word?) into the artwork I'm doing. I can't explain it beyond that it's just way cool." follows his heart, and ends up playing for the newborn King. Mercer also followed his heart decades ago when embarking on a career path that has brought inspiration and knowledge to children on a level they can relate to. Perhaps someday he'll pen a tale about the wonders of computers and the boundless possibilities they offer, as he continues to open up new doors to creativity and expression. After all - imagination IS reality! by Tiffani Banaszak Safe Harbor Computers Fortunately, Cintiq has proven to be worth its weight in gold. The illustrations in his newest book, The Little Drummer Mouse, were created almost entirely using Cintiq over a 6+ month process. The Little Drummer Mouse, slated to be released this year in time for Christmas, features a little mouse who is scorned and chided by the other animals in the forest because of the constant racket he makes with his little acorn drum. But he
Above: After creating the initial sketch on the Cintiq, colors are blocked in with rough brushes on separate layers in Photoshop. Right: Finished image - a busy spring day.
Of all the sounds in the stable, the newborn king loves the little drum the most.
A winter celebration in the forest.
Above: Playing for the stars above. Right: The little mouse meets three strangers with camels packed with treasure, looking for the newborn king. Art from The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer Copyright 2006 by Mercer Mayer Published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group