Dearest readers,

Pen & Oink is keeping things relaxed this weekend. But check out these interviews from our first three months! And enjoy your solstice holiday, whichever it may be.

-Ruthie, Robin, and Liz

“The first thing she asked on the phone was: ‘Tell me honestly, have you ever taken a drawing class?'” —-Abby Hanlon

“I am more comfortable working at a small size—I’m able to create a more energetic line when I draw tiny.”—Lauren Castillo

“I always drew for kids when I was a kid, and my style never really changed!” —Neil Numberman

“After my daughters were born in 1994 and 1997, I started working more diligently in my sketchbooks. I needed this personal time to keep my artist-self happy.” —Rob Dunlavey

“A good illustrator is a cheater: you need to betray the text, at least a little, if you want your pictures to be worthwhile. But it’s more difficult to cheat on yourself.” —Sergio Ruzzier

“A classmate of mine, Riccardo Vecchio, taught me the value of color in storytelling. He showed me how to create a “color script”— a grid containing all of the spreads of the book laid out in sequence.” —Stephen Savage (part one) (part two)

“I still use Freehand MX and they’ll have to pry that program out of my cold dead hands.” —Rebecca Emberley