Local Illustrator Gets Technical

Karl Struss knew he had a problem. It was one of the proudest days of his life, yet as the graduate stood on the steps of the Art Institute of Boston in full cap and gown with a bachelor’s degree in illustration and graphic design in hand, his heart took an almost audible drop into the pit of his stomach.  

Scores of workers rolled computers into the building as he was walking out. Times had changed, and with it, the traditional methods artists employed to create their craft. Art students of the future were transitioning from pencils and brushes to pointers and mice. Struss knew the only way he could succeed in the craft he loved would be to go back to the proverbial drawing board and reinvent himself as a digital illustrator. And that’s exactly what he did, but it didn’t happen overnight.

Struss is quick to point out: “I went to work at Lechmere, of all places,” he chuckles. “I worked in their photography department and they wound up being short-staffed in their computer department, so I wound up with on-the-job training in computers and here I am!”

But he never gave up on his dream. Now with four books to his credit, the self-published children’s book illustrator and author spoke to third-graders Wednesday at , where his daughter Adrianna, 9, attends. He brought storyboards with him to demonstrate how he blends his natural artistic talent with computer technology to create the vibrant illustrations for his series of children’s books.

Third-grade teacher Rebecca Flaherty asked Struss to describe the process he uses to create his books. Using a projector and with help from Adrianna, he began by displaying a basic black and white storyboard, showing each page laid out side-by-side, not unlike a comic strip. The next example was the same storyboard, but with the addition of vibrant colors. He explained how this was achieved through the use of digital tools.

“I actually draw out the images on a graphics tablet and the drawing goes right up on the computer screen just like if I was using a pencil,” he explained to the group of wide-eyed youngsters. “Then I add the color, just like coloring in a coloring book.”

He also impressed upon the group that this “new” form of art is considered very eco-friendly, with no pencils, paint and brushes being used or tossed away. In recent years, Struss has been spreading word of his books by social media as well, such as Facebook. The books can be purchased through Amazon.com and the distribution site Createspace.

The response has been overwhelming, with reviews lauding the positive messages and life lessons children take from each of the stories.

Struss first teamed up with friend Michelle Berg for “Miss Mandy Manners,” which teaches young children all about proper manners with colorful, fun pictures to hold their attention from page-to-page. In his next two projects, Struss decided to tackle the writing and illustrating himself. “What Will I Be?” impresses on youngsters that they can be whatever they want to be. “3 Billie Goats Gruff” is a new take on the old fable using a cubist approach, which utilizes shapes in the makeup of the characters and scenery.

The latest venture is a collaboration with local author Jeffery R. Beauregard, an old friend of Struss’. “The Big Old Spider and the Little Ladybug” is a tale about diversity and meeting new friends.

Struss pointed out the vibrancy of the illustrations and noted this was due in part because by now he was fairly “comfortable” with the process. He enlarged one page in particular where, as in all of his books, there is a dedication to his daughter, Adrianna. This revelation brought admiring gasps from the collection of youngsters, and more than one exclamation of, “Adrianna’s famous!”