1 August 2023

Goddess Gracious! Katie Ponder continues the Mythology series with Dorling Kindersley

Posted in: Artists, Children's books, Design, Editorial, Illustration

Katie Ponder has illustrated the fourth book in Dorling Kindersley’s Mythology series, with the latest instalment focusing on Goddesses and Heroines from myths around the world. We caught up with Katie about how the latest book went.

Give me a brief rundown of the project and who commisioned it.

This is the 4th book in the Mythology series I have worked on with Dorling Kindersley. It’s lovely working on a book which I know the format for so well. These books feel very much like my home after having had 4 years back to back working on them. This one felt particularly special because of its focus on powerful female stories.

How did you create the artwork?

All the artwork is created on photoshop. Sometimes I do scribbly little sketches to help figure a design out. Often on photoshop im moving things around on the page and changing colours a lot. I love the freedom of using photoshop. It means you can compose the scene like it’s a paper theatre set and you can move all the characters and components around until something aesthetically ‘clicks’

How did you approach the brief? Any inspirations?

I always look to my favourite things for inspiration. Folkart, embroidery, quilting and ballet. This all informs my colour palettes, and how I create the layout for a page.

Working with Art Director Bettina at Dorling Kindersly is a lovely experience. She provides me with all the fascinating information to make sure the myths are depicted correctly and respectfully of the cultures and countries the stories are from, but also with enough room for me to add my own creative interpretation.

If you could be the God of anything, what would it be and why?

I love all the stories of the Gods who interact with animals. But also the Gods with wings. Maybe I could be some sort of winged goddess who can talk to animals, but also wear a crown and very glamour robes. Haha!

What did you enjoy most about the project?

Whilst it is also hard that it’s a long project I also loved that I got to be immersed in empowering stories of magical feminine beings for 6 whole months. It was uplifting and inspiring learning all about the goddesses and heroines of myths from all over the world.