We are thrilled to sit down with one of the creative minds behind the Little People BIG DREAMS book series – a collection that’s been inspiring young hearts and imaginations around the world. Our guest today is Keith Negley, award-winning illustrator for the latest release celebrating the trailblazing filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Keith’s vibrant visuals and heartfelt designs have helped continue the theme of shaping the emotional core of these books. From capturing the wonder in a child’s eyes to painting scenes that spark curiosity and courage, showcasing a gateway to possibility…
Let’s dive into the creative process, the inspirations behind the illustrations, and the magic of storytelling through pictures:
INTERVIEW WITH ILLUSTRATOR KEITH NEGLEY
THE JOURNALIX: How did you get involved with the Little People BIG DREAMS series?
KEITH NEGLEY: Lucy Menzies, the Commissioning Editor of Little People BIG DREAMS reached out to me.
THE J: How would you describe your artistic style?
KEITH NEGLEY: Naive collage?
THE J: How did you balance this style with the aesthetic of the series?
KEITH NEGLEY: The Quarto (Publishers) team are so good at their job my work felt right at home with the voice of the series already.
STEVEN SPIELBERG
THE J: How has Spielberg influenced your own career?
KEITH NEGLEY: It’s funny, I had seen The Duel, one of his very first films when I was in my 20s and the boldness and simplicity of still resonates with me today.
THE J: Do you have a favourite Spielberg film? We realise how difficult it is to choose just one!
KEITH NEGLEY: Catch Me If You Can is in my top 10 favourite films of all time!
THE J: And which of the key moments or films from Spielberg’s career did you feel were
important to include in the illustrations?
KEITH NEGLEY: The manuscript referenced a number of his cornerstone career moments had already been laid out for me, but getting to draw the Shark from Jaws was a big part of why I immediately wanted to be on the project.
THE ART OF CINEMA
THE J: What was the most challenging part of illustrating this book, and how did you overcome it?
KEITH NEGLEY: Trying to get the famous movie scenes (E.T., Jaws, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List) to be as magical in the book as they were on screen.
THE J: Ah, we think you’ve achieved this perfectly! What tools did you use to create the artwork for the book?
KEITH NEGLEY: I used colored pencils and acrylic washes for some textures and Adobe Photoshop brushes.
FROM DOODLES TO DETERMINATION
THE J: Did you have BIG DREAMS of being an illustrator as a child?
KEITH NEGLEY: I knew I wanted to make a living as an artist since I was a kindergartener, I didn’t know that was called being an “Illustrator”, but yes!
THE J: What advice would give to your younger self, or somebody looking for a career as an artist?
KEITH NEGLEY: Hard work trumps talent every time, and draw, draw, draw!
THE J: What kind of things do you find yourself absentmindedly doodling, with a notepad and pen in hand?
KEITH NEGLEY: My go-to doodle is usually skateboard halfpipe ramps, I have no idea why, they’re just fun to look at.
THE J: Cool answer! And much more challenging than my go-to smiley face 🙂 What is next for you?
KEITH NEGLEY: My next book is called The Upside Down Girl, and it will be out this time next year!
THE J: You heard it here first!
The Little People BIG DREAMS has now sold over 15 million copies in over 45 languages! This edition is available to buy right now – alongside an edition celebrating legendary British Olympian Chris Hoy!