Manchester Mirror, October 13, 2005
by Heather Matthews
Kidding around: Children's book illustrator designs blanket chest for charity


Neva Austrew, 26, of Raymond, was known as the “Disney Girl” by her friends through out high school. Fascinated by films like “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” Austrew was determined to become an animator for the company. But when she realized that a career in animation meant quick repetitive pencil sketches instead of painting, she decided to pursue a career in children’s literature illustration. She now works at Manchester’s Currier Gallery of Art as a public relations coordinator, teaches illustration at Concord’s Kimball-Jenkins School of Art, and finished illustrating a new book, “Daddy’s Girl,” by Breena Jacobs.

More recently, Austrew donated her artistic talents and passion for illustration to The Care Givers, Inc. first fundraiser, “The Art of Caring.” The event brought together 45 New Hampshire artists who designed and painted solid oak blanket chests to be auctioned off by the Care Givers, a group devoted to helping the elderly and disabled maintain their independence, through an online and live auction. Care Givers provide services that allow elderly and disabled people lead more independent lives.

Each painted blanket chest can be seen throughout Manchester locations like the Millyard Museum - where Austrew’s chest is displayed - Ocean National Bank, The Hatfield Gallery, The Arbors, and Southern New Hampshire University. The online auction is taking place now, with bids being accepted until Oct. 26 at the auction’s Web site, www.theartofcaring.com The live auction will take place on Oct. 27 at the Southern New Hampshire University Athletic Complex. For more information on the Care Givers visit www.caregivernh.com

Q. How did you become involved in the blanket chest auction?

A: Well, I was in the Hatfield Gallery getting some pieces framed when I came across their flyer. I was at a point where I wanted to paint something more substantial than just a framed painting. I wanted to paint a chair or a chest and this gave me a good excuse to do it and a deadline. I hadn’t heard of (the Care Givers) before picking up their flyer, but now I have worked with them, talked with them, visited their office, and I think they are a really cool bunch of people. I think it is a really worthy cause and a great organization.

Q. How did you come up with the theme for your chest?

A: I debated about that for a while. I wanted to do something illustrative since I am an illustrator and it had to be fun and bright and colorful - something for a children’s audience. I was thinking of doing an Alice in Wonderland theme, but I realize that would take a lot of time, so I decided I wanted to make my own story. It’s about this girl who was walking in the woods and finds an injured bird. It’s based on the...I don’t know is it a fairy tale or a myth - about the lion with the thorn in his paw and the mouse helps him remove it. The little girl finds the bird in distress and she helps it mend, and the bird flies away. Everyone is happy and everyone is better for it.

Q. Does the little girl character on the blanket chest have a name?

A: I didn’t name her, I don’t know why though. The chest is called “A New Friend.” I thought that was appropriate. It’s about finding friends in unexpected places.

Q. So what got you into illustration?

A: I wanted to be a Disney animator. I think it has something to do with the fact that I grew up in the “Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” era. But, I realized that the one attribute that animators had is they have to draw quickly and in repetition. I like taking my time, developing my characters, plus I like to paint. It’s hard to step away from a dream that you held onto for so long and admit it’s probably not the right thing for you.

Q. What kind of work have you done as a freelance illustrator?

A: My first freelance job was to design and illustrate an album cover for Mighty Sam McClain. I used to work for them as an office assistant, PR person, graphic, whatever they needed and he gave me the opportunity to work on the album and design the cover and the album art work.
After (working with an engineer) I connected with Breena Jacobs, author and publisher of “Daddy’s Girl.” She started her own independent publishing company and she decided that “Daddy’s Girl” would be the first book then distributed. I’ve always been asked to illustrate books by people who had aspirations of writing children’s literature, but Breena had the intention of getting it out there.

I spent about a three-month period working on this book. At that time I was working full-time and I had mono. It was rough, and I definitely wasn’t getting a lot of sleep, but it was worth it. It was something that I always wanted to do. This is what I want my career to be about.

Q. As an illustrator, do you have to work with the preconceived notions, or visions, the author has for her characters, or do you have a lot of freedom?

A: Breena wrote the story based on her youngest daughter and her husband and their relationship. I asked her for pictures of them interacting together and separately and those gave me a place to start. It was really collaborative.

Q. So, why children’s illustration?

A: I am obsessed with children’s books. It just kind of happened. I think it has something to do with the fact that I loved reading as a kid. And on a grander scheme, children’s books are great teaching tools. There is a lot of animosity, a lot of hatred, a lot of horrible stuff going on and the only way that is going to change is by changing our attitudes and ideas on a fundamental level. I really believe the only way to change the world is to change people’s attitudes at a young age and that may sound cheesy or corny...But there is a part of me that wants to leave my mark on the world in a positive way. Somehow I got it into my head that children’s books were the best way to do that.