Saskatoon based Illustrator, Ashley Spires, grew up in B.C. with the backyard as the beach. With the support of her parents, she was encouraged to create, something she had always done as a child. This led her to Emily Carr to study photography, and with a twist of fate (in the form of a bookmaking class), ended up studying Illustration at Sheridan College. Not only are her illustrated books frequently being awarded by her peers, but she can also easily make a elementary school class scream in delight. Obviously, since she is the lady who created Binky.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned regarding illustration?

I have learned that it is more about style than it is about ability. I went through Emily Carr, and I once had a drawing teacher ask me if I was colour blind. I guess I just wasn’t doing a good enough job of the shading and my proportions are always a little off. And it is true, I can’t draw something perfectly realistic. It is just not my thing. But it’s about the style, and I always mention that to kids when I go and talk to them. Because it is around grades 6-7 when they decided if they can or can’t draw. And sometimes it is just about what you love to draw. And I love to draw. I have a visual style that projects my stories in a certain way. I have also learned to draw things again and again and again.

If you had to put it to words, how would you describe your style?

Cartoon-y. Goof-y. I am always striving to perfect it. All the work I write is goofy and funny, because that is what I wanted to read as a kid. And that was the work that I was drawn to. I loved Quentin Blake, Micheal Martchenko, and David Roberts. I am drawn to that style, so it makes sense that I would make that type of work.

Is all of your work done by hand?

Yes, my work is all done by hand. I mostly use my computer for emails and watching my British television shows.

You mentioned other Illustrators that are inspiration. Do you have other things that inspire you?

I have lots of things that I pull inspiration from. I find myself drawn to a lot of UK artists. It seems like the British sensibilities are a little more in line to my work, which isn’t that surprising considering that my favourite books growing up were Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and Quinten Blake. As far as getting ideas for stories, I think most of my inspiration comes from random places. My furry little friends that I live with are a huge part of it. Many stories come from some of the funny things that they would do. And also from crafts, I made finger puppets for a long time. I did them as a side business, and it put me through Illustration school. I used to sell them on Etsy, and Aritzia contracted me for a year and I sold them across Canada.

When you are thinking about your characters, do you think about how they sound or their voices?

We were actually talking about Binky being a cartoon, and wondering what Binky would sound like. My husband does the best accents, and sometimes when he does Gordon’s voice, it is a small German boy. So we do think about what they would all sound like. But mostly when I think about my books, they run through like a silent movie. I see the movement and pick out what I want to draw. Especially with the Binky books, because they are more storyboard ideas.

Do you ever find yourself in creative slumps?

Yes, for sure. The best way I have learned over the past few years to deal with that, is when I even have the smallest idea, I write it down. I will come back to it later and think “oh, I could do this, this, and this with it.” The other thing that really helps me is that I have the best editor in the world, Tara Walker. I find that every time I finish a conversation with her, I am always inspired. Without even giving me ideas, there is something about talking with her and her knowledge of the publishing world. She knows what I am good at better than I do.

I find too that creative slumps happen a lot, especially in my 30′s. There are so many other responsibilities, and other crap you have to deal with. And it isn’t just about creating, there is the business side of things as well. I don’t have an agents, so I deal with it all myself.

What type of other creative things do you do, aside from illustrate?

I do have a fashion blog. I love clothes a little too much. I am pretty camera shy, but thought, “why don’t I draw this” and it gets me into a different vain of illustration which is interesting to me as well. I try to put as much as I can up there. That to me is a creative thing, making outfits in my head. And fimo. I still rock some fimo.

How do you market yourself?

I just recently started to learn about the whole online thing. I tweet, Binky has his own Facebook page, my blog and Instagram. When I was drawing the latest version of Binky, I took pictures of it when it was pencil-ed, when it was inked, and in the various stages. I’ve also had some print press, and going to schools is a huge way to promote yourself as an author/illustrator. Especially for children to see the person who makes the book. I also rely on my publicist as well.

When you are speaking at the schools, what is one message you use to inspire the kids?

Lately I have been focusing a lot on being creative for creativity’s sake. I think that a lot of kids think that when they sit down to do something, it needs to be perfect. And I talk to them a lot about how I have tons of different sketchbooks that all serve different purposes, and I am never worried about what comes out. I am not worried about making it perfect.

What are your plans? Are you working on more books?

Always. I am working on the fifth and final Binky right now. Normally what I do is a picture book in the spring and a Binky book in the fall. But the Binky books are 64 pages and every inch of every page is painted. It is a massive thing to do. It takes six month of my year to do one. I am also working on some picture books with Tundra books, so I am in the development stage of those.

Check out more images of her studio below. See more of Ashley’s amazing work here and follow her on Twitter!

Photography by Carey Shaw