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How did Beatrix Potter create her illustrations?

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Have you heard of Peter Rabbit? How about Benjamin Bunny? These beloved characters were created by English author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Where did her inspiration come from? Click on the tabs to learn more about Beatrix Potter.

benjamin-bunny

Beatrix Potter grew up sketching her many family pets, and these animals became the inspiration for her illustrations. Her first rabbits were called Benjamin Bouncer and Peter Piper, and they accompanied her everywhere she went. She later wrote stories about the characters named Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit.

peter-rabbit

Potter was a very detailed illustrator and actually worked as a scientific illustrator, creating intricate details of various fungi, plants, and animals. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was her first published story, but she had to publish it herself because no one wanted to give her a chance. After the book's success, she was signed by a publisher and released several more stories.

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Beatrix Potter’s illustrations are brightly colored and appealing to children. The animals are sweet looking and are often act like humans, which is interesting and often funny to children. Since Potter’s drawings are based on her earlier scientific studies, they are very realistic, making them even more fun to look at. Her characters almost looks like someone actually dressed up real animals.

Beatrix Potter is just one illustrator who created cute, cuddly character to tell her stories. But there are many other animal characters that many children have connected with: the Berenstain Bears, Paddington Bear, Curious George, and Frog and Toad. What other animal characters can you think of? Why do you think illustrators often choose animals for their characters?

Each of these images stands for a reason why an artist might choose to use animals in their illustrations and stories. Click on the image to enlarge it and learn more.

Using animals as characters can make the character more memorable for children. They connect the character to the type of animal it is, and this helps them remember what the character was like and what the story was about.

The children who are illustrators’ target audience are all very different. They look different, live in different areas, and have different beliefs; but almost all children love animals. Using animals in illustrations broadens the audience that a book can appeal to.

Just as lions are considered powerful and majestic, many animals are considered symbolic. Symbolism often plays a large part in the story that is being told. For example, beavers are often portrayed as hard-working and industrious, and fox characters are typically cunning. This use of symbolism can be seen in stories that are retold with animals. One example of this is Disney’s retelling of Robin Hood, where the wily Robin is played by a fox.