Limited Editions of Harry Potter Cover Art by Mary GrandPre Now Available
Cover Art
Leslie: What part does J.K. Rowling play in all of this?
Mary: She looks over the sketches, and puts her ideas, her two cents in. She has always been such a pleasure, very easy to work with, always right on board with everything we've done.
Leslie: I'm sure lots of fans want to know, what was your favorite Harry Potter cover?
Mary: (pause) I'd have to say "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (book 7). It was the most mature. It had this dramatic explosive point. I did love them all, but the last one was definitely my favorite.
Leslie: I saw "The Devil Wears Prada", and was surprised they referenced you. What did you think of that? (in the movie, prepublication copies of the book are attained for Meryl Streep's kids to read, supposedly from the cover artist)
Mary: An art director friend of mine told me i had to see the movie. Definitely a work of fiction! It was funny, and surreal. In the real world that would never happen. i am absolutely sworn to secrecy. It did make me laugh, but the Potter thing is so exposed, I've become immune to it... I"ll be watching tv and see a shot of a poster or a piece of my art for the books. Or at the grocery store... People love Harry Potter so much, you see it everywhere!
Leslie: I know you love mermaids. You told me you used to draw them all the time as a child. How did you get started drawing, what got you interested, and when did you know you were an artist?
Mary: Growing up, we used to get National Geographic magazine and i loved looking at the women from all over the world. I loved the African women, they were so beautiful and so different from my experience--their faces, the beadwork and patterns in what they wore, it inspired me. i loved drawing things i wasn't familiar with firsthand--whether they were real or imaginary, they seemed more interesting.
Leslie: What about the magical element that seems the imbue much of your work?
Mary: I remember as a child, my favorites were Peter Pan and Snow White. The first characters i remember drawing were Mickey and Minnie Mouse and i got lots of praise and encouragement to continue drawing. i thought, "i must be good at this!"
Leslie: It must be great to have always been encouraged in your art. It doesn't always happen that way.
Mary: My parents always supported my love for art. I do remember later in life someone close to me, an artist, saying "You'll never amount to anything" which I'm glad to say just made me work harder! but now i only surround myself with positive people who support what Ilove to do.
Leslie: A lot of people are huge fans of your art. when did you know you were a success, that you'd made it?
Mary: I don't know if i feel like I'm there yet. To me success is something very personal. it isn't about how other people view me or my art, it's about how i feel about the work. i don't feel like I've done my best work yet. I do think it's coming into focus.
Leslie: That's really exciting. I look forward to seeing whatever you'll be doing next!
If i only had 500 dollars…............................ oh but i love her work she is amazing and reading the intervies makes me like her even better. She seems very down to earth and i love what she says about success i agree completly. oh and i love mermaids to!! she should do a seen with the mermaids from Goblet.