Fungus is everywhere: cities, mountains, on food, and in deserts. Fungi are found around the globe, yet we know very little about them. Scientists even have a hard time defining what they are because they’re so contradictory.
If I Were a Fungus by Gaia Stella is a playful and informative introduction to the fantastic world of fungi for the youngest of readers. Today Gaia joins us to describe her fascination with fungi and how they continue to surprise her. Read on to see initial sketches and illustrations!
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while researching or writing the book?
Fungi are difficult to categorize and identify in many different ways: they can dramatically alter their form, appearing as anything from a tangle of tubes to a fruit. As their form is constantly shifting, it’s difficult to say what shape they have. It’s much easier to identify something like an apple or a butterfly, as they are all different but can still be found based on their appearance. Fungi are neither plants nor animals. So what are they? I find this sentence mysterious and intriguing.
They can come in a variety of sizes, from incredibly tiny to huge, and a lot of species have yet to be identified. Everything I read about fungi changes the ideas and expectations I had about them. It appears they can be anything and its opposite all at the same time.
I feel inspired because when I discover someone or something that can be anything, it gives me the idea that nothing is set in stone and that there is the opportunity to be yourself. This concept strikes me as remarkably similar to my perception of humans. Even we do not possess a precise understanding of our own essence, despite the frequent importance placed on labeling and categorizing humans.
What is your artistic process like?
It depends on the project. If it is a personal project, such as a picture book I am working on, the process may not be linear.
When an idea starts to form, there is a continuous cycle of researching, experimenting, and making mistakes.
If it is a commissioned project, it is more about solving a problem. I strive to incorporate as much of my own vision as possible while resolving a specific need.
In regards to If I Were a Fungus, it is the book that I have written, rewritten, illustrated, and re-illustrated more than any other. For the same illustration, I might have 5 analog versions of it, and I have lost count of how many versions of the text I have.
I started with research by reading books and watching documentaries. Until this point, I was not stressed, I was enjoying the discoveries.
When I decided to dive deeper and better understand fungi by making a book, things became a bit complicated. I made different attempts before finally arriving at the book’s form, voice, and kind. The chosen way to make the book, which falls between fiction and non-fiction, seemed to be the most appropriate method to achieve what I wanted. At that point, the creation of the text and illustrations alternated. I would have wanted to follow a linear process, but it became clear early on that this was not the case!
Initial Illustrations
Take a look at some of the first illustrations made for If I Were a Fungus!
Praise for If I Were a Fungus
“The phenomenal capabilities of fungi star in this lightly informative and humorous profile. . . In bold-hued digital and marker art, geometric shapes lend Stella’s spreads a blocky, elementary vibe that suits the kid-centric text.” — Publishers Weekly
“[U]seful as an introduction to a little-known or understood subject.” — School Library Journal
Connect with the Author
Gaia Stella is an award-winning illustrator and author. She has authored and illustrated picture books and novelty books for Italian and international publishers, including hélium, La Joie de Lire, De La Martinière Jeunesse, Mondadori, Einaudi. She’s done editorial illustrations for clients such as the New York Times, Vogue Bambini, and the Boston Globe. Gaia’s colorful and geometric imagery is inspired by a variety of (sometimes unexpected) sources: architecture by Mies Van De Rohe, a chair designed by Gio Ponti, photos by René Maltête, illustrations by Vladimir Lebedev, short stories by Gianni Rodari, and the packaging of Asian food. She lives and works in Milan, Italy.
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