Natalie Capannelli
Roger Hoover
Natalie Capannelli is an artist, illustrator, and freelance baker. She has an MFA from Pratt Institute and loves tending to plants and traveling the world. When not traveling, Natalie lives in Brooklyn, New York. If We Were Gone is her debut picture book. www.natcap.space
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Gyo Fujikawa’s Oh What a Busy Day was a daily read.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.” Tuck Everlasting
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Shaun Tan, Gyo Fujikawa, Junot Diaz – for their empathy and humanity, regardless of the age of their audience.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I’d always been interested in making books since I was a child. Later in my adult life I began illustrating for children, at which point I realized the impactful connection and education I could deliver through my art. There is no purer audience!
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Do it because you love it, and continue to work with or without accolades. Put your authentic self into the work. Do your research, and ask for help! Ultimately, the right agent or publisher will recognize your work when the time is right.