Illustrator
At about the same time as the stories about Mamma Moo and Crow were broadcast on radio, Sven published his first books about Pettson and Findus. We were planning to make an Advent calendar for radio. A paper calendar would naturally have to be drawn. Having Sven as the illustrator was a dream come true. He himself had two young boys who were quite familiar with Mamma Moo’s and Crow’s voices. The first time we met to look at the sketches, he had one of his sons on his lap. That was our first meeting with Sven.
But it wasn’t until we had collected a number of stories in the first book with text that the characters were set loose in illustrations. It’s hard to describe our joy the first time we saw Mamma Moo dancing in the barn, or Crow’s expression when they’re sitting there fishing. To see your creations that only exist as words or voices is truly comparable with seeing your children for the very first time. That he also happened to be an illustrator who not only understood our characters but could depict them in such a humorous and warm way was pure joy.
After more than 30 years and soon 20 books, our collaboration continues. It’s warm and uncomplicated. In text and illustration, the characters are both the same and different. I think that Mamma Moo has matured and her tummy has gotten a few more creases. Both her wacky ingenuity and motherly kindness have deepened. As before, Crow fluctuates between periods of gloom and euphoric states of inventiveness with both humour and despair. Could it be that they follow the ups and downs of our own lives?
When the time comes for me to send a text for a new book to Sven, I never doubt that the results will live up to expectations. The sketches he sends back are a special source of joy. As in all works where your imagination is allowed to roam freely, they have that unrestrained and special something that can never be recreated in the finished, prepared originals. I particularly remember the sketch for the illustration to show that Mamma Moo has destroyed the children’s slide – it sticks straight out! Mamma Moo is standing in the water, completely wretched, Crow is standing on dry ground with his wings crossed and a what-did-I-tell-you look on his face. The illustration is marvellous, full of a sense of catastrophe and commiseration! In his letter, Sven writes apologetically that he can’t think of any other way to depict it. Ahead of one book he wrote a little surly “they’re just standing there talking!” And so in an illustration he arranged a little addition to the story. In the coming book he explains a bit guiltily that he rearranged the text a bit “purely for reasons related to the construction”. He is truly a co-creator of the stories.
Illustrator
At about the same time as the stories about Mamma Moo and Crow were broadcast on radio, Sven published his first books about Pettson and Findus. We were planning to make an Advent calendar for radio. A paper calendar would naturally have to be drawn. Having Sven as the illustrator was a dream come true. He himself had two young boys who were quite familiar with Mamma Moo’s and Crow’s voices. The first time we met to look at the sketches, he had one of his sons on his lap. That was our first meeting with Sven.
But it wasn’t until we had collected a number of stories in the first book with text that the characters were set loose in illustrations. It’s hard to describe our joy the first time we saw Mamma Moo dancing in the barn, or Crow’s expression when they’re sitting there fishing. To see your creations that only exist as words or voices is truly comparable with seeing your children for the very first time. That he also happened to be an illustrator who not only understood our characters but could depict them in such a humorous and warm way was pure joy.
After more than 30 years and soon 20 books, our collaboration continues. It’s warm and uncomplicated. In text and illustration, the characters are both the same and different. I think that Mamma Moo has matured and her tummy has gotten a few more creases. Both her wacky ingenuity and motherly kindness have deepened. As before, Crow fluctuates between periods of gloom and euphoric states of inventiveness with both humour and despair. Could it be that they follow the ups and downs of our own lives?
When the time comes for me to send a text for a new book to Sven, I never doubt that the results will live up to expectations. The sketches he sends back are a special source of joy. As in all works where your imagination is allowed to roam freely, they have that unrestrained and special something that can never be recreated in the finished, prepared originals. I particularly remember the sketch for the illustration to show that Mamma Moo has destroyed the children’s slide – it sticks straight out! Mamma Moo is standing in the water, completely wretched, Crow is standing on dry ground with his wings crossed and a what-did-I-tell-you look on his face. The illustration is marvellous, full of a sense of catastrophe and commiseration! In his letter, Sven writes apologetically that he can’t think of any other way to depict it. Ahead of one book he wrote a little surly “they’re just standing there talking!” And so in an illustration he arranged a little addition to the story. In the coming book he explains a bit guiltily that he rearranged the text a bit “purely for reasons related to the construction”. He is truly a co-creator of the stories.
