Christian Comment with Tracy Spiers of Stroud Christian Fellowship

Being Consistent

I AM CURRENTLY on my final sprint to the finishing line of a BA (Hons) degree in Illustration.

My last project is to complete a 32 page children’s book, which I have both written and illustrated.

I now fully appreciate the creative planning process that goes into producing something like this.

Having spent about 12 hours on one image alone, I stopped and reflected on it.

To my dismay I realised I had made a fundamental error.

I had not only put the door handle on the wrong side, but I had made it long instead of square.

When I placed it next to its corresponding page I could see my mistake.

The images were inconsistent.

When looking at picture books my children relish over the rich details they can spot.

They are meticulous to detail so therefore notice inconsistencies.

While watching one of their favourite illustrators drawing live on television, they immediately noticed he had drawn six fingers on his character’s hand.

He hadn’t realised his error.

In order to gain respect from young readers I have to ensure that my characters are the same on every page, otherwise they will remember the mistakes and not the story content.

As a Christian, it is vital we are consistent in our actions, whether we are at home, work, church or out in the community.

I am human and make mistakes but I hope to think I am the same whether I at home or otherwise.

In the Bible, it states that “Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.”

His love for us is consistent and for that I am so grateful as I work on my own inconsistencies.

None of us are perfect and are therefore works in progress just as my children’s book is, but I am ready to face up to those inconsistencies in both my book and own character as they arise.

My book will be ready before I am, and hopefully it will help me reach the degree finishing line so I can throw my graduate’s hat up in the air with pride.