The Art of Fighting Fear
Illustrator Danielle Louise & Author Max Forstater, Co-Creators of The Little Water Drop, Photo Courtesy Of: Dan Almasy
Smart, Funny and Crazy Talented, Danielle Louise Has A Heart of Gangsta-Lovin’ Gold.
I first met Danielle while trying to make pricey anti-aging vitamins seem like a no-brainer subscription purchase for baby boomers. It proved to be quite a challenge, but luckily for me, the end of that project was just the beginning of our story. Proud to call her my design partner and friend, she is the founder of creative firm DaniLou Illustrates, a mom-to-be with a baby boy due next month and the proud co-creator of a four-year labor of love, illustrated children’s book The Little Water Drop.
A book for anyone who has let their fear get the best of them and wants to make sure it never happens again to them or their kiddos (🙋) it’s a story about the power of curiosity to catapult you from your comfort zone and the contagious confidence gained when you live to tell about it.
Back Story
I jumped at the chance to get a sneak peek of the book I’d heard Danielle talk about, and the draft quickly filled my screen, my Google Drive and my heart.
After meeting author Max and hearing him rattle through his list of multi-faceted roles from engineer to touring bass player to award-winning screenwriter, I was intrigued. Upon hearing how his mom’s reframing of failure influenced his curiosity-led lifestyle and how his son’s imaginative spin on a science project inspired the story, I was in hooked.
So, with that, I’d like to debut my first-ever Moonlit Mama feature by shining a light on expectant mama and The Little Water Drop Illustrator Danielle Louise.
Check out our Q&A, the book and please join our mission to help kids learn at eight or younger, what I’m still trying to master at 38, that the secret to a life filled with adventure and free of regret is three letters…TRY.
Q&A
THIS BOOK INSPIRES US ALL TO BE CURIOUS, TO TRY AND BUILD CONFIDENCE ALONG THE WAY. CAN YOU SHARE A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU PUSHED THROUGH YOUR FEAR AND LIKED WHAT YOU FOUND?
About ten years ago I had just started a new creative dream job at an agency. After having to disclose a pre-existing condition on my insurance paperwork, I was let go 27 days into the job due to what they claimed was “over-hiring.” My life plan crumbled. I was out of work with a huge stack of medical bills and terrified that the same story would play on repeat. It was my rock-bottom, but I didn’t stay down. I found another creative job where I worked for two years while I built up enough nerve, know-how and savings to quit my job and start my own creative company. It was simultaneously one of the most terrifying and exhilarating things I have ever done and showed me that sometimes knowing you have no safety net is the best way to make sure you fly. I’m still climbing and falling every now and again, but the climb continues as I grow my business and help other entrepreneurs do the same.
WHY WERE YOU DRAWN TO THIS PROJECT?
I've been approached multiple times to illustrate a children’s book, and after tackling my first one as a student at the Portfolio Center, I learned how time-consuming it is. So I’m selective and only take something like this on if it really resonates with my heart. When I read the first copy Max shared, my strong connection with the little water drop moved me to tears. I think almost all of us have been there at one time or another, fighting our fears and trying to overcome them with courage. It’s a lesson you work on for a large part of your life, and starting the conversation about overcoming fear and anxiety at an early age is SO important. If you never go beyond your bowl, how do you know what you’re capable of?
IT TOOK YOU FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE THE ILLUSTRATIONS, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?
It was a time consuming challenge to figure out how to effectively illustrate water and a water drop for a children’s book. Max and I both wanted to create a character that kids could identify with, that was also completely inclusive. We wanted to draw children into a world from the point of view of the tiny water drop, which we had to wrap our own heads around. I went through countless iterations of illustration styles until I landed on a mix of hand-drawn pen and ink with watercolor. It felt fluid sophisticated and playful enough to make sense for whoever was reading it. In an effort to truly immerse the reader into the water drop’s world, I chose to do all full-page illustrations for each spread. I also create hand-drawn typography for each page, so that the type became part of the artwork. Finally, I had several big life events occur during those four years including a divorce, engagement and a pregnancy! All of which I had to balance with my creative energy. I had creative inspiration from my divorce, but it wasn’t well-suited for a children’s book, so I stepped away for a bit. I find it’s best not to force a specific creative project, but to let that energy come to you when at all possible.
On the other hand, I was incredibly motivated to finish the book and get it out to the world when one of my best friends, who I grew up going on adventures with since I was 13, was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. He has really helped me face my fears, live life to the fullest and shown me what true bravery is, so I wanted him to get a hard copy of the book as soon as possible which I did. The book is dedicated to him, and he is doing really well and is one of the book’s biggest supporters!
AS A SOON-T0-BE FIRST-TIME MOM, WHAT ARE YOU MOST FREAKED OUT ABOUT/EXCITED ABOUT?
Ha! Well, if I think too hard I can get freaked out about pretty much all of it because it’s all brand new to me. But I’m also excited about all of it. I think all of my favorite things I’ve done in life so far have intimidated me at first, and then become my most cherished moments. I know motherhood will be at the top of the list (at least most days!).
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP & WHY?
I really always knew I wanted to be in a creative field, I just wasn’t sure which one. I grew up doing art projects non-stop, just ask my mom who cleaned up after most of them. I knew I wanted more than just a paycheck doing something I loved. It hasn’t been the easiest path making a living as multi-dimensional creative mixing design, illustration and brand strategy, but it’s mine, and I love it.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF & WHY?
Being happy to be 100% me. It took years of being labeled as ‘weird,’ but now I wear it as a badge of honor. I’d rather be weird, creative and imaginative any day over not being true to myself. My path isn’t anyone else’s, and that’s a good thing! I really like who I am and who I’ve grown into through the years. I think some people (like my incredible mother) are born knowing exactly who they are, but it took me some time to be comfortable with myself.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D TELL YOUR 10 YEAR-OLD-SELF?
Take what others say with a grain of salt. I spent many years giving people’s opinion too much energy and brain-space. Feedback and constructive criticism is wonderful (truly), but you shouldn’t let that guide your journey completely. Don’t let it get into your head and stop you from trying the things you are passionate about; instead, use it for strategy and motivation. Over the years, I had LOTS of support from family and friends, but also had advice from people I admired and trusted telling me that a career of design and illustration would be too difficult, and that I would ultimately fail. I really think it all came from a caring place, but it was also a reflection of their personal fears, and not my unique path or capabilities.
WHAT FEAR DO YOU STILL WANT TO CONQUER?
As a Sagittarius, I tend to face my fears head-on. I try to use my fear and anxiety as motivation to push through those feelings and prove to myself that it wasn’t worth fearing…even if I failed. I used to be very fearful of failure, but after failing at things for 36 years off and on, I know failure can be a good thing. I’m still afraid of spiders. BIG TIME. My fiance’ still has to deal with them for me. One day, I would like to be able to pet a tarantula. Maybe.
WHAT SONG DO YOU CRANK UP WHEN YOU 1) WANT TO CRY 2) KICK ASS 3) DANCE?
'Purple Rain' and 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (the Purple one always gets me)
'Higher Ground' (Red Hot Chili Peppers) or anything by The Kills
Being an ATLien, ‘Yeah' by Usher or any OUTKAST forever-eva
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
I don’t believe in favorites, and my favorite quotes change on a daily basis depending on my mood, but here are a top few:
"I have never tried that before, so I definitely think I should be able to do that.” - Pippi Longstocking
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher
“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” - Joseph Chilton Pearce
“You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.” - Outkast
WHERE DO YOU FIND CREATIVE INSPIRATION?
EVERYWHERE. A rug pattern, my dreams and most definitely from other artists and creatives! Inspiration hits at any moment, and you always have to be prepared which is why I sleep with a notebook beside my bed for this reason.
WHO IS A MOONLIT MAMA YOU ADMIRE & WHY?
Honestly, YOU, Maggie! Since we met years ago, I’ve so admired and been inspired by your creative energy and spirit, follow-through, kindness for others, willingness to learn and grow - and all while raising three amazing kids seemingly effortlessly. I honestly don’t know how you do it, but now I know it’s possible, so you’re my Moonlit Mama #goals.
Let’s make fear a four-letter word, buy a book or donate today!
Click here to learn more about Danielle and Max and follow along on Facebook and Instagram. The Little Water Drop.
