Telling Stories without Words: An Interview with Sophia Burrows

Telling Stories without Words: An Interview with Sophie Burrows

BY ALYSE MGRDICHIAN

Many people are familiar with stories told via words, but telling a story through pictures is a different kind of endeavor altogether. For Sophie Burrows, an award winning illustrator, images step in when words fall short, whether she be working on picture books, covers, comic books, or graphic novels. Her most recent publication, Crushing, strives to explore human loneliness and connection … without actually using words.

She's lonely and searching for connection. He's lonely, but afraid to reach out. But is finding someone else really the answer to their problems? Crushing, an illustrated misadventure in love and loneliness, is a story told in silence — a story about connections in the big city — making them, missing them, and longing for them. Achingly beautiful, subtly defiant, and full of humor and quiet wisdom, Sophie Burrows’ debut graphic novel is a unique meditation on the human condition in the 21st century, and a timely examination of millennial life in an age them, missing them, and longing for them. Achingly beautiful, subtly defiant, and full of humor and quiet wisdom, Sophie Burrows’ debut graphic novel is a unique meditation on the human condition in the 21st century, and a timely examination of millennial life in an age of isolation. Sometimes, words aren't enough.

After reading Sophie’s book (and thoroughly enjoying it), I had lots of questions … and Sophie was kind enough to satisfy my curiosity. Below is our conversation!

WHAT, TO YOU, IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TELLING A STORY THROUGH WORDS AND TELLING A STORY THROUGH ART / IMAGES? AND WHAT POWER DO YOU SEE IN THELATTER?

SB: I suppose that they each require the reader to use their imagination in a different way! I love how both word and image can deliver a story in different ways for a more powerful reading when combined. Despite this, it was important to me that Crushing was mostly wordless. Both of the central characters are spending the majority of their time alone, and even when they are with other people, they often don’t converse with them. I wanted to evoke that strange feeling of floating

through a city for a whole day without interacting with another person; and telling the story through silent images was the perfect opportunity for that. I love the power that images give the reader, too – they can spend as little or as long of a time as they like with a detailed image, and can discover more from a story on later reads through its narrative details.

I think that the theme of connection is important to mention, too. Although both of the characters are lonely in their own way, I like to think the book is about connection at its heart, in many forms – to friends, to communities, even to ourselves. I think that many people were affected by feelings of loneliness during the pandemic, but also found new ways of connecting with others.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO WORK ON THIS BOOK DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC? DID IT INFLUENCE HOW YOU APPROACHED THE BOOK’STHEMES OF LONELINESS?

SB: It certainly did. It was a strange time, as I’m sure it was for most. But I found that the themes of the story took on different meanings and lives of their own as I reflected on the experiences of the pandemic. I think the lockdown set the stage for me to consider all of the ways that people experience loneliness.

YOUR ART STYLE IN THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL IS GORGEOUS. I’M CURIOUS, WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE RED ASTHE BOOK’S MAIN COLOR?

SB: Thank you so much. I like to think that the content of the story should ultimately guide the way the artwork is approached. I knew I wanted to explore colour symbolism in this book when I first had the idea, and red is such a powerful colour. It’s a very emotive book, and I think we associate red with lots of different emotions – love, passion, anger, embarrassment … so I really enjoyed exploring that in the story and how I could use colours to express those emotions.

FOR OUR READERS WHO MAY BE ASPIRING ILLUSTRATORS, COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY WITHIN THEFIELD?

SB: Well I’ve been drawing since I was very small, probably as soon as I could hold a pencil! I’ve been a professional illustrator for around 11 years, though. At school, I was interested in all kinds of creative things, but the idea of illustration really appealed to me as it was an opportunity to tell stories with your art, or to say something

meaningful. I went to university at UWE in Bristol to study illustration, and after a few years working in the field I studied at the Cambridge School of Art, which is where I began to find some kind of creative ‘voice’ and develop my own narratives, including Crushing.

ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS OR EVENTS ON THE HORIZON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OURREADERS AWARE OF?

SB: I’m working on an exciting book at the moment for younger readers – but it’s all top secret for now! To keep up to date with any of my work, you can find me on Instagram @burrowsdraws. I love to post little previews of what I’m up to or upload process videos. �

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sophie Burrows is an award-winning British writer, illustrator, and comics creator. Inspired by the everyday, she loves to tell stories that explore themes of human behavior, mental health, and relationships. In 2019 she graduated from the MA in Children’s Book Illustration course at Cambridge School of Art. Her first picture book as writer/illustrator (Ig Pig and Og Frog!) was released in 2020, and her debut graphic novel, Crushing, received a UK publication in November 2021 and a US publication in January 2022