Page 18 - November-December Together

TOGETHER NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
A Timeless Classic,
TOGETHER INTERVIEW Reimagined and Beautifully

Illustrated for Today’s Children

Together magazine speaks to illustrator Joe Sutphin of Little Pilgrim’s Progress.

The story of Pilgrim’s Progress has been Were there challenges in visually
done many times. How did you come up depicting characters and places
with something unique to make it stand out that tend to have very literal,
from previous versions? allegorical names?
Erik Peterson, my creative director at Moody, That process was actually fun. We
came to me with an idea to create a lavish, gift wanted the Good Prince to be a lion,
edition of the book. I wasn’t sure if I was a good so we swapped out the prowling lions
fit for a heavily illustrated book about knights, for evil wolves, which worked well. With
peasants and giants, so I asked what work of some of the allegorical names, we tried
mine led Erik to propose this project to me. He using interesting animals such as a
responded with a handful of images I’d drawn chicken as Fearing, a crow as Talkative,
of rabbits and mice in the natural world! He a weasel as Unbelief, and a wise old
went on to elaborate on how timeless tales can owl as Evangelist.
be told from many visual/thematic perspectives
in order to bring a fresh angle, draw in new Do you have a favourite character
audiences and bring something exciting to from the story?
existing fans. This was all I needed to hear. One of my favourite characters is
I was on board. Ready-To-Halt, the little guy with
crutches. There’s a point where he’s
John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress encouraging his companions and says,
nearly 350 years ago. Why do you think the ‘I am sure we will be able to help each
story is still important and relevant today? other and when you are tired I will lend you ISBN 9780802420534/Moody Publishers/
The world is presenting new forms of one of my crutches.’ That was such a beautiful Helen L Taylor & Joe Sutphin/HB/320 pp/£23.99
challenges to followers of Christ, but the roots moment, and made him stand out to me.
of those challenges are the same as they were
350 years ago. Specifically, regarding children, Were there any specific scenes in the
who still face doubt and despair, accusers story that encouraged you as you What is your hope for kids who will get
and deceivers, gossips and flatterers, and at a illustrated them? to experience the story in this newly
greater degree and pace than children did 350 As Christian is leaving Vanity Fair after his envisioned way?
years ago. Television, smart phones and social friend Faithful dies for his faith, we see the My hope is that kids, no matter what they are
media bring these challenges into a child’s outside walls of the city. They’re decorated with going through in their own lives, can find a
world at a rapid pace, and kids need as much images of the Wicked Prince, and just beyond place of refuge and encouragement as they
encouragement as possible in navigating the the walls we see a vast open area covered with enter this new world of Little Pilgrim’s Progress,
challenges of holding onto their faith. The story the discarded armour shields, gifts, talents and whether they are reading along with a parent
of Christian and Christiana encompasses such the King’s invitations that all once belonged to or sibling, reading alone or even just looking
a solid overview of the Christian walk. little Pilgrims, who ended their journey in Vanity through the pictures in the book.
Fair. It’s sobering, but in front of Christian Do you think adults will benefit from reading
we can see the shadow of the sparrow the story, and how do you see it making an
pointing him forward, showing that there is impact in their life?
encouragement and hope to continue our faith I do think that adults will enjoy the story and
journey, even through difficult times. see parallels with their own lives. I also think
that parents will enjoy spending time with their
How is it different illustrating a faith-based children as they read through the story, and find
story like this, as opposed to working on a opportunities to discuss different life challenges
general fiction story? with them in a fun and engaging way.
Working on a faith-based story with a
Christian publisher like Moody was an
incredible experience for me. I’ve made some Joe Sutphin is an illustrator of books for kids
wonderful books with secular publishers, but including the ‘Wingfeather Saga’, ‘Word of
there was something special, while working Mouse’ by James Patterson and the official
with Moody, about the depth of our discussions graphic novel adaptation of Richard Adam’s
Joe Sutphin regarding the story and its parallels with our timeless classic, ‘Watership Down’.
18 own faith.