Stefan Karlsson - Poet and Artist
- litkidsmagazine
- May 23
- 5 min read
Stefan Karlsson is a poet and artist based in Portland, Oregon. He received his MFA in Poetry from the University of California-Irvine. His poems (for children) have appeared in The Dirigible Balloon, Paddler Press, Little Thoughts Press, The Toy, and Tyger Tyger Magazine. When he’s not reading or writing, he enjoys paper marbling, bookbinding, making zines, and drawing cartoons.
1. What inspired you to try children's literature?
I didn’t realize how much I loved children’s literature until somewhat recently! I wasn’t a big reader growing up, and it wasn’t until high school that I started to think of myself as a writer. Around that time, I became interested in the works of Dadaist and surrealist artists and writers. I was spellbound by their imagination and general weirdness!
In recent years, I came to sense that the art I loved had a deep connection with children’s literature: they all share a common impulse for freedom and transformation. I try to hold this in mind as I write and illustrate my children’s poems, much of which are surreal, playful, or all-around wacky. The more I learn about children’s literature, the more I feel like a newbie—there is so much to explore.
2. What inspires you?
There’s an element of mystery to inspiration in that you never know what will jumpstart your creative process. I think one of the jobs of an artist/writer is to remain receptive and ready for inspiration to strike.
For me, that means reading A LOT, watching movies, learning about art and the lives of artists, reading interviews (like this one!), journaling, going for walks, taking trips whenever possible, and most of all, listening to music that puts me in a creative state of mind. In fact, I’m always listening to music when I sit down to write or draw. If I’m working on a piece and I catch myself dancing in my seat, that’s when I know that inspiration has struck and all is going well.
3. How do I know what to do on the white paper?
I rarely know what to do myself! So I try to approach the blank page with a sense of play and curiosity: what new ideas are itching to jump out of my head today?
When I’m writing, I typically start with “free-writing,” which means I write anything and everything that pops into my head. Usually, a lot of nonsense spills out, but sometimes the seed of a story or poem can be found in that mess. I sift through it to find that seed: the glint of a strange image or an unexpected phrase that catches my ear.
I take similar steps with drawing: I free-draw and make mini-sketches until some detail ignites my interest, then I take out a fresh white paper and work on that idea in greater detail.
The blank page can feel overwhelming with its endless possibilities, but I like to remember that it’s the most forgiving place as well: you can make mistakes and keep trying new things again and again.
4. How do I draw when I can't feel the drawing inside my brain?
If I have an inkling of what I want to draw, I look to other artists for inspiration or I find a reference image (such as a photograph) that I can use as a guide. That way, I have a model to get me started making sketches.
But oftentimes, I find that the image in my mind isn’t clear until I put pencil to paper, so I’ll take notes or sketch simple rough drafts. I find that inspiration usually strikes when the hand is in motion. As Pablo Picasso (supposedly) said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
5. What is a bad drawing and what is an ok drawing?
I ask myself this all the time! But I find it helpful to reframe the question. The next time you make a drawing that seems bad, ask yourself, “What do I think is bad about this drawing? Why do I think that?” Then ask yourself what kind of small change you could make to improve the drawing. Take out a new page and try to make that change.
If you shift your focus from what is “bad” about a drawing to “what might be improved” in the drawing, soon you’ll find yourself trying new things and challenging yourself. Then later, you might look back at your “bad” drawings with a fresh perspective. How could they be bad when they inspired you to grow?
6. What are common traps for new artists?
I think it’s common to judge one’s work too early in the creative process. We might start a piece and immediately worry, “Is my idea any good? Will anyone like it? What if they think I’m a terrible artist, or worse, a terrible person?!” Questions like these sap your creative energy rather than encouraging you to create.
I find that the key to withholding judgment is focusing instead on what delights or surprises you. If the piece you’re working on excites you or awakens your emotions, then keep following that path and see where it leads. You can find out whether it resonates with others later.
7. Do you always have a sketchbook with you?
Yes, I take a notebook with me everywhere I go! As a kid, I was a big fan of Kobe Bryant, the legendary basketball star. I heard that when he was young he’d take a basketball with him everywhere he went, a symbol of his dedication to the sport. This image stuck in my mind, so when I discovered my love for writing in high school, I started keeping a notebook with me at all times to remind myself of my own commitment to my craft.
I’m constantly jotting down lines of poems or interesting things I see or overhear. Any tiny note might later find its way into a poem or a drawing. An open notebook represents a mind alert and open to the world.
I love notebooks so much that I now make my own notebooks. Back in 2020, I learned some bookbinding techniques and started making colorful marbled papers to decorate my notebooks. (These are the same marbled papers that I use to color my illustrations.) I’ve continued this process for several years now. Making and sharing my notebooks has become a source of joy for me.
8. What do you do when you feel stuck?
I used to get a lot of anxiety when I felt stuck. I’d panic and think, “What if I never write or draw again?” Nowadays I don’t worry so much, as I’ve learned that getting stuck is a natural part of the artistic process.
When I’m feeling stuck, I often allow myself to step away from the page. I might take a shower and let my mind wander. I might go for a long walk outside and spend time around critters that aren’t overly concerned about literature and art. And when in doubt, I go to sleep! Waking up with a fresh perspective often allows things to click into place like magic.
9. How do I say I'm a good artist ?
Think of the worst artist you can imagine, an artist whose paintings make you say, “Yuck! That’s terrible!” If that awful, no-good artist enjoys the process of making their artwork, they are, in fact, a good artist. That’s because being a good artist is something that is felt from within. Only you can tell yourself that you’re a good artist.
Having doubts about yourself and your artwork is natural. If you didn’t have doubts, then you would have no room to grow. You can use your doubts as stepping stones toward future discoveries. As long as you take that next step and create something new, you, too, can be a “good” artist.
Stefan, thank you for the excellent creative advice for writers and artists! We appreciate your encouraging wisdom. Please follow Stefan on his SM accounts and check out his portfolio pieces below. Keep shining!
Twitter/X: https://x.com/stefkidlit
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