When artist and writer John Guillemette posted his "illustration outtakes" from the upcoming book "Gina School" by Gina Barreca on Instagram, I knew I had to talk to them about their collaboration. The general public rarely gets a glimpse into an artist's process. We like to romanticize craft in our society — make it look like a stroke of brilliance, stemming from inspiration that somehow includes a mythological muse. This viewpoint downplays diligence and does a disservice to anyone who wants to pursue creative work. If you ask Gina what inspires her, she'll tell you, "A deadline."
In John's post, he showed us proposed drawings with Gina's notes. The frankness in Gina's remarks and John's comfort in sharing them reveals a collaboration built on trust and mutual respect. The result is a true gift to the reader.
Artificial intelligence has crept into everything from email summaries to book cover art. Using it produces a CliffsNotes version of the creative process. It attempts to replace skill in the name of productivity while making judgments on things that require actual expertise. It's not about pretentiousness or snobbery but about honoring what makes art and literature so meaningful to begin with. Art hooks the human who genuinely engages with it. When you capitulate to AI, John said, "You lose connection to the work and you significantly lose control over the vision."
Art and literature at their best are physical manifestations of a deeply personal journey. You see that journey in "Gina School." Considering Gina Barreca is the board of trustees distinguished professor of English at the University of Connecticut, "Gina School" feels like a culling of advice she's given as a friend and educator throughout her career. It is the perfect book to reach for when you're searching for the right gift.
The collaborative process between John and Gina offers its own creative lesson. We'll call it Gina School 2.0.
For John to read Gina's words and then present his interpretation visually is brave. To be trusted in that vulnerability takes a very special relationship, indeed. We each have to mine our own depths to create good art. It requires the confidence to say, "OK, I'm willing to put myself out there," Gina said.
Gina saw these qualities in John as a student. "I struggled in college, big time, the first time around," John said. But in that struggle he learned one of his biggest lessons. He remembers visiting Gina during office hours to show her something he'd written. Gina responded with pointed questions. It turned out, in his quest to become a writer, John had skipped a few steps. He remembers Gina's frankness as well as his own embarrassment.
That's when Gina gave John a stack of books from her own collection, advising him to read. "You need to move as close to a library as you can, in one if they'll allow it," she quipped.
John took the books, but it took him a while to recognize the generosity inherent in her gesture. He ended up dropping out of school and working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He read the books Gina gave him, though, and he continued to write — not for publication, but for himself.
"It was like it was a map of how to get into my craft for real," John said, "and how to be interested versus feeling like I needed to be interesting." Humility entered his creative practice, and John said, "it became a very spiritual thing for me."
When John returned to college he asked Gina if he could also return to her classroom. In Gina's advanced writing course, she could see him helping the other writers, being careful and thoughtful in his responses. Gina said that it was "like having an apprentice in those classes."
It was also in the classroom that Gina discovered John was an artist. He asked her if he could submit one of his stories "multimodal" and she agreed. That's why when it came time for "Gina School," she knew John was the right person for the art.
When John translated Gina's words into ink, "It gave it so much more depth," she said, "because I could see how he interpreted it." Now the reader becomes the third collaborator. "The reader will bring their own meaning to it and their own story," Gina said. Treat each page like a prompt that can also be a coloring book. Step into the classroom and become part of the creative process on the pages of "Gina Schol."
"Gina School" will be released Oct. 7. Preorder wherever books are sold. You can also watch our full conversation at YouTube.com/BonnieJeanFeldkamp.
Do you know anyone who's doing cool things to make the world a better place? I want to know. Send me an email at Bonnie@WriterBonnie.com. Also, stay in the loop by signing up for her weekly newsletter at WriterBonnie.com. To find out more about Bonnie Jean Feldkamp and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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