illustrators
Clockwise from top: Mo Willems and myself posing for our 'author photo'; my friend jen, with one of my masterclass illustrator mates and David Ezra Stein, who really knows how to boogie!; Tomie de paola posing with "Carrot & Blanky" — he ws mocking one of the assignments he set in our class and clearly had a few too many vodkas; and Jarrett Kroscheska being very smiley for me at his signing after his presentation)
YAY! for Jarrett Kroscheska. I too, am a big fan and met him and gushed over his amazing presentation in LA last year. He was a real sweetie and we talked for a while. I even got a couple of pictures taken with him - hee hee. As well as Mo Willems (Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knufflebunny, Leonardo the Terrible Monster). What I love about Mo is he is A) very passionate about what he does, B) incredibly brilliant at what he does C) Recognizes and addresses that it is ALWAYS about the kids. He gave me lots of advice and predicted the baby was going to be a girl, claiming he had never been wrong!!! I stay in touch with Tomie de Paola, I'm part of Tomie's Tomatoes where we (about 20 artists including the master himself) blog together and share advice, and work etc and David Ezra Stein, (Cowboy Ned and Andy, Ned's New Friend, Leaves, Monster Hug!). David and I e-mail each other alot and he always offers me good advice. He is very quiet and unassuming but has this cool outlook on life and constantly encourages me to go after what feels right and most dear to me in life. Amanda Shepherd, (Rules of the Wild, Who Loves Me?, Fiona Loves the Night) has been one of the kindest illustrators who responded to my e-mail after I had tolde her how lovely I thought her style was. Her work is done in oils, but I alwasy thought acrylic. She has great energy in her pieces and they're full of whimsy. Then last week, Bob Staake, e-mailed ME! (imagine that?) saying he stumbled across my site and really liked my work. So we've been going back and forth. He has oodles of experience and gazillions of clients. His work is primarily digital now, but he does such an excellent job in creating unusual perspectives and angles in his work. It makes them so interesting, I just stare and stare. (Read his blog, he's very funny) And lastly, Ian Falconer who creates the Olivia series. These are done in charcoal and gouache. The work is very minimliastic but he's fantastic at conveying such great emotion in the most simplistic way possible.
7 Comments:
I think it's very cool (and super-fortunate) that you have these relationships with other illustrators, especially so many that have been where we are all hoping to go. I can never say enough about the value of such friendships. I still wish I had been able to attend Tomie's master class in LA last year...I'm just glad I was able to attend his workshop in NY! (I remember David from the workship in NY, he seemed very humble and nice.) I love Amanda Shepard's work-thanks for the link! Did you freak out when Bob Staake contacted you? I would have run around the house going, "Oh ma gawd, oh ma gawd!" I too love th Olivia series.. such simpel work is just lovely.
I am super-lucky, for sure! looking back at these pics makes me look like a groupie - ahahahaha!!!!
oh, and yeah, when I first saw the feedback e-mail, I was like, nooooo? it can't be! then I jumped around the room for joy!
Props to you Leeza my dear!! You come so far in such a short amount of time. I think we both started getting serious about illustration around the same time and look at you...leaps and bounds ahead.
Your networking skills amaze me. I tend to shy away from social situations because it's uncomfortable and if it included established illustrators and other VIPs I think I would freak out.
For me it's taken all this time to finally get a little confidence about my art. Now I feel like I'm back at the start, trying to build enough confidence to promote and network.
Keep it up - your success only inspires me to keep plugging away. Hopefully a little of your mojo will rub off. I'm glad I'm in this group with you!
Frizz, you are too nice! Thank you. Gush gush.
I credit my mum who always encouraged me to go after what I wanted and believed in, in all that I do.
She is fearless and always said to me; "Put it this way Leeza, all you can do is ask. The worse that can happen is they say no, which leaves you where you already are. Just be gracious doing it."
She meant that across the board, if I need help just ask, if I have a question just ask. it doesn't matter if I might feel stupid, I will inevitibly gain something more out of it than I had before. So everytime I go into a crowded room, I keep that motto in my head - the worst they can say is no.
I also started lecturing students way back when I lived in the UK, teaching them about the process of being a graphic artist etc. and I think that helped me overcome the 'speaking up' part.
But let me assure you Frizz, I am always nervous and still often intimidated. But we all gotta start somewhere right. Good news is most people want to help, and are surprisingly more forthcoming than you ever expect.
It brings me so much joy that you feel inspired and I am humbled because you are the one who inspired me, remember!
If you like people in general and love to brainstorm and talk about ideas and get all fired up about what you love so much, networking becomes a breeze. It's exactly that! Be prepared to listen as well as offer your own ideas. You're doing great. Your work speaks for itself, the hard part is over — now you gotta dazzle 'em with your sparkly smile!
Oh and never wait for someone to offer their business card to you, ask them first then hand them yours in the exchange.
Leezy, thanks for this! Was this at a SCBWI conference? I hope I can come too one day! Let me know when you go to the next one! Maybe we can meet, that would be *awe*some :-)
Hugs
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