Illustrator Group Soup Talk

IF - CRACKED

2009-05-24T11:52:00.001-04:00

Personal Growth

2009-05-03T09:33:00.002-04:00

In the past year I can say I've had a lot of growth. I think any artist who continues to work at their craft should have growth of some kind. The degree to which I have grown is the most obvious to me when I pull out my portfolio and look over the work I have in there from last year.

(Look: people!)

Last year I was determined to stick with acrylic paints. Watercolor was the enemy and I had tried and failed too many times with it to even consider it. Then I found a pack of guoache tubes stashed in the back of my supply closet. I decided to give them a try, since I was just playing around. This wasn't anything that had to go in my portfolio, or that I had to even show anyone. The result was a sleeping fox whose colors were vibrant and interesting. I took it a step further an outlined him using a brush rather than my dip pen. I liked him even more. He felt more organic to me...not so forced or confined.

Since then I've continued to push myself in this new medium and have found I really enjoy the colors and movement I can get. I've also continued to push myself in the unfamiliar territory of people and couldn't be more delighted with the results.

I don't know if I can say that I'm strictly sticking with guoache, but now that I've figured out some of my strengths and weaknesses through my experiments with it I am definitely feeling more comfortable and confident in the direction I am heading.

Busy, busy!

2009-04-30T07:48:00.002-04:00

A lot can happen in a short space of time. As I continue to work on my style and evolve as an illustrator, I check back in with some of my older work to see how far my progress is coming along — or not. This example is from a book dummy I created more than a year ago and submitted to a publisher just before the end of 2008.

They really liked the story but felt the artwork was too mass-market and didn't look quite finished. They asked me to revisit the art and then they'd take another look at it. I reworked the art — as you see to the right. What a difference! Colors stronger, characters more refined and overall this is much more in keeping with my style of today. Despite an enthusiastic and positive response from the editor, the book didn't make it in.

The final comments were that my illustration style is better suited to the older picture book audience. Interesting. I've had other feedback to say my work has a younger appeal. It's all subjective. I'm okay with it. I was really grateful for the experience despite the outcome.

Redoing the art made me realize how far I have come in just a year and in fact, makes me want to see how far I can keep pushing myself. I look at artists who are well established after many years of being published. When you compare their earlier work to something more current, they too have evolved and they haven't stopped. The idea of new discovery year after year is exciting.

How do you see yourself in your process and progress when looking back?

Status

2009-02-01T13:21:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to stop in and let you know that there's a lot going on this month. (Portfolio Cramming, Dummy Book Completion, etc.) I'll probably not be posting to this blog. I will be maintaining my blog though, so stop in if you want to see what's going on. Hope you are all doing fantastic. (I know Leeza must be, hee-hee!)

My latest watercolor experiment

2009-01-13T11:25:00.003-05:00

2009! Oh how I love to make lists of my intentions. I'm turning over a new leaf this year and trying to take manageable steps towards my goals, rather than leaps and bounds that end up fading away by mid February.

1. Re-vamp my website. (Hopefully in the next month, to help with promotion for The Secret Circus, and Clover Twig.)

2. Get even a little bit comfortable with public speaking. (Gulp. I can't believe that I'm going to be speaking to groups in a few months about these books. This is very scary to me.)

3. Get better at time management (so far, so good 2009! I have a new system that involves a lot of push-pins and a giant cork board, that really seems to be working for me.)

4. Complete YA novel that I've been trying to complete for three years. (This is the year, I feel it.)

5. Increase income, and accept that the way I make money is weird. (Money comes to me in chunks, and I am grateful for that. I just need to accept that that's how it happens, and plan accordingly with what I've got.)

6. Finish artwork for Bandits!

7. Work on new really tough dummy idea that I have. (It seems way beyond my skills, but I'm really excited about it, and want to give it a shot.)

8. Work on a new manuscript/dummy about person or event from history (This feels like a good challenge.)

9. Infuse fun into every possible place! (yeah!)

My year ahead

2009-01-13T08:23:00.004-05:00

"Stop trying to give us [art directors/editors/others] what you think we want to see. Just be yourself."
-- Chad Beckermann, Harry N. Abrams

I don't know where this year is going to take me but I love the idea of surrendering to the Universe and letting be what will be. If one, or some, or all of the following things happen along the way, then that would be simply wonderful!

• Letting go.

• Receiving positive feedback about some submissions that I sent out in 2008. (I have learned to believe that rejections can be positive also).

• Revamp my Web site.

• Experiment with my artwork to see where I can take it next.

• Figure out how to generate some income. Being out of work again is tough, but I truly believe I will find a way. hmmm, maybe an Etsy store!

...and finally ...

• Slow down. (We'll see!)

Intentions for 2009

2009-01-11T18:42:00.003-05:00

Design and create a new website using Dreamweaver
Learn how to color work digitally (Photoshop class starts next week!)
Write at least four manuscripts (11 ideas!)
Submit Dummy Book (I'll be able to submit to four closed houses after Feb.)
Attend SCBWI Summer Conference (DUH!)
Update Portfolio quarterly
Create a promotional mailer (I have an idea percolating...)
Compile a relevant publisher’s mailing list and send mailer (Already started)
Participate in SCBWI online contest (Competition is good for the soul, right? *snort!*)
Continue to create personal artwork (Nothing inspires me like creating for the pleasure of it!)
Maintain activity with local SCBWI chapter (I jumped in with both feet in October!)
Create an artist’s statement (More for myself than any high-falutin' reason)
Figure out how to more efficiently connect all social networking (Seriously, Facebook, Myspace, Blogger, Twitter...there's gotta be a better way to run all of these things!)
Mick Jagger (Kathi Appelt calls doing what you were put on this Earth to do the MJ Philosophy of Life.)
Continue to learn, learn, learn and grow, grow, grow!
(A personal intention: get a really, really big tattoo!) (he, he, he...)

*I have an insane timeline set up to accomplish all I want to in 2009 that I could share, but I think this is less mind-boggling. What do you intend for 2009?

Need some illo exercise?

2008-12-08T06:59:00.003-05:00

I have been busy beavering with Sprouts, the NJ magazine... phew! Lots going on this month - anyway, here are two sketches for a "Happy Holidays" piece that I am toying with.

This is the challenge/project to help motivate some new work:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Two best friends celebrate the holidays in very different and unique ways.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Week 1 by Dec 7: Post a single page sketch of a scene of one friend figuring out a gift for the other. (Second character need not be present).
Week 2 by Dec 15: Use feedback and create revision. Post final color of scene.
Week 3: Enjoy the holidays!
Week 4 by Dec 31: Create a second double-page illo in color, of the main character giving the gift to the friend.

Tip to challenge yourself: Don't illustrate the first thing that comes to mind, push yourself to go with something less obvious.

AND if you want to add an extra layer to this assignment, take the month to think about those two characters, their gifts and their cultures and then generate an illustration for the cover of a book that would be about them. The book title is Happy Holidays!

Here's what I have so far:

The first is a double page spread of a 8x10" vertical book. Madam Chook is trying to figure out a gift for pal Phileas Foxx. Phileas will be back just in time for the holidays after his round-the-world trip ....

The second is maybe a scene or the cover, I don't know, but I still haven't worked out the actual 'gift' yet ... hmmm?

What do you think of these two pieces? Does the hugging one look like the characters are very young, in which case, maybe Madam Chook is NOT the BFF to Phileas?

Been-busy-Leeza

2008-11-20T22:46:00.003-05:00

Hey all,

Trying to find the time to make more posts, but right now - I'll take what I can, even if it's just a few minutes to show some of what I have been mustering for the Snow White prompt.

Here's a sampling of some initial ie, first-draft ideas, for some Snow White extracts:
Queenie, Witchie and Dwarfie with his doggie ... I haven't come up with a suitable character for the fair maiden herself... but as you can see, I am trying to add my spin on this. Do you think the man in the mirror is too scary-looking for young readers? Too sinister perhaps, or does that make him good for the piece?

All comments are most welcome! I've still to add some background matter - just trying to nail down characters at this point.

finished/bad idea

2008-10-15T15:49:00.004-04:00

Well, I finished a piece from the BAD IDEA story I've been working on, though not the piece from the sketch that I posted a few days ago. I just couldn't resist painting this beehive. I heart beehives.

challenge/ bad idea

2008-10-09T20:23:00.002-04:00

Well, I was of course hoping to have this hashed out a bit more, but here is a sketch from a new story idea that I have called BAD IDEA. I thought it would fit nicely with Dee's theme. If all goes well, the main character (the crabby little girl squirrel) will learn a subtle lesson about playing new games with her little brother. I'll let you know how it comes together..as soon as I get it together!

Challenge

2008-10-03T17:12:00.005-04:00

For this challenge I decided to use the comic format. This is because the final picture (which is close to what I first sketched when I was brainstorming) seemed to need more of a story. Comic panels allowed me to do that easily. Following along the theme of a character learning a lesson I titled my comic "The Hard Way." (click on the pictures for a better look!)

Yes, these two panels look different. The second panel is the only one I used ink to outline.

Here we have the mini story-arc.... (his little toes got cut off in the scan!)

And then the resolution.
Here's what it looks like all together:

What Deadline?

2008-10-01T16:06:00.002-04:00

I'm going to go right ahead and admit that I, the one who came up with this month's challenge theme, does not have her piece completed by the deadline. (The deadline I set!) I am working on my piece, but my increasingly active toddler and other demands on my time (who really needs clean dishes?) have all conspired to make my productivity almost nonexistent.

I will post the piece by Friday, though. Then I want you girls to have at it! hehehe.

Monthly Challenge

2008-09-18T20:36:00.004-04:00

Theme: Learning a Lesson.

As summer comes to an end, and the new school year begins, my mind turns to all those lessons learned in the classroom and on the playground. Let's have a little fun with these memories, shall we?

Depict a character learning a severely needed lesson.

It can be a school/classroom experience, a real-world truth, or a folk-tale moral.

Let's post our pieces October 1st. That way we'll have the rest of that month to give our critiques/feedback and possibly post revised versions of the pieces.
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If you'd like to play along, feel free!

Dog Days of Summer

2008-09-16T18:12:00.002-04:00

Honestly, there's been so much going on this summer that I haven't accomplished a whole lot. The pups above were sketched last week when I was taking safe haven at my mom's. I colored them with some markers lying around-nothing fancy. They symbolize what I've been up to all summer: reading blogs for inspiration, driving from here to there and moving, and just being a plain ole' couch potato.
Things are changing, though. I feel the creeping onset of autumn and can feel my whole self recharging. Year after year I feel depleted during the hot months, so I'm not too fond of summer. I look forward much more to Autumn and Winter- holidays, cooling weather, football season and all of the get-togethers that accompany it.
What's your favorite season?

What's on my Desk

2008-09-09T13:33:00.005-04:00

I am actually working on a drawing but it's been earmarked for next week's blog entry. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, eh? Anyhoo, I've decided to share with you the other goodi-ness I'm focused on right now.

I just posted on my blog about a writing workshop I went to. Several things just clicked for me, and it felt like all of the ideas and stories that have been floating aimlessly in my head suddenly found the drain, and wanted out! I'm trying to accommodate them as best I can. The photo above is for a book I started today. I've had the idea since last Christmas, but I just figured out the proper format for it.

I'm going to borrow a phrase from Kathi Appelt and say it's my down-draft. (It's a rough draft where you're just trying to get the ideas down on paper.) I was surprised by how many pages I needed for my down-draft, but I actually enjoyed pulling the flotsam together. I was also a little tickled that my writing occurred in conjunction with doodling. I actually thumbnailed the story as I was coming up with it-the pictures and words intricately intertwined. Does this happen to any of you other author/illustrators? Or can you guys get the words out without the picture?

I haven't finished hammering out the details of the story by any means. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm just giddy with the fact that I've taken the first step.

My next big step is to bring a cleaned up (and revised) draft to my local critique group by year's end. Hopefully I can get this all pulled together and dummied up for Editor's Day in February-if I decide to go. If not, then I think I'll be mailing some dummies to a few houses and crossing my fingers through the Spring.

Well girls, what do you have on your desks?

Astrid's news

2008-08-29T17:42:00.007-04:00

Customized wedding invitation card for a Swiss couple. The card opens in the middle, and when it closes, the couple kisses.

Wedding design sample "Anne" from save the date card to menu, all one look.

Contrary to the normal typical summer break, I've been very busy - especially since the last few weeks. I've started working with a coach, Leili McKinley from www.soaring-phoenix.com. She's AWEsome. I've been wanting to grow my business for a while, and worked hard, trying trying trying. But I didn't get ahead much. Turns out, I tried too much at the same time! I've got a clear goal for my business now, thanks to Leili. I'm planning to open a wedding invitation online shop for the USA brides - and I want to offer cards with my illustrations. I can use all the support that's out there - it's not easy to start from scratch, by yourself (well plus with coach).

Does anyone have any tips or happens to know great people in the bridal industry (or modern brides for that matter)?

Any feedback to my idea?

Do you think wedding invitations with my illustrations could make brides happy?

summer stuffs

2008-08-12T19:27:00.004-04:00

Hi Ladies!

I just posted this exact post on my blog, but I thought it sums up nicely what I've been up to. Hope you're all having a lovely summer. I look forward to getting back into the soup groove with you all.....

The summer is flying by. I know, maybe it always seems that way..but this year, I really feel it. Bike rides, beach visits, camping...we seem to be squeezing it all into these last few weekends. Soon, blackberries will be overtaking our land here, and this year, for reals, I'm going to learn how to make jam!

In arty news, I'm starting to gear up for Renegade Chicago next month. I've been painting, ordering supplies and prints, organizing, emailing, and all of the tidbits that go into flying halfway across the country to a major event like this. I was there two years ago, and it was amazing. An absolute blur of a beautiful, serendipitous weekend. Even the fantastic thunderstorm on the last day was incredibly memorable. I remember trying to break down my canopy, drenched to the bone, mud and water flying in every direction, laughing hysterically..or maniacally. You know those times when life seems to click into place, and you run into long lost friends and everything seems to have a purpose? Ah yes, those rare times are amazing, and they always seem to happen for me at Renegade. So I'm excited to be going again, to say the least.

In book news, I am starting in on Bandits, a story about some pesky raccoons. There have been plenty of raccoon sightings in these parts in recent weeks, so I've been getting some real life reference for the sketches. I think this must be the time of year that the little raccoon babies are on the move, because I've seen several families crawling over fences, and meandering down darkened streets.

Also, I'm drawing witches and cottages and things for a young adult novel, that's due out next spring. The sketches were due a few weeks back, and now the final art deadline is creeping up. I'll post some pictures one day soon...

Frizz makeover

2008-08-12T17:58:00.007-04:00

I've redesigned my website and dropped "Frizz" (bloggerland and casual use only). Makes me sad but I'm ready to get serious. Let me know if you find any glitches.
Next step - joining Childrens Illustrators.
Also, I finished a small collaborative project but don't want to spill any beans just yet. May lead to something...or not. Fingers are crossed.
Full speed ahead!!

Summer Hiatus

2008-08-10T20:54:00.002-04:00

I have not been a creating machine this summer. Some of can be blamed on life stresses, some of it can be blamed on family visiting or how I concentrated on writing more than illustrating. But most of it can be blamed on summertime ennui. I just haven't been "into it". Then I started shopping around for a new agent. Nothing will make you evaluate yourself as a illustrator like not receiving any feedback whatsoever from any of the agents you submit to. (I'm sure they're still considering me, right?) So I took a heavy hand to my portfolio, took out several pieces and am concentrating on adding only the best new work. My goal for the fall is to make my portfolio the best it can be, and send out at least two sets of cards to a revised set of editors and art directors.

Game on.

Illustrator's Day

2008-07-29T14:48:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,
In case any one is interested, the New Jersey SCBWI chapter is hosting its very first annual Illustrator Day at the Theological Seminary in Princeton on November 9, 2008. I am the Illustrator co-ordinator for the day andI thought you might like to know about it. if you would like more details I'd be happy to add you to the mailing list, just e-mail me leeza(at)leezaworks(dot)com. I'll be sending out the e-flyer toward the end of August. Art directors TBC, more info coming soon!
Thanks and hope you are all enjoying your summer! This event is intended for children's book illustrators.

Wow.

2008-07-24T15:04:00.001-04:00

The summer is just whizzing by for all of us here at GroupSoup. But, don't worry we plan on coming back from vacation around August 1st.

See you then!

Tips from the top!

2008-05-15T12:38:00.001-04:00

Thought illustrators might be interested in reading some advice from Scholastic's Creative Director and VP, David Saylor. He recently gave a talk at Parsons and talked about what makes a good dummy as well as what he looks for. You can read it by clicking here.

Help the artists!

2008-05-06T19:59:00.000-04:00

Call for all artists and people who want to help us!

It looks like big companies are about to implement a new legal bill in the USA that would deprive artists of their copyrights!

The extremely successful artist Mark Simon wrote a detailed article on the subject, and tells us how we can help. Everyone tries to skip long articles. But this one is worth it. Please, everyone, read it and help us artists! On page 2 you'll see what we can do (write to Congressmen etc.).

Read his article here: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art!

Thanks!
Astrid

what's up with Frizz?

2008-04-30T13:47:00.005-04:00

Besides working my butt off trying to finish our log cabin there's this...

A vote for FRIZZ is a vote for ROY!
Check out all the fabulous finalist here then vote!
You've got until Tuesday night, May 6th to cast your vote.
Thanks Softies Central!