I had the wonderful experience of attending the SCBWI - LA / Tri-Regions's Illustrator's Day for the 2nd time in as many years. A wonderful experience for any illustrator or writer who wants to learn, observe, improve and be inspired by other illustrator's who have a common goal... getting beautifully illustrated, good quality material into the hands of our young readers.
From picture books to teen fiction, there was quality information to be shared by everyone. Portfolio reviews by seasoned professionals, and advise from art directors on how to present a portfolio and what should be in it.
In a nutshell: Keep the portfolio simple, and make sure it represents the BEST of your work, and the WORK you want to be doing. If you don't like a piece for any reason, don't keep it in your portfolio or it may skew the art director or publisher into a different direction. If your portfolio represents several styles of work, make sure the different styles are segreagted properly, so that there is flow and continuity in what you are presenting.
For more information about SCBWI... and other upcoming events.... click on the SCBWI link...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Jake the Dinosaur
I had the pleasure of attending Taft High School's annual PASSPORT TO READING event yesterday. Attended by students, teachers, librarians, and young children from surrounding schools, I was able to chat and share my illustrations. During my workshops I shared my process and fun of creating images to go along with words.
To add to that experience, I had some paper up on a drawing board at the front of the room, and asked the kids to give me a word to illustrate. I had already put up a few words and images: an angry alligator eating and apple pie - to demonstrate the angry eyes, furrowed brow, and snarling nose (Something I found the boys love to see me draw)... and it's a quick sketch that I am becoming well practiced at.
The most enjoyable encounters I had were with the very youngest of attendee's.... average age, 7.... 1st and 2nd graders, and one very special young boy named Jake. I immediately fell in love with his bubbly personality, and before I could say the word "Imagination", he was reading our book to me. We had so much fun that he asked for some paper and he starting drawing, and writing his own story.
WE worked together and created a large headed Dinosaur. Possibly a Brontosaurus with a head of a T-rex... who stepped onto a sailboat. We chatted as I drew up on the board. The image above is the quick sketch result. We had a lot of fun.
Perhaps Jake the Dinosaur (As I named him at the end of the day)... will become a bigger story.
Stay Tuned
To add to that experience, I had some paper up on a drawing board at the front of the room, and asked the kids to give me a word to illustrate. I had already put up a few words and images: an angry alligator eating and apple pie - to demonstrate the angry eyes, furrowed brow, and snarling nose (Something I found the boys love to see me draw)... and it's a quick sketch that I am becoming well practiced at.
The most enjoyable encounters I had were with the very youngest of attendee's.... average age, 7.... 1st and 2nd graders, and one very special young boy named Jake. I immediately fell in love with his bubbly personality, and before I could say the word "Imagination", he was reading our book to me. We had so much fun that he asked for some paper and he starting drawing, and writing his own story.
WE worked together and created a large headed Dinosaur. Possibly a Brontosaurus with a head of a T-rex... who stepped onto a sailboat. We chatted as I drew up on the board. The image above is the quick sketch result. We had a lot of fun.Perhaps Jake the Dinosaur (As I named him at the end of the day)... will become a bigger story.
Stay Tuned
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Taft High School - Passport to Reading
Dawn and Suzanne will be presenting the book,
Imagination, A Journey of the Mind
to students and visitors at the annual
Passport to Reading event at Taft High School.
Saturday - April 18th.
Demonstrations of Quick Character Sketches,
Q. and A. with the author and illustrator...
For More details: Click Here!!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Local SCBWI event - South Bay Writer's and Illustrator's
One Rhyme at a Time--My Road to Picture Book Publication.
Guest Speaker June Sobel shares about her road to publication and shares the journey from messy first drafts to press ready final lines. She will bring illustration sketches and discuss the collaboration between illustrator, author and editor.
Bobaloca
210 North Aviation Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Please RSVP before Saturday so that we reserve enough seats.
Bobaloca's Map and Directions
Located between Artesia Blvd & Manhattan Beach Blvd, at 2nd Street Londoner Hair Salon, is in the same strip of little businesses. Bobaloca's is right in the middle.
Guest Speaker June Sobel shares about her road to publication and shares the journey from messy first drafts to press ready final lines. She will bring illustration sketches and discuss the collaboration between illustrator, author and editor.
Bobaloca
210 North Aviation Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Please RSVP before Saturday so that we reserve enough seats.
Bobaloca's Map and Directions
Located between Artesia Blvd & Manhattan Beach Blvd, at 2nd Street Londoner Hair Salon, is in the same strip of little businesses. Bobaloca's is right in the middle.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Words from Margaret Peterson Haddix
MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX is the author of more than twenty books for children and teens, including the Shadow Children series and the newly launched Missing series. Her books have won numerous state readers choice awards and the International Reading Association' s Children' s Book Award.
Dig In
Growing up she always ended up doing things the hard way: proving to 2 older brothers… that she was just as good, or better. Do we have FEAR as children? We are FEARLESS as children.
Approaching writing is much the same. Ask questions:
What is safe enough? How much risk?
Danger? Depict realistically. Use REAL life experiences. (White water rafting)…. “dig in”
Focus – this is what really matters RIGHT NOW…
What are my characters focused on? What are they doing?
Surprises: Johnny One note? – commentary is original? Important… what is your character trying to do? What is their motivation ? Think deeply about what makes them deeper than paper dolls? When all of your characters are alike, then there is no room for character advancement or development. recalls childhood of Betsy McCall Dolls.
Does it make a difference which character makes a comment, say the dialogue? Know your character’s better. Good example given was the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Entering contests helps because of “deadlines” and strengthens skill and motivates, amasses a body of work. Even rejections can be seeds for other stories.
focus of life – deadlines and “distractions”..
“Just Ella”
Writing is like falling in love.
Anticipating a 15 ½ year old that is learning to drive getting on the road for the first time…
Kids are changeable as they LEARN their new skills – adaptable, always evolving
Dramatic changes – tougher for adults than it is for kids/teenagers.
We have 20 – 30 years of experiences to draw from.
More concerned about loves and hates from one minute to the next.
Hang out with kids to get inspirations… watch kids play… play games… naïve
What reminds you of being a child…. Journals, diary’s, artifacts?
You will go in the direction that you are looking!!! FOCUS
Flashes of Awe – Dig in – Inspiration for writing.
Transcribed from notes taken 8/1/08 at the SCBWI conference - afternoon session - by Suzanne Gibson
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