Bathe with an Octopus?

{Watercolor and Gouache, 2013}

In my previous post I mentioned that I would share the illustration that I created for the Iowa SCBWI spring conference illustrator's intensive. We were given a manuscript for a children's book and we asked to choose a scene to illustrate. I chose the octopus scene. We each sent sketches to Senior Art Director at Little Brown and Co.,  Patti Ann Harris, and she responded with comments for each illustrator's piece. This is my original sketch:

{Sketch, 2013}

Patti Ann didn't have a ton of things to change, but there were a few tweaks. Can you see a few differences? At the end of the intensive, we were shown what the actual book looked like. Here is the cover for the book illustrated by Marc Brown of "Arthur" fame.

You can preview the book on Amazon. Its really adorable and fun! The book was done in a cut paper collage technique that is beyond gorgeous! If you ever get a chance to meet Patti Ann Brown, do it! She was so encouraging and more importantly, very intelligent about the industry. Her eye for composition, technique and book flow is impeccable! 

Derek Anderson at Ames Public Library

 {Derek Drawing a Dragon, 2012}

 {Derek Anderson, 2012}

 {Lots of Books for Sale, 2012}

 {Close up of the Drawing Demo by Derek, 2012}

 {Derek Anderson and I, 2012}

{Drawing on the Library Walls, 2012}

I had the pleasure of going to Ames, Iowa today to hear Author/Illustrator, Derek Anderson, speak. What a sincerely nice and entertaining guy! Judging from today, I am 100% sure he does an amazing school visit! (a talent in its own right) He really connects with the kiddos. He's originally from Ames, so you can tell the area is near and dear to his heart. He spoke about himself as a kid, read from his new book and did a demonstration of a dragon drawing which is a main character in his new book with Jane Yolen, "Waking Dragons". It is a darling story that will be appealing to children and adults. It was fun to hear him talk about some of the hidden things in the illustrations. (I'm keeping that a secret, in case you ever get to spend an afternoon hearing him speak.) Derek was also nice enough to stay after and sign books and meet with a few of us SCBWI-Iowa members and give pointers. I definitely got some golden nuggets of information, which is one of the greatest things about getting to meet favorite authors and illustrators. I've heard he speaks in Ames annually, so I plan to definitely go see him again. Also, in case you are wondering why he's drawing on library walls, the Ames Public Library is renovating, so they permitted some graffiti illustration! When they open back up, I'm sure that probably won't be an approved activity anymore.

Shiny New Bookmarks!

{Promotional Bookmarks, 2012}

 {Promotional Bookmarks, 2012}

I'm going to an SCBWI Iowa event this weekend and I wanted to have a fun little promotional freebie to give away. I'm not planning to send out postcards until the spring ( after baby is born and my book project is done) so I thought about something that could be a non-mailer. I decided on a bookmark to start getting the word out about the book I'm currently working on. The bookmark has one of the illustrations from the book and all of my contact information. For the conference, I punched holes in the top and added a coordinated ribbon to fancy it up! I still have several that are unpunched in the event I want to mail a few out. As always, I recommend Overnight Prints because the quality is good, the prices are fair and they ship really fast (even at standard rates).

Workshop Sketch

{Sketch, 2012}

This is a sketch for an upcoming illustrator workshop that will be part of the Iowa SCBWI conference later this month. I'm looking forward to painting this and adding all the little details. I'm also looking forward to the conference in a few weeks! It'll be nice to see fellow children's book people!

SCBWI Spring Conference 2011

{Eric Rohmann and Me, 2011}

{Lin Oliver and Me, 2011}

{Des Moines Area SCBWI Members, 2011}

This past weekend was the annual Iowa SCBWI Spring Conference. As always, it was fabulous! Featured guests included:

• Lin Oliver Author and Co-Founder of SCBWI
• Molly O'Neil Assistant Editor at Katherine Tegan Books, Harper Collins Children's Books
• Alli Brydon Editor at Sterling
• Author Candace Fleming
• Illustrator Eric Rohmann
• Diane Muldrow Author and Editor at Little Golden Books
• Gary D. Schmidt Hamline Professor and Author
• Stephen Fraser Agent
• Michelle Bayuk Marketing Director for Albert Whitman

Aside from the featured guests, attendees came from all over Iowa. There were also people from Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska and Illinois! We have so many talented people in our group and there are many published authors and illustrators. I'm excited to join the ranks as a published member at next year's conference. During the conference I had a scheduled portfolio review with Caldecott winner and author/illustrator Eric Rohmann. He had wonderful ideas to help improve my chances with art directors and to help polish my portfolio. I was also able to meet Lin Oliver, the co-founder of SCBWI. She is incredibly sweet and very invested in helping writers and illustrators find their wings!

Recent Happenings

{DaVinci Exhibit, Science Center of Iowa, 2011}

I don't have any artwork to share in this post, even though my studio is full of new art right now. I look forward to being able to show a few pieces later, but for now I offer a photo of me as the Mona Lisa!

Here is what is going on in my art life right now:

1. I finished my 9th illustration for the book I am working on. That puts me at the halfway point! 9 more to go and then I can ship them off to the publisher!

2. I just signed up to attend the 2011 Iowa SCBWI conference. I am looking forward to seeing friends made at previous conferences and making new friends! Also, excited about a portfolio review and great information.

3. I just sent sketches to my other publisher for my second children's book and should get edits back sometime this week.

I'm busy as busy can be, but enjoying the process and seeing a lot of improvement in my illustration and book spread composition skills.

SCBWI:Iowa Spring 2010 Conference

{Book Signing with Marla Frazee, 2010}

The 2010 SCBWI: Iowa conference managed to top last year's event! Guest speakers included illustrator and 2 time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee, editor of Beachlane Books Allyn Johnston, author Mike Shoulders, author and former Farrar, Straus, and Giroux editor Lisa Graff, literary agent Ammi-Joan Paquette, Harper Collins editor Laura Arnold and author Carol Gorman. There was also a wealth of information from fellow Iowa published illustrators, authors and aspiring illustrators and authors. It is always nice to know that you aren't alone going through the struggles of breaking into publishing. (well, you are, but you aren't the only one feeling all the feelings that go along with it.)

My portfolio review with Marla was fabulous. She has a very authentic way of reviewing work. She gave me tangible things to work on while reassuring me that I was "very talented". (ok, really? Marla called me...me?! talented. What a wonderful compliment!)

{Book Signing with Mike Shoulders, 2010}

Author Mike Shoulders' presentations really resonated within me too. He does over 100 school visits each year and as a former educator and principal, he REALLY has it together! He gave wonderful tips on enhancing school visits. Mike is a positive person to the core and is clearly doing what he excels at!

{Mike Shoulders gettin' Jiggy, 2010}

Mike rapped one of his books, and he TOTALLY pulled it off. A little humor and humility go a really long way! Overall, it was wonderful to meet new people in the field and reconnect with people from last year. I had a great roomate, Erin Taylor, and I suggest you check out her blog too!

Iowa SCBWI Conference Video

{Video by Ellie Ditzel, 2009}

A lovely video showing picture highlights of the 2009 Spring Conference in Bettendorf, Iowa. If you watch it, you'll see just how much fun we all had! Iowa has some truly talented and wonderful people spread out across the state. I'm in a few shots, and ... more importantly, my portfolio set up!

SCBWI:Iowa Conference

{Portfolio Display, 2009}

The SCBWI:Iowa (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator's) conference was this past weekend. This was my first time attending, and WOW, it was so amazing. The wealth of information at this regional event is so vast! They had quite a bit of information for illustrators, even though of the 83 attendees, there were less than 10 of us. The guest speakers or this three day event included:

• Harold Underdown who has been an editor for several books within children's publishing and the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books". 
  
• Abigail Samoun, an editor at Tricycle Press since 2000. She had a lot of love for illustrators as well as writers. (very exciting to hear!)
  
• Amy Lennex of Sleeping Bear Press, which is in Michigan. I always get excited to hear about Michigan!
  
• Ruta Rimas, who is an editor for a brand new imprint of Harper Collins called Balzer + Bray. She was so witty and fun to listen to.
• Larry Day, an illustrator, who has illustrated several books, including "Not Afraid of Dogs", which I bought at the book sale, and he signed for me! He also gave me a portfolio review, which gave me some interesting things to think about, and revise.

There were also several published authors from Iowa in attendance (also presenting) as well as a few published illustrators. The next SCBWI:Iowa conference is the weekend of October 24, 2009 and will be held in Des Moines. (I am super excited about not having to drive three hours for that!) I can hardly wait to go again. SCBWI members are always very encouraging and engaging.

{Weekend Snapshots Collage, 2009}

From top left clockwise: Attendees enjoying portfolio displays, Canadian geese and goslings alongside the Mississippi river on the Iowa side, Attendee checking out fellow Iowa illustrator, Claudia McGehee's portfolio display, some John Deere equipment in Moline, Illinois, a few of the conference guests (from left to right: Abigail Samoun, Harold Underdown, and Ruta Rimas), and some lovely and fragrant blossoms.