Friday, March 30, 2012

Advanced Illustrators Workshop

Will Hillenbrand gave me a heads up about this and I thought some might be interested:

Advanced Illustrators Workshop
While your artwork is accomplished alone, it is only with guidance that an illustrator can begin to understand how to make it in today’s picture-book world. Let one of today’s top children’s book illustrators be your guide. Explore the children’s book market with them, learn new techniques, and enjoy the camaraderie of artists who understand your passion.

During this intensive, five-day workshop you’ll immerse yourself in illustration—oil wash on board, printmaking, pen and ink, watercolors, and more. Daily hands-on workshops will challenge you to sharpen your illustration skills, all under the support and guidance of our highly talented mentors.

In addition to illustration techniques, you’ll also explore

                • dummy preparation;
                • storyboarding;
                • continuity;
                • portfolio expectations;
                • character development;
                • self-promotion; and
                • finding a market.

The Brilliant Dummy
Creating A Picture Book Dummy For Submission Illustrators write with pictures as much as authors do with words. To create an impeccably drawn and brilliantly written picture book, the author-illustrator—the one who wears both hats—must find the right balance of art and words.
Judy Byron Schachner, #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator and first-ever winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud award, and Lindsay Barrett George, author/illustrator and winner of the prestigious One Book for Every Child award, will share with you the ins and outs of writing and illustrating your own picture book. They will break down 32 pages of picture-book content into what really belongs on the half-title page and full-title page; what is “front matter”; and what pages are best for tension, release, and the all-important happy ending. They will even take you into the belly of the dreaded gutter. Additionally, you will work with Judy and Lindsay to finalize a picture-book dummy. You will have individual attention that helps you refine your story and decide what images you plan to illustrate. Careful attention will be paid to text placement and page breaks, and whether to design double spreads, spot illustrations, or full bleeds. Your leaders will also share how to send your completed dummy to an editor or agent.

From Prose to Picture Book
Whether a picture book be rhyming or traditional prose, one of the key components to success is weaving in lyrical, expressive language. Join workshop leaders Candace Flemming (Muncha-Muncha-Muncha!) and Rebecca Kai Dotlich (Over in the Pink House) as they guide you through the process of creating a sellable picture book. Your facilitators will share mentor picture books with you; critique works in progress; discuss style, plot, and structure; and lead you to a better understanding of today’s picture-book market. Through one-on-ones, group critiques, hands-on workshops, and private writing time, you can expect to leave with a completed dummy, ready for submission, and a clear understanding of what makes a picture book sell. Special Guests Caldecott-winning illustrator Eric Rohmann and MFA professor and illustrator  Melanie Hall will discuss the illustrator-author relationship in creating a picture book.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

New clay illustrations


Hey, guys! It's been a while, eh? ;~)

I just wrapped up 4 clay illustrations for the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati... let me know what you think!

www.polymerpaula.blogspot.com

New Web Comic Comic: April Fool's Day Debut

As many of you know, I am starting a web comic called Pop Smoothie. The debut is April Fool's Day, rather appropriately.




Hope you all stop by! The first comic is called Dance Mom Wars...

Monday, March 26, 2012

West Side Artists

Hey everyone,

With the help of Cheviot city Council, there may be an opportunity for artists to have a collective space to work/show/sell art itmes.

 Ideally, the cost will be very affordable or free, as we're attempting to find a space that is currently unoccupied and available for lease. The plan is to have the space donated to artist to use until the space is leased or sold.

From Jeff Bake in Cheviot City Council: 

The concensus for a walk through at the Elks building in Cheviot is Wednesday. It is scheduled for 7:00pm. I hope as many of you can attend as possible as this will help us gauge the number of booths we can have. This is a 4000 sq ft property so there is a lot to consider. Please let me know if you'll be able to make it. Thanks.

Jeff Baker

Feel free to show up then or let me know if you want to be added to the e-mail that Jeff has been updating everyone with.. 

Thanks!

Gabe

http://gabrielutasi.com

Friday, March 23, 2012

Comics: Philosophy & Practice Conference in Chicago May 18-20

 From the site:

 Alison Bechdel along with sixteen acclaimed and innovative cartoonists are coming to the University of Chicago.

May 18-20 2012 at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts

This conference is free and open to the public. 

http://graycenter.uchicago.edu/page/comics-philosophy-practice-conference-may-18-20-2012

Local illustrators Carol Tyler and Justin Green will be there as well as:

Alison Bechdel
Ivan Brunetti
Charles Burns
Hillary Chute
Dan Clowes
R. Crumb
Phoebe Gloeckner
Ben Katchor
Aline Kominsky-Crumb
Françoise Mouly
Gary Panter
Joe Sacco
Seth
Art Spiegelman
Chris Ware

It is a GALAXY of amazing cartoonists and it is free! If anyone wants to carpool up there let me know. I would love to go to this!

Monday, March 19, 2012

David Kassan Public Drawing Event


Howdy Folks,
I attended the four hour Drawing Performance by David Kassan Friday night. I thought you all might be interested in how it was set up - so I posted a photograph here. It was very easy to see - the model was on a stand with a bright light David had his back to us and worked on an easel. There was a camcorder that was recording the artwork and projecting it on a large screen behind the model.
David was quite entertaining and the four hours went by very quickly. It was quite fun and would definitely recommend it.

Blue Manatee Support (Cash Mob Cincy)

Hi everyone,

Cash Mob Cincy,
an organization that helps small businesses by getting a group of citizens to shop at small, locally owned business at a given date/time, has chosen Blue Manatee as the first business they're going to support.

It will take place this Saturday from 2-4PM.

I know the Cincy Illustrator group has a history of supporting Blue Manatee, so I thought I'd pass this along.

I need to buy an Oliver Jeffers book for a gift, so I'll be there. Hope to see some of you there!

Dr Seuss Book of Nudes

Am I the only one who has never heard of or seen any of this? I bet he was a kooky guy...




Friday, March 16, 2012

Illustrator News: John Maggard Mini Heart Marathon Poster 2012

John once again created a fabulous poster for the mini-marathon. (for some reason this year's clock theme makes me think of Pink Floyd).

You can see the poster gallery here: http://www.heartmini.org/poster.html

He is signing them tomorrow (17th), but I am not sure non-racers can attend.

I could not find an Enquirer link. If anyone has one...

'Dragon Eye'




Here's where I stopped on this new painting yesterday. I also have more work done on 'The Last Unicorn'. I think that one is going to take a while before I'm satisfied with it... Some are like that, I guess. Plus, I have to create the type. I want to do some cool thing with the 'u' in unicorn where it is a Celtic- or illuminated looking red bull. And something needs to happen with the sky. Something to break up the monotony of the clouds.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Documentary about Jeffery Catherine Jones



Here is the trailer for the new documentary about Jeffery Catherine Jones called Better Things that will premiere at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! in Kansas City as a remembrance on the first year anniversary of Jeff's passing.

The website is here: http://www.macabfilms.com/index.html

I will keep am eye out for its availability once it is out. It looks like a fascinating film.

In the meantime, there is a blog with various developments on the site. No word if it will be distributed or do the festival circuit.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

First: The 2012 New Projects MFA Thesis Exhibition




Columbus College of Art & Design is proud to present First: The 2012 New Projects MFA Thesis Exhibition, featuring the college’s inaugural master-of-fine-arts graduating class. Works in the exhibition will range from glass, installation, social practice, and photography to fabric design, illustration, painting and digital media.

CCAD’s MFA in Visual Arts: New Projects is a project-based, non-media-specific curriculum that focuses on individual artistic/design development and creative leadership. It brings together talented individuals from a variety of different media to build a community that fosters exploration, professionalism, and creative success.


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Manifest Gallery Portrait Workshop

 This looks amazing: http://www.manifestgallery.org/studio/workshops/kassan/index.html

VISITING ARTIST
DAVID KASSAN



Four-day Portrait Drawing Workshop
March 10-13, 2012
| Public Demo and Q&A
Friday, March 16, 2012 6-10p.m.

[ Registration info here ]

In conjunction with a solo exhibit of Kassan's drawings at Manifest Gallery, the Brooklyn based artist will be offering two distinct studio experiences at Manifest's Drawing Center. An intensive four-day portrait drawing workshop continues Manifest's ongoing series of such courses instructed by prominent nationally known artist-instructors. The second offering, a more bite-sized opportunity for the general public, students, and artists alike will be a nearly four hour public demonstration the evening of Friday, March 16th, complete with wine and cheese reception and question and answer session.

Show opening is the 9th.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

New Lessons




Just picked up the new FX magazine. It's as good as the last one. James Gurney is in it, again. This time with lessons from Howard Pyle. Dan Dos Santos has a great composition article, too. This image, along with the two preliminary images, are studies I finished right after reading the two features.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

2nd Cover ~ 'The Last Unicorn' In Progress


Here's the cover for 'The Last Unicorn'. It's getting there. Still lots of work to do. Those of you who saw this yesterday got to see the drawing at lunch. I started the painting at 9 this morning. I'll be working on it till about 6:oo, tonight. So a couple more hours.

I need to acquire some materials for 'The Hobbit' before I finish it. I am still debating whether to do in it oils or digitally. 'The Last Unicorn' is digital. I will do Smaug in oils, now that I think about it. That's a special project for me. In the meantime, I'll be doing some other paintings in the computer (like this one).

The text boxes will have a coloured border and a high key, low-textured, parchment-like field.

P.S. Added the newest update to show where I stopped for the day. Still have lots of work to do (esp. on the unicorn), and not sure if I like the border colour on the boxes, yet. I'm thinking I might make them a blueish colour.

P.S.S. The final, as well ~ unless there is something that looks like it needs changing.