Lapel Pin Contest

We have a smaller challenge this year that I would like to involve all of the illustrators in…
Designing a Lapel Pin:
it must have the date: 2010
it must have W. PA SCBWI (in any readable form)
and a simple graphic to somehow symbolize children’s books

…..the possibilities are limitless!

You could add a quote or ‘saying’ if you’d like. But obviously it must be small and simple, the pins will be approximately 1” to 1.5”. The shape can be most any shape…the longest part being approximately one to one and a half inches.

For presentation purposes make the design larger than the actual pin on a 7.5”x7.5” white paper. They will be displayed at the conference and voted on by all attending members.

Have fun with this…and good luck!

Please send the designs either to my mailing address (or electronically to my email address) before October 25th. (addresses below)

The winning pin will then be made for the conference in 2010 to begin collecting on our tote bags.
Rose

PS: the winning design for the HOPE CARD was by Anni Matsick. (we’ll show it at the conference in November.)
Congratulations, Anni!

See previous posting for all of the entries, including Anni’s!

Kelley Cunningham AD for HIGH FIVE

Kelley Cunningham, the Art Director for HIGH FIVE magazine will be our main speaker for the illustrators during the Western Pennsylvania Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Conference.

The dates are November 6th & 7th, that’s a Friday evening and all day Saturday.  If you haven’t received your information yet you can visit the website. www.WPaSCBWI.com

There will also be more information here on our blog closer to the conference dates.

‘natural-white’ or ‘bright-white’

“Do you prefer “natural-white” watercolor papers or the “bright-whites”?  This may be a silly question; because its actually very personal taste.

But; why would I choose either?  I was just online, and Jerry’s was having a sale on Arches watercolor papers.  I was stopped dead in my tracks when I had to make the choice.

I automatically thought that I would use natural…but, because the work that I am doing will be for print, would it be smarter (and would I get a truer color) if I used bright white?

I posed the question to John Manders, and he commented that he used the natural-white.

He said: “I like my pictures to have a slightly antique look, but I’m probably kidding myself.  By the time a picture is finished, there really isn’t any of the paper showing through—I use gouache, which you know is opaque.  Whenever I do a spot or a vignette I silhouette the image with gesso, because the natural-white paper scans at 5% yellow. “
and then he added; “Maybe we should have a discussion on the WPA-SCBWI illustrators blog?”

So, there it is!

…up for discussion…please leave a comment and let us know if you have any preferences…or if any printers or art directors have cautioned you to use one or the other.

I may have missed this particular sale, but I’m sure there’ll be another and I want to be prepared.

Thanks in advance…can’t wait to hear,

Rose

PS: Check out John’s new blog     http://johnmanders.wordpress.com/

Tuesday August 4th

I apologize but the Critique Group Meeting will be cancelled for tomorrow evening.

Please leave comments here, and maybe if there are a few interested members you could still meet together. But, I am unable to make it.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer.

Be well,

Rose

a few more:

by: Jenifer McNamara

by: Rose Gauss

Hope Cards:

by: Anni Matsick

by: Jennifer Williams

by: Kimberly Kerr

Critique Group Meeting

Remember that tonight’s meeting will be the Tomie dePaola DVD showing at the library in Brentwood, instead of the Barnes & Noble at the waterfront.

The cost is: $12 and there are seats still available.

see you there,

Rose

PENNSYLVANIA FELLOWSHIPS FOR ARTISTS

Jackie Adams sent this information:

PENNSYLVANIA FELLOWSHIPS FOR ARTISTS http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/fellowships/PA2010_Guidelines.pdf

The deadline for 2010 Pennsylvania Fellowship applications is 4:30pm on Monday, August 3, 2009.

PCA awards these Fellowships in fixed amounts of $5,000 or $10,000 to eligible Pennsylvania artists of exceptional talent to enable them to pursue their artistic goals.

There isn’t much time, but; if you’re interested, click on the link and read all about it!

I know I will.

~Rose

Tomie dePaola: on creating the picture book.

Illustrators,
JOIN US for a showing of the Tomie dePaola DVD

Tomie dePaola on creating the picture book:
Over the past 40 years, Tomie dePaola has created some of the most beloved picture books of our time. With over 200 books to his credit, the stories and illustrations of Tomie’s best-selling works are instantly recognizable by readers young and old the world over, and have garnered both Newbery and Caldecott Honor Awards. Now, SCBWI Master Class allows you to take a peek into the wit, wonder and wisdom that is Tomie’s creative process. Special features include “Drawing with Tomie.” Running time: 70 minutes   http://www.scbwi.org/Store.aspx

We will watch the video and have a chance to talk about it with refreshments. You will have a copy of the DVD to take home with you.

Tuesday July 7th at 6pm-8pm
BRENTWOOD Library
3501 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15227

You must RSVP by Wednesday June 24th
The cost will be $12 per person if I receive your check before June 24th.

Use Their Work Free? Some Artists Say No to Google

When Google representatives recently invited dozens of prominent artists to contribute work to be featured on its new Web browser, the company enthusiastically sold the idea as an opportunity to have artwork shown to millions.

But some, like Gary Taxali, were not impressed. Mr. Taxali, an illustrator based in Toronto whose work has appeared in publications like Time, Newsweek and Fortune, received a call in April from a member of Google’s marketing department. According to Mr. Taxali, the Google representative explained that the project will let users customize Google Chrome pages with artist-designed “skins” in their borders.

“The first question I asked,” Mr. Taxali said in a recent interview, “is…

please read the rest here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/business/media/15illo.html