Anni Matsick writes about the Mid Year Conference:

 I’m back from this year’s SCBWI Mid Year Conference in NYC and as usual, wondering how I ever even considered not going! It’s always tricky to extract myself from a freelancer’s schedule but so worth the effort. I’ll try to restrain myself from overuse of exclamation points in this report, but will start out by saying it was GREAT!! 

Aside from the beneficial information delivered at the truly intense Illustrators Intensive on Friday was the Portfolio Exhibition for the 200 illustrators attending. Skepticism about the promised “art buyers” actually attending disappeared when we arrived at pickup time and witnessed the swarming crowd within. Priscilla Burris, National SCBWI Illustrators Coordinator, beautifully finessed the event. Each portfolio was displayed with the illustrator’s stack of promo cards. My stack was 8 short afterward, and another established illustrator friend had 7 taken. We considered that a good average and are hopeful that a follow up will occur, if notwith an assignment at least a request for more samples or some expression of interest. I know from experience, however, that it’s not guaranteed, but still a good feeling to know that your work has been noticed.

The Illustrators Intensive was well worth the price of $175 since a mass mailing can cost that much or more, and here you had art buyers looking at entire portfolios in a relaxed setting. The prize winning portfolios showed superlative drawing skills, which I found heartening.  

This year’s conference breakout sessions were all editor presentations, no art directors, so those slots were not particularly to our advantage unless you were an illustrator/author. However, the panel discussions and keynote speakers were enough to make it well worth attending.

One entertaining side note had Harry Potter editor Arthur Levine singing Happy Birthday a la Marilyn Monroe to Jane Yolen onstage as she was presented with a bouquet of roses. (Do moments like this occur when lawyers or orthodontists gather? J)

  

Caldecott winner David Weisner showed very early work revealing his early influences of Dali and Edward Gorey and led us through his wordless picture book, Flotsam. At Friday’s intensive Jerry Pinkney said that his inspiration was N.C. Wyeth so it’s gratifying that his work is being shown now at the Brandywine museum. Harry Bliss showed images of his hilarious cartoons and covers for the New Yorker. 

One of my three evenings left open for fun was spent with WPA SCWBI Regional Advisors Pat Eastonand Marcy Canterna, at a nearby Italian restaurant. Rose Gauss suggested Marcy as a roommate prospect and we had such a good time getting acquainted we’ve decided to room together again next year.

I know from having attended two earlier fall conferences that the first night is most difficult to link up with people, especially if you’re rooming alone as I did my first year. I planned ahead by emailing another illustrator from Ottawa I communicate with on the SCBWI website’s online discussion boards. We met at the hotel’s restaurant that evening and brought our portfolios to get acquainted. The discussion boards are a good place to start when looking for advice or ways to connect with other attendees.  

Over the weekend there are many opportunities to strike up conversations with others, while having coffee and bagels (although, admittedly, I go straight for the Danish) or when taking a seat for the programs. Everyone is friendly and eager to connect, and willing to share.

While the Illustrators Intensive is geared at a level for those already working in the field or at least trained and prepared with a good portfolio, the conference can serve those wanting to add to their knowledge about the field of children’s publishing and be informed on updates.

Is it worth the cost? I find the excitement generated by being in New York City in a great hotel and meeting a lot of others who share my interest in children’s literature a wonderful mini-vacation. It’s not a magic bullet or a direct path to a contract (although I know firsthand that does happen to some) but there is a lot of information to be gained by the weekend immersion that will help anyone find his or her way in the field.

And hey, I love the chance to have my Robert Sabuda pop-ups signed by him personally! J

If you would like to view more of Anni’s Artwork: visit her rep’s site: www.CMartreps.com   and www.picture-book.com