By: Roberta Baird,
on 5/1/2013
Oh, how I would love to work in YA novels. I hope one day to get the chance.
But until then, I’ll keep practicing. Here’s a sketch, I started while waiting in the car for my daughter. Such fun inspiration to draw… and those tween kids are rich in expression!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 3/13/2013
Call me, don’t be afraid you can call me,
Maybe it’s late but just, call me.
Tell me and I’ll be around.
By: Carmela Martino and 5 other authors,
on 12/12/2012
Most of the adults who sign up for my writing classes have the same goal: to get a book published by a traditional publisher. They're usually shocked to learn what a long, slow process book publication typically is, whether they're working on a picture book or a novel. To help cope with the wait, I recommend they work on building a portfolio of writing credits they can mention in their cover/query letters. On Monday, Esther shared links to information on how to get published in Highlights magazine. Highlights is a well-respected magazine that's been around for years, and an impressive credit to include in your writing portfolio. Unfortunately, that means they receive a huge volume of submissions, making them a tough market to break into. I like to remind my students that there are other children's magazines, many of them more open to material than Highlights or the Cricket Magazine Group, which publishes high-quality magazines for toddlers to teens.
"Each issue is built around a specific theme with material that can be used by children in a variety of ways. Submissions should support the purpose of the magazine to help children grow in their faith, though all submissions do not need to be overtly religious."The magazine's monthly themes are listed on their website, along with a submission deadline for each issue. To paraphrase something I heard Richard Peck say years ago, "A deadline is a writer's friend." When I first learned of Pockets and their theme/deadline list, I submitted some theme-related puzzles. To my delight, they were accepted! That success led me to try my hand at writing a short story specifically for an issue focusing on "prejudice." They accepted that piece, and "The Cupcake Man" became my first published children's story. Pockets also published my first children's poem. (Is it any wonder why I'm so fond of this magazine?)
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By: Sean Ashby,
on 12/6/2012
Hey, remember that super-awesome Snow White book cover I did a while ago? Of course you do. But I'm sure you want to see it again here.
Well, I also had this other Snow White illustration started a loooooong time ago, even before the aforementioned super-awesome book cover, just lying around waiting to be finished. Sooooo I finished it! I had to tweak Snow White's look to match the cover, and add a corresponding border, and ta-daaaa!
By: John,
on 6/26/2012
Adrian Valencia gives wonderful tips on building a portfolio, and shopping it around. These are standard, basic, important essentials. These never change. The secret is no big secret: Make the work you want to get hired for, and hit the pavement.
Twelve years ago I was very new in London and when I decided I wanted to test myself as an illustrator, I didn’t know where to start. I spent two months building my portfolio ( let me tell you…it wasn’t amazing ) and once it was ready I took notes of art directors’ contacts from the magazines I wanted to work with. My English wasn’t great and on top of that I was clueless about the industry but in a way I guess I had nothing to lose. I had a business card and a few printed pages with my illustrations to be remembered. No website just a printed portfolio. I called every single publication in London and I was lucky that most of them agreed to meet me. (via Draw Adrian, Draw!: Once upon a time…)
By: Roberta Baird,
on 6/29/2012
Soft moss a downy pillow makes, and green leaves spread a tent,
Where Faerie fold may rest and sleep until their night is spent.
The bluebird sings a lullaby, the firefly gives a light,
The twinkling stars are candles bright, Sleep, Faeries all, Good Night.
~Elizabeth T. Dillingham, “A Faery Song”
A faery has to refresh himself somewhere…. wouldn’t it be fun to stumble upon one of these!
By: Roberta Baird,
on 7/6/2012
Ardour, the snow maiden. Based on a character from the retelling of a fairytale written by Jonathan Keats.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 7/13/2012
Not all who wander are lost.
~J.R.R.Tolkien
Scholastic News, October 2011
By: Roberta Baird,
on 8/7/2012
It was said that Golvar came from gypsy stock, although no one knew for sure.
What was known about Golvar was that this was a mouse with a taste for gold.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 9/7/2012
My imagination doesn’t requires anything more of the book than to provide a framework within which it can wander. ~Alphonse Daudet
By: Jason Boog,
on 9/25/2012
Do you need a better way to share your published articles, stories and excerpts online? Contently has a free tool t0 upgrade your online writing portfolio.
On today’s edition of the Morning Media Menu, Social Times editor Devon Glenn discussed Contently’s new Portfolio+ network. Glenn also shared advice for making your portfolio look its best online. Follow this link to sign up for the new service.
Press play below to listen to the podcast. Here’s more from SocialTimes: “Writers, like designers, are asked to show samples of what they can do before they are hired … Contently’s design gives freelancers who might be overlooked on other sites a chance to show, not tell, what they can do. (It’s a phrase that writers hear a lot!) Writers can search for their stories online or enter them manually into the system. A flexible interface displays the images, text excerpts, and share counts for Web articles on one page that writers can adjust to suit their needs. Old-school journalists can also upload copies of their print work.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
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By: Sean Ashby,
on 11/30/2012
I'm in the process of revamping my website (not a real re-design, mind you, just rebuilding it to give it a bit more functionality on my end) and a big part of that is rifling through all my portfolio pieces.
Isn't that the worst, though? I hate trying to decide what I want to be "out there", representing me to the rest of the world.
Along the way, I came across a simple illo I did for Illustration Friday a while back, and thought it might be fun to update it a bit: add some type, textures, etc. Then I ended up doing another companion piece to it.
By: Sean Ashby,
on 8/30/2011
Whatever you're doing right now, go ahead and stop. I mean, other than reading my blog. At least keep reading long enough to find out why you should, eventually, stop.
When you're done here, head on over to the fabulous blog Uncovered Cover Art.
"Uncovered Cover Art is a celebration of creativity, children’s literature, and art. This is for you. This is for artists who want to show off their passion for illustrating children’s books. This is for art directors looking for artists, wondering if the editorial work in Hot New Thing’s portfolio will transfer to children’s book illustration. This is for agents on the lookout for new talent. This is for children’s book lovers who stay up late imagining the faces of Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Little Red Riding Hood."
By: Sean Ashby,
on 9/23/2011
By: Lynne Chapman,
on 10/30/2011
By: Sean Ashby,
on 11/8/2011
Part 2 of a series of portfolio pieces, exploring my take on perhaps the most awesomest board game ever conceived and produced by modern man: "Clue".
By: Sean Ashby,
on 11/12/2011
Part 5 of a series of portfolio pieces, exploring my take on perhaps the most awesomest board game ever conceived and produced by modern man: "Clue".
By: Sean Ashby,
on 11/13/2011
Part 6 of a series of portfolio pieces, exploring my take on perhaps the most awesomest board game ever conceived and produced by modern man: "Clue".
By: Roberta Baird,
on 2/1/2012
“There’s a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire–
He likes it ’cause it’s cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He’s nibbling the noodles,
And munching the rice,
He’s slurping the soda,
He’s licking the ice.
And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he’s in there–
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.”
― Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic
By: Roberta Baird,
on 4/9/2012
This is my portfolio display for the 2012 Houston SCBWI Conference that I attended last weekend. I like to practice the layout before I get there, so what you see here is actually on my dining room table.
The morning was spent listening to informative speakers. The keynote speaker was the prolific and colorful, Dan Yaccarino. His presentation along with his numerous art examples, were a visual feast. Lots of fun and very dynamic.
On the tables were birdhouses created by Houston illustrators and other crafty conference attendees. They were auctioned that day, with the proceeds going to future illustrator activities. Each was created with a literary theme.
I chose Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White.
In the afternoon the illustrators were treated to a break out season with Charlesbridge Art Director, Susan Sherman. Her breakout season was very interesting, and featured books she has worked on with many talented artists, such as the very talented Vanessa Newton.
Later that afternoon, I had a portfolio review with Susan Sherman and sat with her at dinner. I found her very approachable. She gave me advice, direction and honesty, which I truly value.
But wait…. there’s more!
The conference ended the following day with an Illustrator Intensive, lead by Dan Yaccarino. My take from this conference this year? Be Bold!!!
Thank you to all the Houston SCBWI coordinators. It was a good conference!
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By: Gina Perry,
on 4/12/2012
My portfolio is currently disassembled and chaotic. Pages are getting yanked. Art is getting printed. After doing this process for many years, it gets easier to pull art out. Less is more when you know first-hand how fast pages get flipped.
I went bonkers yesterday looking for those black pages to slip in with the new art - I ordered some online, but found a decent (albeit not 'archival') substitute at Staples in their 'stationary' section for just $2.95. I'd rather use those than wait any longer to get this book ready.
I'm waiting for art to be photographed. My postcards are lined up. My website is getting a quick freshening-up. My wardrobe got a nice boost from a mad-dash shopping trip this morning.
I'm feeling a little frazzled about the NESCBWI conference next week - can you tell?
Not the least of which is due to leaving my children behind for 2 days and nights. I've never physically gone this far from them, and never left my 11 month old daughter overnight at all. They are in good hands with Daddy. But it's a lot to absorb. I wish everyone who is attending luck in getting their last minute projects assembled, homework finished, and households in order. I hope to see you there. And hope to be less frazzled once it all gets underway.
By: Roberta Baird,
on 4/13/2012
”And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages,boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”
By: Erik Brooks,
on 4/26/2012
By: Roberta Baird,
on 5/4/2012
My postcards arrived. I’m very pleased with the job GotPrint did on them.
While waiting… I’ve been updating my mailing list, so… batta boom, batta bing…. they are out the door and headed to their prospective clients.
As always, they were mailed with the usual good luck mojo send off dance at the post office and a fond farewell to these postcards….. wadda ya mean …”it’s not usual?” ;)
Anyway, goodbye postcards. I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed… and that’s one to check off the list of goals!
Cheerio!
Roberta
By: Jennifer Thermes,
on 5/10/2012
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thanks for the great information/tips! I have a subscription to Pockets and Highlights magazines. They're in my kids names, but I get to them first.
I also like Chicken Soup for the Soul. You've touched on a lot of good things in this post.
Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback, Angela. Do let is know if you sell anything to any of these markets.