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Several years ago I attended the SCBWI summer conference and one of the wonderful people I met was Rachel Marks. Super talented as both a writer and an artist, she had an incredible joy for life, due in part to being a cancer survivor. Rachel was rooming with Paige Britt and both of them had […]

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It has already been a year since I feverishly put my portfolio together for the 2013 SCBWI L.A. Summer Conference and this was the art I used for my promo postcard. And here we are, the 2014 starts next week! Where does the dang time go?

I won’t be making the conference this year, but I am really jealous happy for all y ‘all that are attending this year! Yessss, so, so very happy (clenches jaw.)

But seriously! I’m thrilled for you, especially the folks who haven’t ever attended before. You’re going to love it and get so much out of it!

I’ll be waiting with baited breath for photos and to hear all about it!

 

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Deadlines are good things. They make you stretch yourself. You achieve things you thought were impossible. Sometimes things are even better because you have to work quickly. I relish them and - I dread them. But I know I am happier when I have them, than when I don't. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy working in the illustration field. Mostly you are working for a client, and that client has expectations - after all they are putting food on your table. I often hear freelancers (in all kinds of work) saying that they have a hard time getting motivated. My advice: get yourself a deadline. And if you don't have one, create one for yourself.

The reason I am rattling on about deadlines is that there's a few on my calendar. This is excellent, means I am busy. Who doesn't want to be busy? I handle my deadlines by making a written calendar, right now it goes until August 31. I have 2 manuscripts to illustrate by then (the next two books in Anastasia Suen's cheerleader series for Kane and Miller publishing). Before you 'gasp' they are black and white with colour cover, so it's not colour double spreads!)

Mid way through this is wham bam ... SCBWI Summer Conference in LA. Just to make things difficult for myself I've decided to redo my portfolio with totally new pieces. So that's F-I-V-E weeks away. Plus I want to take 2 dummies with me. I will be entering the Portfolio Showcase again ... this year I feel like I know what I am doing. Well, more than last year anyway!

As I said, nothing like a deadline ... here's one of the new pieces with a more whimsical style than usual.

On the board for next week I also have designs to do for a pottery company in CA, they produce planters for the trade market (Target, Lowes etc). I used to do a lot of work for them, and was lucky enough to go to China to the trade fair and factories several years ago ... and then the economy nosedived. It's a good sign they are sending me work again. Of course, you can't choose when it comes along, so hence the planning calendar.

I guess I will be working some late nights on the portfolio!!

As a nice treat at the end of August I get to teach a drawing cruise on the Schooner Isaac H Evans. It's shaping up to be a busy, fun and fruitful summer.

The trip to LA will be welcome - a big conference like this is always intense, as you want to hear all the awesome speakers and still network. (And have some party time). Bring it on. Last year I knew very few people ... this year I feel like I am going back to family. In the lonely life of the freelance illustrator I think that's an unusual feeling. If you are an aspiring children's illustrator or writer - make sure you join the SCBWI and go to conferences and workshops!

Talking of deadlines, must get back to them.

Just want to say many thanks to everyone who sent me sympathy on the loss of my dog ... it's been a hard week.

Toodles!

Hazel

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Somehow it managed to sneak up on me. This summer has been so busy and I've been so wrapped up in my rewrite and traveling that I didn't realize it was already time for SCBWI-LA! Squee!!

My son and I did our first Skype call last night. (Gotta love technology and the 10-year-olds who are so eager to try it out!) Hopefully it will work smoothly when I'm in a hotel over a hundred miles away. My daughter still likes to hear Goodnight Moon every night, so we'll try the virtual tuck in tomorrow night, now with live video :)

I've packed a stack of books that I want to get signed, enough clothes to get me through the conference and then some, and of course, my computer. But I always manage to forget something...

Hope your weekend plans are just as wonderful!

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Can’t go to the 37th Annual Summer SCBWI conference this year? Yeah, I can’t either; I just can’t afford the air flight, hotel, etc. Well, we’re in luck, because Alice Pope, editor of the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, will be covering the conference on her blog.

The conference is from August 1-4 in Los Angeles, CA. Pope will report on all the sessions she attends, the people she meets, the portfolio event, the parties and schmooze opportunities, and maybe even some things she overhears.

I’m sure there’ll be other people blogging about the conference, too. Know someone who will be? Or you’ve written a blog post yourself? Let me know and I’ll update this post.

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