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You may have been wondering why it's so quiet around here lately…
The answer is I've been hard at work! Above are my new postcards (created with my agents, ABLA). They're designed and printed in time for theSCBWI conference (aka #LA15scbwi), which kicks off tomorrow morning bright and early. It takes a good bit of preparation — new portfolio art, new postcards, new dummies or manuscripts. New shoes! Some people begin to prepare months in advance, but I couldn't. I have another project on the go, also demanding my 1000% attention. I'm working on my picture book for Nord Süd (North South Books): getting to know the characters ...
and playing around with the hero...
...with his eponymous green umbrella…
And above all, trying to get the visual narrative to work:
Here is the famous storyboard clothesline, with earlier versions of many of the spreads. Of course, by the time the book gets into print there will be more changes, revisions and endless effing tweaks.
So that's where I have been lately. This blog will probably stay quiet for a little while longer, but nowadays I can also be found on Instagram and even tweeting on Twitter.
See you all later — enjoy the summer!
0 Comments on Nowadays... as of 7/30/2015 7:21:00 PM
I can finally announce that I've been at work on a new picture book! It will be published by NordSüd Verlag, the wonderful Swiss publishing house (Lisbeth Zwerger, Oliver Jeffers and Natascha Rosenberg are amongst the artists who regularly work for them). North South Books (their American imprint) will also publish it— so it will be available in both English and German! Simultaneously!!
Though the announcement says that I'm unagented (I did negotiate this deal on my own), I am now being represented by the fabulous literary agent, Jen Rofé (of ABLA— Andrea Brown Literary Agency). They represent so many wonderful writers and artists in the realm of children's literature… I'm pleased as punch to be among them…
So if I am more quiet than usual on this blog, it is because somebody or other is cracking the whip and I am galloping full speed to keep up!
Yay, the new 3x3 annual is finally out! It is now available as a printed book and as a pdf, and will soon be released as an iPad app, as well.
My illustration (above) got an honorable mention —it is from No Crocodiles in Town. To see all the winning illustrations online, go to 3x3 then click on the Online Annual No.11 button. It includes work for the Picture Book Show, as well as the Professional Show and the Student/Newcomer entries. So many fantastic illustrators from all over the world!
Carry on...
0 Comments on 3x3 No.11 as of 2/11/2015 6:25:00 PM
My crocodiles have been getting around lately... they travel much more than I do! This time they were spotted in Mexico City, at the MuseoFranz Mayer (home of the largest collection of decorative arts in all of Latin America!). I am thrilled to bits...
As you can see by the poster, it was an exhibit of the winning artwork from the Nami Island Illustration Concours (where Crocodile Shoes won an honorable mention in 2013, as you may recall). Nami Island, the sponsor of the Andersen Awards, holds this competition every two years. There is an annual and an exhibit which first opens in Korea, then goes on tour around the world — ending up wherever the IBBY Congress is held, I think.
As you can also see by the poster, the exhibit closed over a month ago. But for those of us who didn't get a chance to catch it, here are a few items to give a sense of it. First, a little animated video...
...then some photos from the gallery:
Hey...that's me!
The museum also hosted another children's illustration show at the same time, Dibujando El Mundo, featuring many of my illustration heroes — Kveta Pacovska, Shaun Tan, Sara Fanelli, Javier Zabala, Isol and many others.
Between the museum's lovely ambience and the art on display, I really wish I could have been there!
Both of the illustration shows were timed to coincide with the IBBY Congress — a bi-annual shindig bringing together all kinds of people from the world of children's books. It's held in countries all over the world, a different one each time. I would so love to go one day! (The next one's in New Zealand, in 2016... plenty of time to save up!)
IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young Readers) is a fantastic organization — an NGO, in fact, with official status in UNICEF and UNESCO. With chapters in 72 countries worldwide, IBBY plays a role in policy-making regarding children's books, as well as recognizing and awarding excellence, playing a crucial part in the Bologna Children's Book Fair since its inception.
I've been reading this book about Jella Lepman — an gutsy, outspoken, imaginative woman who founded both IBBY and the International Youth Library in Munich, a wonderful place from the sounds of it. It's well worth a read. At the request of the American government, she returned to her native Germany after having fled the Nazis nine years previously. Arriving in 1945 just after the shooting had stopped, the grim rubble of postwar Europe she describes (not unlike TheThirdMan) is where she does her work of helping children starved for stories and hope. What she started is still thriving today! You can read more about that here, if you can't find the book...
Lastly, this year's Nami Concours is in progress— here's the shortlist of illustrators for the final round. So happy to see friends and acquaintances included here... well done, everybody!
PS. A shout out to AnaAranda who took the photos in Mexico City — she's a wonderful illustrator I met at the SCBWI Conference, where she won the Mentorship Award for her excellent portfolio. Merci, Ana!!
0 Comments on Crocodiles go to Mexico as of 11/10/2014 5:05:00 AM
Summer officially ended a few days ago, and I for one am glad to see it go. There is only so much sweltering and sweating I can stand. Hello autumn, my favorite season...it always feels like a new year starts with the autumnal equinox.
But still, I'll be sad to see the end of jacaranda season. In the part of southern California that I find myself in, the streets are lined with jacaranda trees which bloom with glorious purple blossoms from April to September-ish. And over the last few months I've photographing them...
On my street.
This is on Hollywood Boulevard. A different kind of glamour!
Fallen blossoms on the grass.
The fallen blossoms have been my playthings over the summer months, too —
And with that, I am ready to dive into autumn— bring on the woolens and the pumpkin pie! I'm buckling down for new work, so stay tuned!
PS. Speaking of playthings, have you seen stop-watch? Tineke Meirink has a very playful eye!
0 Comments on Change of season as of 9/27/2014 9:32:00 PM
In the summertime, I need to rest. I usually like to step away from the computer (and other glowing screens) and use my time to paint, write, catch up with friends, go places and look around. Sit under a really big flower. Do whatever I need to do to recharge my batteries.
One of the results of my happily splashing about in stories and paints was the image above. Part of an ongoing series, it emerged in the usual ways — cut paper, monoprint and oils ...first the character and the sketchy background:
And a few quick tests for tonal values and color choices:
And then (as it is summer), I left all methodicalness behind and waded in with my arms flailing. Trial and error, intuition, exploration— a great pleasure, but they are things that I sometimes can't afford when the meter's running and the deadline's looming. Of course the result is never guaranteed, but I liked this one so much I made it into postcards:
Just in time, too—I wanted to mail them out and give them to people I see at events. Which brings me to the SCBWI Conference: the other thing I do to recharge my batteries in the summer. I went to my first one out of curiosity a year ago — with unexpected, life-changing results! And ever since then, I've been going every chance I get. Each time I come away exhausted, happy and inspired—seeing old friends and new, questions/answers/feedback swirling around. Learning learning learning! And above all, the workshops and the talks leave me motivated, stimulated, challenged, and encouraged. And apparently incapable of choosing a single adjective.
My batteries are now recharged — bring it on!!
PS. You can read more about it on this piece from today'sPublishers Weekly, and on the SCBWI Blog (don't miss the clip from the gala party — thousands of illustrators and writers poolside, celebrating Tomie de Paola's birthday!)
Happy what's-left-of-summer....
0 Comments on Recharging my batteries as of 8/8/2014 12:14:00 AM
Breaking news: I am very pleased to announce that one of my illustrations has been awarded an honorable mention in the latest 3x3 Picture Book Show! It's an image from "No Crocodiles in Town", a picture book I'm currently working on.
Detail
Early pencil sketch
I've been absent from this blog the past few months for both good reasons (a fantastic trip to New York, where I met with lots of my favorite publishers, attended the SCBWI Conference and caught up with long-lost friends) ... and for not-so-good reasons (involving hospitals and unbearable dread). In the midst of it all, I have tried to continue sketching and grappling with new manuscripts. But this blog fell by the wayside, somewhat :-( . Hopefully this won't happen again...
Now that I'm, here I did want to mention—horribly, ludicrously late—that I finally received my copy of 3x3 No. 10, the annual from last year (!!) ... and it's a beaut! Look:
Beautifully printed and hard-bound, it unites work from all three of the shows (Picture Book, Pro, and Student Work) in a single volume. Below is my page, featuring the cover and four spreads from "Crocodile Shoes" (my as-yet-unpublished picture book, discussedadnauseum on this blog already).
In a happy coincidence, the page next to mine had images by my friend Zack Rock whose new book ("Homer Henry Hudson's Curio Museum") will be published very soon! Go Zack, go! In fact, the whole annual is overflowing with wonderful work, definitely worth a look.
For those of you who are interested, the 3x3 annual No. 10 is available in both print and digital formats — click here to see!
0 Comments on Honorable mention in the new 3x3! as of 6/20/2014 8:39:00 PM
It's that time of year again: the Bologna Book Fair is starting a few short days! But right now I'm 6152 miles away from it—and that's something that would normally give me a case of the Bologna Blues. BUT!!! I've had a bit of good news...
So if you do find yourself in Bologna (lucky you!), the SCBWI stand is at A/66 in Pavilion 26... that's the area that usually has a majority of English-language publishers present. Stop by and say hello!
0 Comments on Bologna or bust! as of 3/22/2014 5:09:00 AM
I'm very proud to have my illustration on the cover of the current SCBWI Bulletin (January/ February 2014). As always, the requirement is to include within the illustration an image of a kite — the logo of the SCBWI.
I did a lot of searching and had a lot of different ideas (including giant children in Paris, and even an octopus flying eight kites at once). But once I saw the image of a butterfly-shaped kite, it was suddenly obvious to me that a caterpillar should be flying it. Perfect! Transformation, inspiration and imagination are what children's books are all about!! Now all I have to do is pull it off...
I sent along a few variations of this idea to SCBWI, and we all agreed on the one on the left so I then got to work. After refining the composition and characters, I did a number of color studies, like so:
Once the colors are decided, I can go on to the next steps. My illustrations are done in mixed media, with both hand-painted elements and collage in varying amounts (depending on the subject and on the amount of time). Some collage elements are prepared in advance according to the chosen color scheme, while others are happy accidents. This is true whether I collage with paper ephemera...
...or with monoprints that I make myself— here's a peek at a set of photos showing printmaking in progress.
Once I've printed the monoprint sheets in the colors that I'll be using, then I begin cutting and gluing. I usually start with the background—
And then I create the characters and foreground elements. Here's our hero...
...and his faithful sidekick:
As you can see, the individual elements that make up a character (limbs, shoes, clothes, face, hair...) are created separately then assembled. I paint some of the details with acrylics and, after I've glued them all together, I go over it again with an oil glaze to add a bit of dimension and oomph. Sometimes I scratch back in — sgraffito — or even sandpaper it, until it resembles what I have in my mind's eye as much as possible. Needless to say, it's not an exact science...
Finally, referring to my color study, I assemble the composition as a whole — first gluing the background elements then the foreground ones. In this particular illustration, there was a lot of foreground foliage which framed the image. Some were collaged, and some painted in india ink. Here's the finished piece:
Voilà!!
PS. If you're a SCBWI member, you can view the Bulletin online right here. It even includes an interview with yours truly in it!
The thought for the day comes from Neil Gaiman, whose new year's wishes are inspiring, energizing and liberating. A teeny snip:
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before...
So that's my wish—for you, for all of us and for myself:
Make New Mistakes
Make glorious, amazing mistakes.
Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.
Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect...
I've had a fantastic surprise in my inbox ... the Society of Illustrators has selected four of my images for Illustrators 56. The artwork (from Crocodile Shoes, my unpublished book) will be on show at the Museum of American illustration in New York City starting in early January. I hope to be able to see it in person when I go visit (my first trip back to NY in over a decade—talk about timing!). There will also be a lavishly printed annual, coming out later in the year. More on that soon.
Thank you to the Society of Illustrators, for giving me such a good reason to celebrate on this damp grey weekday (Champagne, and lots of it. You are welcome to join me!!). And congratulations to the other artists selected for this show... a very inspiring lineup indeed.
OK, it's time to get back to work now. Nose to grindstone, shoulder to wheel, eyes front! But you, lovely reader, may want to look at these:
I participated in Tom Franck's sketchbookproject which has the theme Evil Giant Robots. "Cute" and "friendly" is more my line of country, so the end result is rather like an enormous mechanical clown toy, with just a soupçon of King Kong for good measure. Scary!
This sketchbook is traveling the world, with contributions by a mix of illustrators, children's book creators, and comic book artists. There's an enormous variety of participants (drawings by winners of the Caldecott, the Anderson prize and even the Oscar!!)—I saw robots by JonKlassen, Eliza Wheeler, Dan Yaccarino, Chris Rashka, Mary Azarian, Gary Baseman, Rodolfo Montalvo, and Emily Arnold McCully! And so many others, including...
I seem to be on a roll lately. First the SCBWI Grand Prize, and now this:
3x3 magazine has decided to include my work in their upcoming Picture Book Annual. Again!! A set of five illustrations from my book "Crocodile Shoes" received a Merit award (in the category of Children's Book, unpublished) --above is a little vignette from it. If you'd like to see a few more images from it, click here.
I am thrilled to be included among such wonderful illustrators from all over the world— some very familiar artists, as well as new discoveries whose work I am eager to see. The annual should be available in a few months time...I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks very much to the judges and to Charles Hively. And now... I've got to go do some dancin' in the streets!
4 Comments on 3x3 Picture Book Show, last added: 9/6/2013
It is of course a massive honour — and the prize is an all-expense paid trip to New York City, as well as an "Open Sesame" to publishing houses for children's books. I can't wait!! More on all of this later, of course.
Here is that winning portfolio (btw, it wasn't easy to find a "landscape" oriented portfolio of just the right dimensions—thanks to Juana** for all the great advice!). It contained 17 images, many of which can be seen on my website, while others have yet to be uploaded... stay tuned! I also showed a full-colour dummy of Crocodile Shoes (which I both illustrated and wrote). Some images are here and here.
The Portfolio Showcase was held in a huge pavilion/ballroom at the Hyatt in Century City, with hundreds and hundreds of portfolios (and book dummies) all laid out on rows of tables. A lot of people came to look, as you can see...
A lot of talent under one roof!
Here I am, beaming.
More soon. Thank you again, SCBWI —I am so delighted!!!
HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY!!!!! I'm so happy for you--and also for me, at the thought I might get to read CROCODILE SHOES! It looks SO enticing (and almost ready to send to the printers :)) Huge congratulations!!!
Hey Carin! Thank you so much... you can't imagine how amazing and unanticipated this all is. And I am really looking forward to the NY trip (... perhaps we can meet? I'll email...)
Just a little announcement to let you know that I have a new website — it is still being worked on and added to, but you can have a look at it here:
There is a new (-ish)tumblrtoo — but I will continue blogging here at my Secret Blog ™ as the content will be a bit different, I expect. Check on both, if you are so inclined.
Also, I've just been informed that this blog was a Featured Blog on the Jacket Flap Publishing blog reader! If you don't already know, Jacket Flap is megablog focussed on the universe of children's books, uniting illustrators, writers, editors, publishers, agents and so on. There's so much, it is easy to get lost for hours—I am pleased to be in the spotlight here! The content's the same, but here's the link.
I've been meaning to mention...I finally got my copy of ILLO 13 (the 3x3 International Illustration Directory)! I am very pleased to tell you that I have a couple of images in it. My crocodile illustration can be found in the "Animal" section.
This image is the basis of the endpapers of my children's book project, mentioned previously.
And in the "Children" section of the directory is this mouse, forever contemplating the camembert. Some of you might remember seeing her before, here.
You can look at the website: there are a lot of good illustrations to peruse. Then there's a free app, that you can get from iTunes— and that is available to everybody. And of course, it exists in book form as well. In fact, if you are an art director, editor, graphic designer or art buyer, you can request a free copy.
Here's what it looks like— the cover art is by the Dutch illustrator, Aad Goudappel....
In conclusion, YAY!
6 Comments on 3x3 Directory, last added: 4/26/2013
YAY! Those alligators are absolutely WONDERFUL. And of course I love and remember your camembert-contemplating mouse. Big kudos--this looks like a beautiful publication!
Hope you had a very Happy Easter, I think it is my favourite festival as I just love spring and the celebration of the new years fecundity with eggs lambs and chicks. XXXX
Good news — my illustrated book project has been selected for the Nambook Festival (aka Nami Island International Illustration Concours) !! It has to stay under wraps at present, but I can still show you a few glimpses from my selected project. It's out of context, but you'll get a flavour of what I have been up to lately.
The Nambook Festival is a yearly children's book event in South Korea, about 70 km south of Seoul on an beautiful tranquil island with groves of giant redwood trees. Nambook is affiliated with IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young people), as well as being an official sponsor of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards.... presented to the winners each year at the Bologna Book Fair.
The list of winners is pretty impressive—an array of international talent that includes many illustrators who have also been selected for Bologna, Bratislava, 3x3, Ilustrarte, Sàrmede and other places where children's book illustrations are recognized and celebrated. The grand prix went to the wonderful Korean illustrator Sung-Hee Kim. A few of the other names that jumped out are: David Pintor, Eva Montanari, Sonja Danowska, Rashin Kheiriyeh and IrmaGruenholz. And so many others... I'm looking forward to discovering their work!
The illustration exhibit at Nami Island takes place from 25 April to 31 May. There will be a catalogue/annual of the art show as well. And if any of you are going to Bologna for the book fair (from 25 to 28 March, in two short weeks from now!), the Nambook Festival has a stand (A36 / H29). Stop by and say hi!
4 Comments on Nami Island International Illustration Concours, last added: 4/7/2013
The last illustration is my favorite. Though I can't attend Bologna Book Fair tomorrow I surely like to remain updated with the event. please post more about it. - Herman Swan
I want to wish you very happy new year — better late than never, eh? I've been a bit AWOL in recent times but I hope to be more present in the year to come. Until I return to regular posting, here's an offshoot from something I've been working on, to wish you bonne année, and auguri per tutto— buona vita, buon lavoro, buon futuro...
Just a quick reminder that Sàrmede's "Immagini della fantasia" exhibit will now be on display in Brussels. At the European Parliament! The opening takes place tonight at 18:00, at the ASP area on the third floor (balcony side). Definitely worth a peek, if you're in the neighbourhood... I wish I could be there too! (more details, here).
And if you still need something more to do— well, you could always drop in to Montreuil: the Salon du Livre Jeunesse begins tomorrow morning, 9:00 sharp!
Have fun!!
PS. The beautiful poster/invitation for Immagini della fantasia is by Octavia Monaco
2 Comments on Brussels+Montreuil road trip..., last added: 12/1/2012
I'm very pleased to announce that my artwork has been selected for Sàrmede'sLe Immagini della Fantasia exhibit. The theme this time is "Tales from Russia"� a topic and visual culture that I find especially inspiring. I chose to illustrate a scene from The Firebird.
The exhibit is a fantastic gathering of talent from around the world —over 350 illustrations by a real dream team* of illustrators! Needless to say, I'm very honoured to be included among them. A big grazie to Monica Monachesi for extending the invitation.
This year's edition of Le immagini della Fantasia is not only the 30th anniversary, but also the grand opening of the long-awaited Casa della Fantasia, a new building which will house the exhibit space and art workshops. So expect even more celebrations and activities than usual — including readings, workshops, and meetings with the artists including Roberto Innocenti, this year's guest of honour.
The exhibit opens on 27 October and runs through to 27 January 2013, after which it will go on tour in Italy and across Europe and beyond. It's well worth a visit — I would go if I could. Check the site for address and hours... highly recommended!
Congratulations! Those pink onion domes are delicious against the ruddy sky. I don't often get to use the word "lambent," but that's what leaps to mind here. I love the way you depict the Firebird, too.
I've been in summer mode lately, but I just had to pop in today to tell you my news: I just found out that my artwork has been selected for the 3x3 magazine's Children's Show. And not only that, but it was also singled out for Distinguished Merit in its category! It goes without saying that I am stunned, and completely delighted.
The annual, No. 9, will be coming out later in year... I will give you a heads-up when it does. Congratulations to the winners (check it the list, here)— I am really honoured to be in such good company. And many thanks to the jury!
8 Comments on 3x3 Children's Show, last added: 7/26/2012
Thanks Hazel and Ina and Zack — I'm very glad about it, I feel like filling up the pool with champagne and swimming in it for a week (you're all invited!) and yet I must keep the nose to the grindstone instead. But YAY indeed!
Bonjour Maral, je te félicite pour ta créativité, ton coup de crayon et ton imagination; et te remercie pour le lien. ;-)
Merci Gille—ça me fait plaisir! J'admire tes robots depuis un moment et donc je te félicite aussi...bravo!!