tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867950830606274072024-03-13T23:06:04.857-07:00Out of the PaintboxDiane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-33811788709747193262017-05-31T19:57:00.000-07:002017-05-31T19:57:53.693-07:00Please join us!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVxnXNmmWa9ejvxEMLBtz9oIlJW45n7rymfhbdBzEW2KqqO7jCAWrOwj2El4PxARw0Rj0lM1qpo7rlm55dzYCIQ_Jg_G38P645Ns9sHP3yaBryf4NxyHmIYQvG5fN03maGXAwRhuzFk/s1600/818CreatesSummerInv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVxnXNmmWa9ejvxEMLBtz9oIlJW45n7rymfhbdBzEW2KqqO7jCAWrOwj2El4PxARw0Rj0lM1qpo7rlm55dzYCIQ_Jg_G38P645Ns9sHP3yaBryf4NxyHmIYQvG5fN03maGXAwRhuzFk/s400/818CreatesSummerInv.jpg" width="324" /></a></div>
<br />Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-34147690094577047032015-06-30T20:32:00.000-07:002015-06-30T20:40:56.611-07:00Imagine! - a Picture Book Illustration Exhibit<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello again!</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Since my last post I've been in a whirlwind of activity, both professional and personal, but I'm happy to be back, with new posts to come!</span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAf50XKhJr7pAYbSDjZlLjn9uXCIB6ffXsP_SxywTXpdLB9JMSKNvnE2uQ8VR5lCgA5RxXgocVQUdC61QsW6XQMJkXXFWbSa7gRhIJ630eh65tCIE-UkxzSn9kBpPJAtbpT-SjJFIJAk/s1600/Imagine+promo+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAf50XKhJr7pAYbSDjZlLjn9uXCIB6ffXsP_SxywTXpdLB9JMSKNvnE2uQ8VR5lCgA5RxXgocVQUdC61QsW6XQMJkXXFWbSa7gRhIJ630eh65tCIE-UkxzSn9kBpPJAtbpT-SjJFIJAk/s400/Imagine+promo+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are not many opportunities to see exhibitions of original paintings created to illustrate children's books. I was particularly honored to be chosen as one of the 22 artists included in the current exhibition at the <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><a href="http://www.dacenter.org/" target="_blank">dA</a></b></span> Center for the Arts in Pomona (California) with two of my illustrations from <i>Signed, Abiah Rose</i>. The non-profit gallery and community gathering place organized the event with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No matter how beautifully paintings are reproduced, nothing can equal the experience of seeing original art. The dA Center wished to highlight "some of the best examples of how illustrations sharpen perception, stimulate imagination and increase sense of observation for all ages".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYmacQUNFQwV3hlAl4OrnRTIya68Imz2l1_V4t8y1OtGEPbyBsFU2MOlgD58Eo3QxW053MQ4On_ASTt4FVSKRfVCHIe9LyfI0O6mRY1-yuwU-mEtGlG39Kqti0abR6G2qL6zLHDK0kPI/s1600/Gina+Capaldi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYmacQUNFQwV3hlAl4OrnRTIya68Imz2l1_V4t8y1OtGEPbyBsFU2MOlgD58Eo3QxW053MQ4On_ASTt4FVSKRfVCHIe9LyfI0O6mRY1-yuwU-mEtGlG39Kqti0abR6G2qL6zLHDK0kPI/s320/Gina+Capaldi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina Capaldi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was a very enjoyable and well-attended reception on opening night, with an opportunity to meet the illustrators and authors of the featured books and to have books signed. Some pieces of art were offered for sale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was lovely to see so many old friends and make new ones!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRAaw5p7XAGTr5DOFdQgTJc-l35R63huBuwSpTPhYYpsMRYN3Md37kM5wHHHDCHaNnXIqLYfeSNiUGiNxqFojSTQLAIz16jInB9YE0V_4ZLMI-3AWs5n3T3oI5gam05uy_HJqdepwC_8/s1600/Frans+Vischer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRAaw5p7XAGTr5DOFdQgTJc-l35R63huBuwSpTPhYYpsMRYN3Md37kM5wHHHDCHaNnXIqLYfeSNiUGiNxqFojSTQLAIz16jInB9YE0V_4ZLMI-3AWs5n3T3oI5gam05uy_HJqdepwC_8/s320/Frans+Vischer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frans Vischer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB9dWJU0Y2V5_ySLXo7AK9fk4BCzzmgeHsjktGF4K7iBvH249Ji5q3kgPh1pLUf40aSyZOjAPoPBrouGOz6zE3dYAqW9kyK4SY5Uow9rc3gvr1XJ5OTmNGrJa24ONEJ-4ee8RWQLA9oI/s1600/Mary+Ann+Fraser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB9dWJU0Y2V5_ySLXo7AK9fk4BCzzmgeHsjktGF4K7iBvH249Ji5q3kgPh1pLUf40aSyZOjAPoPBrouGOz6zE3dYAqW9kyK4SY5Uow9rc3gvr1XJ5OTmNGrJa24ONEJ-4ee8RWQLA9oI/s320/Mary+Ann+Fraser.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Ann Fraser</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJJMjhkS0IcEtiDCZoHdO48fjZknaZCuXHY7QMmq5FfZaEJY90uV9SEeeZuOEk3U5Djprb3F9byNCWnF-gelwrZ0eYoKGofp2KdnpQuDYIAt0OEqhGXtJkq8wV2uyDuVlFru8NtqTAw/s1600/Joe+Cepeda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJJMjhkS0IcEtiDCZoHdO48fjZknaZCuXHY7QMmq5FfZaEJY90uV9SEeeZuOEk3U5Djprb3F9byNCWnF-gelwrZ0eYoKGofp2KdnpQuDYIAt0OEqhGXtJkq8wV2uyDuVlFru8NtqTAw/s320/Joe+Cepeda.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Cepeda</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My friend, award-winning illustrator Joe Cepeda, was the honored special guest illustrator. He spoke of his appreciation of the opportunity to interact with the community and to have a venue to celebrate children's books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The SCBWI OC/IE Gallery Committee (Gina Capaldi, Priscilla Burris, QL Pierce, Francesca Rusackas) and Margaret Aichele, Executive Director of the dA, did a beautiful job organizing the exhibition and the opening event! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check out the fabulous window display! My photos didn't do it justice -- see it for yourself! The Imagine! exhibition runs through July 18, 2015.</span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-40223997891665141242013-03-19T23:22:00.000-07:002013-03-20T12:40:10.363-07:00An Intriguing New Graphic Novel about Nicola Tesla<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KdlvT34OeOlvOw8-0C7v7b0OOuIv_2-PO11gP1KoQh6Vck97CqlCt4MS87iU0NS9ezv5o06PmQXPlCm_XSZi5VGDt7DvH6hwg9o0zAxEj9uyv_izYj0d-hDWKN8Z5GcAy4TecBaaOFs/s1600/Tesla+book+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KdlvT34OeOlvOw8-0C7v7b0OOuIv_2-PO11gP1KoQh6Vck97CqlCt4MS87iU0NS9ezv5o06PmQXPlCm_XSZi5VGDt7DvH6hwg9o0zAxEj9uyv_izYj0d-hDWKN8Z5GcAy4TecBaaOFs/s320/Tesla+book+for+blog.jpg" width="241" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My multi-talented agent, Abigail
Samoun, and fellow Red Fox Literary illustrator, Elizabeth Haidle, have an
exciting project in the works!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their book, <em><a href="http://mindafire.virb.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Mind Afire</strong></a></em>, is about scientist/inventor Nicola
Tesla; and should appeal to children's book enthusiasts, graphic novel collectors, science geeks, steampunk fans,
librarians, teachers and, of course, kids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Abigail
and Elizabeth discovered they were both intrigued by the story of this eccentric,
turn of the (20th) century genius, they decided his story would
be perfect for a graphic novel. I think so too. I love Elizabeth's illustrations and can't wait to read the finished text.<br /><br />Check out the book's animated trailer, introductory video by the author and illustrator, and sample pages
from the book at <a href="http://kck.st/ZPSk5H" target="_blank"><strong>Kickstarter</strong></a>. Abi and Elizabeth have
already reached their initial goal, but are hoping for more pre-sales so they can make
it an even more fabulous book! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><em>Mind Afire: The Visions of Nicola Tesla</em> is pre-selling on Kickstarter throughout March</u>!</span></div>
Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-66604935788899053782013-01-25T13:22:00.000-08:002013-01-25T13:32:07.917-08:00Inspiration Boards at the Illustrators' Table<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am now a member of </span><a href="http://www.carolheyer.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Carol Heyer’s</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> fabulous
artist-foodie group, which meets once a month. The food and the discussions are
always different, always interesting, and always delicious! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAsPbXMKsRqQkrQc_QXjrhtDTIxCdDaQ_oNkTuxbd2YkWPUVTtA5DbYo_NXlhUli1AyOcgDztGs4-tzHcElx4TImCNV-6SWNjqA31_d2M40hbJgpdjQY2qh0B9b1yxyDNn5PwSb1-LjY/s1600/Magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAsPbXMKsRqQkrQc_QXjrhtDTIxCdDaQ_oNkTuxbd2YkWPUVTtA5DbYo_NXlhUli1AyOcgDztGs4-tzHcElx4TImCNV-6SWNjqA31_d2M40hbJgpdjQY2qh0B9b1yxyDNn5PwSb1-LjY/s640/Magpie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our new group blog, the </span><a href="http://www.illustratorstable.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illustrator’s Table</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>,</strong> I have just
posted about my love of artist inspiration boards. I have had boards in the
past, covered with whatever took my eye and made me happy. I knew I wanted to be
an artist since childhood and started early saving favorite art images from
magazines. This was during the heyday of great magazine story illustrators, and
my fashion-artist mother, my sisters and I all collected our favorite artists’ work
in a large black scrapbook. As a teenager I filled filing cabinets with
research ‘scrap’ in my mother’s studio.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I still save research material. As I work on a new
manuscript I begin collecting items and envisioning the way I will design the
dummy. I look for images to inspire setting, clothing and color palette. I fill
folders with what I find, each folder marked with the corresponding page in the
dummy or with general descriptions such as horses, carts, flowers or jugglers. And
the best items go up on the board.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The folders are vital -- but the inspiration
boards!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re fun and make me happy and
excited about my project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They keep me
on target, and are an aid to sustaining the flavor of the story and the emotion
I wish to evoke with my illustrations.</span></span></span></span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-84168513310560527842012-12-06T19:36:00.000-08:002012-12-13T19:43:08.696-08:00Original Children's Book Illustrations at Chemers Gallery<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The opening of this year’s illustration art
exhibit at </span><a href="http://www.chemersgallery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chemer’s Gallery</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Tustin was another enjoyable opportunity to see
and purchase original children’s book illustrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five of the artists spoke about their work
and writer Kathleen Krull read her book <em>Fartiste</em> (which was co-written by
Paul Brewer and illustrated by Boris Kulikov). Ph.D. Penny S. Bryan spoke on
the importance of children’s books and their illustrations, which are fundamental
to visual literacy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And newspaper and
children’s book illustrator Lisa Mertins spoke on her experiences illustrating
both trade and self-published children’s books.<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2jVnRRAyMocR1eB0dTj7WZx8tAvFKzutyhqAdjFFuz4ilT11tiJNqDscVU-9R3yedRSUUKyRbAdAN6tCszcDA9rj0e9Q7NdwJ_WEhfvEh0TVDnIRDUMUXvCr9GVWyq9uNgOzVqTX5zs/s1600/Matt+Tavares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2jVnRRAyMocR1eB0dTj7WZx8tAvFKzutyhqAdjFFuz4ilT11tiJNqDscVU-9R3yedRSUUKyRbAdAN6tCszcDA9rj0e9Q7NdwJ_WEhfvEh0TVDnIRDUMUXvCr9GVWyq9uNgOzVqTX5zs/s1600/Matt+Tavares.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Matt Tavares</strong> on "Illustrating Non-Fiction Books"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In non-fiction illustration you must balance
information and feeling to bring the story to life, show a point of view you
can’t get elsewhere. For example: show a job from the worker’s angle/POV even
(or especially) if there are no photos or records elsewhere of what they
thought/felt/saw as they worked. One can show how things would have looked from
their viewpoint.</span></span><br />
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<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Boris Kulikov</strong> spoke on “Creating a Picture Book”</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDegOk1NVp9QewJeuXmQyzXlOxU49bFOmi9l75I8zUxSwjYpsTUnt0LZkHHggcU7glkqUpRu3jBLisiDOpVTMhxsMfGEBGeNBVDvGDcX3A8bobfu2aJO4y7FTP9W-s-vBpU0zRH-Vua4/s1600/Chris+Sheban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDegOk1NVp9QewJeuXmQyzXlOxU49bFOmi9l75I8zUxSwjYpsTUnt0LZkHHggcU7glkqUpRu3jBLisiDOpVTMhxsMfGEBGeNBVDvGDcX3A8bobfu2aJO4y7FTP9W-s-vBpU0zRH-Vua4/s1600/Chris+Sheban.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The composition is the basement—the start. If that’s
wrong, it all falls apart.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
</span><br /><br /><strong>Chris Sheban</strong>'s talk: “From point A (Arghh!) to Point B
(Book)<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is low-tech and does hundreds of sketches on
tracing paper to come up with a book of illustrations. He likes to take a week
(or two) per illustration, and can take a year to complete work on a book.</span></span></div>
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<br /><strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E.B. Lewis</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on “Mastering the Visual Language”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Illustration is sequential narrative, a visual language as
though you cannot speak. You build in thoughts, sensations, and setting seen
through the eye of the character. You know you have created a real person when
a film starts to flip through your head and you can see the character act out
the story. An artist turns words into images. Put what you feel into the
image—the viewer will get the feeling out of it.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Children don’t care what you know until they
know that you care.”<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exhibit of original illustrations runs
through December 15. If you can't make it, go next year! It’s well worth the visit!</span></span></span></div>
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Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-1965394831629432502012-11-19T12:38:00.000-08:002012-11-19T12:38:05.830-08:00I'm back, and with a few quotes from Illustrator's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I have been on a longer hiatus from my blog than I intended!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been busily writing and painting
and now have a lovely agent—Abigail Samoun of Red Fox Literary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have two manuscripts (with dummies and sample
finished art) circulating “out there“ in the great Land of Publishing! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My portfolio on this site is definitely due
for additions of my new work, but new pieces can be seen on the <a href="http://redfoxliterary.com/dianebrowning-illustrator.html" target="_blank">Red FoxLiterary</a> site.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that my latest work has gone to my agent, I’m ready to
begin a new manuscript! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the latest
L.A. Illustrator’s Day, writer, illustrator and general Renaissance-man, Peter
Reynolds spoke of having<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a personal list
titled “Books Not yet in Print.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
catalogue contains over 400 of his ideas for future books. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a list too—not so long! but long enough
to consider which idea I want to work on next.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Below are some wise and inspiring quotes from the recent Los
Angeles Illustrator’s Day…<br /></span></span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiulGXo3cvX2yIYM-5U2gwBUy6D0U8xNPphUKudl62TOsZEw1J7MjvQVIvoQT7VNiD7ZbNJ1LOMRW0PtDsBWdxfPm5rAh6jqfhLnBofgBOZAKWxE-ZnVAHDjWz7FLaivSqralPLrFZ33w/s1600/Dan+Krall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiulGXo3cvX2yIYM-5U2gwBUy6D0U8xNPphUKudl62TOsZEw1J7MjvQVIvoQT7VNiD7ZbNJ1LOMRW0PtDsBWdxfPm5rAh6jqfhLnBofgBOZAKWxE-ZnVAHDjWz7FLaivSqralPLrFZ33w/s320/Dan+Krall.jpg" width="235" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="http://www.dankrall.com/" target="_blank">Dan Krall</a></span></strong></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"> had
a list of 10 things he has learned that could have saved him 10 years!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Selections are:<br /><br />
Be brief. Think, what can I leave out? It needs to be a non-stop trim-fest!<br /><br />
Finish it! Knuckle down and see it through.<br /><br />
Be nice. Hit your deadlines. Be responsible.<br /><br />
Always have at least 5 irons in the fire. Get it out, do the next thing.<br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Always Google your new project to make sure it hasn’t been done.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqN5Bk-bpavjef6k8geH4vKBxFwpJzXTqfxMyJicnPtDbz3x0yJU6VkSJL_CIcC3iR5xP7JddnhEDU608s74vxF6jULn75ATjaYJUcF6J1hTOdgQxbShWLJrlfGa4-ZHfSpLg4fx_BIo/s1600/Peter+Reynolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqN5Bk-bpavjef6k8geH4vKBxFwpJzXTqfxMyJicnPtDbz3x0yJU6VkSJL_CIcC3iR5xP7JddnhEDU608s74vxF6jULn75ATjaYJUcF6J1hTOdgQxbShWLJrlfGa4-ZHfSpLg4fx_BIo/s320/Peter+Reynolds.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.peterhreynolds.com/" target="_blank">Peter Reynolds</a></b>,
author/illustrator of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Dot</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ish</i> was inspiring and shared many words
of wisdom, my favorite of which was<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Draw fearlessly!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-22809554006272870962012-02-23T00:39:00.000-08:002012-02-23T00:39:00.386-08:00A New Painting......<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several of my illustrator friends and I took part in a gallery show of our paintings this month. The theme of the show was Lullabies and Nightmares.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm944AgzY3fFtWhbjTcBR2-Wnh8NmEFTG-Z5UkLN5gATmtIyo4jsWh-sXeJJ3Bt7wv_LhbTjh_P26hEG6r3YFR8exnQ8vqeuDXB7RJbzmnrVJK9lRp7M41R3MwbO4YOWAwRUYyEDvwuls/s1600/Rockabye+Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm944AgzY3fFtWhbjTcBR2-Wnh8NmEFTG-Z5UkLN5gATmtIyo4jsWh-sXeJJ3Bt7wv_LhbTjh_P26hEG6r3YFR8exnQ8vqeuDXB7RJbzmnrVJK9lRp7M41R3MwbO4YOWAwRUYyEDvwuls/s400/Rockabye+Baby.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chose to illustrate the nursery rhyme "Rock-a-bye Baby in the Treetops", a rhyme which (along with many famous childhood verses) <u>is</u> quite frightening!</span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-92188350666742884432012-02-02T23:27:00.000-08:002012-02-02T23:27:41.390-08:00Spider Magazine Illustrations<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a couple of the illustrations I did for the February issue of Spider magazine ... for Jessica Van Dessel's story "Friend Spider"</span><br />
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</div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-11406504450266995512012-01-24T19:22:00.000-08:002012-01-24T19:22:22.500-08:00My Farewell to Legendary Bookseller George Whitman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihemlFZ65tJ5eH6NmfY6if4ASC7bbrZgCYmkjSG4Q7dOlFWRlzhp0ZTnemKc8fqEyOoPQkLA3etEPq3fHEDbcdCj7mxOMNB7RjoNoO9Jol6de5vlF8FkrTW5jTdcd8ueWipdmBFW643eM/s1600/Shakespeare+and+Co.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihemlFZ65tJ5eH6NmfY6if4ASC7bbrZgCYmkjSG4Q7dOlFWRlzhp0ZTnemKc8fqEyOoPQkLA3etEPq3fHEDbcdCj7mxOMNB7RjoNoO9Jol6de5vlF8FkrTW5jTdcd8ueWipdmBFW643eM/s640/Shakespeare+and+Co.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently saw the celebratory film about Paris and writers -- Midnight in Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One scene shows the front of the legendary bookstore, <a href="http://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/"><strong>Shakespeare and Co</strong></a>., in all its photogenic charm, reminding me that I had neglected to visit the bookstore when I was in Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, as a young artist I was spending most all of my time in art museums and art stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I am unable to resist a great bookstore, so why didn’t I remember to visit this famous landmark -- so perfect for English-reading, book-loving travelers?<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I was quite saddened to learn last month of the passing of 98 year old George Whitman, the founder of Shakespeare and Co., from writer Kristen Espinasse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has written her memories of him in her very enjoyable <a href="http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/page/6/"><strong>blog</strong></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was inspired to read more about the bookstore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a reincarnation of the first (also legendary) Shakespeare and Co., which was founded by another American in Paris, Sylvia Beach, and was closed down in WWII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whitman’s bookstore, Le Mistral, opened in 1951, but after meeting Sylvia Beach she bequeathed the name Shakespeare and Co. to him.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One story about Whitman that impressed me concerned the entire year the bookstore was closed in the 60’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His papers weren’t in order so he didn’t sell a single book that year until the red tape was straightened out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept the doors open, however, as a free library and guesthouse for writers from abroad in exchange for an hour or two of work a day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A true book-loving, writer-loving individual!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The French grew to appreciate him too – the French Minister of Culture awarding him the Officier des Arts et Lettres medal for his contributions to the arts. He’s buried in the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery near such writers as Collette and Balzac.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still intend to visit the bookstore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still there, still catering to English-speaking visitors, still welcoming writers, still watched over by his daughter, and I believe by his dog and cat too. Long may it prosper!</span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-2084530873313796102011-12-29T20:32:00.000-08:002011-12-29T20:34:00.482-08:00In Search of More Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHOkCnSoEuE/Tv07h_guEeI/AAAAAAAAA_4/cNiwMLByGdU/s1600/Novacolor+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHOkCnSoEuE/Tv07h_guEeI/AAAAAAAAA_4/cNiwMLByGdU/s400/Novacolor+Rose.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m still in the mood for color! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I needed more paint from my favorite acrylic <a href="http://www.novacolorpaint.com/"><strong>paint</strong></a> company....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I was delighted to also find another dose of inspiring joyful color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Enjoy! And Happy New Year!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kw2lsz9KrEo/Tv08X-jqvdI/AAAAAAAABAE/wwiWUjd7p4I/s1600/Novacolor+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kw2lsz9KrEo/Tv08X-jqvdI/AAAAAAAABAE/wwiWUjd7p4I/s400/Novacolor+Wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EuioAE6YrQ/Tv09jDCrOWI/AAAAAAAABAc/SL2m2vq7I-U/s1600/Novacolor+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EuioAE6YrQ/Tv09jDCrOWI/AAAAAAAABAc/SL2m2vq7I-U/s400/Novacolor+Door.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc5etaVDSd4/Tv091tuPkcI/AAAAAAAABAo/PsDJuWcinzg/s1600/Novacolor+Samples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc5etaVDSd4/Tv091tuPkcI/AAAAAAAABAo/PsDJuWcinzg/s400/Novacolor+Samples.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-30906081930773791432011-12-15T20:48:00.001-08:002011-12-16T12:05:24.097-08:00Children's Book Illustrators Show at Chemers Gallery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Every year I look forward to the exhibition of original work by top children’s book illustrators at the <a href="http://www.chemersgallery.com/events/index.asp">Chemers Gallery</a> in Tustin. It was doubly wonderful that the artists whose work is being shown were on hand on the first day of the exhibit -- to speak, to demonstrate their techniques, and to sign their books.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year’s talented artists were Raul Colon, Mary GrandPre, Elisa Kleven, Robin Preiss Glasser, and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RAUL COLON</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqNK5kATQ21uJcG9twPh199bkPk15yugzXlrJlGTAFronfkmOhPQ1MbYb0ivaAu-nQcgga1Q_t8la-HZt127b1GxD3Jnet5pDINAYT_yuwIdkuVnbFE4xG2XzkzbTHi9-zManpPrX-kA/s1600/Raul+Colon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqNK5kATQ21uJcG9twPh199bkPk15yugzXlrJlGTAFronfkmOhPQ1MbYb0ivaAu-nQcgga1Q_t8la-HZt127b1GxD3Jnet5pDINAYT_yuwIdkuVnbFE4xG2XzkzbTHi9-zManpPrX-kA/s1600/Raul+Colon.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw6DZeQhKbM-3l6lMy08tayThi49NTKY9VB5ukObe4jSUrow5gLmWLsBtRqjkfr6sMNpsXcOPqXKbs9hz4BgQso_w8rdEmtNQRZGi8FZyL_UgiabIYwgvAeAcwzntSelUl7jQkanZFNk/s1600/Raul+Colon+Workbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw6DZeQhKbM-3l6lMy08tayThi49NTKY9VB5ukObe4jSUrow5gLmWLsBtRqjkfr6sMNpsXcOPqXKbs9hz4BgQso_w8rdEmtNQRZGi8FZyL_UgiabIYwgvAeAcwzntSelUl7jQkanZFNk/s1600/Raul+Colon+Workbook.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I particularly enjoyed hearing Raul Colon describe his distinctive style, which involves many layers of watercolor washes and colored pencils on Arches watercolor paper. He also described how he makes his signature wavy lines in his illustrations with a favorite scratchboard tool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also fascinating was the workbook he shared with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In it he has experimented with various color combinations, studies of favorite artists’ palettes and recipes for his own color palette for projects he has done, complete with tiny notations of which colors were layered over which to achieve a particular glowing color.</span><br />
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STEVE JOHNSON and LOU FANCHER<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP2IhZbiS9vftOe8QQ-XNJAtq7mLtmDg60yX3XRnEV6-W7XTPHnPBIHZTlkjcaUHs19MRGStMvMshv6Xqyf9XBH2lV63OkK56d65uTzVqqRhhMfowNLmuwyrABKfRyX2hnq4M09cy6y8/s1600/Johnson+and+Fancher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP2IhZbiS9vftOe8QQ-XNJAtq7mLtmDg60yX3XRnEV6-W7XTPHnPBIHZTlkjcaUHs19MRGStMvMshv6Xqyf9XBH2lV63OkK56d65uTzVqqRhhMfowNLmuwyrABKfRyX2hnq4M09cy6y8/s1600/Johnson+and+Fancher.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m embarrassed to admit I was unfamiliar with the work of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher -- but now they are new favorites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A talented and innovative husband and wife team of illustrators, they shared with us their unusual methods of collaboration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they’ve agreed on a color palette, materials, and the effect they want to create, they both work on the same illustrations, passing them back and forth to add touches and details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each artist has their own strengths, and the combination of his art school training and her innovative ideas works well for them as a team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The couple doesn’t always initially agree on how to approach an art project but have truly learned the art of compromise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With exquisite results.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MARY GRANDPRE</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ3-wjnSg5CMBe2tpFd-_Ezi6shP2IO5M2vQA3grcCfsFM6VZ9WNI-8gMk9A7eztHKD26Gp3qaBoiU1KPONu7a0YVJUKlT3rT4UDKbNf7U8dhVf_zbs4ubBC-2N9gJubLdalvVWpksB4/s1600/Mary+GrandPre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ3-wjnSg5CMBe2tpFd-_Ezi6shP2IO5M2vQA3grcCfsFM6VZ9WNI-8gMk9A7eztHKD26Gp3qaBoiU1KPONu7a0YVJUKlT3rT4UDKbNf7U8dhVf_zbs4ubBC-2N9gJubLdalvVWpksB4/s1600/Mary+GrandPre.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary GrandPre entertained us by telling us who -- including a couple of dogs -- had inspired the illustrations of characters in the Harry Potter books -- which included her 2 dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always chooses projects which are meaningful to her in some way, and said that illustrating a book was like being a movie director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likes to vary her style, between that associated with the look of her Harry Potter illustrations and her more sculptural geometric illustration designs, inspired by her love of African art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ROBIN PREISS GLASSER</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnK76uFHHmgIam8P8csIg514M9vLTmVr53Igd7vrp6-O5K4CVz4oTnGOYXCq_AkQPybfgKk2eF3a9zrJ-xBh0xmZzZd2yuP1vz-vR4Hm6LHgJ1LR2qA1h-sttlzmBtaqxqYqdFsm5Fe8/s1600/Robin+Preiss+Glasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnK76uFHHmgIam8P8csIg514M9vLTmVr53Igd7vrp6-O5K4CVz4oTnGOYXCq_AkQPybfgKk2eF3a9zrJ-xBh0xmZzZd2yuP1vz-vR4Hm6LHgJ1LR2qA1h-sttlzmBtaqxqYqdFsm5Fe8/s1600/Robin+Preiss+Glasser.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_58ohunlhNjQXT6wwteT0PMnaLphtrZ7qU6Jst4A_zZT8vAxQpS3IkF04ZhTxxKugPKNPw9A9aLaUGYENtZEfX1q0IezvRmsZf8fSMjflVl5DPcFKnZSkwoL__rjBHXtp1pkQYA-DjiY/s1600/Robin+Preiss+Glasser+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_58ohunlhNjQXT6wwteT0PMnaLphtrZ7qU6Jst4A_zZT8vAxQpS3IkF04ZhTxxKugPKNPw9A9aLaUGYENtZEfX1q0IezvRmsZf8fSMjflVl5DPcFKnZSkwoL__rjBHXtp1pkQYA-DjiY/s1600/Robin+Preiss+Glasser+art.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robin Preiss Glasser wanted to tell us that though everyone claims Fancy Nancy’s appearance must be patterned after their own daughter or granddaughter or some other person known to them, actually the real inspiration for the look of little Nancy is her own niece, Jessie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spoke of her illustration schedule, which is usually from the hours of 4 p.m. until 2 or 3 a.m.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ELISA KLEVEN</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqCuboCdpvjeIqB5QJ1UWEVwboZAapw3_iGCtBJgq_kvb3Yv6pIW-JrOpDdaipA7d_fwYpt_aAEyw34URdOOThrDor5um0rAjiAQsD3j_CQhDxM4IhKb-6Gv0IDE9ulfPdfsJCjwbIFU/s1600/Elisa+Kleven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqCuboCdpvjeIqB5QJ1UWEVwboZAapw3_iGCtBJgq_kvb3Yv6pIW-JrOpDdaipA7d_fwYpt_aAEyw34URdOOThrDor5um0rAjiAQsD3j_CQhDxM4IhKb-6Gv0IDE9ulfPdfsJCjwbIFU/s1600/Elisa+Kleven.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2MhJyq8NVOnwmhX0HkFxK1H392oUAdpj6bEKbpFXXYejUiwt-vpbhmNI_yBGCq057yinmf7RFXkhyphenhyphenMi_p_0jJOBnzXxiQrgH74pu8gMEvYsNzATwnIOTrfpXeUI_51z4GCYjzODt4Ko/s1600/Elisa+Kleven+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2MhJyq8NVOnwmhX0HkFxK1H392oUAdpj6bEKbpFXXYejUiwt-vpbhmNI_yBGCq057yinmf7RFXkhyphenhyphenMi_p_0jJOBnzXxiQrgH74pu8gMEvYsNzATwnIOTrfpXeUI_51z4GCYjzODt4Ko/s1600/Elisa+Kleven+drawing.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elisa Kleven is known for her charmingly childlike illustrations and she spoke of the childhood realization she wanted to be an artist, and of her love of paper dolls and dolls which have resulted in several delightful picture books. Her desire, she said, was to take dreams and visions and to share them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drew several examples of her distinctive and delightful little characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exhibit runs through Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to get back to see the wonderful illustrations again! And I can't wait to see who Chemers invites next year.......<br />
</span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-4397665506582609532011-11-25T00:08:00.000-08:002011-11-25T00:08:00.255-08:00In Search of Color<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe because the darker days of winter are finally beginning to appear here in southern California I’ve been thinking a lot about color lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or it could be due to working on new pieces for my illustration portfolio... The SCBWI Illustrators Day (one day conference) was a few days ago... Color choices in illustrations are always important as they can help convey emotion and even the setting of the piece. The color palette I used for Signed Abiah Rose was based on early 19th century folk artists’ work. Mostly untrained, they worked with a limited palette -- just primary colors with little use of color mixing. The manuscript I’m now working on will require a darker palette due to the moody setting of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I personally have lately felt a need to be surrounded by bright colors. A foray last week in a search for COLOR -- yummy color combinations -- was more successful than I’d even hoped. Gorgeous colors were almost everywhere I visited.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna6vmYrznVRg1Lv5i0Vb5thCYY7RUC7-iIyykfJlV4jZcCCw0Lh0YBCYLdQ1ftCZCS-giFwuwNdgK3rxfyOzs0CEOCmh6i33s66WetE5UFW11DiXz9bGthUNdNCUwJre6oD-kzOnfJ-Y/s1600/vintage+store+shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna6vmYrznVRg1Lv5i0Vb5thCYY7RUC7-iIyykfJlV4jZcCCw0Lh0YBCYLdQ1ftCZCS-giFwuwNdgK3rxfyOzs0CEOCmh6i33s66WetE5UFW11DiXz9bGthUNdNCUwJre6oD-kzOnfJ-Y/s320/vintage+store+shelf.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A shelf in a vintage store</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZeXuXe0FRuD0_5igQOIgOZOiTgq7QwxH3fTYTSarCTi7aINr08MBnO-Zptbr_FraYCrqQqWUJ7VpYJ1ZuVFH_X5x8FBEjbt5MLX-HFoOKENKo9WaI-Pryw6zESTtg_lyKGwXr_a8M6U/s1600/Busters+wall+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZeXuXe0FRuD0_5igQOIgOZOiTgq7QwxH3fTYTSarCTi7aINr08MBnO-Zptbr_FraYCrqQqWUJ7VpYJ1ZuVFH_X5x8FBEjbt5MLX-HFoOKENKo9WaI-Pryw6zESTtg_lyKGwXr_a8M6U/s320/Busters+wall+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">Wall art advertisement for a funky and arty coffeehouse -- Busters in South Pasadena -- a favorite of mine.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The culmination of my search for color was found in a favorite shop -- <a href="http://www.zinnia.biz/">Zinnia</a> in South Pasadena. The extremely talented and creative folks there have created a delightful, bright and joyful haven-- a feast for the eye. It’s also a great place to shop for treasures and to take classes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-FpCAzKrql8KN2bfdQcgW5guH-FcEu0Ruq9r8Q-yUo8u3HyVPNV_sZPFWkA6pzj4mWzkcn_M_EyCKz0SqRuvEPq86CHSap5twjL_uT2iGa3wIaPnbi7lUgrsXaxHlgEPNf3NqN6QRTo/s1600/Zinnia+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-FpCAzKrql8KN2bfdQcgW5guH-FcEu0Ruq9r8Q-yUo8u3HyVPNV_sZPFWkA6pzj4mWzkcn_M_EyCKz0SqRuvEPq86CHSap5twjL_uT2iGa3wIaPnbi7lUgrsXaxHlgEPNf3NqN6QRTo/s320/Zinnia+floor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">Gorgeous floor paintings</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrQ1bpVesMzJ4MzdvxakSqVVgolJDYn3ftXddcel72LIEAlsPa0T-X_1ohM8ifhJCInUCfRgAnsmXXtv3-AzKQ0EsFUCh-lVAhS0maVf9eWyiJ6z33Bp-FqUOnX7XcqF_TWRYPhpowoc/s1600/Zinnia+furniture+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrQ1bpVesMzJ4MzdvxakSqVVgolJDYn3ftXddcel72LIEAlsPa0T-X_1ohM8ifhJCInUCfRgAnsmXXtv3-AzKQ0EsFUCh-lVAhS0maVf9eWyiJ6z33Bp-FqUOnX7XcqF_TWRYPhpowoc/s320/Zinnia+furniture+collage.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Delicious painted and collaged furniture displays for merchandise</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7jJKIGhIjbOxH3Atl7yPJveS8ZYS81WRL8tejQYM4_IYaL_alBdJYoVVRXMT-XEvKpcuHNZuopotiWTRi7Unj3ro4LETszPW-GQF1X8YnhmCyDrWLItDfxAMxiQsfFcBP0b99ggMOfE/s1600/Zinnia+more+beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7jJKIGhIjbOxH3Atl7yPJveS8ZYS81WRL8tejQYM4_IYaL_alBdJYoVVRXMT-XEvKpcuHNZuopotiWTRi7Unj3ro4LETszPW-GQF1X8YnhmCyDrWLItDfxAMxiQsfFcBP0b99ggMOfE/s320/Zinnia+more+beads.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gVJfGE9Nf4Wu4jd6p7b2EMrcPISMi84DST8WvWiBB35L9To6AviUEsDN2WM-2V9FhDNRfJs9nYP0hRhWeW-lbKed36E_6T7CWori2go_MD8Bo3zKDpVhzt3YaifZsTpaJ-qH0AVuKCQ/s1600/Zinnia+beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gVJfGE9Nf4Wu4jd6p7b2EMrcPISMi84DST8WvWiBB35L9To6AviUEsDN2WM-2V9FhDNRfJs9nYP0hRhWeW-lbKed36E_6T7CWori2go_MD8Bo3zKDpVhzt3YaifZsTpaJ-qH0AVuKCQ/s320/Zinnia+beads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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.....<span style="font-family: Arial;">Artfully colorful inspirations</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The effect of all these reds, blues, greens and yellows? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a human being I was cheered and happy -- as an artist, I was inspired and energized with food for the soul.<br />
</span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-13089870316452089322011-11-10T10:37:00.001-08:002012-02-02T23:08:30.001-08:00An Illustrator's Process -- Preliminary Sketching for a Magazine Story<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently illustrated a story for Spider Magazine which will run in the February issue of the magazine. I love the ‘bug’ magazines—Babybug, Ladybug, Spider and Cricket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And </span>I really enjoyed the story by <strike>J.S. Webster</strike> Jessica Van Dessel, which is about Quakers, a family thought to be run-away-slaves, and spiders. <br />
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The deadline for the assignment was short, and a considerable amount of the time was spent in research and preliminary sketches. Thanks to my agent Abigail’s husband supplying the name of the type of spider I needed, the spider research was considerably shortened. With library books, my own private supply of books, my file of research clippings -- and, of course, the internet -- my research was accomplished!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of my sketches..........<br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNmCwYc7xaH-fNl_w843Srlv-oKI314ZsKbzJLEnsH1hG9QjKWmPQ6CeyEXcNSchj-OsywxCKpRY7WZ3RM9lTHwMKX6qcXJNu9qiEb9HxdlFXLuvp7hoXIq_38jVTOiHI5LIwmdSUPkQ/s1600/In+Hiding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNmCwYc7xaH-fNl_w843Srlv-oKI314ZsKbzJLEnsH1hG9QjKWmPQ6CeyEXcNSchj-OsywxCKpRY7WZ3RM9lTHwMKX6qcXJNu9qiEb9HxdlFXLuvp7hoXIq_38jVTOiHI5LIwmdSUPkQ/s400/In+Hiding.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF12Ycw0nCfwVmuc6OODYK9Zkbnbl4z8T6-hmilXnxamDAT0aWoae61fYwMBowBQLikq2IumDhLgDSTs4y4aovSgt0z6jPZP3TNdfkk26FvAtMd0m0Xk6ORbdvAj3yK9_ZoIcQm5qytfw/s1600/Spiders+and+Webs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF12Ycw0nCfwVmuc6OODYK9Zkbnbl4z8T6-hmilXnxamDAT0aWoae61fYwMBowBQLikq2IumDhLgDSTs4y4aovSgt0z6jPZP3TNdfkk26FvAtMd0m0Xk6ORbdvAj3yK9_ZoIcQm5qytfw/s320/Spiders+and+Webs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-33433723147513941372011-10-27T00:08:00.000-07:002011-10-27T00:08:00.228-07:00Still Worried About E-Books?<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK1A5jaXgtL7ql6Fe3A6yiQH78kATTxVAoNlM09TnR5WF_5lT5OYPV96w4r_TlrUyl55v74GhuiqVP2yVAm6M7NxU5UxK_4T3fkZhhtkw8ae02tpkA5v3AWtafP04PYrK8H2SZpOMBoY/s1600/Alexis+Signing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK1A5jaXgtL7ql6Fe3A6yiQH78kATTxVAoNlM09TnR5WF_5lT5OYPV96w4r_TlrUyl55v74GhuiqVP2yVAm6M7NxU5UxK_4T3fkZhhtkw8ae02tpkA5v3AWtafP04PYrK8H2SZpOMBoY/s200/Alexis+Signing.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Alexis O'Neill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently attended a ‘Breakfast with the Authors’ event sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dozen authors and illustrators as well as a panel of experts were on hand, trying to answer what role books are going to play in the electronic age.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The general consensus was that there will always be physical books but that the process of presenting them will become different. People are adaptable and can embrace an infinite variety of media, though some of us may be reluctant to see this change in publishing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An opinion was expressed that actually children’s books, poetry books and novels will be the least affected by electronic publishing. Non-fiction is the most likely to thrive in an e-book format--especially text-books and travel books. (I do like the idea of not having to lug books around when traveling!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reading of digital non-fiction books is a also a vastly different experience than the reading of a physical non-fiction book since it’s possible to enhance the images, provide definitions on demand and link to other sources, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Text books could conceivably become exclusively digital within the next ten years. (That <u>would</u> be an improvement on the backpacks full of books kids have to carry around!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the points I was most interested in (and concerned about) was about illustrated picture books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may be greatly affected, as it is possible that publishers will choose illustrators whose work will best translate to electronic format--illustrations with sharp edges or a cartoon-like look. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could this limit the wonderful variety of images we see in physical books?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High resolution illustrations will be the ones that translate best to e-books, but hi-res work is more expensive to produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So publishers may be very careful about which and how </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">many images are used in a book. <br />
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A quote I liked, from Greg Trine: 'As long as there are kids learning to read, teachers will demand physical books. What's important for writers is not to be threatened by e-books; what's important is always the same -- character, story and voice.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-3132626899803375742011-10-19T00:03:00.000-07:002011-10-19T00:03:00.201-07:00The Big Draw Has Come to Los Angeles<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2p5puyxU7wrQSC56BxP100QBz-OozhyphenhyphenirNZ_LxUxpLwLA1wtWbDdAXZbRjAycd4MsEVK4CvRm0vUmXGcCvSMs4_2CttBwaCU4flZHcuchvJW7KNojdDQWht3JncFjG-Wb6L8-qsLAFU/s1600/Big_Draw_LA_Color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2p5puyxU7wrQSC56BxP100QBz-OozhyphenhyphenirNZ_LxUxpLwLA1wtWbDdAXZbRjAycd4MsEVK4CvRm0vUmXGcCvSMs4_2CttBwaCU4flZHcuchvJW7KNojdDQWht3JncFjG-Wb6L8-qsLAFU/s320/Big_Draw_LA_Color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
October is half over but I just learned about a fun celebration of drawing -- Big Draw L.A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a month-long initiative to get the people of Los Angeles participating in art projects, by providing fun opportunities to be creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also a way to communicate and interact with others.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drawing, after all, helps us to see, think, invent, communicate and just play!<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The L.A. event <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is sponsored by Ryman Arts—a free program that teaches classical drawing and painting to talented<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and motivated high school<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>students in southern California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were inspired by a very popular Big Draw event in London which was sponsored by the Campaign for Drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Campaign for Drawing was created by the Guild of St. George, a small charity founded by artist, writer and educator John Ruskin in 1871 to assist in the education of artists. A lovely chain of events!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there are Big Draw events in countries around the world.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ryman Arts launched the L.A. event last year with 30 venues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year there are over 55. The London event has a head start of 10 years and this year they have over 1000 events scheduled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully the Los Angeles Big Draw will be even bigger next year—as well as embracing the philosophy of the Campaign for Drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their long-term ambition is to change the way educators (and everyone else) thinks about drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the trend now is to eliminate art classes in our schools this is a truly worthy pursuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Campaign for Drawing group<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>believe that drawing is fundamental<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the education<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of students, and that drawing is useful <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in all walks of life---a basic skill. Their hope is actually to erase the phrase “I can’t draw” from our vocabularies!<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is still time to join the fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out the <span id="goog_396923407"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Big Draw LA</a> <span id="goog_396923408"></span>website……</span></span></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-28138007424524893782011-09-22T12:11:00.000-07:002011-09-22T16:34:04.747-07:002011 SCBWI Illustrators Intensive – Even More Notes!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br />
Richard Jesse Watson</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to cross-hatch with an exacto knife.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subject matter (of a painting) tells you what medium to use.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some mediums ’fight’ you.<br />
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I like the challenge of 'making do' (with tools and supplies).<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Experiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes when you experiment you fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then you know ‘don’t do that again!—It was easier in my imagination!’<br />
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I like to play with symmetry and design.<br />
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He likes to use egg tempera, and has spent as long as three months on one egg tempera painting. The elegance of egg tempera painting comes from the delicate brush work that’s possible as well as its transparency. It’s a dance between opacity and transparency. He thinks you can get similar results with acrylics. <br />
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Both oils and tempera need to breathe, that’s why they can be used together. (You can paint oil OVER tempera). <br />
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He doesn’t recommend (egg tempera) unless you have a lot of patience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ylcywZJIAwyJvfG33keJgQM7KG3EXl0F2POFZSTDiNG0MlTDnM9s4vtixGc2Zxp1GN_KNckvi9uR8JdFiE-p2G3JLOlsmpF5LGG4AJcLiDbCYaqUwz3nrkMBQzuNaqhYY2BvRVaUL7k/s1600/Watson+Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ylcywZJIAwyJvfG33keJgQM7KG3EXl0F2POFZSTDiNG0MlTDnM9s4vtixGc2Zxp1GN_KNckvi9uR8JdFiE-p2G3JLOlsmpF5LGG4AJcLiDbCYaqUwz3nrkMBQzuNaqhYY2BvRVaUL7k/s1600/Watson+Dragon.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Strathmore rag illustration board is an elegant amazing surface—either ‘toothy’ or hot press. But hot press is not good with an electric eraser (which he likes to use). It can ruin the surface.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<strong>Kadir Nelson<br />
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</strong>I’ve been searching high and low for notes from Kadir Nelson’s demonstration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so mesmerized by watching him paint this amazing portrait, I must not have taken any!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subject -- a volunteer from the audience -- is illustrator Dan Santat.<br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKebCJGgdSOij3X7buMEKQjsFbNPMaXRiiMFM98bGKHxzF_zpfJDCEcxw86iLt2oB723BzhTR11N6NZJI7UxaxIt6DKwzJh2y6zzqMpirf5ExfXFup_lblsKrZv9rngZBuQ2Elz5JQqiU/s1600/Kadir+Nelson+painting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKebCJGgdSOij3X7buMEKQjsFbNPMaXRiiMFM98bGKHxzF_zpfJDCEcxw86iLt2oB723BzhTR11N6NZJI7UxaxIt6DKwzJh2y6zzqMpirf5ExfXFup_lblsKrZv9rngZBuQ2Elz5JQqiU/s400/Kadir+Nelson+painting2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These photos speak for themselves.....<br />
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<strong> </strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0WfB0TVBZjYQjuziwb1lcdAEvXUrFqNcXJVEqH8itoSBOXnraRemu5nOeYmDwKS00vPgixZPJqvbSz6dJThWy-YArOJpcstShjOvcduI-7FsQ2lllcsqLqiYPgfOmDXKi7FtznzqaR4/s1600/Kadir+Nelson+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0WfB0TVBZjYQjuziwb1lcdAEvXUrFqNcXJVEqH8itoSBOXnraRemu5nOeYmDwKS00vPgixZPJqvbSz6dJThWy-YArOJpcstShjOvcduI-7FsQ2lllcsqLqiYPgfOmDXKi7FtznzqaR4/s400/Kadir+Nelson+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg8oQJHnX4iFv4R9lGGPxR-NN-ZirKrlc7hkD95ECLgz8jB1gsE3EA1tWwaZETkQFm3hc0Y_LmLae83E7dcWJid0hKpE5TOiOBq7Z95gCa4XKoOCrsX-dC8CGTCpYtkoDDEdzvgpEb74/s1600/Kadir+Nelson+paints+Dan+Santat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg8oQJHnX4iFv4R9lGGPxR-NN-ZirKrlc7hkD95ECLgz8jB1gsE3EA1tWwaZETkQFm3hc0Y_LmLae83E7dcWJid0hKpE5TOiOBq7Z95gCa4XKoOCrsX-dC8CGTCpYtkoDDEdzvgpEb74/s400/Kadir+Nelson+paints+Dan+Santat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mc6GjppUkTTwMl0MUvzt1FaG_J6E6VGYACC2gqo5XgeHcz3Vhr5fR8lmWzerkfpww87FnxX81kdl2RzYpa4e1xppWTCx3jUsDr9qb0nPRp1CERKJ_SDNgK3UP-m85iHBsRFIY7dRTY/s1600/Kadir+Nelson+portrait+of+Dan+Santat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mc6GjppUkTTwMl0MUvzt1FaG_J6E6VGYACC2gqo5XgeHcz3Vhr5fR8lmWzerkfpww87FnxX81kdl2RzYpa4e1xppWTCx3jUsDr9qb0nPRp1CERKJ_SDNgK3UP-m85iHBsRFIY7dRTY/s400/Kadir+Nelson+portrait+of+Dan+Santat.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-43200356075975173082011-09-08T11:36:00.000-07:002011-09-22T16:36:36.529-07:002011 SCBWI Illustrators Intensive -- Some More Notes<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More quotes and photos from the August SCBWI Intensive<br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabucxSNKmAcGgkMbf-gzsfVg142glV2eJoqRUMC1Z2zk5m-o17UFARN6j9h3ciw61N1QFIAFH0NzoJbxp-587rj4ARONA-OEc8uDs2L6zMv2VPg3A8GaN7ga5iBfj9UeE8a5BFerU4Jw/s1600/David+Small+Demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabucxSNKmAcGgkMbf-gzsfVg142glV2eJoqRUMC1Z2zk5m-o17UFARN6j9h3ciw61N1QFIAFH0NzoJbxp-587rj4ARONA-OEc8uDs2L6zMv2VPg3A8GaN7ga5iBfj9UeE8a5BFerU4Jw/s1600/David+Small+Demo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>David Small</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t see how anyone can be an illustrator if they can’t draw the human body from memory.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Retaining spontaneity) is my goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t illustrate a manuscript unless you love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will have to read it every day of your life for a year. Don’t do it just for the money.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My eye knows when I’m finished (with an illustration).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7jBE1hpShkyG_5Nq2atfy7dlfWrD5Xq_SiKBTvqYo8b9DvkCwr4GZV4BlsCIim3YWmI_K_UJxjqXcyI1kaSjQst7DDZTyAODNnPnyydFM2BsqEYC9Z6DMYoOPdDinoaE2uNub2w_7v0/s1600/David+Small+Sketchbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7jBE1hpShkyG_5Nq2atfy7dlfWrD5Xq_SiKBTvqYo8b9DvkCwr4GZV4BlsCIim3YWmI_K_UJxjqXcyI1kaSjQst7DDZTyAODNnPnyydFM2BsqEYC9Z6DMYoOPdDinoaE2uNub2w_7v0/s1600/David+Small+Sketchbook.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rembrandt was an illustrator!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synthetic brushes last forever....</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On book tours I always take a sketch book. I need to keep drawing!<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artist’s duty is not to surprise the viewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The artist’s duty is to surprise himself.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sort of calm (comes over me) when I’ve done something really good…(something) that welcomes or disturbs the eye in a pleasant way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPngSIrN5cGP-fR-9rvVcZmolWFb8wPPzdHuAKOJ8xzWiyvSvFVv4N6ZKPBe4n81Acz9-x1E59CwBLr7pHxEROsE2SxDs8bv3qeH5x0lhxO8-qNShWqlzXF5E9yVDzenohOIWpy8brhI/s1600/Marla+Frazee+Demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPngSIrN5cGP-fR-9rvVcZmolWFb8wPPzdHuAKOJ8xzWiyvSvFVv4N6ZKPBe4n81Acz9-x1E59CwBLr7pHxEROsE2SxDs8bv3qeH5x0lhxO8-qNShWqlzXF5E9yVDzenohOIWpy8brhI/s1600/Marla+Frazee+Demo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Marla Frazee<br />
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stretch every kind of paper (from) Xerox 1 ply recycled paper to series 500 Strathmore hot press paper. It doesn’t have to be watercolor paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting the paper wet sets the graphite sketch (so it won’t smudge). I don’t use illustration board because you can’t use it with a light box.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I use Windsor & Newton watercolor or gouache and inexpensive brushes.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I paint 50 or more layers (with a small brush!) for my backgrounds. It’s not interesting to watch!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to use Prismacolor black Verithin and ebony graphite 5H pencils.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I draw out of my head, from a model or if photo reference is needed I Google it. I also have a scrap file of images. When using photo images (I take care) not to get too close to the photo image or the illustration won’t work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think character, scale, setting…</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Technique is secondary because if the illustration isn’t working it doesn’t matter (what the technique is).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think of the rhythm of the story…Where are the beats?</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have no desire to do art on a computer. Work in a way that relaxes you. I get tense on the computer. It feels great (to me) to spend the day in the studio working!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-47239066604101041922011-09-01T09:41:00.000-07:002011-09-22T16:37:01.839-07:002011 SCBWI Illustrators Intensive -- Some Notes <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
SCBWI followed their summer Conference this year with a chance to attend either a writer’s or illustrator’s intensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose the Illustrators Intensive and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to see some of the ‘greats’ demonstrating their illustrating techniques.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote down some snippets of the information (on tools etc.) so dear to the hearts of illustrators’ fans and groupies!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHFnCOWBaOBMFDJHKU-4RwM0xXVbXf95C1BwzC_kMs-0aRtoZV1FoO11fyzC5D64WpZiQWEMgGiAy8-j1GR2WLMfazcWYSJCivuqpE5Xp5kQcTGuXK9KbTGYZaF94vBhFtr8RZWRZzLg/s1600/Jerry+Pinkney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHFnCOWBaOBMFDJHKU-4RwM0xXVbXf95C1BwzC_kMs-0aRtoZV1FoO11fyzC5D64WpZiQWEMgGiAy8-j1GR2WLMfazcWYSJCivuqpE5Xp5kQcTGuXK9KbTGYZaF94vBhFtr8RZWRZzLg/s1600/Jerry+Pinkney.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Jerry Pinkney</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Some preferences…</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2B pencil for sketching </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tint of raw umber or ochre (rather than a white ground) because “it gives something for the colors to bounce off of.”</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arches 300 lb. or 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper “…hot press allows for greater detail.”</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdphAhawvDnbpiyi9Bld4K8OT7xpMz7ZangwVft0zBGU-5apQ-XBcPQ_bve-CSdA6CcqwOppCoPB73eZkk0ihAEYMnHrNvTqrIG0EmzjxICu8cL074lfJ41MD4L3E4ZTvr2zBkRHMrdvI/s1600/Jerry+Pinkney+Demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdphAhawvDnbpiyi9Bld4K8OT7xpMz7ZangwVft0zBGU-5apQ-XBcPQ_bve-CSdA6CcqwOppCoPB73eZkk0ihAEYMnHrNvTqrIG0EmzjxICu8cL074lfJ41MD4L3E4ZTvr2zBkRHMrdvI/s1600/Jerry+Pinkney+Demo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>And…</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Re: dealing with ‘artists’ block’…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>”Sometimes <em>deadlines</em> get you unstuck!”</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interesting info: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never spends more than 3 days on an illustration. “But that could mean 10 hour workdays…” And it really means 3 days + 30 years experience!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtq21joKl5TcnTMaOgovO-ULnU7bpcL25uKNp2_cg07cgNBf_WOsyMwVWED57A5jBH_oqCPRAyzZXqXv8S4KqpHg1p9fSmsw2_8uprXCNkW6sCBv9vqpJTeRDOX9H485idZTgdrmaJhc/s1600/Paul+Zelinsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtq21joKl5TcnTMaOgovO-ULnU7bpcL25uKNp2_cg07cgNBf_WOsyMwVWED57A5jBH_oqCPRAyzZXqXv8S4KqpHg1p9fSmsw2_8uprXCNkW6sCBv9vqpJTeRDOX9H485idZTgdrmaJhc/s1600/Paul+Zelinsky.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Paul O. Zelinsky</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Preferences…</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">125 lb. cold press watercolor paper because “it’s kind of forgiving.”</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inexpensive brushes are fine if they have a sharp point.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A clean work environment is important “but it never is” (clean).</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsX-nqdsRW3DSPZHXF4xz0QooA7HqG57F4J6aYw-H0kurjrgFkcBrAvQRATzBURF6vVd4kFSjWItqJ2BwGu8VTxdd7TprzlPIn11UQxd8wzYblIhqyPJ5bTI-ybSgblQ6ywhZDNSWn3U/s1600/Paul+Zelinsky+demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsX-nqdsRW3DSPZHXF4xz0QooA7HqG57F4J6aYw-H0kurjrgFkcBrAvQRATzBURF6vVd4kFSjWItqJ2BwGu8VTxdd7TprzlPIn11UQxd8wzYblIhqyPJ5bTI-ybSgblQ6ywhZDNSWn3U/s1600/Paul+Zelinsky+demo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>And…</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He stretches his watercolor paper (unless it’s thick enough not to need being stretched).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Concerning avoiding over painting….”Use a lot of hope!”</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He uses a medieval technique involving underpainting with water base paint followed by oil painting.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found the demonstrations helpful as well as inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to stop worrying about expensive vs. inexpensive brushes and my work environment not being as neat as I’d like!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m finally going to experiment with underpainting – oils over water-based paint....<br />
<br />
More notes and photos from the Intensive on my next post!<br />
</span></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-35509957768094189892011-08-26T00:03:00.000-07:002011-08-26T11:40:27.513-07:00Women's Equality Day....and Children's Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisJCD_VmMbgbCoTibt2zY8xWQ767HQRj5re9QuiB28xsyKJrjoJx03LeqXm4b9LphwcY8DnOMNo-lLtfT4reD6qo_t6_KvQ0bKLRRK61yhfO9glLhqwVqYOjnQNiVVIyDWiyQ35ssxAg/s1600/90th_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisJCD_VmMbgbCoTibt2zY8xWQ767HQRj5re9QuiB28xsyKJrjoJx03LeqXm4b9LphwcY8DnOMNo-lLtfT4reD6qo_t6_KvQ0bKLRRK61yhfO9glLhqwVqYOjnQNiVVIyDWiyQ35ssxAg/s1600/90th_poster.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nwhp.org/">National Women's History Project</a><br />
Winning the Vote Poster</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is Women’s Equality Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On August 26, 1920, after 72 years of campaigning, American women finally achieved their aim of being able to vote. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
<br />
</span>One of the leaders in the struggle was Elizabeth Cady Stanton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember reading an excellent review of Tanya Lee Stone’s <em><a href="http://www.tanyastone.com/index.php?id=25">Elizabeth Leads the Way</a></em>, but being shocked by the statement that most young people would be unfamiliar with Stanton and what she accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I realized I probably never heard of her when I was in school either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br />
<br />
</span>I have always enjoyed reading history books, so I don’t know when I picked up my knowledge of women’s many contributions to world history, including the American suffragette movement and the women behind it. So I consider the excellent books available for children on this subject vitally important.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Elizabeth Leads the Way </em>begins with these words:</span><br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZlkzIcC1oN6N0d-Tuu92Y7eQ5ZNGRdbAG3PaSzTn3MmwMZkTXU2R_J0TX7F_v3QBjbc4l024_8GttXIU7jS3oUO5SsAjD-pHzEzGHQfQTldAybWDz0feLMgLtjvv6nZ5RaAoAgeAOZY/s1600/Elizabeth+Leads+the+Way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZlkzIcC1oN6N0d-Tuu92Y7eQ5ZNGRdbAG3PaSzTn3MmwMZkTXU2R_J0TX7F_v3QBjbc4l024_8GttXIU7jS3oUO5SsAjD-pHzEzGHQfQTldAybWDz0feLMgLtjvv6nZ5RaAoAgeAOZY/s320/Elizabeth+Leads+the+Way.jpg" width="235" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <em>'What</em> would you do</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if someone told you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can’t be what you want to be</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What would you do</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if someone told you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your vote doesn’t count</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your voice doesn’t matter</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">because you are a girl.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you ask why?</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you talk back?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you fight for your rights?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elizabeth did.'</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Elizabeth Leads the Way –Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote</em> is an excellent picture book to read to children—especially girls—today, in honor of Women’s Equality Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another book about Elizabeth, for older kids, is <em>You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton</em> by Jean Fritz. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next posts will be on the very inspiring and enlightening Illustrator Intensive I attended at the SCBWI Summer Conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It included demonstrations by Jerry Pinkney, Paul O. Zelinsky and Kadir Nelson.</span></div><br />
Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-34337675276901775812011-08-23T00:08:00.000-07:002011-08-23T00:08:00.201-07:00More Wise Quotes from the Recent SCBWI 2011 Summer Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fWHOvehL8tUaKHv1EBdSOLla_08EEcUQ38LkCAUyFim8JaPs2ESqIEhaorCN_imUhGsNTGrFwwVW57BORYABW7PMLL6PRtuwnPBllfCS9yDUQCCSuWHAZJW7qnrC7t6Ri5mvPp_uyyc/s1600/Judy-Bloom-and-Lin-Oliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fWHOvehL8tUaKHv1EBdSOLla_08EEcUQ38LkCAUyFim8JaPs2ESqIEhaorCN_imUhGsNTGrFwwVW57BORYABW7PMLL6PRtuwnPBllfCS9yDUQCCSuWHAZJW7qnrC7t6Ri5mvPp_uyyc/s320/Judy-Bloom-and-Lin-Oliver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the recent SCBWI Summer Conference one of the keynote speakers was a surprise—the amazing Judy Blume, who stepped in at the last minute for an ailing John Green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are a few wise comments from Ms. Blume, who was interviewed by one of my favorite people:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Executive Director and co-founder of SCBWI, Lin Oliver.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokrPox3I9YIwW43pebauqY9f-N8dTYmqj2xHAPq8U2gTTuSxKRHKhq5XzHnDu2HzbaCYdZiIA0H6zhsDGuh4D3CsGjiwY1Kd1FVQjeQZI0jHGgApMtSkUb2K1a6aW3-2GX2Kw2RcgeTs/s320/Judy-Bloom.jpg" width="217" /></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't' like to give advice because there's' no one way (to write). Try a lot of ways and find one that works for you!<br />
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The stuff that's going to matter is what's coming from deep inside.<br />
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The reason (to write) was always to find out what was going to happen.<br />
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I heard (someone say) don't even think of writing something not taking place in the present. (I say) don't <u>ever</u> listen to anything like that!<br />
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I listen--everyone who writes has to get out there and <u>listen</u> and observe.<br />
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Writing slang isn't great if you want to write fiction that lasts.<br />
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Writing not only changed my life, it <u>saved</u> my life.</span></span><br />
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Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-86853681203199146842011-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:002011-09-01T10:36:19.341-07:00A Tasty SCBWI 40th Anniversary Summer Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7p4PvetWj0ueHINcZRmSuh8B76IHRPyXUAyu7kCgw5gdY57d_BVbTtocg2twxZIHxIS447k8uImbe4jQv0zJO59vxJvxDX7csyGtypEvtovO1CHAKYa7wvN6eiamCNXtpy6Mud8rXfY/s1600/YUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7p4PvetWj0ueHINcZRmSuh8B76IHRPyXUAyu7kCgw5gdY57d_BVbTtocg2twxZIHxIS447k8uImbe4jQv0zJO59vxJvxDX7csyGtypEvtovO1CHAKYa7wvN6eiamCNXtpy6Mud8rXfY/s320/YUM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 40th Anniversary SCBWI Summer Conference just ended on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve attended this exceptional conference for many years and this year’s celebration was one of the very best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are some favorite quotes from this year’s speakers.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BRUCE COVILLE – Author</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVsspWlwDTvWLYD872o22cZiJZZ4oUGo1RN7uU7RksRLLMMbPjFx63ssZ5-B4gpXuE-uPXWgbvTPlMNSLlcB2zczF_RBIhmRK-f5G4KOlQMCRk6XUDPlOUA7ZW3VRdjsKcYkH-zhYYzc/s1600/Bruce-Coville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVsspWlwDTvWLYD872o22cZiJZZ4oUGo1RN7uU7RksRLLMMbPjFx63ssZ5-B4gpXuE-uPXWgbvTPlMNSLlcB2zczF_RBIhmRK-f5G4KOlQMCRk6XUDPlOUA7ZW3VRdjsKcYkH-zhYYzc/s320/Bruce-Coville.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything we do moves outward and has an effect, like ripples in the pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never know how what we do will affect others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our work has the potential to change the world in ways not known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go home and drop some pebbles in the pond.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LIBBA BRAY – Author</span> </u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQpICWxdjCNMwMk_b1CBX1ZrlPN6kE4PG8uSS7yK0F95a1Aj0VKRNA2q2jMevvaep9bEp7AbvBZbWFIeAl77Gua9iNDDopldcPdnq3hwT8zw80FKZa-KzzOYGQsMCz3Qq6DnFNTe3fyk/s1600/Libba-Bray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQpICWxdjCNMwMk_b1CBX1ZrlPN6kE4PG8uSS7yK0F95a1Aj0VKRNA2q2jMevvaep9bEp7AbvBZbWFIeAl77Gua9iNDDopldcPdnq3hwT8zw80FKZa-KzzOYGQsMCz3Qq6DnFNTe3fyk/s320/Libba-Bray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love deadlines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the whooshing sound they make as they rush by!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RICHARD PECK – Author</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUWizQZsZOZCRoOhWWZ5kpIoNY42VM8xtcb_tz0Uz6a5_lg0s19QV7Uf85muImoczNXFPO6757lMpipaVpU6KDHU84uE2vPmTdK0QZW4FQjqVeq28zXKM4l3b85u3-6A_s7zIHWRlm6s/s1600/Richard-Peck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUWizQZsZOZCRoOhWWZ5kpIoNY42VM8xtcb_tz0Uz6a5_lg0s19QV7Uf85muImoczNXFPO6757lMpipaVpU6KDHU84uE2vPmTdK0QZW4FQjqVeq28zXKM4l3b85u3-6A_s7zIHWRlm6s/s320/Richard-Peck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless you find yourself on a page very early in life, you will go looking for yourself in all the wrong places.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><u>SARAH STEWART – Author</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38yBqdV0kyBN6tniqbPd1Fq9Ci14Yz_Rc7Tu10vO8mm-XpUgY2B9HxWEwuhO86TxB5witPq-MdWKlPxK_hOwk28MoOYx7TWXAPHb4H-x_Q74qybBnq-NN4rkQVseYvNnW7gzWjtwmLUU/s1600/Sarah-Stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38yBqdV0kyBN6tniqbPd1Fq9Ci14Yz_Rc7Tu10vO8mm-XpUgY2B9HxWEwuhO86TxB5witPq-MdWKlPxK_hOwk28MoOYx7TWXAPHb4H-x_Q74qybBnq-NN4rkQVseYvNnW7gzWjtwmLUU/s320/Sarah-Stewart.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few of her ‘rules for aspiring writers’ –</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Read the great poetry written in your native language.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put your ambition into writing, never into making money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If there’s no quiet place where you live, find that place <u>within</u> you for a few minutes each day.</span></li>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEVERLY HOROWITZ – Editor<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s always room for something new and different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write the story that only you can tell.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON – Author</span></u></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Art disturbs the Universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank the Gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job of any artist is to disturb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have the courage to explore the stories of your heart.</span><br />
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Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-66359976175729765172011-07-28T00:32:00.000-07:002011-07-28T00:32:45.985-07:00On Creativity, Collaboration and Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuTP1H_1hwXPvt9vCZPVzBjhpHz1ebKViO334T0L25zMq8mb2pI1fgafPPgaGhAqiI10gy-L6HSjIrFUy2P2rPCEqr_wXbbDX6N-BG_-70krWC39V3UK6FuXoMVt6LyLQB9vZydmVEb4/s1600/collaboration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuTP1H_1hwXPvt9vCZPVzBjhpHz1ebKViO334T0L25zMq8mb2pI1fgafPPgaGhAqiI10gy-L6HSjIrFUy2P2rPCEqr_wXbbDX6N-BG_-70krWC39V3UK6FuXoMVt6LyLQB9vZydmVEb4/s320/collaboration.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was a child my two sisters and I were always writing, illustrating our stories, putting on plays or dreaming up some other creative project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We (mostly) worked very well together.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One spring afternoon we sat at the kitchen table discussing our latest project (this time a science fiction novel called The Blue Sun). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother, who was in an adjoining room, couldn’t resist quickly writing down our bursts of ‘brilliant’ inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish she had done so more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her account is hilarious—and we have a record of our collaborative style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in just a few telling words she captured the personalities of our 7, 9 and 15-year-old selves.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mother was a fashion artist and painter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also made wonderful stuffed animals, including a 1” tall teddy bear. I became a ‘designer’ at 7 when I drew a picture of mouse and asked her to make me a stuffed version. She re-created it exactly, down to its over-long eyelashes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My</span> family includes artists in many fields, and we have talked of having a ‘compound’ of houses where we could live close by and work together and inspire one another. Or have a shared studio (in a barn, perhaps?)—our own Omega Workshop or Bloomsbury Group!</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These thoughts have all returned—and inspired these three blog posts—after seeing again the wonderful <a href="http://johnframesculpture.com/the-tale">John Frame</a> exhibit at the Huntington – alas, now closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A brilliant and visionary wood sculptor (his work is indescribable—check out his website).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though he is the creator of his amazing pieces, he has been aided by his family’s many talents—photography, filmmaking, sewing skills—which played a part in his exhibit and his artistic projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frame also curated a show at the Huntington on William Blake; in the exhibit notes he wrote of the artistic assistance of Blake's wife in his work.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sister and I are planning to write a mystery together. We often exchange wild and fanciful project ideas-- some of which might actually be do-able!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been an invaluable critic, editor and technical advisor for my writing/illustrating work—and my blogging!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> All three of us still want to collaborate--m</span>aybe one day we will yet have our ‘barn’!</span></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-24001599643255787672011-07-21T19:07:00.000-07:002011-07-21T19:07:15.768-07:00Creativity -- and Teamwork<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve long been fascinated by authors’ and illustrators’ methods of collaborating on their books. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve heard of writers taking turns writing alternate chapters of a manuscript and wondered how it would be possible to keep it cohesive and smoothly moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it very intriguing though and would love to read such a novel or even try one myself!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvafvmQzWjacJKP9JXkDCRd-N8xvVt4VdrGr-Md9YFUBTIjVyQk5nKrQRWOWI5wkE0nnWYBeAB4X3JJu902Wv8YQVC_9QsK3cU0x0vmaAJ48CjxsgWVlZaxscrW6Tv3DR4xWpJKGR7GNk/s1600/Martin+and+Alice+Provensen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvafvmQzWjacJKP9JXkDCRd-N8xvVt4VdrGr-Md9YFUBTIjVyQk5nKrQRWOWI5wkE0nnWYBeAB4X3JJu902Wv8YQVC_9QsK3cU0x0vmaAJ48CjxsgWVlZaxscrW6Tv3DR4xWpJKGR7GNk/s200/Martin+and+Alice+Provensen.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice and Martin Provensen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Illustrators Alice and Martin Provensen worked together for many years creating picture books together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a lovely <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/provensen-214247-says-book.html">interview</a> by Peter Larsen when Alice was 91, she spoke about working with her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Martin and I really were one artist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we’d work on the same page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d do something or tell him how to fix something.”</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For 50 years the Dillons—illustrators Leo and Diane—created their delightful illustrations, passing their work back and forth, each adding what they thought would improve the work until it was not possible to identify who did what in any given illustration. They have referred to the creator of their artwork as the “3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> artist”—the combination of both their talents and work.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">William Morris and his family and friends are famed for their collaborative efforts. Early in his career the artist, writer and designer joined with other artists to form their own company of designers and decorators. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find the range of their talents and accomplishments amazing.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I once saw an exciting exhibit on the Bloomsbury group of writers, artists and thinkers at the Huntington Library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so captivated not only by their work but their creative relationships with each other that I returned again and again to the exhibit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry, Duncan Grant and others are known for their joint creations in a variety of projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members Leonard and Virginia Woolf started the Hogarth Press in 1917 on the dining room table of their house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several artists in the group created book covers and book jackets as well as interior illustrations for the books the press published.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As with William Morris and his family and friends, working jointly on projects and meeting with other artists and writers seems to have provided valuable inspiration, challenge, encouragement and probably networking possibilities. I‘ve found that true with my own very creative family and with my wonderful SCBWI illustrators ‘schmooze’ group. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing and illustration are, by nature, solitary pursuits—not necessarily a bad thing—but there can certainly be an appeal to being able to share both the excitement and the problems present in an artistic endeavor.</span></div>Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-91783914504685489292011-07-14T00:15:00.000-07:002011-07-14T00:15:00.499-07:00The Writing of a Book: With a Little Help From My FriendsWriting for publication—even without a writing or illustrator partner—is usually a social experience involving the suggestions, comments and opinions of family, friends, agents, editors and illustrators. After writing the first draft of Signed Abiah Rose my sister was my first “editor”, as well as various other writers, a famous agent and at least one editor who critiqued it at a conference. They all liked it, which was very encouraging, and when the manuscript won an SCBWI Writer’s Day picture book contest I was very much encouraged! When it sold to Tricycle Press my editor, Abigail Samoun, made just the right suggestions and by asking some great questions she helped me re-think certain sentences and ideas. An excellent editor and just the right one for me. Wearing my illustrator hat I came up with ideas to enhance the story by visual collaboration with my writer self. I was able to thank my sister and my editor in my published picture book which was too small an expression of my appreciation of their contributions in bringing Abiah into published “life”. I believe editors’ and agents’ contributions should always be acknowledged by at least mentioning their names in the books on which they have been involved.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zEUqr92Zb8P0A-luVpytbX9RxKbcMHNg_9BfLZhohhJhM5Q2lKl6UXHNqn7Hda9ia5D8bW3IpWZqse_BMWXwQysXaHicPRlB5MpkiNEJadleqGnyhpiTukCm7oHRsoyDYgy_wz3G3zs/s1600/bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zEUqr92Zb8P0A-luVpytbX9RxKbcMHNg_9BfLZhohhJhM5Q2lKl6UXHNqn7Hda9ia5D8bW3IpWZqse_BMWXwQysXaHicPRlB5MpkiNEJadleqGnyhpiTukCm7oHRsoyDYgy_wz3G3zs/s200/bouquet.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br />
At present I’m happily editing a manuscript with my former editor (now my agent! At Red Fox Literary). We were working on it before Tricycle was closed. Previously it had been critiqued by others – my sister, of course, and a good friend who is an excellent writer. Suggestions were made. One editor who critiqued it at a conference was very interested in it which was very encouraging. It won a Writer’s Day picture book contest which was also encouraging.<br />
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Though we write the work ourselves, the road to publication is often lined with wise advice and kind and helpful words.<br />
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My next post will be on writers and artists whose work is – from the beginning – collaborative. They work together as a team, believing they can inspire and enhance each other’s work and create something better together than they would separately.Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186795083060627407.post-76170837933187953862011-06-21T00:08:00.000-07:002011-06-21T00:08:00.546-07:00The Mysterious Pseudonymous Bosch – Teller of Secrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90-GoC28Itv7ym7Xo_x4OPL5vwMKIpopzNT_LqJwrBTeFmtbVpOS9s5-ZDk0yCETMYna1uKuQ3OZjkGuhITd6xaQkhpHgXS3k7fEHR1thFLhPEURQXeBZUvjSKjXEb0HsklQ0pRu7UO0/s1600/P.-Bosch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90-GoC28Itv7ym7Xo_x4OPL5vwMKIpopzNT_LqJwrBTeFmtbVpOS9s5-ZDk0yCETMYna1uKuQ3OZjkGuhITd6xaQkhpHgXS3k7fEHR1thFLhPEURQXeBZUvjSKjXEb0HsklQ0pRu7UO0/s320/P.-Bosch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The guest author at the most recent Writer2Writer meeting was Pseudonymous Bosch, author of the best selling “Secret” series. His talk was fun, entertaining and enlightening. His appearance as himself was a special honor to us, as fellow writers, as he usually wears disguises with his fans (who are delighted by the mysterious persona which goes with his ‘secret’ books).<br />
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Books with mysteries lend themselves to anonymous writers. He told us that for the first three years after the series began he was Google-proof—now he’s on Wikipedia. In the spirit of anonymity, however, those who photographed him at our event decided to continue the mystery—as you see in the accompanying photo.<br />
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The story of how the former screenwriter came to write his first children’s book was particularly interesting. He had volunteered to be a writing partner to a 4th grader in a Santa Monica school. The project was meant to stimulate and encourage kids to be creative. His young writing partner was very creative and sent him stories, poems and cartoons. Bosch sent his partner a series of installments which would become the first in his series of five books: <em>The Name of this Book is Secret</em>.<br />
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Though his publisher gave him the star treatment from the start --a website and a book tour—(book tours really do exist?) he said word of mouth is what made the books so successful. It’s important to Bosch that his books not be categorized as a ‘boy book’ or a ‘girl book’. As a child he secretly enjoyed Louisa May Alcott books and Nancy Drew as well as so-called boy books, and he didn’t want the marketing of his books to be limiting. Most of his fan mail comes from girls, but that also reflects the reading public percentages. Girls are more likely to be readers and to write to authors, but he has devoted boy fans, as well. His favorite emails are along the lines of “I didn’t like to read until I read your books.”<br />
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Bosch is very conscious of making books as much fun as possible. He also has to be careful to get the details correct as ‘kids catch discrepancies.’ They consider that he’s writing for <u>them</u>, and nag him to write faster.<br />
Bosch admits he has ‘the writing habits of a neurotic poet’ and would happily spend a week worrying over a simple sentence! <br />
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Luckily for his many fans, his fifth book <em>You Have to Stop This</em> will be out in the fall.Diane Browninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10478231908389931178noreply@blogger.com0