Who else LOVES the gorgeous art on this year's SCBWI Summer Conference banner? The illustrator is Shamar Knight-Justice, who was a Portfolio Showcase Grand Prize award winner at the Winter Conference earlier this year. You can see more of Shamar's work at ShamarKnightJustice.com, on Instagram at @shamarknightjustice and on The Cat Agency website.
Screenshot from the SCBWI Winter Conference, when the Portfolio Grand Prize was awarded to Shamar Knight-Justice and Brizida Margo:
I asked Shamar how he approached the illustration process for the Summer Conference banner art and here's what he said:
“When thinking about the banner for the Summer Conference I wanted to create something that had strong summer vibes and was filled with joy. I wanted the color palette and the character’s pose to reflect that energy. I presented a few sketches to Sarah Baker, and that pose caught her attention the most."
"I had been playing with that sketch for a few months prior, but hadn’t found an opportunity that aligned with it. I choose to highlight Black and Brown children exclusively, because I know firsthand the importance of representation. With Black boys specifically, I like to represent them as light, joyful, carefree, and magical, because many times the messages they receive say that those qualities and emotions aren’t reserved for them.”
Coming in March, 2023: BIG TUNE: RISE OF THE DANCEHALL PRINCE, written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice (FSG).
Also check out ARI J.'S KINKY, CURLY CROWN, written by Ain Heath Drew, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice, published by Orange Hat Publishing.
love hearing the story behind the art! Thanks, Debbie, and cheers to Shamar!
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