#LA17SCBWI Illustrator Events

There are many events at #LA17SCBWI designed specifically for illustrators. Come out of your shell, and don't miss these social opportunities:


Illustrators Social
Friday, July 7, 7:30 – 8:30pm (after the member booksale)
JW Marriott Live, Room: Diamond 4

Portfolio Showcase and Reception
Saturday, July 8, 5:00 – 7:00pm (right before the Gala)
JW Marriott Live, Room: Plaza I-III

Golden Kite Luncheon & Awards Presentation
Sunday, July 9, 12:00 - 2:30pm
Room: Platinum Ballroom

Illustrators' Intensive -- Conference ADD ON
Monday, July 10, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Schedule details: https://www.scbwi.org/event-46th-annual-summer-conference-in-los-angeles-la17/illustrator-intensive/


And, here's a key of the workshops specifically designed for illustrators at #LA17SCBWI:

Friday, July 7, 2017

9:00 - 9:45am

Keynote: Vanessa Brantley Newton
Room: Platinum Ballroom

11:30am - 12:30pm

Leuyen Pham: One Artist, Different Styles
Room: Platinum Ballroom

Raúl Colón: The Dream of Visual Storytelling: Tools and Procedures
Room: Diamond 6


4:15pm - 5:15pm

Sean Qualls: Texture Technique Demonstration
Room: Diamond 8

Vanessa Brantley Newton: Creating Joyful Characters
Room: Platinum Ballroom


Saturday, July 8, 2017

11:30am - 12:30pm

Lucy Ruth Cummins: Stealing Best Practices of Working Illustrators (That I Steal, Too)
Room: Platinum Ballroom

Rubin Pfeffer: Smart Dummies: From Picture Book Concept to Manuscrupt to Dummy
Room: Diamond 3

3:15 - 4:15 PM

Javaka Steptoe: Anatomy of a Caldecott-Winning Book
Room: Diamond 6

Alexandra Penfold: Picture Book Writing Skills for Illustrators
Room: Diamond 4


Sunday, July 9, 2017

9:00 - 10:15am

Keynote: Picture Book Panel
Room: Platinum Ballroom

11:00am - 12:00pm

Vanessa Brantley Newton: Digital Art, Best Practices
Room: Diamond 5

Lucy Ruth Cummins: Self Promotion: Selling Yourself to Art Directors Easily and Cheaply
Room: Diamond 4

2:45 - 3:45pm

Raúl Colón: How To Make a Living as a Professional Illustrator
Room: Diamond 10

Stacy Innerst: School Visits as an Illustrator
Room: Diamond 1

Leuyen Pham: Creating Middle Grade Art
Room: Diamond 5


There's plenty for illustrators to learn at other workshops as well, but these are illustrator-focused events. Don't forget, you can only attend one session per time block, so choose carefully, take notes, and have fun! For the full conference schedule, visit: https://www.scbwi.org/event-46th-annual-summer-conference-in-los-angeles-la17/schedule/


If you're reading from home, don't forget to participate in the monthly Draw This! challenge. This month, the theme is "Celebrate" with submissions due July 20th.

The SCBWI Summer Conference is Selling Out Fast!

In particular, the intensives are filling up!

You'll have to jump on it to get a space in the Illustrator's Intensive,

CHARACTER BUILDING
Developing a Believable and Engaging Cast for Your Picture Book
 With the day’s faculty: Sophie Blackall Author/Illustrator, Peter Brown Author/Illustrator, Priscilla Burris Author/Illustrator, Pat Cummings Illustrator, David Diaz Illustrator, Laurent Linn Art Director, Simon & Schuster, Cecilia Yung Art Director Art Director & Vice President, Penguin BFYR, and Paul Zelinsky Illustrator 

It's a full day drawing session. Bring drawing material and a 8-1/2” x 11" pad and tracing paper!

And there are just a few spots left in these craft intensives,

School Visits – the Crash Course, with Suzanne Morgan Williams Author / Bruce Hale Author (All Day) 
In this hands-on intensive, Bruce Hale and Suzanne Morgan Williams coach you in taking your school/library presentation to the next level. They’ll cover planning, marketing, performance, curriculum tie-ins, and everything in between. You’ll even be videotaped and receive feedback on a brief excerpt from your presentation. Assignment: Please bring a five-minute talk to share, plus: your latest book (or ARC), any marketing materials, and a prop (small enough to fit in a shoebox) that represents you and your work.

Supplementing Your Writing Income, with Bonnie Bader, SCBWI PAL Advisor (Morning) 
Are you in between projects, or waiting for a contract? This class will give you concrete ways to supplement your writing and illustrating income. Learn how to get writer/illustrator work-for-hire, and come away with a list of publishers to contact for work. In class exercises include writing query letters, writing to a publisher's specifications, and more!

Novel Writing: Soup to Nuts with Stacey Barney, Senior Editor, Penguin/Putnam (Morning) 
In this session, Stacey Barney will guide you through a comprehensive overview of novel writing devices. It's always helpful to bring a work-in-progress so that you can apply each technique and device to your own work during the discussion. Stacey brings her editorial expertise to help each participant discover what is working with their manuscript and what can be improved.

Writing Voice – Speak Up, I Can’t Hear You, with Kat Brzozowski, Editor, St. Martin's (Morning)
You’ve come up with a plot. You’ve created characters. You have a setting. Now how do you make your readers feel like these characters are really speaking to them? Voice is one of the most important elements of fiction and one of the hardest to master. In this session, we’ll work hands on to improve voice in fiction, with a focus on young adult fiction (and techniques that also apply to middle grade). By reading and discussing how authors create voice on the page and working on our own writing to sharpen our voice, this session focuses on writing that really brings your characters’ individual personalities to life.

The Ins and Outs of Writing Middle Grade Fantasy, with Bruce Coville, Author (Morning) 

The session begins with an "annotated storytelling" that will analyze a piece of fantasy writing from the macro to the micro—discussing everything from mythic structure down to the reasons for specific metaphors and word choices. Then we'll examine ten specific tactics to employ while writing middle grade fantasy. We'll conclude with some critiquing, as time allows. Assignment: Please bring a work-in-progress.

Crafting Your Novel’s Narrative: The basics of structure, voice, character, and plot, with Alvina Ling, VP & Editor-in-Chief, Little, Brown (Morning) 
Whether you’re just starting out, or in the revision stage of your novel, this intensive will give an overview of the four basic elements of your narrative. This workshop also aims to help you work through and brainstorm around any specific issues your having with your novel’s narrative. Assignment: bring an issue you’re having in your work-in-progress that deals with either structure, voice, character, or plot to discuss and talk through with the group. Optional: Read both Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin.

Revising and Re-Imagining Your Picture Book, with Harold Underdown, Publishing Consultant (Morning) 
Picture books are so simple, but often need to be revised or even re-imagined many times before they are just right. Drawing on our years of experience as independent editors, and in-house children’s book editors in New York before that, Eileen Robinson and I developed this workshop to help writers do just that. This workshop will teach you techniques to enable you to find problems with your picture book manuscript, reshape it, even re-imagine it, and then polish it before you send it out.

Poetry: From Picture Books to Verse Novels, with Carole Boston Weatherford, Author/Poet (Morning) 
Examine how narratives unfold through poetry. Consider how poets choose language, channel voices, evoke settings and use structure. Practice creating tableaux, experimenting with structure and writing from different points of view.

Put Your Best Foot Forward: Looking at that crucial first page, and making it better, with Victoria Wells Arms, Agent, Victoria Wells Arms Literary (Afternoon) 
Sometimes writers start in just the right place, and sometimes the best opening line or scene is hiding on page 27. Some authors seem to think a prologue is the only way to really get their point across. How are you going to hook that reader–any reader–into dying to know more? In this three-hour intensive, Victoria Wells Arms, former editorial director now agent will look at both your first page, and the place you think might actually be a better first page, and we will discuss the various options in how you start a novel (chapter books thru YA, no picture books here). Assignment: Send in the first two pages of your current work-in-progress to victoria@wellsarms.com, and, if you like, the other place that you think might be an alternative starting place, two additional pages max so I can read ahead of time. We are going to have to stick to 5 mins total for each participant.

Build Your Social Media Presence, with Martha Brockenbrough, Author (Afternoon) 
Learn the differences between Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr, and get down to the brass tacks of how you can use each to: build authentic relationships with a variety of readers and power connectors; increase your platform without increasing your workload; and share your books without clobbering people over the head with tone-deaf marketing messages. We’ll focus on best practices for each social media platform, tools you can use to create images that resonate, and website platforms that let you integrate all of it seamlessly. Assignment: Please bring a laptop and 2-3 favorite quotes from your books or about writing.

Why Did You Do That?: Creating Strong Characters to Push Your Plot Forward, with Matt Ringler, Senior Editor, Scholastic (Afternoon) 
In this intensive we will take a close look at character motivation through dialogue and back story and how to use that to advance your plot. Will include several (fun!) writing exercises. Assignment: Please come with three characters from books, television, or movies that you find to be particularly strong (whether you love them or hate them!)

Revising Your Chapter Book or Novel, with Harold Underdown, Publishing Consultant (Afternoon)
What happens after you write your first draft of a novel or chapter book can be the most important and most difficult part of the writing process. Based on my own work with writers, this workshop teaches proven techniques to get useful feedback and others, dig into "big picture" problems with your manuscript, and refine it at the sentence level. 

It's going to be an amazing conference, and the intensives promise to be game-changers for your craft and career. You'll find registration and all the other conference info here.

We hope to see you at #LA16SCBWI!

(Cross-posted at scbwi.blogspot.com)

Exclusive Photos From the Monday Illustrator's Intensive

Paul O. Zelinsky, way, way, WAY undercover.

Mentees with Mentor David Diaz, taking a break from the Illustrators' Intensive.
L-R:
Rodolfo Montalvo, Maple Lam, Jen Betton, Linda Dorn, Corinna Luyken, David Diaz, Karen Raz, Andy Musser, Brooke Boynton Hughes, Lisa Anchin

Thanks to Author/Illustrator and SCBWI Board Member Pat Cummings for the photos!

17 Intensives at #LA12SCBWI still have room for YOU!

As of today, there are only 17 intensives on Monday August 6th (directly after the main three-day conference) that still have space available.  These are incredible opportunities that won't be blogged by Team Blog, and are a chance to really dig deep!

AM • - Emma Dryden - Independent and Self Publishing: Best Practices

Designed for Authors and Illustrators who are already independently or self published or considering alternate publishing options for their work, this intensive offers reminders and guidelines to use as to best practicies to use to ensure you're publishing your work as professionally as possible.  It explores ways in which independently or self published authors and illustrators can recreate some of the best principals of traditional publishing (editing, design, marketing, sales); defines author/illustrator and publisher responsibilities; discusses various publishing platform options for picture books and fiction/non-fiction; considers the differences between print, e-, and POD; and explores the benefits and drawbacks of independent publishing.

And Emma's the Expert...

Emma D Dryden, the founder and principal of the children’s book editorial and publishing consulting firm, drydenbks
provides editorial and consultancy support to authors, illustrators,
agents, foreign and domestic publishers, and eBook and app publishers.
Her children’s publishing career began at Viking and Random House,
followed by a position with Margaret K. McElderry Books. After McElderry
retired, Emma became VP, Editorial Director of McElderry Books, and in
2005, VP, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K.
McElderry Books. Emma has edited over 500 books for children,from board
books and picture books to poetry, novelties, non-fiction, MG, and YA
fiction and fantasy.  As publisher, she oversaw the annual publication
of over one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. Authors and
illustrators she has edited include Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson, Susan
Cooper, Alan Katz, Raul Colon, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, and Paul
Zelinsky. Emma is also the leader of the Editorial Quality Panel for
picture eBook platform uTales and is on the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Board of Advisors.

AM •- Ellen Hopkins - Building a Career Through Self Promotion 

No matter how you publish, self-promotion is an integral tool for developing broad readership.

And Ellen's the Expert...

Ellen Hopkins
is a poet and the award-winning author of 20 nonfiction books for
children and eight NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse. Her
first novel for adults, Triangles, published in 2011. In the fall of 2012, her ninth YA novel, Tilt (a companion to Triangles) will publish, along with a crossover novel, Collateral. Ellen lives near Carson City NV with her husband and teenage son, a bottomless well of inspiration for her YA fiction.

 

AM •- Ann Whitford Paul - The C.P.R. — Character, Plot, Rhythm of Picture Books

Apply techniques to revise your manuscript to be the best it can be.

And Ann's the Expert...

Ann Whitford Paul has published many award winning picture books—both fiction and non-fiction—poetry and early readers for children, including Tortuga in Trouble, Word Builder, If Animals Kissed Good Night and recently a book for adults titled WRITING PICTURE BOOKS:  A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication.   

AM •  Melissa Stewart - Four Steps To A Stronger Nonfiction Manuscript  

After discussing how to focus a nonfiction topic in a way that will interest editors, we will practice a four-step method for transforming a manuscript from okay to outstanding.

And Melissa's the Expert...

Melissa Stewart is
the award-winning author of more than 150 nonfiction books for
children, a member of the SCBWI Board of Advisors, and the PAL
Cordinator for SCBWI's New England region. Her recent picture book Under the Snow
was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor
Book, and a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year. It was
also nominated for thirteen state book awards.

AM • Sonya Sones - Writing the Verse Novel (Should Your Tomes be Written in Poems?  Crafting the Novel in Verse)

Thinking of writing a novel in verse?  In the middle of writing one already?  This session will be jam-packed with info, tips and secrets about using poetry to tell your stories.

And Sonya's the Expert...

Sonya Sones
has written four YA novels in verse, which have received many honors,
including a Christopher Award, the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for
Poetry, the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award, and a Los Angeles Times Book
Prize nomination. She’ll be the first one to tell you that in 2010 her
novel in verse, What My Mother Doesn’t Know,
made the ALA’s list of the “Top 100 Most Challenged Books of the
Decade.” Sonya’s latest book, the Los Angeles Times bestseller The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, is her first novel in verse for grownups—a coming of middle-age story about learning to grow old disgracefully. She is this close to finishing her fifth YA novel in verse.

AM • Dan Yaccarino: From Inspiration to Publication: The Essentials of A Picture Book 

This intensive covers the basic mechanics of picture books.  A picture book isn't just drawings depicting text, but images and words uniquely combined to create a story.  Learn the fundamentals, from format and character development through basic storytelling.

And Dan's the Expert...

Dan Yaccarino has written and illustrated over fifty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Unlovable, Every Friday and Go Go America.
His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of
such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin
Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories. He
is also the creator and producer of his own animated television series
Oswald and the Emmy Award-winning Willa’s Wild Life, as well as the
designer behind Nick Jr's Emmy-winning The Backyardigans. Dan lives in New York City with his family and vintage toy collection.
 

  

AM • L - A Morning With 8 Agents  

With these powerhouse literary agents:

Josh Adams, Adams Literary;  

Jamie Weiss
Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency;
 

Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary;

Jill Corcoran, Herman Agency;  

Natalie M.
Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency;

Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary Agency; 

Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt Agency;
 

Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency; 

Ken Wright, Writers House

PM •  Jill Corcoran - How to Write a Query Letter  

Hands-on workshop in which you will walk away with a query letter that will get agents and editors salivating for your work.

And Jill's the Expert... 

Jill Corcoran is an agent with The Herman Agency
representing PB, CB, MG & YA. Her current interests include high
concept Young Adult and Middle Grade Thrillers, Mystery,
Romance, Romantic Comedies, and Adventure manuscripts. With an English
degree from Stanford University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from
the University of Chicago, Jill has marketed everything from sneakers
to cereal at Leo Burnett Advertising, LA Gear, Mattel, and at her own
consulting company, LAUNCH! New Product Marketing. Clients include Robin
Mellom, Janet Gurtler, Martha Brockenbrough, Kelly Milner Halls, Ralph
Fletcher, & Jen Arena. Jill is also the editor of Dare to Dream-Change the World (Kane Miller, 2012), a poetry anthology which includes Ellen Hopkins, Jane Yolen, J. Patrick Lewis, & Lee Bennett Hopkins.  

PM • - Eddie Gamarra - Adapting Your Work for Film or Television   

• What kinds of books are best suited for
adaptation? 

• How does the adaptation process work? 

• What’s the author/illustrator’s role in that
process and who else is involved? 

• How to market your book and its adaptation to the entertainment industry

• Some tips on creating truly cinematic stories with words or illustrations 

And Eddie's the Expert...

Eddie Gamarra is a literary manager/producer at The Gotham Group,
which represents screenwriters, directors, animators, authors,
illustrators, publishers, and animation studios.  He specializes in
children’s & family entertainment, including animation, live action
and literature ranging across picture books, novels, anthologies and
graphic novels.  His clients include numerous New York Times
best-selling authors and illustrators as well as Oscar, Emmy, Caldecott,
Newbery, and Geisel award winners and develop and sell projects for all
platforms ranging from online shorts to live action feature films.  In
addition to his work at The Gotham Group, he has consulted for Teen
Magazine, National Geographic's TV series HOLLYWOOD SCIENCE, and
MANswers on Spike.  He has lectured at Vassar, North Carolina School of
the Arts, and University of Arkansas, Little Rock.  He received his BA
in Psychology from Vassar College, a Masters in Cinema Studies from NYU
and a PhD in Psychoanalysis & Film from Emory University.

 PM • - Ellen Hopkins - Creating the Really Truly Real Teen Characters     

The quickest way to turn off a YA audience is to write teen characters who little resemble teens.

And Ellen's the Expert...

Ellen Hopkins
is a poet and the award-winning author of 20 nonfiction books for
children and eight NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse. Her
first novel for adults, Triangles, published in 2011. In the fall of 2012, her ninth YA novel, Tilt (a companion to Triangles) will publish, along with a crossover novel, Collateral. Ellen lives near Carson City NV with her husband and teenage son, a bottomless well of inspiration for her YA fiction.

 PM • - Ann Whitford Paul - Rhyme Time in Poetry and Picture Books    

  

Editors have a love-hate relationship to rhyme.  Learn how to avoid the pitfalls that make them throw up their arms and plead, "NO RHYME!"

And Ann's the Expert...

Ann Whitford Paul has published many award winning picture books—both fiction and non-fiction—poetry and early readers for children, including Tortuga in Trouble, Word Builder, If Animals Kissed Good Night and recently a book for adults titled WRITING PICTURE BOOKS:  A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication. 

 PM • - Dan Yaccarino - How To Do Successful School Presentations  

The Fundamentals of how to create a successful live presentation for both children and adults.

And Dan's the Expert...

Dan Yaccarino has written and illustrated over fifty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Unlovable, Every Friday and Go Go America.
His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of
such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin
Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories. He
is also the creator and producer of his own animated television series
Oswald and the Emmy Award-winning Willa’s Wild Life, as well as the
designer behind Nick Jr's Emmy-winning The Backyardigans. Dan lives in New York City with his family and vintage toy collection.
  

 

 PM • - An Afternoon with 8 Agents   

With these powerhouse literary agents:

Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary; 

 Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary
Agency;  

Natalie M. Lakosil, Bradford Literary
Agency;  

Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary
Agency;  

Julie Kane-Ritsch, Gotham Group;
 

Linda Pratt Wernick, Pratt Agency;

Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency;
 

Ken Wright, Writers House

 PM • - Bonnie Bader - Leveled Readers   

This hands-on intensive will not only give you a greater understanding of Leveled Readers, but it will also give you effective writing tools to become an author for this growing market.  In class activities to include:  paging out manuscripts, writing art notes, writing your very own reader, and more!

And Bonnie's the Expert...

Bonnie Bader, Editor-in-Chief of Early and Beginning Readers at Grosset & Dunlap is also the head of the U.S. arm of Fredrick Warne, which publishes Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, Flower Fairies, and Spot.
At Grosset, Bonnie oversees all of Penguin’s leveled readers, which
fall under the imprint, Penguin Young Readers. In addition, she is
starting up an 8x8 picture book program, and a beginning/early chapter
book program which will launch in 2013. She continues to edit and
oversee several series including Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, Katie Kazoo Switcheroo and George Brown, Class Clown by Nancy Krulik, and Frankly Frannie by Amanda Stern. Upcoming series include Almost Identical by Lin Oliver (Fall 2012) and The Magic Bone by Nancy Krulik (Summer 2013). Bonnie is also a member of the SCBWI Board of Advisors.

 PM • - Ari Lewin - First Pages: An In-depth Analysis of the Very Best Ways To Start A Novel      

A hands-on workshop where we analyze the first pages of successful YA and middle grade novels, then apply what we've learned to YOUR stories.

And Ari's the Expert...

Arianne Lewin is an executive editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
 She edits all kinds of books, with an emphasis on young adult novels
and fantasy. Ari has worked with Mike Rex, Cinda Williams Chima, Rachel
Hawkins, Katie Alender, Marie Lu and Jessica Spotswood.  

 PM • - Jen Rofe - The ”So What” Factor  

When reading manuscripts, Jen Rofé asks herself “So What? Why should I care about these characters and their story?” In this three-hour intensive, we will examine the plots
of successful books to uncover how the author made us care, and we will discuss techniques for developing your own “So What?” factor in your manuscript or work-in-progress. Be warned: Side effects of this intensive include: Torturing yourself with “So what?”; looking for the “So What?” factor in books you read; and writing strong, compelling stories.

And Jen's the Expert...

Jennifer Rofé handles children's fiction projects at Andrea Brown Literary Agency
ranging from picture books to young adult. Middle grade is Jennifer's
soft spot and she's open to all genres in this category, especially the
tender or hilarious. She is always looking for fresh and distinct
voices; stories that simultaneously tug at her heartstrings and make her
laugh out loud; and "adorkable" heroes. As for YA, Jennifer is drawn to
contemporary works; dramatic or funny romance; and urban fantasy/light
sci-fi. She's especially interested in mind-blowingly smart projects
that are layered, complex, and unexpected, and she appreciates big,
developed worlds. In terms of picture books, early readers, and chapter
books, she is interested in character-driven projects and smart,
exceptional writing. 

The Illustrator Intensive: Writing For Illustrators

Do you have a vivid picture demanding to tell a story? Do you have a lively character struggling to find a voice? Are you ready to be an author-illustrator? 

If you are an illustrator with an original idea and you are looking for the right shape and format, this day-long intensive will help you create a story that is as personal, compelling
and imaginative as your art.  

A full day of talks (check out the schedule here) from successful illustrators, editors, agents, publishers and art directors is followed by a panel review of book proposals to illuminate what it takes to put together a successful proposal for your story and art.  

With these Experts:

Tony DiTerlizzi
is a new York Times bestselling author and illustrator who has been
creating books with Simon and Schuster for over a decade. From his
fanciful picture books like, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure, G is for One Gzonk! and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, Tony always imbues his stories with a rich imagination. His middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles
(with Holly Black), has sold millions of copies, been adapted into a
feature film, and has been translated in over thirty countries.

Arthur A. Levine is Vice President and Publisher of his own imprint, Arthur A Levine Books,
which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary at Scholastic Inc. While
Levine has edited and published exceptional books for children of all
ages including Shaun Tan's Lost and Found, Jonah Winter's Just Behave Pablo Picasso! !, Dan Santat’s Sidekicks! and Lisa Yee’s Warp Speed,  he is perhaps most recognized as co-Editor of the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. Levine is the author of Monday is One Day , illustrated by Julian Hector, All the Lights in the Night (a Sidney Taylor Honor Books) illustrated by James Ransome, and the forthcoming A Very Beary Tooth Fairy
 illustrated by Sarah Brannen. Arthur takes special pleasure in
launching the careers of authors he’s met through SCBWI including Martha
Brockenbrough (Devine Intervention), Mike Jung (Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities) and many others.

Bryan Collier is the author and illustrator of the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book Uptown. He received Caldecott Honors for the books Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport, which was also a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book; Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, which received the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; and, most recently, and Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill. Mr. Collier lives in New York.

Laura Godwin is Vice President and Publisher of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group),
where she has worked for over twenty years. Jackie Kelly, Eugene
Yelchin, Deborah Heiligman, Eric Carle, Peter McCarty, Dave Milgrim,
Bryan Collier, Denise Fleming and William Low are some of the many
authors with whom she works.  Laura likes nothing better than working
with an author or illustrator at the beginning of his or her career, and
has been thrilled to see five such newcomers go on to become either
Newbery or Caldecott honor recipients. She grew up in Alberta, Canada
and now lives in Manhattan.

Rubin Pfeffer
launched his career as a designer for Macmillan in 1974 after which he
joined Harcourt Brace Jovanovich serving for more than 27 years with
responsibilities spanning from entry level designer to President of the
Trade division.In 2001, Rubin joined Pearson, Inc.as SVP and Chief
Creative Officer of the Pearson Education companies where he coordinated
cross-company product development.  He served as SVP and Publisher for
Simon & Schuster Children’s Books.  Imprints reporting to Rubin
included S&S Books for Young Readers, Atheneum, McElderry Books, and
Aladdin Paperbacks.His imprints achieved the Newbery Medal and Honor
and the Caldecott Hono. In 2008, he launched Beach Lane Books, a
commercial children’s picture book imprint. Rubin joined the East West Literary Agency
in December, 2009, as a partner and works with talents as David Diaz,
Patricia MacLachlan, Richard Jesse Watson, Susan Cooper, Michael Hague,
Jeff Mack, and a host of other published and new talents. He served as a
judge of NAPPA’s annual round-up of best children’s books for the years
2010 and 2011and has consulted for the digital publisher Ruckus Media
Group where he executive produced Ruckus’ first original story app for
children, A Present for Milo, which quickly became a bestselling children’s app on iTunes.

Jon Klassen, 

Antoinette Portis graduated
from the UCLA School of Fine Arts and then––since being a video
performance artist paid her the nice round sum of nothing
whatsoever––she worked as a graphic designer and advertising art
director. She was a creative director at Disney for many years before
she bolted to do what she had always wanted to do: be left alone in a
room to write and make pictures. Her first book was the best-selling Not A Box, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book. A Penguin Story was also a New York Times Best
Illustrated Book. She was one of four recipients of the 2010 Sendak
Fellowship. Antoinette lives in Southern California with her husband,
Michael. They have a daughter who is also an artist.

Melissa Sweet
has illustrated many award winning children’s books from board books to
nonfiction and jacket covers.  Her collages and paintings have appeared
in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living and for eeBoo Toys. She
has written and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails, Carmine: A Little More Red,  a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, 2005  and the 2012 Sibert Medal winner, Balloons Over Broadway :The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. Melissa illustrated A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
by Jen Bryant, a 2009 Caldecott Honor book and a New York Times Best
Illustrated, among other awards. When she is not in her studio, she can
be found taking in an art class, hiking with her dogs or riding her
bicycle. She lives with her family in Rockport, Maine.

Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-born author and illustrator of children’s books. In 2012, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, his first illustrated novel, received a Newbery Honor award. That same year, Won Ton, A Cat Tale Told In Haiku,
which Yelchin illustrated, became an American Library Association
Notable Book, among numerous other awards. In 2010, his illustrated
picture book Rooster Prince of Breslov received the National
Jewish Book Award. Yelchin received a Tomie de Paola award in 2006 at
the SCBWI winter conference. Since then his books received starred
reviews and were included in the Best Books of the Year lists.

Pat Cummings is the author and/or illustrator of over 35 books for young readers.  She also edited the award-winning series, Talking With Artists,
which profiles prominent children's book illustrators. She teaches at
Parsons and Pratt, and her children's book illustration class has a
growing number of notable illustrator/authors among its graduates.  Pat
serves on the SCBWI board as well as on the boards of the Authors Guild,
the Authors League Fund, The Authors Guild Foundation and the Eric
Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Along with visiting schools,
universities and organizations to speak about children’s books, she
conducts a summer Children’s Book Boot Camp that brings writers and
illustrators together with top editors and art directors from major
publishing houses.

and 

Cecilia Yung is Art Director and Vice President at Penguin Books for Young Readers
where she oversees illustration and design for two imprints, G. P.
Putnam's Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books. She is fortunate to have worked
with some of the major illustrators of children’s books, but the
highlight of her work is to discover and develop new talent. She is on
the Board of Advisors of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators) as well as a member of its Illustrators Committee.

To find out more about these intensives, the assignments for attendees, and to register,  go here.

Illustrate and Write On,

Lee

All About The New Full Day Illustrator's Marketing Intensive on January 27, 2012

I got to sit down with Lin Oliver, SCBWI's Executive Director, and learn why the new Illustrator's Marketing Intensive coming up on the Friday before the full 2012 SCBWI Winter Conference isn't just going to be great - it's going to be essential.




You can register now for the Illustrator's Marketing Intensive and the whole Lucky 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference!

Hope to see you there.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

My Experience at the Monday Intensive for Illustrators

L-R Kadir, hidden David, Paul, Richard, Marla and Jerry. Denise was looking for her acorn. The black and blue goody bags are not full of booze, I asked.

It's not hyperbole, Monday was the best day of my illustrating life. I didn't spend four years, or even one, in a traditional art school, so I don't know if this is standard procedure, but Monday was unlike anything I've every experienced.

The seven artists tapped to do this first-ever live demo format, I am beyond thankful they so freely shared their talents and thoughts with us. I am bowing down to our SCBWI Illustrator Committee and SCBWI headquarters for making this happen. Compared to other conferences and conventions, SCBWI internationals are cheap. And I happily admit I'd pay a bazillion more dollars to see another live demo day. Don't hesitate to fork over big bills to attend the next live-demo illustrator intensive. And if any of these people are teaching a class near you, be sure you sign up.

Other attendees are going to blog the crap out of today, I'm sure, but I can't do it justice. My brief notes are below:

Each artist answered technical and philosophical questions while they worked for about an hour on an art piece.

Paul showed us how he does a monochromatic/grisaille underpainting in watercolor before adding oil glazes on top.

Marla showed us how she gets her amazing dark lines, she also started one of her fifty color washes, and talked to us about problem solving in final art.

Richard made a mess. But then he made a beautiful painting out of it full of energy and color and a bit of egg tempera.

Kadir did a portrait of Dan Santat while we got up in his business. Lots of talk about the importance of making personal art and loving life.

Denise forgot her acorn. This is not a euphemism. She painted with paper pulp and did a teensy bit of swearing, but we were all completely mesmerized by her process and loved her and her final piece.

David sketched art director/Penguin Putnam VP Cecilia Yung before doing a sketch of himself and showing us how he retains life in his lines when moving from the exuberant pencil sketch to the finished ink drawing.

And Jerry sketched and painted me! No. It was a wild bird. Wait, that could still be me... Anyway.

He showed us how he uses photo reference to make his amazing animals and we watched his light watercolors build up to brilliant gorgeousness.

Jerry's painting in progress. I thought it was me he was painting— that bird and I use the same eyeshadow.

 The day ended with a brief group Q&A. It was a bonhomie love fest.

One way we can say thank you to the seven artists who gave so much to us is to go out and buy a buttload of their books.

Paul's books on Indiebound

Richard's books on Indiebound

Marla's books on Indiebound

Jerry's books on Indiebound

Denise's books on Indiebound

Kadir's books on Indiebound

David's books on Indiebound

THANKS FOR THE BEST SUMMER CONFERENCE EVER!

Conference Interview with Little, Brown AD Patti Ann Harris

Illustrators attending the conference today can spend each of their three breakout sessions with a real live art director. Let me know if you want me to pinch you all, because this is definitely a dream come true.

There're two pre-conference interviews for Lucy Ruth Cummins and Denise Cronin already, and here we have one for Patti Ann Harris! Give Patti Ann the thumb's up or a high five if you see her—she art directed recent Caldecott Honor winner DAVE, THE POTTER.

Also art directed by Patti Ann

Jaime: What's your average day like?

Patti Ann: I have to say that there really isn't an average day at the office. Each day is a mix of meetings with editors, phone calls with illustrators, updates with designers, it's a pretty full day. My challenge is always to carve out some quiet time to design and work on my books. There are a few titles each season that I work on from start to finish. Oftentimes, I get a book up and running, sometimes working through the sketch phase or finalizing the details on a new format. Book publishing is a collaborative art and that collaboration has always inspired me. I'm lucky to work with an amazingly talented and dedicated group of designers and editors, so the work day is anything but average.

Jaime: Are you currently acquiring illustrators?

Patti Ann: I can't say that there is a specific style of illustration that I'm interested in. I think I'm more drawn to a strong character or a unique point of view. That's what I respond to most in illustration. I also love to see different media explored like letterpress printing, collage or any blending of traditional medium with digital to invent something new and exciting.

Jaime: Would you like to give us a hint of what your conference session topic will be?

Patti Ann: I'll be giving an overview of the novelty and picture books that we publish at Little, Brown. Our list has a great variety of books that range from cloth and board books for babies, pop-ups, and other fun novelties to more traditional picture books. I'd like to share some themes and subjects that I think resonate. My goal is to help open up illustrators to the many possibilities in book publishing.

Jaime: What's your favorite children's book cover of 2010 (not done by your publishing house)?

Patti Ann: The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood illustrated by Renata Liwska

Jaime: I love THE QUIET BOOK! Kill, kiss, or marry: Helvetica, Baskerville, or Comic Sans?

Patti Ann:  Comic Sans, not a laughing matter, kill it. Helvetica, loved the film, kiss it. Baskerville, easy on the eyes, marry it.

Jaime: Favorite Pantone color?
         
Patti Ann: Pantone 2935, a peaceful and meditative blue.

Jaime: What is your favorite thing to do in late January in New York?

Also art directed by Patti Ann

Patti Ann: I love to browse in bookstores and New York City has some of the best. I recommend The Strand, Books of Wonder and The Bank Street Bookstore. There's also a great 2 for 1 promotion going on for off-broadway theater tickets. Go to nycgo.com for more info and other fun events in the city.

Jaime: Holy cow, I think Patti Ann might be moonlighting as PR for the city. These are great suggestions! Any not-to-be missed galleries for visiting illustrators?

Patti Ann: Go visit the Society of Illustrators at 128 East 63rd St. There will be a great exhibit of editorial and book illustration beginning Jan. 26th.

Jaime: Thanks so much, Patti Ann! Illustrators, you know you want to see all these great art directors talk today. SCBWI Team Blog promises to fill you in on all the sessions you're missing.

Illustrators Intensive: Licensing Panel

Only a handful of the attending illustrators have had their artwork licensed, but 99% would like to know how to make that happen. You might remember Suzanne Cruise from when she spoke on licensing a few years ago. But Penny Sikalis is a new-to-SCBWI presenter from Surtex with a really fabulous offer for all the illustrators at today's panel. FREE BADGE to the Gift Fair happening this weekend at Javits Center,—thanks, Penny!

First, Penny went over the absolute basics of art licensing:

• Art Licensing = Legal permission given to a manufacturer to produce and sell products using your art for a fee
• Artist = Licensor 
• Manufacturer = Licensee

Initial steps to get into licensing? Research, research, research!

• Take classes 
• Visit trade shows
• Look at types of products and companies that sell these products and start a list 

from http://cococakecupcakes.blogspot.com/2009/03/hungry-caterpillar-cupcake-party-train.html

Usually the best style/type of art for licensing is flat, in color, in collections (A collection is approximately six or more images of the same central character (like a snowman) with coordinating patterns, spot art, color schemes, secondary characters, and with multiple sketches of the central character), and mainstream.

If you can draw a character, you can license your art.

Major Categories of products that need art (subcategories not listed) apparel, craft/hobby, bedding, gift, home decor, publishing, stationery, tabletop (dishes, etc.), textiles, bath.

Your goal as an artist is to license the same piece of art to different manufacturers of different types of products so that you can get paid multiple times for that one piece. Something you can't do with one piece of bubble gum, one kitten*, or one copy of nuclear weapons blueprints.

Seventy-five percent of the Surtex show (SURface Trade EXpo) is devoted to art licensing.

Links: http://www.artlicensinginfo.com, LinkedIn art licensing group, and surtex.com's monthly e-newsletter called On the Surface for more tips on getting started in art licensing.

*You might be able to license a kitten, I really don't know.

What is it like to be in one of the Friday Intensives?

A note to all those not attending this year's conference: I am sorry, we wish you were here.

Maybe you would like some sensory details of this morning's intensives?

SEE: It might be hard to tell from the photo, but the ballrooms are decorated in Shabby Chic Bug Cocoon. Or like we are in a really fashionable beehive. Or nostril. I think we made all these jokes last year.

HEAR: Another conference going on here concurrently that does a lot of applauding and singing of the national anthem.

TOUCH: SCREEN! Lots of App talk for the Illustrators Intensive.

SMELL: This morning there was delicious free coffee, fresh bagels and loads of shmears. But then there was also this plate of onions.

TASTE: Unless you ate the onions and can only taste old onion, most everyone else is tasting POSSIBILITY! Which tastes like a cross between cotton candy and Four Loko.

No, really, feedback on your manuscripts in the Writers Intensive and groovy insights into app-making, licensing and beyond the book topics for illustrators is making for a truly invigorating Friday that we wish you were here for, too.

Illustrators Intensive: Keynote with The Yaccarinster

We all love Dan Yaccarino's work. His books, his cartoons, his puzzles, his pajamas, his new line of hams available at Costco.

Dan shares examples of how he's taken his book art beyond books and gives hints on how illustrators can make that happen in their own careers.

For most things—plush toys, games, stationery—those beyond-the-book items are really only an option after a book has come out, sold well, and art licenses are picked up by different manufacturers or the publisher.

 Dan says consider making your own promotional items, like at cafe press, to get the ball rolling.

We know Dan has awesome cartoons, but how do you get started in that? You attend the animation equivalent of an SCBWI conference, KidScreen Summit.

from Good Night, Mr. Night

Dan talked briefly about good self-promotion for illustrators, he thinks post cards are still a great way to get your art in front of the people that matter, cards often having a longer shelf life than an image in an email. A website and/or blog that conveys your personality is also key for illustrators. For those with books out, he recommended making your own book trailers using iMovie and royalty free assets. Simple is always best, though, let the work shine through.

from Every Friday

 His number one piece of promotion advice: PROMOTE THE WORK YOU WANT TO GET.

from the forthcoming All the Way to America

What's Dan working on now? He's got a chapter book in the works, one that he's both written and illustrated. And in addition to new picture books and new TV show ideas he's got a great a new line of Yaccarino Snuggies and Slankets (those don't have Dan's artwork on them, just pictures of Dan!)

Illustrators Intensive: Welcome from Cecilia Yung

Our morning started off with a welcome from Cecilia Yung, SCBWI Board Member and AD and VP at Penguin. This year's intensive is a different format and focus from previous years. BEYOND BOOKS: Picture Books and the New Media. There are no hands-on art workshops or art director round tables today, but lots of exciting discussions concerning art licensing and apps with plenty of time for questions from the audience.

One of Cecilia's books for Putnam, written and illustrated by SCBWI member Jesse Joshua Watson

Cecilia prepped us for the tone of the day:

Viable ideas with always thrive, survive and multiply in different forms and formats. We are not here to argue digital vs. print, we are here to talk about picture books and the visual opportunities presented by all these forms.

She urged us to imagine completely new concepts, completely new artwork that will take advantage of all the new formats available today.

Illustrators' Intensive - Spot Your Favorite SCBWI-ers

Ladies Who Lead - Priscilla Burris, Pat Cummings, Cecilia Yung

Surprise drop in by our own superhero, Lin Oliver!

Kevin Hawkes making the rounds

Illustrators' Intensive Post-Lunch with Kevin Hawkes

He's showing off past books and portfolio pieces!
Here he is with his wicked big toddler. Kevin's going to tell us how to stand out from the thousands of other illustrator samples in an art director's flat file.

Posted by Jaime

Illustrators' Intensive Lisa Desimini talks

Lisa Desimini might not be human. I think she might be a sponge. She soaks up EVERYTHING. Lisa's got an amazing background story of how she got to where she is and that includes scanning every material under the sun for use in her collages.

Few of my favorite words and images from Lisa's talk, but you need to check this lady out in person if possible:

After Lisa's first few illustration jobs doing picture books and book covers, her editor asked her if she also wrote and Lisa said, "Nooooo!"
But after being asked that question Lisa went home and started writing and fell in love with it. Now she illustrates her own books, but equally loves illustrating for others still, too.

Lisa stresses "Always do personal work. Don't do it and worry if it is publishable and don't do it because you are trying to practice a new style for your illustration." Just make art to make art and have fun. Lisa promises if you don't force it, "It will always find its way into your professional work."

Lisa showed slides of her many books and how they came to be, my favorite story being the one behind THE SNOWFLAKE SISTERS. Set in New York, the book was done shortly after September 11th and is a love story to her favorite city. The super brilliant part: All of the images of New York in the book are made with stuff from New York. Lisa collected garbage off the street, city maps, New York Times crosswords, matchbooks, and even taxi receipts and turned those into fantastic city scenes:

Lisa's got the Intensive doing a fantastic exercise right now based on our homework. She is very animated in person and the best photo I can get is this:


Posted by Jaime