The Pineapple Diary

NESCBWI 2013 Conference Recap

You've just returned from a 3 day Children's Writers and Illustrators conference. Which character do you most relate to in the above sketch? Greedy fat cat? Astonished and hungry little sister? One of many mice in a box, clawing your way to be seen?

Maybe you're behind the pencil, like me. The artist in a workshop, doodling while absorbing. That's my favorite headspace. I might appear to be 'not paying attention' - but trust me, I'm in the zone.

I put it all out there for this year's NESCBWI Spring Conference and I think it paid off. I signed up for a critique of my latest dummy (it went really well!), tossed my hat in the ring for the poster contest (I placed 3rd for published!), put a book into the portfolio showcase (no one spilled wine on it!), and entered an 'anonymous image' for the First Look panel (positive but weird and helpful feedback?!). 

My favorite workshops were:

Sudipta Barhan-Quallen's Rhythm, Rhyme, and Repetition: A Picture Book Writer's 3 Rs

Carlyn Beccia's The Posthumous Adventures of a Digital Painting

Gaia Cornwall's 7 Animation Concepts Every Illustrator Should Steal

Lynda Mulally Hunt's Find-a-Fit: Researching Agents in Order to Find the Right Match for You

My favorite moments were:

Having the same table, waiter, meal and dining companion at Adolfo's as last year.

Uncontrollable junior-high laugh-fest with new and old friends at the end of the portfolio showcase. I'd share it, but it's TOTALLY inappropriate. Which is why it was so funny, right?

Winning the raffle in Lynda Mulally Hunt's workshop: a critique of a work by an agent at a top agency. I was so excited I did a Price-is-Right run for the podium before Lynda stopped me!!!

All the little moments with new illustrator friends, or people I only talk with online - in person! It's a really smart, funny, friendly group.

The three or more times I started tearing up at a keynote speaker or panelist.

And to be honest, I loved feeding and caring for just myself for a few days, but coming back to my happy little kids (and relieved husband!) at the front door on a sunny spring day was the perfect finale. 

NESCBWI 2013 Spring Conference: Elephant Poster

I'm so happy to announce that my poster for the NESCBWI Spring Conference Poster contest won 3rd place (Published Category)! (click image for a larger version)

Many thanks go to all the amazing conference organizers, volunteers, and judges. I have been attending for many years, and I never walk away without profound moments, new friends, and reason to celebrate and come back again for more. I will post a full recap (as always!) later this week.

The poem by Jane Yolen for this year's contest instantly sparked a picture in my head. Big elephant thanks go to the brilliant author above all. I truly enjoyed every moment of making this poster and am proud of how it all came together.

Congratulations to all the other winners - it was a sea of beautiful work this weekend!

 

About Me

It's always a good day when you get new postcards in the mail, right? I think I'm extra-excited about these. The girl and scene are from my latest picture book dummy. I started writing the story in a waiting room a few years ago. It started out about ME, about being small. It is called, simply enough: I Am Small. More on this later...

Right before I picked these up off the front porch I updated a bit of my website. I rewrote my biography to reflect ME a bit more. I even included a favorite picture of myself - not the posed picture I used in a recent interview - something more ME. I updated the splash page to reflect art that is more ME lately - a newer style that combines sketchiness and controlled gouache painting.

Pretzel Boy: Life is NOT a Picnic

Introducing: Pretzel Boy! Watch him as he defeats evil Hot Dogs with a single squeeze of mustard. Wooooo!

This is my latest promo. I was inspired originally, by the kind folks at 4by6.com - I received an offer to try their portfolio packs, 4 designs of a business card in quantities as low as 20. This seemed like the perfect time to try a wordless story as a promotional. I'll share some sketches tomorrow, but for today I wanted to show the original art (above, gouache) and a peek at how I packaged them. The quality is lovely, I would certainly use them again. I love weight of these cards!

I knew that I needed to send them all at once, much as I wanted to send them over time. My lovely Picture Book Junkies reminded me of how crazy mail is in publishing: thanks, ladies! Also, I knew that the cards needed to be seen from the envelope, since you only get a split second to catch someone's attention. It took awhile to find the right size and material, clear envelope and label. I think the nuttiest thing about this (other than the premise of an evil, floating hot dog) is that I've only sent 12 and I only plan on sending a few more. So if you've received one, it's because I really, really want to work with you.

NESCBWI 2012 Conference Recap

I know the NESCBWI conference was two weeks ago. I know you've read all about it on other blogs. But humor me.

It took me a full week to absorb and appreciate the experience. Friday was beyond exhausting. Kids, house, travel, keeping on schedule, parking garage malfunctions, and THEN having a critique I was really nervous about just did me in. Immediately after my critique (mid-day Friday) I was quite ready to throw in the towel with my whole career. Yup. It's not that it went so horribly. It's just that I was tapped out. I wanted to hear the impossible, and instead I got mostly good advice. By the time Monday morning rolled around I was desperate for time to work on my picture book dummy - even if it meant taking a red pen to every aspect of it. (see image above)

The highlights of the conference for me, were (in no specific order):

Dan Yaccarino's workshop: I enjoyed it enough at the time. But when the dust settled in my brain, he shone a light on my picture book dummy that I think was the key to making it infinitely better - publishable, even. One major thing, a few little things, plus a whole lot of inspiration.

Portfolio Showcase: Seeing my portfolio out there for the first time in four years was awesome. It's nearly ALL published work. And I like a lot of it. It sorely needs more cute animals, but that's an improvement I'm happy to work on. Giving just a few little feedback cards to others was greatly rewarding too. A little birdie said there was some good response to it - and that's all you can hope for in these situations. To plant seeds, then walk away and hope something grows.

Writing Camp: I was so sad that my critique chewed up a good 25 minutes of this workshop. It was hands-on and fun. If I hadn't been so nervous about the upcoming critique, then dumbstruck, this would have been outstanding for me. Thank you Jo Knowles and Cindy Faughnan!

Friends: It was so energizing and fun to see illustrator friends. I missed last year's conference so I hadn't seen so many warm faces in nearly two years. Others I hadn't seen since the NYSCBWI conference in 2008, and still others were first encounters with people I had only talked to online. Connecting with fellow illustrators in person is beyond rewarding. And my roommate and friend Jen was a great sport for putting up with all my mommy anxieties.

Submission Strategy Consultation: This was the yin to the dummy critique's yang. Lionel Bender gave me some excellent advice. I knew in an instant that I was sitting down with a professional - and my ears were wide open. Thank you.

Maybe the best part was seeing how well my children did without me, mostly thanks to their wonderful father - next year I'm planning on going for all three days.

Hi Kids!

A few weeks ago I spoke to a local 1st grade class. I was definitely nervous and a bit unprepared for that particular age. I have only given one talk before, and it was an older age range. I was also expecting 17 kids and was a little flustered that both classes were going to sit there - all 35 of them, plus the 4+ teachers. A big change of pace from my everyday routine as a stay-at-home-mom. Just look at that stunned expression on my face, ieee!

I adjusted my talk as I went, trying to simplify my process. I brought sketches, revisions, original paintings and the final product - the book. I think I could have left a few steps out and perhaps brought my painting supplies. The kids seemed most interested in HOW I made my work, and trying to include digital steps was a stumbling block I think. I read my book aloud, and while I read to my son constantly it was different to read to a group. They were really attentive, and asked interesting questions. It was a great learning experience and I hope to keep doing it. I'm not sure if or when I'd be ready to actually 'sell' myself for school visits, but it was rewarding to spend a little time sharing my work with young, open, minds.

I also made a coloring page for the kids at my husband's suggestion. Boy, was I glad I did. It really seemed like the right thing for that age, and it gave me a chance to do some b&w work, something I NEVER do.

Tip Tap Pop: And the book goes too...

I threw everyone's names up in the air, and out came the winner of the Tip-Top Pop book giveaway!

Congratulations Anette! And thank you to everyone who visited and commented. It was nice to see all the positive response. Valeria was touched too - she thanked you all over at her blog.

NESCBWI Conference: Frank Dormer (Think Before you Draw)

I'll keep this brief, because we should all just be drawing.

The above is an illustration by Frank Dormer. His workshop at this year's NESCBWI conference put the work back in workshop. Entitled, 'Think before you draw', he posed a very simple phrase and objects and asked us to draw for just a few minutes. Then we shared. Simple, right? Nope. Oh, it was fun to stretch my brain and think of a way to show something with really tight parameters. What will everyone else draw? What is unexpected? How can scale and environment tell the story? How can I do this without drawing a face on my egg? Yes, you had to be there. And if ever you see a workshop available to you with Frank at the helm, do sign up! He was warm and observant and planted little seeds in all of us in how to look at things differently.

Want to hear more about the conference? I blogged about it here the other day. I'll blog about it here tomorrow too.

PB&J, Back and better than ever!

Have you heard the news? Picture Book Junkies are back! We've got a new and fabulous member, a fresh website, and are the sammich to follow on Twitter.

I'm so excited for our renewal. These ladies are so talented and supportive, I think we all knew it was only a matter of time before we relaunched. This week will be a bit of a reintroduction. Come check us out!

The Studio

The studio has been mostly complete for a long time but in a terrible state of disorder. I cleaned it before Miles' birthday party so I thought, what a great time to take pictures and share them!

A collection of photos, art from Johnny Yanok, Charley Harper, etc. and a beautiful mobile from my husband.

Bookshelf with knick-knackery moved out of Miles' reach. His 'confinement castle' as I call it seen at the bottom. Since he's learning to walk, I'm only able to 'confine' him for a brief email check or join him for coloring. Oh, and do you see my lovely Amy Ruppel painting? My birthday gift last year from my husband. It's a rare treat for me to have an original.

Ah, the 'puter. The frames have vintage hankies as mats, I should be able to swap the pictures out as time goes on, but I love this group still.

My very lonely drafting table. It's been an embarrassingly long time since I've painted. The paper garland made great use of my old job's bounty - scrapbooking paper! The idea came from Geninne. I constantly look at that poster and say to myself 'Keep Calm Curry On'. I'd love to tell you so much more but naptime is over!!!! Ask questions! Here, or on twitter!