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. 

Illustration Friday: Wool

Just a pen an pencil sketch for this week's Illustration Friday theme of Wool.

Pen and Pencil

Singing my own praises a bit today. The sketch above is a detail from a nearly finished picture book dummy (I shouldn't really sing until it's 100% finished and submitted, though...)

I also did a happy dance when I got a #2 rating from Rate Your Story. *They rank 1-10 with 1 being the highest. I've submitted several manuscripts so far and really appreciated the accuracy (and generosity!) of their feedback. I sent a rhyming (yes, I KNOW) picture book manuscript last month with trepidation. This story went through several rewrites, edits, time ignored, internally dismissed as junk, then picked up and edited again. I lost all perspective on it, but I had a good 'feeling' about it. With a little more tweaking, I think this one will be ready to dummy up later in the year.

A Week of Sketches

A week's worth of nonsense, elves, monsters, santas, and random strangeness from my sketchbook. Follow me on instagram @ginapineapple to see these daily (more or less!)

Bite by Bite

I know the saying we all know is "bird by bird" (thank you, Anne Lamott) but I'm calling it bite by bite. I need to chew, swallow, and digest every step I take on this career.

The above is a sketch from my latest dummy. I was so excited to finish a second pass of sketches last week. It is so different from my last dummy. The pieces have fallen into to place MUCH more easily, which feels amazing. There is so much more work ahead, but I'm looking forward to every bit(e).

Sketches for Pretzel Boy

A whopping 4 years ago, I made and posted this little sketch. Fast forward to this summer, and I had an idea to do a promo using 4 business cards. This guy popped into my head and a strange little story began to take shape.

I originally had him tabled, eating the defeated, evil hot dog. I might have gone this route if it didn't present the dilemma of needing a horizontal format. I also liked the idea of a 'picnic' cape, but it seemed too detailed once these got to their business card size.

I DO regret not re-referencing my original sketches. I love the little bean like shape, simplicity, and giant-head proportions in these thumbnails. I usually scan and blow up my thumbnails, but didn't in this case. The final art reflects past work, so it does slide right into my portfolio. I did love that little bowing gesture for the last frame but I think he needed to fly down to connect the dots of the story.

Sketchbook Project 2012: Tour Mail

These little birds are the first things I draw when I sit down and think 'draw something'. Always. So they flew off to Texas for the Sketchbook Project's Tour Mail.

Followed by these underwater sillies. I totally forgot where I sent them. I rarely pick up a marker as a sketch tool, but it was fun - and no erasing! If you're close enough to the tour this year, go check it out!

 

21 Day: version3.21 = done

Well, I was a little stuck as I sat down to work on day 21 last night. I thought I'd do what I did for day 1 - some character sketches. I'm feeling a little like the girl on the bottom left today. I took a book job and I'm anxiously awaiting the final manuscript. I'm in this weird in between stage - I just want to jump into the work!

I hope you try the challenge for yourself - and you finish it faster than I did this time around! Even if it doesn't form a new habit for life, it always jumpstarts me and gets the cobwebs out.

Please go visit Paola Zakimi's blog - she's just starting her second round of the challenge. Yay Paola! I love her kitty sketches for day 1!

21 Day: version3.20

Yes. My 21 day challenge has taken half a year. What can I say? I'm jumping back into the 'illustration for others' game after a seriously long hiatus next week. No time like the present to finish up the challenge and move on.

This came from Jennifer E. Morris' blog post this week - she used a technique from Kelly Light's character workshop at NESCBWI this year as a warm up - and challenged others to give it a whirl. Great fun! Next time Kelly has a workshop, I'm there!

 

21 Day: version3.18

A little Mickey in dough to remember Maurice Sendak. Farewell, and thank you.