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. 

And away they go!

It was finally time to send these little monsters off into the world. I submitted my first dummy this week. I know it's the first of many. It'll be hard to switch gears and get those next projects in motion. I had to take a little moment here to celebrate their departure. I've put three years of love and time into this, and I am proud of finishing a task that seemed to insurmountable at times. Is this the end of the road for them? Of course not. I'm well versed in rewriting, resketching, and repainting by now. But it's a big step.

Other things are going on too. I'm waiting on a manuscript for an ed book to illustrate. That'll eat up much of the summer. I'll be taking a fun road trip up to Portland, Maine next week to see The Sketchbook Project. I'll keep writing for the 12 x 12 in 2012 challenge - I'll be halfway there once I get through the kinks in June's first draft. I'll be starting a new dummy. I'm not sure which one to switch to next. I think it'll be a little novelty board book that I wrote at the very beginning of the year. Not that I think it'll be ANY less challenging than my picture book dummy, but a very different feel to it.

So farewell my little monsters. I hope the world is kind to 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.

You're Invited

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

One of very few straight watercolor paintings I've done that I still like. It's based on a photo from my first trip to Ireland at age 16 - my first time on a plane even. I believe this is around the Conor pass area - you must have nerves of steel to drive that road but the views are worth it.

From Scribble to Finish: Illustrating Picture Books

Get out and see something wild! I'm part of a 3 artist exhibit at the Children's Museum of NH in Dover that opens on April 1st. Come check out the fabulous work of Laura Rankin, Nathan Walker and myself. The show is called "From Scribble to Finish: Illustrating Picture Books" because you'll see not only the final art, but the sketches, scribbles, edits, and inspiration for various works. How fun!

Read about the exhibit here. Get information on visiting here.

I'll be going to the opening the evening of April 1st and I'm looking forward to seeing the show and hopefully a few readers there! It will be my first BIG night out since having baby Miles in February - my wonderfully cute excuse for why my blog has not been updated in a month.

NESCBWI Many Voices Conference

If you haven't heard already, registration is open for this spring's SCBWI New England Annual Conference. I love that it was so easy to register online, and the postcard came early and is beautifully adorned with Nicole Tadgell's artwork. The theme this year is "Many Voices" and the offerings for illustrators is much stronger than in previous years, hooray!

I signed up knowing that this will be a big outing for me, leaving an infant at home for a very long day with my husband (thanks Kristian!) - I only wish I could take advantage of every day - particularly Sunday's Illustrator's Intensive on Graphic Novels. Gareth Hinds is part of this event (and a demo on Friday) and having seen him speak recently I know it's going to be a valuable experience for illustrators! Don't be thrown off if you're not a 'comic book' fan - the world of graphic novels is so varied and RELEVANT to our work as children's illustrators in today's market. I'm so jealous of anyone who gets to go!!!

I'm very excited for all the great workshops on Saturday and will be plotting my submission for this year's Poster Showcase. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to put the conference together - I know it's a yearlong endeavor. Having gone to the NY Winter conference last year, I have a renewed respect for how fantastic my local conference really is.

Brattleboro, VT

I'm so far behind on all sorts of blogging and sharing of news, but I'm starting with a trip I made out to visit a friend a few weeks ago in Brattleboro, VT.

I was lucky enough to visit during Gallery Walk, which occurs on the first friday of each month. I was amazed to see how many people, including tons of young families, were walking around town enjoying the experience. The galleries are far different than what I'm used to in the Portsmouth area, with a definite lean towards contemporary, humanistic, and nature based work. There were musicians in almost every gallery and several out on the streets - it's a really unique town and definitely a great place to visit, shop, eat, relax.

Another surprise for me was at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. The building is a renovated train station and has a lot of charming spaces. After seeing a number of great works by new and emerging artists we stopped into what looked like perhaps the old train ticket booth for a beautiful exhibit by Chris Van Allsburg. I've always appreciated his books but seeing the art in person was really amazing. The scale was quite a bit larger than you seen in print and I hadn't realized the variety of techniques he used (charcoal, pastel and colored pencil, scratchboard, etc). The show runs until August 3rd, check it out if you are anywhere near the area or out traveling this summer.

Oh, and of course I can't recommend a visit without a plug for my friend's place of employment - New England Center for Circus Arts. They offer classes, workshops, and professional track programs in circus arts. They also perform locally and regionally and their shows are quite amazing to see. For pictures of my friend Suzanne (in black/red then green) performing at her graduation from the professional track program last year, click here. She is now a teacher at the school.

Vita goes to Surtex!

My good friend and talented illustrator, Vita Mechachonis is heading off to Surtex in a few days and I wanted to wish her a big public good luck cheer! You can find Vita's artwork at her agent Kolea's booth #2408 (1st floor, hall 1E). Be sure and stop by if you're attending! Below are a few of Vita's illustrations and pattern designs (all work is copyright of Vita Mechachonis):


I just love this bunny - he's round but still working it!

What a dilemma, no more milk?!?! Vita has more artwork than anyone I know - I'm looking forward to seeing what new stuff she cooked up for this year's Surtex. You can also visit her and see more artwork at her blog. Good luck Vita!!!! And good luck to all the other artists showing too!!!

I wish I were going as well - Surtex and the simultaneous National Stationery Show are so exciting and inspiring. If you want a better description of the shows, read about my trip last year here.

I've been illin' and chillin' fighting off some sort of strange cold. Computing hasn't agreed with me so I'm drawing on the couch for today. I'll be sure and share some 21 Day Exercises soon! Also, my apologies if your name got cut from my link list, typepad is going some strange stuff - I'll look into fixing it tomorrow!

Kennedy Studios, Opening Reception

Thank you to everyone who made it to the opening on Friday! I thought the event was a great success. It seemed busy and active the whole time. The show will be up until at least  early June so come visit if you find yourself in Portsmouth. Kids welcome of course!

I kept telling Robert that I am notorious for blinking in photos, but ironically he is blinking in the picture I grabbed from my Dad - sorry Robert, it was the only group shot he had. (You'll post a better pic on your blog I just know it!)

Me, Robert, Tess, and Teri. You can see Teri's lovely watercolor spread above my shoulder, David McPhail's work behind us at eye level and Robert's work just below. My work and Tess' is just out of sight here. Other illustrator friends who paid a visit were Vita, Andy, Eric, and Nicole. Ok, now back to work!!!