Change

I'm into quotes. One in particular I saw in a paper-source.com catalogue.

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to matures is to go on creating oneself endlessly. ~ Henri Bergson

Henri Bergson was a 19th century philospher. If you I heart paper check out the paper-source.com. Great stuff.

Creature Comforts

I've been a fan of Aardman Animations, the creator of Wallace & Gromit. I was watching the CBS Creature Comforts and laughed hysterically. I'd seen the original one many years ago and thought it was funny then. How is related to art/illustration? They did have an interview question asking what the people thought was art. Their answers and the genius animators made it stand out! If you missed it on TV, they have the video online to watch.

Allen Say

I was browsing on the internet and came across another of my favorite illustrators, Allan Say. Of course one of my favorites books of his has always been Grandfather's Journey. Click here for the interview.

Bogus Art Fair Info

Bogus Art Fair is intended to be a place for visual-artists to share their experiences with scammers and warn others of potential scammers. Scams and fraud are increasing problems for anyone with an online presence, be it as simple as having an email address or as active as having an intricate website and participating in several discussion forums. Artists are a particularly susceptible group because most of us are happy for a sale and looking for that big break. Bogus Art Fair

EB Lewis Interview

I really enjoyed listening to this interview of EB Lewis. I've posted one of his books before "When you were born" I love his artwork from his realistic watercolors to his expressive work in "When you were born." I wish they still had the article posted on Charleston Magazine. Drat they removed it. He background was not originally in illustration. It was graphic design and teaching. Click interview to hear and see more about this amazing artist. Here is a link to his site.

Blogs I Like To Read

I finally go to adding a section to my blog that includes Blogs I Like To Read. For sometime I have to either google or figure out which computer has the bookmark for the blog. I have multiple computers I use on a daily basis. Now I have the conveniently located on my blog.

Horn Book Awards

The 2007 Horn Book Awards are announced. Click to view all the honorees, Horn Book Awards

SCBWI Summer Conference

This is a great opportunity for those that can attend, but the Disco Mermaids are offering free tuition for the person they think is worthy to attend the next Summer Conference. Check it out. Disco Mermaids Blog

Questions from a student

I got an email from a student at the Art Institute Online. I thought they were interesting and would share my responses.

>What makes you to become an illustrator?
Art runs in my family and I'd always loved drawing. In high school I read an article in Artists Magazine about the field of children's book illustration and loved it. I majored in illustration in college and when I got out worked as a freelance illustrator and full-time graphic designer.

>How did you discover your style and how would you describe it?

I just started doing work that felt more like me. I still work to develop my style. I'm not too realistic and not too stylized. Somewhere in the middle.

>Do you have a special technique that you use? I create thumbnails. From the thumbnail I work to a tight sketch. Then I scan and print on Stonehedge Paper. Depending on the assignment I may do a color comp. Then I work in pastels on the paper. I scan the final for a digital file.

>What is/are your favorite tools (media or software) you use when creating your illustrations? Pencil and pastel.

>How do you generate your ideas? Depends on the assignment. Sometimes it's reading a story, viewing an artist's work that I like, or just what comes from sketching.

>Are you influenced by other artist? If so, who? Yes. William Joyce, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Gary Kelly, Mary Grandpre, Chris Van Allsburg, and Linda Wingerter.

>What are the qualities that you think an illustrator has to have in order to become good at it? Motivation. I think it's a very competitive business. You have to be able to handle rejection and keep on going. Being self sufficient. Realizing you are in business for yourself. With the perks of being able to pick and choose your work you also have to realize you may not always get paid on time and jobs may not always be plentiful. With that said you have be able to able to figure out other ways to make money of of your work: prints, merchandising, arts shows, etc. Of course, I've had some friends that have worked for companies such as Disney & Hallmark and receive benefits and a regular paycheck.

>What was your best experienced as an illustrator and why?
I don't know that I've had the best experience. I think each one has different aspects that I've enjoyed. Editorial gives you the gratification of working on different and varied assignments, book work gives you the satisfaction of working on something long term, and advertising is great to see ones work being sold in stores.