Right now I am in the Character Design phase of the KidLitArt Picture Book Dummy challenge. I sent my manuscript off to be edited by a couple of friends and I’m nervously waiting for their suggestions. The prose has already gone through 3-4 revisions so hopefully there won’t be TOO many red marks.
In the meantime I have begun diving into the research. This book will be filled with costumes from around the world… can-can dresses, kimonos, harem pants and grass skirts. There’s going to be a lot of fabric, a lot of movement, a lot of embellishment… so fun! I hope to start working on the storyboard this weekend and will probably spend at least one day at Panera sketching this week… I’ll be the one in the back… jamming out to iTunes and covered in pencil smudges.
People often ask me where my ideas come from and usually the answer is a difficult one to answer. I tend to daydream in images and often something as simple as a word will spark an entire scene in my mind. This comes partially from the intense brainstorming sessions I was forced to endure in art school. They taught me never to settle in with the first idea I have… but to push myself to think of all the directions I can take my interepretations.
As I have been working on my portfolio over the past year, the characters I’ve drawn have begun to come to life in my mind. In my studio, I began to imagine where each one came from, how they had reached the moment I was depicting, and where they would go next. Nobody knows their silly stories but me. However, having attended several conferences over the past year I’m beginning to think that their stories SHOULD be told. Maybe I could write AND illustrate… how great would THAT be?!?
I’ve decided to jump in with both feet and participate in the Second Annual Kidlitart #PBDummy Challenge. The worst case scenario would be a complete picture book dummy… which would be a wonderful addition to my portfolio (even if the story does end up being mediocre). The best case scenario would be that I find out I actually write pretty well and someone (dare I say it?) might want to actually publish my story. The tale I’ll be working on has been taking shape in my mind for awhile now… and I look forward to sitting down to actually put it on paper this month.
Not only that, but I decided to push myself even furthur and sign up for the 12 x 12 in 2012.
I must be crazy.
That challenge will have me completing 12 complete picture book drafts this year. Wowza! I tend to work really well under pressure so I look forward to seeing what I get done. Hopefully these deadlines will get me putting pens, paper AND brushes to paper more often.
Last year, around this time, I made a committment to myself. Part of my resolution for the year was to make an earnest effort toward my dream of becoming a freelance children’s illustrator. Despite the fact that I haven’t gotten that big break yet, I truly feel like I accomplished what I had hoped to in 2011. I attended conferences, met some amazingly talented people (having a network of friends in the field is wonderful!), completed a dozen or so portfolio worthy pieces, created a website, compiled a mailing list and sent out that first batch of postcards. Honestly, it isn’t as scary to get started in the right direction as I may have once thought.
I know that I will always be my own worst critic and I will never be totally satisfied with my work. I have come to learn that my own doubts are a blessing in some ways… they constantly push me to seek improvement in my work. Because of this, I am proud of the work I completed in 2011 and I look forward to even greater things this year.
I know that first assignment is looming just over the horizon and I am really excited to take my efforts to the next level. I tend to work really well under pressure, so despite my aversion to the dreaded “New Years Resolution”, I decided to make a few goals for this year…
My first (and probably most important) goal is to make an effort to really enjoy the PROCESS of creation more. I have always been a little uptight with my work and rarely allow myself to just dive in and have fun. I often become deadline oriented and fixate on the need to create a masterpiece every time I sit down. I see all the carefree, spontaneous illustrations my “artist friends” are sharing on their blogs and I realize that I need to let go of my need for perfection. I plan to get a little messy this year… and I hope my work benefits as much as my heart does.
My second goal is to fill AT LEAST one sketchbook this year. I have heard many of my favorite illustrators speak of the need to just draw… and I know that my most creative periods have come when I’ve been connected to my sketchbook. I have a blank book on my desk where it has been sitting for 2 months. The ugly perfectionist in me just can’t seem put that first mark on those white pages… but I’m going to overcome that. Maybe later today.
My third goal is to seek out and find an artist rep this year. At the last few conferences I attended, I spoke to several working illustrators about reps… and the majority of them recommended that I consider finding one. The more I learn about how difficult the market is becoming, the more I feel that having someone to guide me through the ups and downs would be beneficial.
I’m VERY excited that I have the opportunity to be going to the SCBWI Winter Conference later this month in… NEW YORK!!! I know I will be completely overwhelmed by the enormous amount of talent there, and I am looking forward to being totally recharged by everyone’s enthusiasm. In the meantime, I will be busily preparing my portfolio, samples and itenerary for the trip (which includes 2nd row seats to see Wicked on Broadway!!!).
Looking forward to an whirlwind of a month… and an even better year in 2012!
