2012 SCBWI Central & Southern Ohio Writers Workshop

Good morning!  Just a quick announcement about the writers workshop I will be speaking at this weekend.  I hope to see you there!  Check out all the details below:

2012 SCBWI Central & Southern Ohio Writers Workshop
Saturday, October 27th, 2012
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn at Worthington
Columbus, Ohio

**Please note: you must register for this event.  For more information or to register please click on the link below:

http://coscbwiworkshop.wildapricot.org

Here's what I will be talking about...

The Perfect Marriage: Illustration and Text in Picture Books

This presentation will discuss successful elements used in creating a picture book relating to both the illustration and text, whether you are an author, illustrator, or author/illustrator.  Picture books consist of two parts, the text and the illustrations, both are equally important and dependent on each other.  What makes a successful marriage between the two?  As and author, what should you keep in mind when writing your manuscript for a picture book? As an illustrator, how do you read in between the lines to find the secondary story beyond the text itself?  As an author/illustrator, how do you keep a constant balance between the text and pictures to create a successful book?  All of these questions are key in writing and/or illustrating your picture book.

Finding the Right Style

I recently signed a new book deal with my publisher for a book tentatively titled Henry Finds His Word.  Through the process of working on my dummy for Henry I thought a lot about style.  What defines my style as an illustrator?  And how does it affect how art directors look at my work when searching for an illustrator for their manuscript?

Generally, everyone who knows my work knows me as the 'cut paper girl.'  All of my published work has been in cut paper and mixed media, with the exception of the four spot illustrations I did for the first STAR Academy cover in watercolor.  (You try doing black and white spots in cut paper and see how well they come out...)  I have mixed feelings about this.  Although I love cut paper and it is the medium I prefer to work in, sometimes I wonder if it limits me.  I realize that cut paper creates a very distinct look that is not suitable for all manuscripts.  But does it shy art directors away from asking me to work on projects in general?

It's funny because I think as an illustrator, once you begin working on your own books, art directors tend to think that you don't want to work on anybody else's.  Which from a financial standpoint makes perfect sense.  Why would you share royalties if you don't have to?  But from a creative standpoint, it seems limiting.  Sometimes I find that although I love writing and creating my own characters, it's nice to step out of my head once and while and take a peek in someone else's.  I love reading a manuscript with a scene or situation that I have no idea how I'm going to tackle.  At times it can be frustrating of course, I would be lying if I didn't say so, yet completely rewarding when I finish the illustration successfully.  I don't ever want to stand still and become stagnant is this business, I want to push myself to become a better illustrator with every book I do.

So this brings me back to Henry.  Henry is for much younger readers.  Henry is, after all, a baby.  When I sat down to come up with the look for this book I kept forcing myself to work in cut paper and mixed media, because that is what I have done with every other book so far.  But I kept getting stuck.  The artwork just didn't look right and it didn't seem to match the story.  This is something I have realized is okay.  I used to think that if I couldn't visualize how I would illustrate the story, then it wasn't something I wanted to write.  But really what I was doing was picturing the illustrations in cut paper only.  I wasn't taking into account what the right medium for the story should be.

You wouldn't know it now, but in college I worked predominately in water color, pastel, and woodblock prints.  That was what I was comfortable with.  Back then it was really easy to get caught up in what my "style" was.  I was so obsessed with defining my "style" for my portfolio, which to me meant my medium.  Just because you use the same medium for two different pieces doesn't mean they are the same style, it just means they are the same medium.  Big difference.  Once I graduated I realized that "style" is more about who you are as an artist and less about what you use to create your art with.  I find that my style or the soul of my work, as I like to think of it, exists in my lines.  Lines of an artist are like finger prints, no two are alike.  Your line defines you as an artist.  Only your hand creates your lines.  Sure, you can mimic someone else's, but when you are sketching or doodling while on the phone those are yours.  No matter what medium, it's still you.

So when I hit the wall with Henry I had to walk away.  I was trying way too hard to force something that just wasn't working.  And then it hit me!  The next morning I got up and realized that I don't have to illustrate Henry in cut paper.  Now this may not seem like an epiphany to you, but it certainly was to me.  When you are known for doing one thing, it can be really scary to step out.  I sat down with my sketches of Henry and I just began to paint...in acrylic, no less, which by the way is my least favorite type of paint.  But it was the right type for Henry.  Because Henry is for a younger reader, intricate cut paper illustrations would be too much.  I needed to simplify.  Bolder color, more space, and larger shapes.  Which led me to this:

I think Henry is a lot happier too.

So don't be afraid to step out and try new mediums, let the manuscript speak to you.  Experiment and exhaust all your options because you never know what you will end up with on the page.

SCBWI Northern Ohio Annual Conference!

Just a quick post today!  Things have been super busy lately, so I apologize for my lack of weekly posts!

I'm very excited to be on the faculty of the SCBWI Northern Ohio Chapter's Annual Conference coming up September 21st and 22nd.  I will be teaching an illustration intensive on Friday, a breakout session on Saturday, and offering critiques.  If you are in the Ohio area, please make sure to register:

http://www.nohscbwi.org/conference.html

I hope to see you there!!

Back From My West Coast Adventure!

After two weeks of traveling, including stops in Los Angeles, Pasedena, San Jose, San Francisco, Petaluma, Oakland (basically all of the Bay Area!), and Portland, Oregon, Blue and I are finally home.  Our trip was filled with amazing adventures, visiting family and friends, a wedding, five book store visits, and lots and lots of food.  I'm pretty sure I will be full until the rest of the year...but it was so worth the overeating that went on on this trip!  Check out the pictures from my trip below:

View of the Hollywood hills from Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Griffith Park Observatory...by the way getting up to this was incredibly difficult,

I thought my calves were on fire.  But totally worth the view :)

Micky Mouse topiary at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA

Seven Dwarfs on the side of a building at Disney Studios.

Plaque at Disney Studios in honor of the legendary Mary Blair,

one of my favorite illustrators of all time!

Statue of Disney and Minnie at Disney Studios.

Bookstore visit at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA.

Reading aloud at Vroman's Bookstore.

Signing at Vroman's Bookstore.

Bookstore visit at A Great Good Place For Books in Oakland, CA.

Reading aloud at A Great Good Place For Books.

Bookstore visit at Copperfield's Books in Petaluma, CA.

Reading aloud at Copperfield's Books.

Talking about cut paper at Copperfield's Books :)

Bookstore visit at Hicklebee's Bookstore in San Jose, CA.  

I love this bookstore, one of my absolute favorites!

They also gave me my first job when I was 15 :)

Reading When Blue Met Egg aloud at Hicklebee's Bookstore.

Drawing Blue at Hicklebee's Bookstore!

Signing the wall at Hicklebee's, just below where

I drew Pelly the year before!!

Remember what I said about eating a lot??  Voodoo Doughnuts

was my downfall in Portland, Oregon.

Taking pictures with Blue in front of Ellsworth Kelly prints

at the Portland Art Museum.

Bookstore visit at Powell's Bookstore in Portland, Oregon!!

Reading Blue and some of my favorite picture books aloud at Powell's.

Signing books at Powell's Bookstore!

My favorite picture book the trip :)

On our last day in Portland...I needed one more doughnut.

A Maple-Bacon one of course!

L.A., Bay Area, and Portland Here I Come!

I am very excited to be going on vacation next week for two whole weeks!!  A much needed trip after working solidly for two months on Please Bring Balloons.  Our trip will be a little bit of work and play.  First I will be down in L.A. visiting some friends and family, then up to the Bay Area for a wedding reception and to see more friends and family, and then finally to Portland, for some much needed R&R!  I am so excited to be visiting bookstores in each city!  Check out my list of events for my "Mini-West Coast Tour":

WEST COAST VISITS AUGUST 2012!

Saturday, August 4th, 2012
Bookstore Visit and Signing
10:30 a.m.
Vroman's Bookstore
695 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California
www.vromansbookstore.com

Sunday, August 5th, 2012
Bookstore Visit and Signing
Noon
A Great Good Place For Books
6120 LaSalle Avenue, Oakland, California
www.ggpbooks.com

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012
Bookstore Visit and Signing
11:00 a.m.
Copperfield's Books
140 Kentucky Street, Petaluma, California
copperfieldsbooks.com

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

Bookstore Visit and Signing

2:00 p.m.
Hicklebee's Bookstore

1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, California

www.hicklebees.com

Saturday, August 11th, 2012
Bookstore Visit and Signing
11:00 a.m.
Powell's City of Books
1005 West Burnside, Portland, Oregon
www.powells.com

I hope to see you there!

Northern Ohio SCBWI Event This Saturday!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Just a quick announcement this week:

I am very excited to be moderating a Critique Meet through the Northern Ohio SCBWI this Saturday!

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

SCBWI Critique Meet Event
www.nohscbwi.org

10:00 a.m.

Barnes & Noble - Fairlawn

4015 Medina Road, Akron, Ohio

***Please note this event is free and is open to the public but RSVP is required, please contact the Northern Ohio SCBWI Regional Advisor, Victoria Selvaggio at vselvaggio@windstream.net. 

For anyone attending who have a picture book manuscript or set of illustrations they would like to be reviewed by me I am still taking submissions until noon on Thursday, July 19th.  All submissions may be sent to lindsaymward@gmail.com.  Please send submissions only AFTER you have emailed Victoria Selvaggio to RSVP to the event.  Thank you!

I hope to see you there!!

2012 Northern Ohio SCBWI Annual Conference

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  Here in the Cleveland area we got not only a firework show but a heat lightening one as well, and I have to say the heat lightening was a bit more impressive!

Now back to children's lit announcements.  I'm very excited to be participating in the 2012 Northern Ohio SCBWI Annual Conference here in Cleveland in September.  I will be presenting an illustration intensive discussing the illustrator's responsibilities and role in putting together a successful picture book as well as teaching a breakout session on making a picture book, from start to finish.  Registration starts today for SCBWI members and July 20th for nonmembers.  Make sure to register soon for the breakouts and critiques you want because slots fill up fast!

Check out all the awesome faculty this year:

Michelle Poploff, Vice President & Executive Editor, Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books
Tina Wexler, Agent, International Creative Management
Quinlan Lee, Agent, Adams Literary Agency
Whitney Leader-Picone, Designer & Digital Publishing, Charlesbridge
Dandi Daley Mackall, Author
Cinda Williams Chima, Author
Mara Purnhagen, Author
Michael Ferrari, Author
Christopher Canyon, Author/Illustrator (Presenting Saturday Only)
Liz Coley, Author
Jeannine Garsee, Author
Lindsay Ward, Author/Illustrator
Shelley Pearsall, Author (Presenting Saturday Only)

2012 Northern Ohio SCBWI Annual Conference
"A Springboard to Publishing Success"
September 21-22
Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel
5300 Riverside Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
sheraton.com/airportcleveland

For more information or to register for the conference, click on the link below:

http://www.nohscbwi.org/conference.html