Farewell, "king of all wild things"

On Tuesday, the picture book world lost one of its greatest talents, Maurice Sendak.  His career spanned several decades, stimulating and influencing the imaginations of so many people, young and old alike. While best known for writing and illustrating Where the Wild Things Are, his work also included In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, and illustrations for the Little Bear series, just to name a few.  It's difficult to imagine the world of picture books without Sendak's work.  Like so many, I grew up reading and re-reading Where the Wild Things Are, losing myself in the world Sendak created and joining the wild things as Max cried, "let the wild rumpus start!" 

Indeed, as I got older and was being trained in the art of picture books, I gained a new found appreciation for the design, layout, and pacing of so much of his work.  As a great storyteller, Sendak incorporated so many complex storytelling devices while making the process seem so effortless. His unique, palpable characters and utilization of Winsor McCay's technique of correlating panel size to its corresponding events were just a few tools he used from his creative bag.  While as a child I loved to journey through his worlds of fantasy, now I enjoy studying those places and the genius behind them. 

So while we say goodbye to the "king of all wild things," countless generations to come will join Max in his private boat, help Mickey investigate the racket going on in the night kitchen, and celebrate a birthday for Little Bear with his friends.

NESCBWI 2012 Conference

Before I jump into the conference details, I must first excitedly announce that my entry into the NESCBWI 2012 Poster Contest placed second in the Unpublished Category! Congratulations to all of my friends and fellow illustrators who placed within their respective categories, including Hazel Mitchell, Marcela Staudenmaier, Dan Moynihan, Milanka Reardon, and three time winner Russ Cox.

First and foremost, I must say what an amazing weekend I had! Not only was it great to see some familiar faces from SCBWI's New York Winter Conference, but it was also nice meeting so many new, talented individuals. Just like the winter conference, NESCBWI 2012 was a three day event, beginning at the Eric Carle Museum on Friday and ending on Sunday with a closing speech from Jane Yolen. Without getting too long winded, I'll just list some highlights from the weekend.

Friday

• While at the Eric Carle Mix & Mingle event, limited to only 250 attendees, I had the opportunity to meet, talk with, and have some books signed by many great children's book writers and illustrators, including Jane Yolen and Dan Yaccarino. 
• Later in the day, I attended the opening meeting of the Beginner Illustrator Academy, taught by the talented trio of Brian Lies, Anne Sibley O'Brien, and Carol Goldenberg. As part of a small group of  Academy attendees, each of us were given the task of creating character model sheets and a finished illustration for one of three public domain stories provided by the teachers.  Because this work was critiqued for Sunday, we simply introduced ourselves to each other and learned a little bit about what makes great picture books.
• Another excellent aspect of the conference was the opportunity to be exhibited in the Portfolio Showcase, viewed by industry professionals, faculty, and volunteers. The showcase was open to everybody on Saturday evening.
• Having dinner and drinks with a very fun group of illustrators and writers was a great way to top things off!

Saturday

• I love the preliminary work that goes into animated films, including storyboards and character designs. So, it goes without saying that I had a blast attending Kelly Light's excellent workshop on character design. She even made cookies for all of us! It doesn't get much better than that!
• I think many of the conference attendees will agree that Harry Bliss gave a hilarious keynote speech after lunch! As an illustrator and cartoonist for The New Yorker, among his many other achievements, he has an excellent sense of humor. I was laughing so much it hurt!
• I also had the fortune of attending an amazing presentation by Mary Brigid Barrett about writing picture books. Although teaching how to write can be very dry and boring, Mary presented the material in such a animated way that it's pretty hard to forget the important lessons she taught.
• Anytime you have Dan Yaccarino giving a presentation, as was the case for his workshop on the essentials of a picture book dummy, you want a front row seat. His combination of humor and thoughtful information make for an excellent class.
• Having a critique with Martha Rago, the Associate Creative Director at HarperCollins Children's Books, was incredible! I learned a great deal about my strengths, weaknesses, and portfolio and marketing presentation. This was so important for my growth as an illustrator!
• It was very exciting to meet Harold Underdown (below), a knowledgeable industry professional whose website and book act as irreplaceable tools in navigating through the rough waters of the children's book market.
• The day ended on a fun, relaxing note. I think the picture on the bottom says it all!

Sunday

• It's amazing how fast the weekend went by! The Beginner Illustrator Academy was a nice way to end things. While having our "homework" critiqued, we also learned the many ways to create strong, dynamic characters, stories, and layouts for picture books.

Whew! What a weekend! 

A Weekend in Review: The 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference

Lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend SCBWI's annual winter conference in New York City. It was an amazing time! I met many talented artists, while learning invaluable information about the children's book market.

The event began with the illustrators' marketing intensive on Friday, in which the talented illustrators John Rocco, Dan Santat, Dan Yaccarino, and Sophie Blackall gave presentations about the various marketing tactics illustrators can employ to effectively promote their work.  While entertaining, all of the artists offered excellent advice in areas such as social media and book trailers.

Illustrators Dan Yaccarino and Dan Santat

The second half of the intensive was handled by Jed Benett from Penguin, Deb Shapiro of Deb Shapiro & Co. (a marketing firm) and Michelle Fadlalla of Simon and Schuster.  Again, much valuable information was garnered from hearing this panel of individuals speak.  Both illustrators and the marketing specialists agreed on the important role libraries and local bookstores play in regards to bringing one's book to the public's attention.
Roxie Munro, along with the other illustrators, ended the intensive with a discussion about how to manage one's time and money wisely to get the most from their marketing tactics.  The day concluded with the Portfolio Showcase, in which 180 illustrators placed their portfolios out to be judged by 350 leading professionals within the industry.  Needless to say, there was a lot of great artwork to be seen! The runner ups of the portfolio showcase were Wook Jim Jung and Lori Nichols, with Mike Curato as the winner.  Congratulations to all of you!
That was just the first day! The following day offered even more valuable information, with break-out workshops generously presented by Cathy Goldsmith of Random House, HarperCollins' Martha Rago, and Samantha McFerrin of Harcourt. A gala dinner and an illustrator social topped the night off! Of course, I can't forget to mention Henry Winkler's guest appearance earlier in the day. It was quite the pleasant surprise! I think I speak for all of us when I say his speech both motivated and inspired us to continue reaching for the stars.

Surprise guest Henry Winkler

Though Sunday marked the end of the conference, the morning was still packed with motivational presentations, thought provoking panels (such as that of the four agents), and a fun interview with the Bookmakers Dozen, a group of Brooklyn-based illustrators that include John Rocco, Dan Yaccarino, and Sophie Blackall.
To attend an event of this magnitude can be overwhelming but very rewarding. The connections that are made with fellow illustrators, writers, and industry professionals are so valuable in guiding one on their journey through the children's book market.  While it is a humbling experience, one quickly appreciates the stunning talent that surrounds them. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to attend these conferences, especially for those just starting out in the field.  I met some wonderful, talented people, gained new friends, and was introduced to a beautiful world of like-minded individuals who share the same goal: to nurture and foster the education and imagination of the world's youth, helping them grow to be smart, compassionate, and productive individuals.  It truly is a privilege to work in the children's market!

Illustrators/writers Stephen Macquignon and Debbie Ohi

For a more detailed look at the conference check out The Official SCBWI Conference Blog of the 13th Annual Winter Conference

The 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2011

This week, the New York Times released their annual Best Illustrated Children's Books list for 2011.  These are some beautifully illustrated books with excellent stories to boot! The list includes some personal favorites, Kadir Nelson and Lane Smith.  Both consistently put out work that is well rendered, creatively composed, and fun to both view and read.  Kadir Nelson's We Are the Ship (2008) is a gorgeous book about Negro League baseball and the many challenges they had to overcome during a period of deep racism and inequality.  On the other end of the spectrum,  Lane Smith's John, Paul, George, and Ben (2006), is a hilarious, educational, well illustrated, read about America's founding fathers.  Although these are "older" books, they are worth mentioning.
Though I only mentioned a few illustrators, the list shows the varying styles and uniquely creative abilities that each illustrator displays in their respective books. From Frank Viva's highly stylized, effective artwork in Along a Long Road to the warm, inviting style of Patrick McDonell's Me...Jane, all of these artists display an adept ability to beautifully illuminate their stories.  There is so much talent out there, it is quite an accomplishment to be mentioned on this list! So, check these books out, sit down with your kids, and jump into the wonderful world of picture books!