Casting Call - Round 2

So Far it Looks like Louise is the winner of Round 1. (named after Louise Nevelson)

The next candidates for your consideration are up.

More about the "part". A second grader who is crazy about art. Crazy as in eats. sleeps, breathes it.
She is a cross between Edna Mode/ Dieter from Sprockets and Tabitha from Salon Takeover on Bravo and the chick from Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.  She's a loveable KOOK. Not sweet - but fun. An individual that maybe not all of the kids "get"- but her passion is infectious.


OK- Here we go on my feelings:

Norma: You have the coolest Mom cause she let you dye your hair. You let your freak flag fly.

Mary: You suffer from the common misconception that art is "fashionable". Tho- nice hair.  I like the mod edge.

Jessie: You are the one doodling on every single scrap of paper and test. Maybe you are the quiet artiste- not the gallery curator.

 The part is for the kid that can lead a group of kids to put on an art show. Pick the character that you can hear yelling, arms in the air...."I LOVE IT!" - over and over. 

OK - Vote someone in or out of the book. The top 3 will come to call backs and I'll do a few character poses for the final pick.

PS She will most likely wear the striped shirt - they all have a thing for striped french sailor tees- it's them, really ;)

Casting Call !

Designing characters for a mini-book I'm doing for Promo out in L.A.

Main character is a 2nd grade Art Enthusiast. She can rattle off names like Caravaggio and Modigliani  faster than most boys can say "Pickachu".

The first 3 characters up for consideration:

Georgia: I'm sorry. You're just not cool enough. You're trying too hard. You will be considered for a classmate, sans beret.

Louise: I like you. You have the Etsy Girl/ nerdy thing going for you. Just, maybe, not enough ego.

Andie: So far, You are the front runner. You've got the look and the swagger. Also, Andy Warhol thinks you should have your 15 minutes.

Next Group!

I invite Voting in the comments!! It's like a reality TV Competition!

That's Life!

That's life
That's what all the people say
You're riding high in April
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life
And as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stomping on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine old world
It keeps spinning around

I've been a puppet, a pauper,
A pirate, a poet,
A pawn and a king,
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
I tell you, I can't deny it
I thought of quitting baby
But my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird
And then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper,
A pirate, a poet,
A pawn and a king,
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself laying
Flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life
That's life, and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won't buy it
But if there nothing shaking coming this here July
I'm going to pick my pencil back up and give it ..

another TRY!
My my...

I floated in the pool today as this song played from the fake rock speakers...

By the end of the song I was singing at the top of my lungs -- smacking the water to emphasize each line.

Especially this line:

I thought of quitting baby - But my heart just ain't gonna buy it

And this line:

Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

Today's Theme Song. I changed the last line. There's no rolling up in a ball and dying with this broad, Frank. 

Do you dream in character?

I do dream in character. Last night I dreamt Eureka Jones. Where this stuff comes from? Who knows?
I remember her - I remember "Camp Comonahockalugie" and I remember a cliff hanger.....

Anyone else get ideas in dreams?

It Gets Better

As a person who knows what it feels like to have their head slammed into a locker, or pushed under the bathroom sink or to be pulled into the cloak room to be groped in sixth grade; The "It gets Better" campaign hits home. The bullies weren't stronger than my belief in myself.

Have you seen this video? Very touching words from the Kid Lit community.

http://youtu.be/kYRYpYyHMos

It does get better. I held on to who I knew I was. Hold on to yourself.

Always Let you conscience be your guide...

When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!

Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow
And if your whistle's weak, yell, "Jiminy Cricket!"
Right!

Take the straight and narrow path
And if you start to slide
Give a little whistle!  Give a little whistle!
And always let your conscience be your guide"

I made a tough decision this week. Truthfully- it took months to make this decision. 

Even when I had made up my mind, the final declaration of that decision - just

scared the crap out of me.

I left my agent. I wish him well.

I'm off to pursue publication solo again. I believe in myself. Making the tough decisions

only reinforces that belief. 

That little voice in your head; your conscience - it yells sometimes. 

"And always let your conscience be your guide" 

An away we go.

Spotlight on me- over in Jersey...

Kathy Temean, who is the head of N.J. SCBWI has featured me on her "Illustrator Saturday" blog post.

It's nice to visit on other blogs!  Check it out!- Happy Fathers day all Fathers, especially my own Dad and my husband!! Here's my "Sketchables "Fathers Day sketch.....

NJ Shout Outs

I wanted to shout out the Art Showcase winners from the NJ SCBWI Conference. There was a lot of great work on display and if you read this blog- you know... I find these competitions not unlike ultimate cage fighting. -;)

The winner :
Lisa Falkenstern Whose work is truly inspiring. Heck- she paints in oil. AND- she's damn good at it.

Runners Up:
Katia Wish Katia is making her mark. She has a unique style and she works a great deal of movement into her illustrations. I'd keep my eye on her if I were you....

Here's Katia's post about the conference - which reminded me to post this info on my own blog. Thanks Katia for being on the ball!

Oh yeah- Me too.  I put in my Hippo For Hire piece. I didn't bring a separate piece of art for the showcase, I thought our homework was going in to the show. When I realized this Friday night, I called the husband and he drove 3 hours round trip to bring me whatever I had a decent print of at home. I chose the Hippo cause - well, Don't we all look at our portfolios and have a few that we say- "OK- I can be a bad ass illustrator!"? - This one says that to me.

So I guess the judges agreed.

 Honorable mention went to: Kim Wood (If anyone has a link - let me know) She did a sweet illustration of a mouse learning karate.

These three illustrators are really great. To be grouped with them is a compliment. Congrats to all of them!

Jersey Girl

 I thought maybe a good way to recap the NJ SCBWI conference would be to just show my notes in my sketchbook. I scribble down chicken scratch sound bites and doodle thru the days.

 

Friday's intensive

 Martha Rago's session on Al Yankovic's great book "When I Grow Up" Illustrated by Wes Hargis.
I do this- do you? Dissect the layouts of a successful PB - break down the shapes and how they work the page.

 

I'm not editing my words here- sometimes I get bored, or have a difference of opinion.

This was was a Children's Book Market evaluation.

 

 I had an epiphany @ Leeza's first workshop... submitting to TV. - Frying Pan moment

 Leeza's second workshop- I think is what needs to be taken to greater SCBWI. The ins and outs of promotional branding and what gives you that "Hey I know my Sh*T" look. (my words- not hers)

 The last day an agents panel was again- a great learning moment. The role of agents, the relationship with agents is like the movie Inception. I need a spinny thing.... And that one agent- looked like she walked out of a painting from about 1780.

I hope you can glean something from these messy pages. It was a really good conference. Even the bugs in my room agreed.

Hooked on a Feelin'

I went to the NJ SCBWI conference this weekend. It was a really great conference. If the NY and the LA are out of reach- consider this as an alternative.

I had a fun time. I had a great crit. I had some exciting feedback. I met some publishing people who were very nice and interesting and kind.  I came away with good stuff happening.

And the need to get very, very busy.

A conference is like a Happy Twilight Zone. You disappear into that reality for a long weekend, where time and space no longer matter. Your moving through space armed only with your imagination, skills and a smile. The part of Rod Serling is 99% likely played by a woman.... say Leeza Hernandez...

So I can't really put into words how I feel today - so listen to the songs.

And maybe join me in my own meditation of repeating my old adage:

  The Schlemeil Schlimazel

Give us any chance, we'll take it.
Give us any rule, we'll break it.
We're gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin' it our way.

Nothin's gonna turn us back now,
Straight ahead and on the track now.
We're gonna make our dreams come true,
Doin' it our way.

There is nothing we won't try,
Never heard the word impossible.
This time there's no stopping us.
We're gonna do it.

On your mark, get set, and go now,
Got a dream and we just know now,
We're gonna make our dream come true.
And we'll do it our way, yes our way.
Make all our dreams come true,
And do it our way, yes our way,
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you.