Rough Monday: Childhood Heartbreak - Or Not

With so many illustratable (no, it's not a word, but you get it) moments from my childhood it was difficult to decide what to do for this week's theme of "Childhood Memories".  I settled on an instance somewhere around the time of grade 5 or 6 when I was "going out"  (and by "going out" I mean walking laps around the back field holding hands and chattering with other grade school "couples") with a boy who gave me a bracelet.  A week later I saw that he was walking around the back soccer field holding hands with another girl ... a friend of mine!  This was his way of informing me that we were through. So, this image is of the moment I returned the bracelet, which he then gave to the other girl . I was confused at what to make of all of this, but oddly, not at all angry. It remains in my mind as my first odd, awkward interaction with the politics of dating. Even though it's been years since I've seen either of these people, we went through nearly our entire school careers together and I still count them as dear friends.  Fortunately, I was much too naive about the ways of love at that point to be scarred by the incident.  haha. I chuckle every time I think of it.

Rough Monday-Ah the Memories of Youth!

Funny how you probably had 2345 great things happen every week while growing up, yet it's only the bad stuff that remains etched in your mind. I was not six yet, not till the Winter, and had come in to my Grade 1 class from a freezing Autumn  recess. I had forgotten to "GO" before class.
I put up my hand, trying to get my teachers attention, but she never called on me. In those days, you had to have permission to speak, let alone get up and leave the room.  So..... it happened. I spent the rest of the morning hoping no one would notice. At lunch time I threw my coat, mitts and hat on and just before I could make a clean (though dampish) get away towards home, the teacher called me over to my desk. As I remember, she was very nice about it, even though I denied any knowledge of how "that" got there or what "that" even was, and insisted it wasn't of my doing. I walked the 5 blocks home with a note for my Mother pinned to my jacket.

Yes, that is an ink bottle and dip pen on my desk! I can hardly believe it myself but when I started this sketch, I could picture the desks in our school. Beautiful hard wood, with Ink wells carved into the tops of the desk, chairs attached to the scrolled cast Iron base and legs, the seat that tilted up and down, like in the movie theatre.  (The teacher would hand out blotter paper every morning, you had to make the 1 sheet last all day:)

Rough Monday - The Baseball Player

It wasn't about the sport, it was all about the attire!  At 6, I had a different outfit for each activity :)

Rough Monday - Cabbage Patch

My first biking experience on my brand new shiny, red, banana seat 2-wheeler...right through my mothers' cabbage patch!

Movie Trailers Are Just VISUAL Queries?

This morning, watching a movie trailer of the newest Disney/Pixar offering, "BRAVE", I had one of my rare brain blips.
First of all, take a look at the trailer, because this Movie looks super cool!

BRAVE Teaser


Secondly, I started to think about Queries and Trailers as one and the same. If you take away the visual element of the trailer, and translate what you are being shown, as the teaser/enticement, into words, you find that in less then a minute you must show the character and the story/plot. As important as the "telling" is what you leave out, the suspense, leaving your audience (Agents/Editors) hanging and wanting to see=read MORE!

BRAVE Trailer


While, for example, the "Brave" trailer could be an example for a Picture Book Query, some of the other's, such as Documentary trailers, Drama, Mystery, might prove inspiring for Young Adult Queries.

Apple Movie Trailers


So, perhaps the ever daunting Query, really just boils down to a Commercial for your book.

Conversely, how cool would it be to make a movie trailer AS a PB query?
 (mental note, amendment to brain blip, check Emma Thompson's availability for voice over:)

My Dream Illustration job would be?

I often dream about the perfect Illustration job. After wafting back and forth, between Illustrating a Famous Author's manuscript, that goes on to sell 10 trillion copies, to Writing and Illustration my own book, that sells 20 squillion, I know that, for me, my DREAM JOB would be a Chapter book.
To be specific, a Chapter book series.
Once or twice a year (hopefully it would be more often) you have these manuscript's sent to you, you already know your character/s, you do one lovely colour image for the cover and then have FUN, penciling, inking the interiors. A steady, satisfying work flow, a steady income (doesn't have to be a squillion, half that would be fine:) and never again hear...
 "Can you draw 4 teens, full colour, in a Mall parking lot. Show the store and all the cars in the background, add some people walking around near the mall entrance (can you put a baby in the arms of the woman closest to the doors). Change the clothes on the teens to more age appropriate and while your at it, "punch" up the colour 'cause it's just not POPPING. The deadline is yesterday and, oh, it's spot art so our budget is $60. Can you Fed Ex that right away, no we don't have a FEx account!"

Ah yes, one can dream:)

 What's your's?

Rough Monday finished

If I don't post this a certain IC is going to throw something at me. Here's the rough monday finished.

"Rough Monday" theme (a day late:)

Thanks to Alma for giving me a heads up on "it was Wednesday YESTERDAY, where is the theme"?
Oops, sorry! I plead the holiday on Monday threw my days off. It doesn't take very much to confuse me anymore. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it:)
This weeks theme is  "Childhood Memories". It could be something that happened to you, or to a friend. It can be funny, heartwarming, embarrassing,scary, but a memory that has left it's mark.
Have fun with it!

Monday Rough

I don't generally do rough sketches. With me it's more about placement so this would be a placement rough.

Give an Octopus a Hug - Rough Monday - LOVE

This week I've been drawing octopi. So, in honour of our Rough Monday theme on LOVE, I wondered how octopi might show affection.

Rough Monday- Nothin' says "love" like the combo of speed and snow!

It's been a very mild winter this year with hardly any snow. I am not sure how it has been at your house, but at Casa Del Rizzo this is all I hear- " Mom, where is the snow? We'd LOOOOVE to go tobogganing!". LOL, it's no wonder that was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this week's "Rough Monday" topic.
 I promise to create a fresh sketch next time, this week has been particularily hectic but I really wanted to take part. So, I  pulled this sketch from my winter promo sketch book. I can't wait to see what everybody else does! :)

Rough Monday

"Rough Monday" and welcome to a new member!

I realize Valentines Day has past but, "Love", is our "Rough Monday" topic for this week.
Sketches can be posted Monday, Feb. 20th (or the Evening of the 19th)

A new member has dared join our rag tag bunch. Welcome Vicky Jean-Louis!

Rough Monday

You DID say rough!

Rough Monday - Orange You Glad?

I couldn't resist adding a touch of colour .... Happy Monday!

Julie Prescesky - designinkarnation.blogspot.com 

Rough Monday

Monday's are Rough, Banana's rougher!

Adrian's Banana rough monday (in advance)

Sorry for hogging the airwaves, but I thought I'd throw my Monday rough up while I had a chance. :) Chris challenged us to a banana theme. In mine, my hero Bish makes a small error in judgement on Halloween.

I'm hoping to paint it and put up the final version as well, but it may not be straight away...

"In theory, it was a wonderful costume..."

Santa's Little Helper

Well, Chris (our bossy boss moderator, he he) said that we should both share art and non-art news, so my news is we’re expecting another "Santa’s helper" in the summer. :)

Below is an illustration I did after we took my first baby for his first Santa photo. He loved it.

Mixing reference photos and imagination is a challenge, but can have some amazing results when it works. Mother nature is truly the greatest artist. I’ve bought some stuffed animals that I plan on using as references for some upcoming illustrations. We’ll see how it works, but I plan on having some fun!

Happy weekend!

Adrian.

Once again, "the future of Picture Books"

Agent, Mary Kole's Blog,   Kidlit.com  , from October 2010, featured a  panel of industry professionals speaking on the future of the picture book, in the dawning age of ebooks and apps.

Here's one of the quote's I found interesting. "kids want a multi-sensory experience. They want to read their book, and then they want to play it, interact with it, take an imaginative leap. The book and the play are all part of how kids meet and interpret a story."

Now, do kids reeeeally want to play with their books or have we decided to make books that  play with and entertain the child.  I can't remember, as a kid, saying to myself, "darn, I wish I could do more with this stupid book then just read it and look at the pictures!" Now, the book did INSPIRE me to use my imagination, in making up my own stories, drawing my own pictures.
Without any bells or whistles, a book can be much more.

If now, the book, not the child,  initiates play, is the child's  imagination really being used? Will a child's imagination prevail over that  interactive device, once known as "book"?

I'd especially love to hear what people with young children have to say about how their little ones interact with ebooks/apps.

Interesting to see where it all will head from here.

Old Junk Week

Here's a blast from the past. Anyone alive in the 'eighties may recognize these old-fashioned hand-drawn layouts for former Canadian icon, "Eaton's". These are felt tip renderings on paper from the pre-digital era when dinosaurs roamed the earth. My first and only job in the real world was in their in-house art department followed by a decade of freelance layout and design for every major Canadian retailer that no longer exists. (Hmmmm, I see a common denominator here.) Maybe some of you will find this bit of recent history interesting.

Rough Monday - Junk Mail

I've started playing around with Junk Mail Illustration. This is where I quickly illustrate the subject heading or sender name of one of the many fascinating emails I receive in my junk mail folder. 

This one is titled: SassyChick

Check out my blog for my first foray into the wonderful world of junk mail illustration. Some subject headings just scream for an off handed art depiction. Some ... well, some are better left alone.  

Happy Monday!

~Julie

"Rough Monday" topic day (pushed ahead, because of a certain over zealous member)

"Inspired" by a member, who has posted her rough a week ahead of time, and of her own topic choice, and with flagrant disregard for her "bossysocks" moderators rules, here is an advance topic post.

The topic for "Rough Monday", February 13, is "Banana":)

Mondays ARE Rough.

Especially when you are ordered around by a particular bossy pants blog moderator. This is MY monday rough. It's for a picture book I will be turning into an ebook app. I think.

It's the month of love...

and I have to confess, I am in love.

I am in love with how fast the cintiq works for me. How I can do all my steps in one place without stopping to scan, trace and re-draw. I do all those things, but it's intuitive. It is how I have ALWAYS wanted to work but did not have the medium.

Below 1) a work in progress

2) a completed spot

I am trying out Sketchbook Pro – you can download a full version to try for 15 days (NON_CONSECUTIVELY). I am still using it - I have 6 more days left till I have to buy it.

There's a whole new Illustration world out there

It's a new age in Illustration for sure. In just a short 12 years, we have gone from faxing roughs, phone calls with Editors and Art Directors to offer projects, ask for changes, mailed contracts and shipping of final art, to email, email, email and THIS!!!!

The Cintiq, an artist tool like no other. In fact, it replaces every art tool that I have ever owned and then some.

 My Accountant was in last week collecting my shoe box of invoices and receipts. He asked me where all my material bills were? Where were the "Wallack" (Art Supply Store) stubs for paints, brushes, paper, pencils and erasers? Where were my "deductions"? None! I have packed up the materials I did have and placed them all on shelves in the spare bedroom closet. I felt kind of sad about it, color pencils, paints, markers, good-bye loyal friends. 

My poor drawing table sits idol, in the corner of my Studio, lonely and neglected.  My Cintiq rules the roost, in fact I am composing this blog on it right now, while using it to check out emails and twitter.  My Mac is feeling as neglected as the drawing table these days.

Above is a demonstration at the Toronto Photographic Show, 2008. Below is the Cintiq 21UX, my version. The screen actually measures 21" side to side. I guess they don't use the cheaty corner to corner measurements TV makers do.

Both of these versions are yesterdays news. TA DA, the Caddy of Cintiqdom!
Now THIS, this is the newest version. The 24HD and really, I could just have it sit there on the desk, dust it, fondle it, and look at it. It's a thing of beauty!!! Practically speaking, the differences are more noticable, especially it's ability to tilt, be used in a standing position (for those artists that like to stand and paint) and to extend over the edge of a table, almost as if on the illustrators lap (though not)

 I will not be getting one:(
I'll be honest, I can barely figure out all that my version is capable of as is but, a girl can dream!

Old Junk Week

I thought, while we are all waiting, with baited breath, for the first ever, specTACULAR, "Rough Monday", we could host, "Old Junk Week"!
I'll begin, and can't wait to see what the rest of you dig up, from your basements, attic's, dusty shelves and old jpeg files.

As a child, I lived for Saturdays *. Most of us did back in the late 50's, early 60's. It not only meant Saturday morning TV (was always bummed when the Archie Comic books would run ads featuring the newest cartoon line up for the Fall season in the US, and we never got them in Canada) more importantly, to me, it meant the Colour Comics pull out section in the Newspaper... the "FUNNIES"!


I could spend well over an hour on my belly in the living room, paper spread out in front of me, because I wasn't just reading the comics, I was STUDYING them. The rest of that day would be spent, inspired by my Cartoonist hero's, trying to draw just like them. From about the age of 5, to 48, I thought of myself as a Cartoonist, not an Illustrator. I wanted to have a comic strip, be syndicated, be mobbed by adoring fans. As an adult and mom, I was sure I would be the next Lynn Johnston.  Lynn, in fact, got me my first adult (not sexy adult, just adult) book contract.  She recommended me to the Publisher. I didn't know Lynn but she had seen my work. I later found out, she wasn't JUST being kind, she was also trying to get the Publisher off her back :) but... I digress.
So, here is my "Old Junk". A few of the strips from my, not syndicated (though kindly rejected by King Features)  "Twenty Five, to Life", unedited, and with all the spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes my dyslexic brain could muster:)

* To our US friends who may be confused about Sunday comics being published on Saturday in Canada. Yep, the secret is out, we were always a step ahead of you:)
Na, truth is we didn't get Sunday papers here. It used to be a day of rest, even for the news.

Announcing, "Rough Mondays"!

Inspired by CIS blog member Adrian Croft,  who, a while back, suggested an Illustration day, I'm announcing, "Rough Mondays"!
 I've picked Monday for a few reasons.

a) It gives those of us, with outside of the studio jobs, the weekend to create a masterpiece to post.
b) What is rougher then a Monday!!
c) Fridays were taken.

The rules:
1) Roughs can be posted anytime Monday. If you miss Monday and have something ready by Tuesday, you get a mulligan, and can still post. If you miss Tuesday and want to post Wednesday, you will be shot.

2) I'll post the topic (Why me? Because I'm like that, I've always been a bossysocks) on Wednesday.

3) If you are unable to post the image yourself, you can email it to me. Best done before Wednesday (see rule number one)

4) Only SCBWI Canada East CIS blog members may participate. So, Eastern Canada lurkers, do consider joining the SCBWI and if you are already a member of SCBWI, consider joining our CIS blog.

5) Only roughs are allowed. Finished art may be posted anytime you care to blog, but for the Monday challenge, it's roughs all the way. No colouring! The sketch can be as tight and detailed as you wish, or as rough and loose, as can be. It can be done in either pencil or ink (light or dark line, for our digital Illustrators) but must show the roughs progress. No erasing! Because that would be cheating, no cheating! (again, see rule number one, as I have decided it applies to cheaters too)

6) Any dimensions are fine, but keep the dpi low.

7) You must have fun! *






*See, told you I was a bossysocks. I was the kid in the neighbourhood who would not just TELL the other girls what game we were going to play, "pretend to be Horses",  but that they were to be Pinto ponies,  I , the Palomino Stallion.

Niagara Falls Conference, check it out!

 Canada East Illustrators must party harder over the holiday's then any others, as it's awfully quite on the blog!
I'll go first, and break the silence, with this post regarding the SCBWI Canada East, Niagara Falls Conference, coming up June 8-10, 2012.
This years line up of guests is TOTALLY Illustrator inclusive!
To mention just a few, likely of special interest to Illustrators, Patti Ann Harris, A.D., "Little Brown Books for Young Readers".
 Tracey Adams, Agent, "Adams Literary".  The Agency does represent Illustrators, as well as Authors.

While often we Illustrators can feel a little left out at some conferences and conventions, the Niagara Conference stands out as an "Equal Opportunity" weekend for us.
Hope many of our Illustrator members (non-members are welcome) will be able to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Hey, Niagara Falls in June, what's wrong with that picture?:)

Niagara Falls Conference