Happy women's Day / Mother's Day

Happy Women's Day / Mother's Day  

From Tomie

Thinking of Tomie dePaola 

Miss you Tomie!!

2017 from Tomie:
What a very nice surprise when I turned over this illustration and recognized Stephen’s name. I remembered his work from previous assignments, and we’ve met at the New York Conference.
In his piece, he’s taken his sketchy line and colored wash to a new level especially in his self-portrait. The mood, the body language and the hidden face are very moving to the viewer.
Again, I “want” to know more: What’s going on, can I help? I’m interested!
Again, a small critique. I wish more care was taken with the background and the left front of the image. I read “shirts – maybe” for the background, but still, “What is that on the bottom left?”
Great job, Stephen. Keep it up. You’re on to something.

 

The Musicians of Bremen 2

It's a process 

 

Happy Easter 2022

 Happy Easter 2022

COVID-19

Covid -19

SCBWI Narrative Art Award

SCBWI Narrative Art Award

 

Link to all who participated

 

https://scbwiart.blogspot.com/

INKTOBER Part 2 the next 12 days

Teeming

Fierce

Mysterious

Fat

Graceful

Filthy

Cloud

Deep

Furious

Trail

Juicy

 

Blind

 

 

Link to part 1 

 

Link to part 3

 

 

 

 

Maurice Sendak, 1928-2012

Maurice Sendak

1928-2012 

"I didn't sleep with famous people or movie stars or anything like that. It's a common story: Brooklyn boy grows up and succeeds in his profession, period," he told the AP.

Mr. Sendak, died early Tuesday in Danbury, Conn., at age 83,
four days after suffering a stroke.

I could type out a bunch of words about this man but I would not do him justice.

Those who know me or have taken the time to read my past post know I have mentioned Mr. Sendak many times. He is an inspiration to me and a loss to the publishing world 

I found this post from it gives a good overview of his life I decided to just put up a handful of illustrations from varies books he illustrated:

Maurice Sendak, 1928-2012:| The Portland Press Herald
New York Times
"The Colbert Report" very funny!

He kind of looks like his character's

Creating layouts

Last week I was sent three images from “Why Am I Me?” with text by the art director. I believe the author Wayne Harris-Wyrick wants to create a video to help promote the book and I guess she felt I should be in the loop.

This gives me an opportunity to do a quick break down on how I created layouts for this publisher.

One:
I am sent the script/text for the story I know that for their picture books it will be 8.75 X 9 inches or if a two page spread 17.5 X 9 the size includes bleed, also I have twenty five pages to tell the balk of the story out of the thirty two pages for the picture book.
Two:
 After many times reading the story I find the breaks or what I fondly call the breaths and start scribbling the page number next to what text will go on what page. This can and usually changes when I start creating a storyboard; the storyboard helps me see the flow.

Three:
Then I layout the pages how I see the images and text put together, I know they like full color illustrations so I give them it not hard and I have adopted for them keeping the background soft and out of focus. You can see with the amount of text per page it is easier to place the written word without overlapping the artwork. If I design it to overlap the foreground artwork I remove my ink line to soften the artwork, trying to make it easier to read the words on that page.

page 12 with text

All the pages in this book except for two pages were two page spreads a lot more fun to work with, I am guessing that the art director did not want to give too much of the story away by sending the full two page spread since there is text on both pages so I had already had a couple up for the last year without text and I have added it to this post.

Illustration Friday "Intention"

"Intention"

Sooo ? You wan to date my Daughter?
_________________________________________________________  

Side note: Doing "Illustration Friday" has given me an opportunity to explore my technique without worrying if a client will like it or not. Just enjoy playing around with line, color, and texture.      

                                                  

    

Thank You Stories for Children!

Katie's Creepy Christmas

by Mark Seline

December issue 2007

I would like to take a moment to say Thank You to Stories for Children Magazine and VS Grenier for giving me a chance when others didn't.

Back in 2007 I submitted samples of my artwork to VS Grenier the response was (not a direct quote) "Do you draw anything else besides dragons? Most of the stories we publish are about children." I sent what I had with kids not many maybe three and one of them I did back in the 80's.

I figured like other responses to my submission that was it, I will not hear from them again. But I was dead wrong I spent a year creating illustration after illustration for them (not one dragon) I became more confident in my self; The work I did for Stories for Children lead me to illustrating picture books for 4RV Publishing (still no dragons). Also one of the stories I illustrated for them "A Grand Dilemma" Won! the 2008 Best Artwork by Preditor & Editors Readers Poll.

It came to me as quite a shock when I received an email just before my holidays stated letting me know that "Right Know, the magazine division is closed to submissions and will only publishing issues out to March 2010." I was ensured that the magazine is only on HOLD for now and will return. Also that Stories for Children Publishing, LLC is still operating and will continue to do so.

So Thank You again Stories for Children for believing in me and allowing me to be part of a great family of Writers, Illustrators, Editors, and Art Directors. I look forward when you reopen your doors to new submissions.

Stephen