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| My "Happy Chinese New Year" Sketch! |
Monday, January 7, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Super Star Interviews: Joan Charles
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| The award-winning books Joan illustrated! |
Q: As Illustrators we are often encouraged to
steer clear of self-published projects, but your first book, the highly
successful Lost in Lexicon, began as a self-published project. Can you share
your thoughts on the pros and cons of working on self-published projects? (You can purchase Joan's books here!)
A: Lost
in Lexicon was a little unusual for a self-published book. Author Penny Noyce started
her own publishing house, Tumblehome Press, where she assembled a professional
team that included an editor, art director, and book designer. The book is a
middle grade novel that incorporates math and language concepts, so the editor
and author both thought it should be leavened with a lot of illustrations. There
were some bumps in the road, since this was the first self-published project
for everyone involved and we were all learning along the way.
When I was first
hired, I think we were talking 50–75 illustrations. As we progressed through
the process, the project kind of grew and took on a life of its own. There ended
up being something like 165 illustrations in the final book. So, my advice to
illustrators contemplating working on a self-publishing project: be prepared
for it to take more time than you anticipate! Also, make sure you spell out
clearly in your contract the number of illustrations and the number of
revisions you’ll do for your original fee.
The perception of self-publishing has changed a
lot in the three years since I illustrated that book. I know several experienced
illustrators who are turning their expertise into a mini business—hooking up
authors with book designers and helping them through the self-publishing
process. It’s one way for an illustrator to survive the rapid changes in the current
publishing world.
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| Winter Sonata by Joan Charles |
Q: You sell Giclee prints of your
artwork in your Etsy shop, Raven & Renn. Can you talk about what Giclee prints are as well as how you have yours
printed and priced? (Shop Joan's artwork here!)
A: Giclees are high quality digital reproductions
printed on archival paper with archival inks. The original art is scanned using
a hi-res scanner, then color corrected before printing. The result is a
reproduction that is as close to my original painting in color and value as
possible.
I have my prints made at Graphic Factor Studio in Silver Lake, which
is run by my friend and fellow illustrator, Mary Peterson, and her husband, Jonathan
Kawaye. They are meticulous in their attention to detail and the resulting
prints are beautifully made and are of very high quality. My goal is to offer
affordable art at an affordable price. The cost of a print varies, depending if
the print run is a limited edition or an open edition.
Q: Although you are well versed in traditional
media, you now work primarily digitally. Tell us about your artistic process
from idea thru sketches and final artwork.
A: I start by making several sketches, exploring
different ways I might approach illustrating a particular scene. Sometimes I
make a very detailed sketch and sometimes just a “sketchy” sketch. Once I’ve
finalized the concept, I scan the drawing and then paint the final illustration
in Photoshop. I’ve built a library of textures and patterns that I use in my
finished artwork in order to give it more texture and to counteract the flat
look that digital art can have. With color work, I tend to work in a
traditional painting manner, using layers to create “glazes”, the same way I do
went I paint with oils or acrylics. I’m also trying something new—painting
the under painting with traditional media, scanning that partial painting and
finishing the final illustration in Photoshop. I like the combination of “real”
and digital painting. I think it makes for a richer illustration.
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| Isn't this lovely? I wonder what quest the Elephant and Rider are on... |
Q: Your artwork has a mysteriously ethereal
quality. Who and/or what has inspired your artwork the most?
A: When I was very young I was fascinated with a book my
parents had: an illustrated edition of Wuthering Heights with the most
amazing (and frightening) woodcuts by Fritz Eichenberg. I often liked pictures
that sort of scared me, like Tenniel’s illustrations in Alice in Wonderland (I guess I was always a weird kid!). Growing up, I was a complete comic book
fan and usually spent most of my allowance on the latest Superman and Archie
comics. I love Arthur Rackham, Edward Gorey, Gahan Wilson, Ezra Jack Keats,
Quentin Blake, and William Joyce.
Q: Describe your perfect Sunday.
A: As a freelancer, it’s a rare and wondrous day
when I get some time off! So, on those days, I leaf through the Sunday paper and
work on the Times crossword while I sip my morning tea. I love to walk, so my
husband, Kelly, and I often take urban hikes and explore different neighborhoods
in LA. When we’re tired and footsore, we find a café, settle back with a huge
pot of tea and spend the rest of the afternoon people watching.
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| Vampire Love by Joan Charles |
Q: What are you working on now? And what can we
look forward to from you in the future?
A: I recently set up my shop, Raven and Renn, on Etsy. Right now I’m concentrating on creating original cards and prints for the
site. It’s been fun, because it allows me to just let myself go artistically
and explore different styles. I like the direct feedback I get from customers. For
the past couple of years I’ve also been working a lot in traditional media and
showing in galleries. At the moment I’m working on a picture book dummy. The
art is a much simpler than my usual style and I’m having a lot of fun with it.
Thanks so much for inviting me to visit you on “Bird
Meets Worm." It’s been a great pleasure talking to you!
Thank you, Joan! I always love catching with you, and I absolutely adore your latest work!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Coyote Cantina Holiday Arts & Crafts Boutique
Are you still looking for that super special gift for that super special someone? Come out and shop Super Hoot at the Coyote Cantina Holiday Arts & Crafts Boutique this Saturday, December 15th from 10am to 3pm, located at the Coyote Cantina Restaurant (531 N. PCH, Redondo Beach, CA). Other Etsy vendors who will be selling at this event are Mutts, This Mermaid Loves Tea, Mamma Monkey, and many more. This arts & crafts pop-up boutique is a great opportunity to support local artists and craftspersons! Hope to see you there. Happy Hoot-lidays from Super Hoot!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Super Star Interviews: Salina Yoon
Welcome to my new monthly interview feature! As an Illustrator, especially one who is a longtime member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I am blessed to have a large circle of wildly talented friends, who are fellow artists, writers and designers. And I’m so excited to be interviewing them and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.
This month I am chatting with the amazing and prolific Author, Illustrator and Novelty Book Queen, Salina Yoon. She and I became friends thru our friends at the novelty book publisher, Intervisual Book, where Salina and I both spent time as Designers/Art Directors. Salina has created nearly 200+ innovative novelty books for young children and is still going strong. You can visit her and her books here!
This month I am chatting with the amazing and prolific Author, Illustrator and Novelty Book Queen, Salina Yoon. She and I became friends thru our friends at the novelty book publisher, Intervisual Book, where Salina and I both spent time as Designers/Art Directors. Salina has created nearly 200+ innovative novelty books for young children and is still going strong. You can visit her and her books here!
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| Novelty Book Queen, Salina Yoon |
Q: Your new book,
Penguin and Pinecone, is a picture book, which is a big change from the board
and novelty books for which you are known. Can you tell us a little bit about
how creating Penguin and Pinecone was different/similar to the body of work for
which you are known?
A: The biggest difference between a picture book and novelty book
is that picture books are story-driven while novelties are format and concept
driven. A good story needs a strong narrative arc and a character that readers
will love and care about. None of these things are necessary for a good concept
novelty book. For a successful novelty, the format must be interactive (format
refers to the physical design of the book), have play appeal, and cleverly work
with the concept. Another hidden secret to novelty success is its price. So
considering the production cost of a novelty book is a unique element to
developing a project, one that isn't considered for traditional picture books. For picture books, story is key. Also, picture books are typically 32-40
pages in length, while novelties are often 12 pages or under.
Q: Do you have an art style for which you are known?
A: Unlike most published illustrators, I am not known for one
single art style. I have no qualms about changing it from one book to the next.
This is not typical, however, and I would not necessarily encourage aspiring
illustrators to switch from one art style to the next if they are not
established!
Here are a few examples of my various art styles using various
mediums: Illustrator-only, Photoshop-only, Illustrator + Photoshop, Graphite +
Photoshop, Acrylic paints-only, Charcoal pencil + Photoshop. I do this to keep
it fun for myself, but also make each book unique and fresh.
Various novelty elements I've used: plastic prismatic lens,
lift-flaps, gatefolds, foil accents, shimmery fabric accents, embossing,
die-cuts, die-cut play pieces, puzzle pieces, glitter, sliding elements,
spinning elements, pop-ups, to name a few.
Q: What would you say are
the unique challenges of creating/publishing books for the youngest of readers
(ages 0-3)?
A: Like all books, the cover and art must appeal to its intended
audience. This challenge is no different for younger readers. Bright, colorful,
and friendly art works best for me. I also like bold, uncluttered,
high-contrast art. But remember. Babies don't purchase books. Grown ups
do. So the art must also appeal to adults, and this of course, ranges widely.
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| Here are some of Salina's books for the youngest readers. |
Q: I know that you are a
mom to two energetic little boys. In what ways do you balance motherhood with
your career?
A: My sons are 7 and 8, so they are much more independent than they
used to be. My studio is in my home, and I take up two small rooms on the main
floor so it's very accessible to my family… which has its ups and downs. I love
that I'm always accessible, but it makes it difficult to work if the family is
home. Most of my work gets done while the boys are at school or asleep at
night. If I need a weekend to work, I love making a trip to the library for
some quiet time… since home is not always the place for quiet on a weekend! I
am fortunate to have a very supportive husband who'll step up with parenting
duties if I need to work. He is an artist, and teaches art part time. You can visit his work here.
Q: You yourself are a
long-standing brand in the world of children’s publishing. What are your
thoughts on how children’s book publishing has changed in the last ten years?
A: I'd say the boom for novelties was in 2005-2008. I published
about 35-40 books in that time through Penguin, Scholastic and Simon &
Schuster. I still have novelties published, but lots of changes has occurred
not only in the U.S. but internationally as well. Most novelty books are
printed in China. Labor laws, price of paper and gas, and cost of shipping have
changed in recent years to make printing more expensive overall. This has made
publishing novelties in particular very challenging, since mass market novelty
books usually require a low retail price point of below $10.00 (with
exceptions) while the price of manufacturing is high. While this makes it more
challenging, it also requires the creator of novelties to be more clever in how
we use our materials so that it is cost effective and innovative without losing
its wow factor. There will always be a place in publishing for novelties.
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| Penguin from Salina's new PB book, Penguin and Pinecone. |
Q: Book trailers are
becoming a standard promotional tool for new books. Do you have any
advice/hints/ideas for those new to creating book trailers?
A: I am new to book trailers myself! Little, Brown created one for
KALEIDOSCOPE, which was their lead novelty title in Spring of this year. They
shared this on their website, and various blogs shared it with the book review.
But before Little, Brown made theirs, I tried making one myself (you can see it here!). I used a simple template from Animoto, which cost approx. $30.00 for a
hi-def version of the trailer. It's free to experiment, however! All you need
are your own images. My only advice is to keep it short! 1 minute or less is
best for book trailers.
Also, here is a blog link to some advice on making your own trailer
using existing templates that are really very inexpensive.
Here is the trailer of Penguin and Pinecone that was created by the
publisher, Walker/Bloomsbury. They've shared this extensively on their FB page and have allowed me to do the same. I'm not sure how much impact it has on sales, but it
certainly is a fun way to share a book!
Q: Describe your most
perfect Sunday.
A: My most perfect Sunday would start with coffee set on my
nightstand. I'd wake to the smell of bacon. After breakfast with the family, I
might make a brief trip to the local cafe alone for some writing/thinking time
over a Mexican mocha with whip, and come back inspired and energized. I recall
one Sunday afternoon when I bought some clay for us to play with. I ended up making
Clay Penguin, who stars in his own blog.
My boys created their own clay figures along with me. My
older son (Max, age 8), loves to sit quietly with me to sketch. And sometimes
he likes to make books and give me ideas. I love it when I can inspire
creativity in my kids and find ways to do my work WITH the kids. Not always
possible. Our most recent favorite family activity has been playing Monopoly!
If there are no tears shed, it's a perfect way to spend a Sunday evening. (unfortunately,
someone usually does end up in tears!)
Thank you for having me on your blog, Jane!
Thank you, Salina! It's been fabulous chatting with you and I can't wait to see what book you create next. To all my Bird Meets Worm readers, you can purchase Salina's books here! (They make great holiday gifts, especially the wintery Penguin and Pinecone!)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Super Hoot's NEW Mini Mix-and-Match Collection
Super Hoot is proud to present our new Mini
Mix-and-Match Collection, which features a bunch of original mixed media artwork, similarly sized and colored, that can either stand alone or be grouped together for a dramatic
statement in a baby nursery, playroom or fun family space! All artwork is made with bright, colorful paper, sweet fabric and acrylic paint details on wood and each one has
a small hole drilled in the back, so it’s ready to hang when you are. Shop Super Hoot today!
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| NEW Mini Mix-and-Match Collection |
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| Purple Petaled Flower |
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| How fantastically cute is this? |
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| Happy Smiley Flower Friend |
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| Whooo, whooo can resist these owls?! |
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| Super Hoot, Hoot! |
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| Berries, bunnies, flowers, oh my! |
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| Swirly Lollipop Flower |
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| Pink Bunny Baby Girl |
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