Blog has Moved!

Hi everyone! I have moved my blog so that it's now attached to my website :). You can find it here:

https://www.jeslynkate.com/blog-1

Illustrator Intensive With Jim Hoover

SCBWI organizes many events throughout the year. I especially like attending regional events, for they are smaller and a great way to meet other amazing writers and illustrators who live nearby. It is also less intimidating for meeting the special guests who speak at these events and a great way to get your foot in the door for future submissions.

This last Saturday I had the privilege of attending a SCBWI Illustrator Intensive event with Art Director Jim Hoover. My fellow illustrators and I all squeezed into a room to hear him speak and critique the assignment we had been given in December. For me, it was an exciting event that I had been looking forward to for months!

Mr. Hoover has had a rich career so far having worked as a designer for Puffin Books and Simon & Schuster. He advanced to Art Director, working for SCBWI before working for the magnificent Viking Children's Books! I am sure that you can imagine with such a big reputation, I was nervous to meet him (not to mention receive a professional critique (YIKES!)). 

After preparing illustrations for months, the day arrived and I must tell you that it was a wonderful relief to actually meet Jim. He was a charming, insightful professional who kept the entire room entertained for over 8 hours. That is quite a feat for any speaker!

Here are a few things that I took away from the event that I had not taken into consideration before:

·       When creating a portfolio, it doesn’t matter what style you choose. The most important thing that you can show is confidence in your work. If an editor or an art director can see your confidence through your work you have got it made!

·       Costuming your characters is a really important step that often gets overlooked. The costume(s) that you choose for your characters should reflect their personality as well as the time. Don’t be afraid to use clashing patterns or bright colors so long as it fits your story and character.

·       Showing movement in a still drawing is an impressive way to capture your audience. Practice this!

I learned these things and more from this event. I would highly recommend it to anyone who gets the opportunity, for it is a great way to get insight into the publishing business as well as feedback on your art. 

Lost and Found

I just finished working on these 3 fun pieces for an author who wrote this super cute story about a family's adventure through San Francisco. I can't talk too much about it because it isn't published yet!  Fingers crossed that there will be more of these soon.

SCBWI Illustrator Day

This post is a bit belated, but earlier this month I attended SCBWI's annual Illustrator Day in the city of San Francisco. What a treat! Molly Idle and Kelly Light stood spotlight with a fun, informative Character Building Workshop that had everyone laughing and drawing the afternoon away. It came at such a perfect time for me and I felt that I took away some precious gems of information. 

Here are a few sketches from the event:

For the first time, Illustator Day presented 3 Portfolio Awards. I won 3rd place for my portfolio! Congratulations to Diana Toledano won 1st place and Laura Zarrin who won 2nd place! We were all awarded bottles of water (Diana's was sparkling :D) and I will get free admission to Illustrator Day 2016. I wouldn't miss it!!

Thank you Molly Idle and Kelly Light for an inspiring workshop this year! They were both wonderful speakers who entertained and educated in equal measure. Listening to the two of them together was a real treat :). Thank you also, Lea Lyon for organizing such a memorable event. Great work!

#illustratorday

Character Study

Hi Everyone! I have been working on multiple projects for a few months now and I am now ready to start thinking about what's next! It has been a whirlwind few months with the amazing clients that I have been privileged to work with, teaching, and creating. Really exciting start to spring 2015. :)

Sawdust

New project!!

Panda Picnic Sketch

SHINE

Fox and Fireflies

Happy PiBoIdMo everyone!! Here is an illustration sparked by one of my "ideas of the day" for PiBoIdMo.

Monsty Meets the Minions

Sneak Peek - Sketches

Here is a sneak peek of a project that I have just started working on. I am already in love with this little guy and cannot wait to start printing him!

Star Chase - The Beginning

Hello Fog

Hi everyone! I have been working on these illustrations for a little while now. :) Wrapping up the project and wanted to share a few of the final images! There will be more soon. Enjoy and happy Friday to you.

Rescue Saves The Day!

Whale Rain - Revised and Completed

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the latest children's story that I have been working on by a lovely author named Niki Clainos! We are in the final sketching phase before the finals! The finals will be completed to look like the "Little Librarian" piece! Can't wait to show more. :)

In The Rain

Rain comes from whales, of course!!

Tea Time

In the spirit of spring and hoping for good weather I created "Tea Time" to celebrate fun times outdoors with friends. I am thinking about placing prints in my Etsy shop to sell. Anyone have any thoughts? 

Snail Mail

Another new piece using the same method of printing each piece separately, cutting them out, and then layering them all on the same piece of paper. 

Little Librarian

Working on my portfolio while nailing down my process.