Happy Mothers Day to all of you sweet mom’s out there!
Here is a close up from a Mother Day card I made for Draw Me A Lion.
Lisa's Recent News!
Hurrah for 3×3 Mag issue #18
I just got my copy of the new 3×3 Magazine and guess who’s Thank You Card illustration for Draw Me A Lion is in the Gallery section? Miiiine! Hurray! This issue has a children’s book illustration theme and starts off with a feature on Eric Carle and his work. Such an honor to be in the same magazine along with him! Incidentally I just so happen to be reading a very fantastic book on Carle right now. “The Art of Eric Carle” So inspiring!
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Goodbye Maurice Sendak
The first thing I found out this morning was that Maurice Sendak died. I am really sad about this. He was such an inspiration to me and so many other people that it is a shock even though he was 83, just like it’s always a shock when someone you love simple isn’t going to be around anymore. Out of all the illustrators I can think of he is one of the ones that really carved his own way. Many of his books were hugely controversial, loved by some, hated by others. He sure didn’t let that stop him from doing it again all over with his next project. And even though he mentioned in an interview that everyone is quoting these days that he had based the Wild Things on his relatives, I think he was the most Wild Thing of them all.
I will miss you Mr. Sendak. You were truly unique.
Here is a drawing to commemorate the day.
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Tattoo Designs for Creative Cast
Hurray! So happy to share these two illustrations I was commissioned for by Creative Cast!
These two designs of mine will soon be for sale in form of Tattoos in Children’s hospitals all over BC for kids to put on their casts!
How awesome is that? So exciting!
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Can’t wait for the new issue of 3×3 Magazine…
I’m especially excited for the new issue of 3×3 Magazine to hit the shops this time, because….I”m it it! Huzzah! So happy about this!
Yes, I’m in the gallery section along with some really cool other international illustrators. And look at the awesome cover (not by me, but by Michael Slack) it has! Look for it in the shops Ladies and Gents! If you’re in Vancouver they have it at Chapters and also Oscars Book shop I think and If Your Mother Knew Magazine shop further towards Kits.
Can’t wait to hold one in my greedy hands! YESSSS!
Filed under News
Yay! I’m in the 3×3 Directory!
So if you know 3×3 you will know that it’s one of the coolest illustration mags out there and so you’d thus also be preeeety stoked to be included in the directory that they put out every year!
Yesssss! I’m in the 2012 3×3 directory and they even gave me a full spread for my illustration! Awesome! I had been waiting for it to get here and it came right the day before my birthday! What a great present!
Here is the original image as well as the image as it appears in the directory.
Here is what the 2012 directory looks like from the front (no no this image is not by me)
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
My ‘Hello Vancouver Postcards’ are on Zealous
I was asked a while back if zealous.co could use some of my images for their portfolio site. Well, here they are up along with some preeeety cool other artists work. It’s fun site to browse around a bit. So many different genres, styles and techniques. Neat.
Filed under News
Draw Me A Lion!
So yes, It’s quite funny but I don’t believe I have posted anything about this here yet. I have opened up a little online shop called Draw Me A Lion. The launch for it was at Collage Collage here in Vancouver about a month and a half ago and went great! I have been working on this project for the last year and now it is finally happening. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about it. Our products are already being carried in two fantastic shops here in Vancouver and that’s just the beginning!
Do check it out sometime. It is very special to me my little shop and I have created some things that I would have liked to have myself when I was little.
Filed under News
Illustration for Picture Books (level 1) Course Outline
ILLUSTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS (LEVEL 1)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
You love children’s picture book illustrations and want to create your own, but what exactly is Children’s Picture Book Illustration? This Class will introduce you to classic and current key work in this art form, help you to develop your own unique style, teach you what to keep in mind when creating an effective illustration and main character and much more.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES & OBJECTIVES
- Establish a knowledge base of important work and artists in the field, covering both classics as well as contemporary work.
- Expand your knowledge of what a picture book and picture book illustration is.
- Create effective illustrations and main characters
- Utilize pen and brush amongst other methods to create diverse styles of illustration
- Become familiar with some components of Photoshop to help you create and send images digitally
- Employ storyboarding and composition techniques
- Become aware of layout, pacing of a story, as well the concept of the book as a whole.
- Take into consideration synergy of text and image
- Become more familiar and aware of your own illustration style(s)
- Become familiar with the practical side; logistics and important habits to develop in the profession
- Know what to keep in mind when approaching publishers, and developing your portfolio
- Learn how to improve your illustrations through use of perspective, angles and use of shadow and light.
COURSE METHOD
- Slide presentations and lectures
- Hardcopy and/or online handouts are provided
- Additional resources are provided weekly via instructor’s blog on children’s picture book illustration
- http://iheartpicturebooks.blogspot.com/
- Presentations and lectures
- Demonstrations
- In class hands on exercises
- Take-home research and technique assignments
- Group and individual- critique and pointers
- Learn on location: Field trip to local bookstore
- Reviews and Critiques
COURSE CONTENT
- Sketching and Drawing/ with attention to composition, layout, text placement and angles.
- Experimenting with brushwork, pen and ink, mixed media
- Studying of key artists and books —classic and contemporary— for examples of style and technique
- Reproducing and altering illustration styles to help develop and enrich your own style
- Computer basics: coloring, scanning, layers, colour modes, final file preparation
- In class character development exercises
- Illustrating various pieces of text
- Illustrating the same text in various ways and styles.
REQUIREMENTS
To successfully complete the course, students are expected to complete all assignments according to the instructor’s stated requirements, attend at least %85 of the classes and participate actively in discussions and critiques.
FURTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Drawing experience of minimum drawing 101 class or equivalent
- Completion of exercises and assignments
- Positive and motivated attitude
- Punctual attendance of classes
ASSESSMENT METHODS
- Attendance and participation in class
- Participation in all exercises, critiques and discussions
- Completion of all assignments within a specified deadline
SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTARY BOOKS
1)Illustrating Children’s Books’ (By Martin Salisbury, Barron’s, 28.99$)
2)‘How to be an Illustrator’ (By Darrel Rees, Laurence King publishing, ~ 30$)
*both should be available at Oscars Artbooks on Broadway
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING TO EACH CLASS
- a small selection of pens, pencils, markers, etc,.. that they like to work with.
- a sketchbook or loose pages of paper
- homework assignments from the previous class
SCHEDULE OF INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY
Session 1
*Note: We will be working with ink in the first session. Please prepare for this in your attire should you be person who is prone to spill … ink does not wash out easily.
- Introduction of students and teacher
- Go over Course outline and goal expectations/ supplementary blog
- What is the Picture Book? (Handout)
- The many faces of the Picture Book
- What we will concentrate on
In Class exercises:
- Character Development exercise. (Handout)
- The importance of drawing /Techniques. Ink, brush and pens. Thickness of line/line variation (Handout)
- Story developing exercise/ Let your character tell you a story! (Handout)
Go over Homework assignment
Session 2
-Lecture/Image presentation:
- A brief history of the children’s picture book and It’s most renowned illustrators
- Learn through example. Images of classic and contemporary illustrators/authors, their work and lives
- How do you ‘draw for children’?
- Why illustration should be taken seriously, even when it’s funny
Session 3)
*(meet in the computer lab)
Working with the computer: a mini-intro to Photoshop: Demonstration and Exercise/Computer Lab: (Handout)
- scanning drawings
- adjusting contrast
- colouring with bucket, selective color adjustment
- layers (how to use layers for creating flexible compositions)
- colour modes
- tiff, jpgs, pdf’s
- add to your drawings
Go over Homework assignment
Session 4)
Presentation of homework and critique
The importance of the main character:
Presentation:
- The importance of the sketchbook
- Sketchbook and character development process
- Life is in the details—line, medium, color, …
- Seeing an illustration process: Developing a full illustration from concept to rough, to sketch, alterations, to final.
Presentation: Storyboards and Dummy Books:
- Pacing the story
- Story layout.
- Shots/Camera angles/Composition (Handout)
- Dummy books: Examples of my own dummies for ‘Paulina’ and ‘Day it all blew away’.
- Activity: Making a quick dummy book.
- In Class Exercise: Composition Cheat (Handout): Copying composition/ ways to sharpen your sense of composition.
Go over Homework assignment
Session 5)
Presentation of homework and critique
Relationship of Text and Image: (Handout)
- Examples of famous author’s/illustrators! Do you want to become an author/illustrator? The pros and cons.
- Image presentation: Images and text that rely on each other for success
In Class sketching/brainstorming Exercise:
‘To illustrate is not to reiterate!’
Go over Homework assignment
Session 6)
In Class Exercises:
- Character development exercise part 2: ‘3D-to-2D’
- Illustrating a mood
- Sequence of movements/ consistency of character
Presentation of homework and critique
Go over Homework assignment
Session 7)
- Portfolios: How to put one together and what to consider.
- Your online portfolio/getting a website: what to keep in mind.
- How to approach publishers/promoting yourself— pdfs, promo cards and techniques
- Agent vs. no agent.
- First impressions
- Contracts
Presentation of homework and critique
Session 8) (last class) Fieldtrip to Kids Books/Research
*Meet at ‘Kids Books’ (on Broadway in Kitsilano/ just past Mac Donald St)
(3083 West Broadway)
The right publisher/ the hidden contributors:
- Finding the right publisher for your work.
- Getting to know your market/Research
- Go over any other questions students have
Filed under News
Strathcona Artist Survey
Yeah! The Strathcona Artist Survey that Alex Stursberg and Brennan Kelly compiled and designed is published and it looks totally awesooooome! And who do you see right after opening it up? Me! Well, … not me per se, but more my illustrations. The book looks great ( I looove the cover by Kelly) and it’s a fantastic idea to put the work of so many artists working in the Strathcona area into a nice little hardcopy paper gallery so to speak. There are sooo many cool artists and people in it, and I’m glad to be a part of it. You should check it out!
I really like the forword that Alex and Brennan wrote for the SAS zine/book, so I thought I’d share it.
“The Strathcona Artist Survey was developed with the intention of showcasing the diverse community of artists, both established and emerging, living in the neighbourhood of Strathcona, Vancouver. This volume was compiled and designed by Alex Stursberg & Brennan Kelly in October, 2011 with the hopeful intention that it will become a regularly published review of practicing artists in Strathcona. The Artist Survey moniker may be used freely for your own neighbourhood publication to help promote the arts in your community.”
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Canzine
Yay, I finally managed to go to Canzine this year! (Totally snoozed it last year!) :(
Got there just in time to check out everything and chat it up with some buds of mine that were there. When I left I really felt like making a zine asap! Mission accomplished Canzine, Mission accomplished. Then I realized that I totally forgot to go downstairs!!! where there were was more cool stuff to check out. Dang! Oh well, next year I”m gonna go, AND go downstairs!
Here are some of the lovely little things I scored! The Strathcona Artist Survey (more on that soon), Pinch #2 by Anne Amberline, 2 super duper colaborations by Kurtis Wilson and Alex, and It seemed like a good idea at the time #1. Plus I am now proud member of the Vancouver Book Club! Hurrah!
Filed under News
Teaching is serious(ly) fun!
I’m teaching a level 3 Illustration class now, which is probably teaching wise the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. It’s a class were you can create work for your portfolio and everyone taking it is amazingly talented and puts so much work into it. It’s a total pleasure to teach and see the work that my fantastic students make.
The other day I had everyone create a final spread for the the story of ‘Puss in Boots’. Since it’s an evening class and reading comprehension can be even harder at night but is also of such importance when it comes to creating effective illustrations, we took the story apart and laid it out in bullet form for everyone.
Before the class was over I looked at the board and thought it was a funny sight to see the story of Puss in Boots summarized in a class room context. So I decided to pose for a quite serious photo in front of it to accompany it’s integrity.
Filed under News
Promo Card For Lucky’s!
My favorite local comic book shop Lucky’s (on Main Street) has a new Online Shop ! It’s totally awesome looking and should you love comics, graphic novels, or just really amazing books in general, you had better check it out! To announce and celebrate this some illustrator/artist friends of Lucky’s made some promo cards. Check them all out here. I think my favorite one is the one with the blue cat hidden behind the house. But that’s not the one I did. Here’s the one I made. This is pretty much how I feel whenever I go there. :)
Yay Lucky’s!
Oh yeah! Also there is an official online shop launch party this Friday the 18th from 7-10pm. Hurrah!
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
New Website & New Free PDF Comic!
Hello Hello!
Thanks to Christy Nyiri, one of my most talented buds, and also one of the (secretly) nicest people I know, I now finally have an indexhibit site! Woohoo! I’ve been meaning to for so long! So thanks C.N. for setting it up for me and thanks Indexhibit for making such an easy to use site template… (once it’s set up that is… :))
I thought it would be cool to finally finish up a short comic I’ve been working on give out as a free PDF file for anyone of you who might be interested along with the completion of my new site. It’s called ‘A Murder of Crows’ and I have to say, that it’s not really a kids story I don’t think. … probably wouldn’t be the worst kids story ever, but not really meant for kids. It was something that just kind of came out the way it came out. All I wanted to do was try to make a comic that was longer than just one page. (or 5 tiny 4 panel pages, you know). I just kind of started writing, no plan in mind and this is the story that came out. It’s a little bit on the dark side, but I have to say, I actually really like the story itself. Some of the pages are artistically stronger than others, but keep in mind that it was originally designed to be viewed as two pages up. So if you want to download the PDF which you can right here —–> A Murder of Crows, a short Comic by Lisa Cinar, 2011 try to view it that way. Feel free to pass it along to anyone you might think would like it.
Next week class starts again, and other than that there is a project I’ve been working on for quite some time now that should come into fruition over the next two months or so….. I will keep you posted!
I am writing this in the afternoon of a beautiful summer’s end day… hoping and praying, like so many other Vancouverites I’m sure, that this summer will never end.
Filed under News
Illustration for Picture Books Level 3: Portfolio & Independent Projects
This ‘Portfolio & Independent Projects’ class is open to any of you who have taken either my level 1 or my level 2 class. It is not necessary to have taken level 2 in order to take level 3! It’s just a way Emily Carr has of naming their classes. :)
The class will focus on developing a portfolio for those of you who might be interested in doing so, but will also work for those of you who are wanting to work on a specific book project of your own. How to write for picture books will not be covered in this class, as this is what level 2 specializes in. However should you have taken level 2 and are now in the process of either further developing your dummy or starting to work on another dummy you could use this class for this project. Below is the official Course Description and Outline for you to have a look at.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions about this course and whether or not it will be helpful for what you want to accomplish. I’m pretty excited about level 3 and will try my best to make it informative, challenging, helpful and of course as always… fun!
Have a great summer and looking forward to seeing you again!
LisaCourse Outline Level 3 Children’s Book Illustration Class
***Please also note: Please ignore the online description of this course that is up on the Emily Carr Site and also in their Catalogue. It’s not that it’s wrong necessarily, but the one below is really much more accurate, in terms of what to expect. Thank you and sorry for the confusion.
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LLUSTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS (LEVEL 3)
-’Portfolio & Open Studio’
Course Number: CEIL 440 SU01
Instructor(s): Lisa Cinar
Number of Sessions: 11 sessions x 3hrs/ 32 hours total
Day and Time: Sundays/9.30-12.30am/
Date(s): June 3-Aug 19th/(No Class July 1st)
Room: 320 (south building)
Tuition Fee: 345$********************REGISTRATION FOR THIS COURSE IS NOW OPEN -CLICK HERE (or email me directly)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Develop your illustration portfolio geared towards children’s picture book illustration and related fields or create illustrations for a specific dummy book you are working on.
With fun and challenging assignments that build on concepts such as composition, tone and color this course will allow you to concentrate on honing your skills as an illustrator as well as give you the chance to create a quick, simple and free online portfolio.
Students are encouraged to tailor assignments to fit their specific portfolio needs. Longer group and one on one critiques will make up the majority of classes along with helpful in class exercises and presentations.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES & OBJECTIVES
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Know how to scan or photograph your images, adjust them and optimize them for the web. Upload your images to a common image-sharing site and create your very own mini online portfolio, a web presence for your work
Create 5-6 final illustration pieces (assigned or self-assigned) to add to your portfolio
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Know how to scan or photograph your images, adjust them and optimize them for the web. Upload your images to a common image-sharing site and create your very own mini online portfolio, a web presence for your work
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Develop a deeper understanding of your personal process, strengths and weaknesses in creating successful work
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Hone your ability to look critically at your peers work and published work in the field. Learning through being able to analyze various aspects of visual storytelling. (Layout, composition, pacing, mood etc.)
COURSE METHOD
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Longer In class group feedback/critiques of homework assignments
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Challenging and valuable weekly take-home research and technique assignments
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In class exercises designed to inform and aid with homework assignments
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Learning through example: Looking at other illustrators
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Develop technical and conceptual skills though in-class projects, exercises demonstrations and homework assignments.
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Hardcopy and/or online handouts are provided
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Additional resources are provided weekly via instructor’s blog on children’s picture book illustration
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Presentations and lectures, guest speaker
COURSE CONTENT
Weekly group or one-on-one feedback sessions
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- In class colour palette and tonal exercises to improve your compositions
- Drawing from the model/drawing from life
- Introduction to other avenues of interest to the children’s book illustrator: Related fields
- Building on concepts and techniques from level 1 & 2
REQUIREMENTS
‘Illustration for Children’s Picture Books’ LEVEL 1, is a prerequisite for this class.
*While it is necessary to have taken the level 1 class, you are NOT required to have taken the level 2 class in order to register for this class!
FURTHER REQUIREMENTS
To successfully complete the course, students are expected to complete assignments according to the instructor’s stated requirements, attend at least %85 of the classes and participate actively in discussions and critiques.
-Completion of exercises and assignments
-Positive and motivated attitude
-Punctual attendance of classes
- Students are expected to purchase their own flash drive/usb stick (approx. Cost 10$) and bring it to specified classes.
- Students are expected to bring to some classes, a basic set of either water colours, coloured pencils, or pastels, of their choice for in class drawing and colouring exercises
- Please NOTE: Our FIRST class will only be 2 hours long: from 6-8pm!
ASSESSMENT METHODS
-Attendance and participation in class
-Participation in all exercises, critiques and discussions
-Completion of assignments
SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTARY BOOKS
1)Illustrating Children’s Books’ (By Martin Salisbury, Barron’s, 28.99$)
2)Illustrating Children’s Picture Books’ (by Steven Withrow and Lesley Breen Withrow,Writers Digest Books, 29.99$
3) How to be an Illustrator’ (By Darrell Rees, ~ 29.99$)
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- *All books are available at Oscars Art Books at Broadway and Granville.(if not they will be happy to order them in for you!)
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STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING TO EACH CLASS
- a small selection of pens, pencils, markers, etc,.. that you like to work with.
- a sketchbook or loose pages of paper
- homework assignments from the previous class
- * flash drive/usb stick for classes specified
- a basic set of either water colours, colored pencils, or pastels, of their choice for drawing and coloring exercises (*only to classes specified)
- a love for the subject and an open mind
SCHEDULE OF INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY
Session 1
* Please NOTE: Our first class will only be 2 hours long:
Introduction of students: (your motivation behind taking this class)
Go over Course outline and goal expectations/ supplementary blog:
- What we will concentrate on
- Decide if you want to Create a Portfolio geared towards a) Illustration for picture books in general, b) for children, or for c) a specific story/dummy book you have been working on. (3 different options/= 3 different ways to experience this course/help create your own assignments for a tailored portfolio)
Presentation:
‘Think about this before you decide what you’d like to do’
-Other Avenues for the illustrator (of picture books)
-Style: Narrowing it down, or offering a Variety: YOU have to decide!
-Publishers requirements revisited
Go over Homework assignment: (*Handout)
- Decide how you want to use this class: Creating a Portfolio, or Illustrating a Specific Personal Project/Dummy Book, One page write up, typed, double spaced. Bring in 2 copies.
- Look at 2 of your favorite Illustrator’s websites and write down all of their categories they have their work split up into, what types of illustration projects they have done (editorial, commercial, etc) and all of their clients.
- Bring in 5-15 Illustrations you ALREADY have and like, that you think might be good to include in your portfolio
Session 2
Group Feedback/ Crit.
- Students talk about their goals, and show work so far
- Group feedback/presenter makes notes.
- Feedback on: Style, best avenue so far, techniques, progress, challenges
Presentation/blog entry:
‘Getting to know one’s own strengths and areas of improvement/Style is not always what you THINK it is, or should be’
Presentation/blog entry:
Creating a Unique Style through unique tools & materials’
Go over Homework assignment
Session 3)
Group Crit/Feedback on Students work
Presentation/lecture
‘Working Habits’
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- a look at various Illustrators working habits
- studio vs home
- thoughts on maximum productivity
- 10.000 hour theory
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In Class Exercise:
- ‘Drawing/ A LOT ‘ (* Handout)
Go over Homework assignment
* Bring your Watercolours OR Coloured Pencils to our next Class!
Session 4)
Presentation of homework and critique: (* Handout)
- re-examining your strengths and weaknesses
- your favorite processes and subject matter
- understanding our own habits and assessing if to break or keep them
In Class Exercise:
- Colour palettes, Moods & Music
Go over Homework assignment
Session 5)
Brief Presentation of homework and feedback:
Go over change impending change of class structure from this point on.
Presentation/Blog Entry:
‘Layout Versatility’ – Thinking and Re-thinking your Layouts’
- the book as a whole vs the editorial image or book cover etc…
- panels vs no panels, bleed vs. No bleed
- (Scott Mc Cloud understanding comics)
In Class Exercise:
‘Layout Versatility’
Go over Homework assignment:
Session 6)
Presentation of homework and critique:
TBA: TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA: TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA: TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
In Class Exercise: (We will have a male (not fully nude) model booked here if all goes well
‘Drawing From Life’
- The Essence vs Realism
- Playing with proportions/exaggeration
- Paying attention/Memory drawing
Go over Homework assignment
Session 7)
Brief Presentation of homework and feedback
Guest Presenter: Editor & Writer Kallie George
- What she as the publisher looks for
- Personal experiences and advise for illustration and dummy book submissions
- Working processes in writer & illustrator & editor relationships
- Other factors
- TBA
- Q & A
Presentation: (* Handout/ blog post)
‘Other Perspectives’
A variety of different perspectives on the subjects covered by Kallie. Interviews and articles from publishers, art directors, editors. (taken from the books suggested as supplementary reading materials)
Go over Homework assignment
Session 8)
(if you are all caught up with work and want to start scanning, bring the work to scan and your usb stick to this class!
Open Studio/ One on One Feedback day:
-A chance to either get one on one feedback with the instructor or from peers and to get caught up on work for your portfolio.
-Students who are all caught up will have the chance to start on the new assignment in class or scan their work in the mac labs (if you want to do this remember to bring your usb stick!)
Presentation: (*Handout)
‘Quick Scanning Demo’
Session 9)
Presentation:
-Looking at examples of Illustrator’s uses of flickr pages and blogs to showcase their work
-Breaking up work into Categories
Group Feedback on students collection of works as a whole:
-What works best for us as the viewer? What does the viewer find most successful?
Vs
- What works best for you the creator of the images, what do you find most successful?
- What avenue interests you the most at this point?
Mac Lab: Presentation:
-Optimizing our images for the web and for a simple print out hardcopy portfolio
-Creating a flickr account/page (and Or blog)
-Uploading to our flickr page (and Or blog)
Session 10)
Group Crit/Feedback on Students homework (and finish looking at people’s collection of originals for portfolios)
Presentation:
Expanding your Professional development/ other skills perhaps of interest to the illustrator
A list of things to invest in and ideas of goals to pursue
Mac/Lab:
Finish up all scanning, uploading and categorizing.
Giving our online sites their final touches: bio’s, contact info, titles, comments, networking, motivating and inspiring each other/social media.
Go over Homework assignment.
Session 11) (last class)
Group Crit/Feedback on Students homework: (posted on your blog and/or flickr)
In Class Composition Exercise:
-Creating compositions using the amazing composition device.
TBA
Filed under News
Shaky Snakes Album Cover
I did a couple of different Album Covers for Shaky Snakes . Here is one of them.
Check out his new song ‘Sure is Fun in the City’ here. One of my faves so far for sure!
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Collage Collage fun with The Day It All Blew Away
The other day when I visited Collage Collage to buy the new book by Uppercase ‘The Elegant Cockroach‘ and a copy of Anorak magazine, Sarah who works there showed me some of the awesome Collages the kids had made just the other day with the theme of my book ‘The Day it all blew Away’.
Here is a photo of Sarah holding up one of the Collages. It’s always so cool for me to see that kids like my books and have fun making an activity to go along with it. Neaaat! Thank you Kids, and Collage Collage!
Filed under News
Info about Presentation & Readings for elementary schools and other interested venues:
Hey all of you lovely folks!
I have recently taken the time to create some profiles on the ‘Writers Union of Canada‘ website as well as the ‘CWILL/Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC‘ (which I recently joined) member page.
Both profiles supply information on author/illustrator presentations and readings as well as fees for elementary school visits and other events.
Click HERE for my profile on the Writers Union of Canada site
Click HERE for my profile on the CWILL site
I just thought that these links might be useful for some of you who have either asked me about doing presentations or as something that is easy to pass onto others who might be interested.
So yes, if you work in an elementary school in the lower Mainland and your looking for a fun presentation and reading from an author and illustrator of Children’s Books, look no further!
Cheers,
Lisa Cinar
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
My Original Drawings for Sale on Etsy
Original artwork from ‘The Day it all Blew Away’ is finally on Etsy!
So, should you or your loved ones be in need of some original illustrations from a published Children’s Book, look no further! Reasonably priced and dimensions that are easy to frame. Would make a pretty cool present I think. Especially if you buy the book to go along with it!
(also, if you’re buying more than one drawing the shipping prices are the same as just for one. I think I posted that wrong for some of them, so just a heads up… oopps)
Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects
Canada reads … but only if there’s a lot more words than pictures ok!
I am a bit disappointed in CBC right now. …
A few days ago aired the Canada Reads debate on CBC which for the first time included a graphic novel. This novel being Essex County by Jeff Lemire. The panelist defending the title was Sara Quin from Tegan & Sarah.
The other titles and panelists were as follows: The Best Laid Plans, defended by Ali Velshi, The Birth House defended by Debbie Travis, The Bone Cage defended by Georges Laraque and Unless defended by Lorne Cardinal.
The summary: Essex County was voted off by every single panelist (other than Sarah of course) as the #1 book to be voted off, (even though Unless was by far the book that the majority of Canadiens who voted online wanted to vote off the panel), ONLY because of it’s format .. ie. it is a graphic novel. Because it uses images to tell the story and ‘it doesn’t have enough words in it’ it was thus not deemed to inspire literacy which the choosen book should. GASP! I am so amazed at the unfortunate unwillingness of individuals such as those on said panel to educate themselves regarding the art and impact of graphic novels and all books that include pictures as a matter of fact call them what you may.
Ali Velshi, Debbie Travis, Georges Laraque and Lorne Cardinal showed today that we are still living in midst of a majority of archaic thinkers who are simply not willing to open their minds to newer mediums. The reason, simply being that they are from a generation that was taught that books with pictures are for dummies and kids and surely not for educated and critically thinking adults. Unfortunately instead of challenging these outdated and ultra conservative beliefs on this program and taking the opportunity to create real change in the demographic of the readership of the graphic novel they seemed to take it upon themselves to try to set the clock back even further on the medium stigmatizing it on national radio and tv all over again.
While this makes me furious, it also makes me sad because I truly believe that the reason for this vote was mostly due to a lack of understanding of what a graphic novel is and why it is perfectly acceptable to read a graphic novel that has fewer words than text and in fact also ones which perhaps don’t have any text at all.
Here are some quotes of what the Panelists had to say about Essex County:
‘That’s not how we’re going to inspire people to read’ ’It can’t be that Book’(Ali Velshi on Essex County)
‘Love the book, love the form, but in my view it’s not a novel’ (Lorne Cardinal on Essex County)
‘I think it’s a nice book, I really do but it’s like saying tweeting with 140 characters gets you writing. It doesn’t get you writing, it actually take you in the other direction! I think there’s a danger! the whole world today is about the shortcut… very dangerous.’(Debbie Travis on Essex County)
‘I read this in an hour and a half! An hour and a half to read 500 pictures.’ (Debbie Travis on Essex County)
‘The story is obviously very good. the only that’s hard is… what’s hard is that you say it’s a novel, but jeff calls it a cartoon! you guys obviously have different views. because he calls it like that so i don’t understand that…’(Georges Laraque on Essex County)
Reasons from Panelists for voting the book off the Canada Reads list:
‘That’s not a novel, that’s like watching a movie’ (D.Travis on the lack of words in a the more picture heavy pages)
‘it was close between two books only because… the work is stunning but the only reason i picked it, is not because of it’s graphic content but because of it’s short story form.. is what my tipping point was. It’s a collection of short stories.’ (L.Cardinal)
I voted for the book that most surprised me to the upside, that was haunting, and heartbreaking but it was Essex County.(Ali Velshi)
‘Maybe it’s too early for a book like that…’( D. Travis)
‘Let me tell you sometthing before i read the book that one was the first one that i was going to vote off. after i read it i actually had to waiver on it. i really did enjoy it, but… i came into this competition wanting the book that is going to win make people want to read more books and this isn’t going to do it.’(Ali Velshi)
I do have to congratulate Jian Ghomeshi on standing up for the book several times and trying to get the panelists to answer for their poor decision making. Here are some of these moments:
Ali Velshi and Jian Ghomeshi:
Ali: ‘Let me tell you sometthing before i read the book this one was the first one that i was going to vote off. After i read it I actually had to waiver on it. I really did enjoy it, but… I came into this competition wanting the book that is going to win make people want to read more books and this isn’t going to do it.’Ghomeshi: ‘But why can’t people read more graphic novels?’Ali: ‘I don’t think that that’s going to solve our problem of low literacy levels, I don’t think that that’s going to solve our problem of creative and interpretive thinking, that’s why!’Debbie Travis and Jian Ghomeshi:
Debbie: ’I really think it’s a shortcut! I read this in an hour and a half! An hour and a half to read 500 pictures!’
Jian: ’It took you and hour and a half but you could have spent a lot more time with it’
Debbie: ’No I couldn’t’
Jian: ’Yes you could have!’
So yes, it saddens me to see that the majority of people chosen for this panel appear to be complete dinosaurs when it comes to any form of literature outside of the good old traditional book with only words. God forbid there should be a couple of pictures in it! If there are don’t even bother reading it, those will automatically cancel out the literature in it!
Oh boy. Cbc, oh boy. The irony in all of this is that I happened to have read Essex County just a few days before this not even aware that it was going to be part of Canada Reads. While I really loved the beginning and even the most of the second chapter I thought it fell apart a bit towards the end. So really it wasn’t one of my favorite Graphic novel reads. So really, should any one on the panel have actually voted it off for the content and the story instead of for its form I would have maybe even agreed with them. Funny isn’t it. On the other hand, the mere fact that a graphic novel was finally included AT ALL in the group of chosen ones could of course be seen as progress in itself. And also, since it’s being voted off Essex County won by a landslide the people’s choice online vote thus bringing it lots of publicity. I guess as long as there are now people who would never before have considered doing so, are reading a graphic novel just to see what all the fuss is/was about, it was worth it. But hey, I still can’t help but be a bit discouraged when I hear attitudes and opinions like that on public radio and television. Argghhhh…..
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Today
Still busy writing a business plan… it’s a very interesting process. I’m learning a ton. Today I took a little break and went to the park. It had been raining all day and just when we got to the park it stopped and the sun came out in all of it’s awesomeness for just long enough for us to enjoy it. Then when we left it went away again and hid behind some clouds. This nice little photo was taken by Mr. Ian Johnston… thanks Ian!
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Ten Paces And Draw – Sendak Tribute
My commemorative Where the Wild Things Are illustration is featured on this Ten Paces & Draw, Sendak Tribute post today. See if you can find it.