Lisa's Recent News!

Draw Me A Lion!

By Lisa | Published: December 27, 2011

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.

www.drawmealion.com

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Illustration for Picture Books (level 1) Course Outline

By Lisa | Published: November 23, 2011

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

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Strathcona Artist Survey

By Lisa | Published: November 14, 2011

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

By Lisa | Published: November 14, 2011

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!

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Teaching is serious(ly) fun!

By Lisa | Published: November 14, 2011

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.

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Promo Card For Lucky’s!

By Lisa | Published: November 14, 2011

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

Illustration for Picture Books Level 2: Writing & Illustrating the Dummy Book.

By Lisa | Published: October 24, 2011

For all of you who have taken my ‘Illustration for Children’s Picture Books’ level 1 course at ECUAD. Here is the Course outline for the level 2 class that will be offered in the spring. Subject to change a tad, but overall that’s pretty much what it will be like. I’m excited for it! If you are too, sign up and let’s make some dummy books! Hurrah! Here is the link for it on the ECUAD page. If you can’t register for it yet, you will be able to very very soon! Not to worry! :)

Class Outline for Illustration for Picture books Level 2: ‘Writing and Illustrating the Dummy Book’

Instructor: Lisa Cinar

CEIL 340 S001

Feb. 19th- April 15th, 2012

Sunday/ 9.30 am-12.30 PM

8 Sessions

Room 279 (+203 lab from 7-9.30 only)

Suggested supplementary Books: Illustrating Children’s Books’ (By Martin Salisbury, Barron’s, 28.99$), and ‘What it is’ (By Lynda Barry, D&Q ~ 30$ both should be available at ‘Oscar’s Art Books’ on Broadway and Granville)

Here is the Word Doc that has the full Class Outline for you to view prior to enrolling. Hope to see some of your enthusiastic faces again in February :)

LEVEL 2_Course Outline_ILLUSTRATION FOR PICTURE BOOKS

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New Website & New Free PDF Comic!

By Lisa | Published: September 4, 2011

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

By Lisa | Published: August 10, 2011

The Level 3 Illustration for Picture Books Class is now open for registration online and will begin October 6th. 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. Mind you that there will be no attention paid to the writing part of your project in this class, as this is covered in the level 2 class. Below is the official Course Description and Outline for you to have a look at. Please do!

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 in level 3!

:) 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.

************************************************************************

LLUSTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS (LEVEL 3)

-’Portfolio & Open Studio’

Course Number: CEIL 440 F001

Instructor(s): Lisa Cinar

Number of Sessions: 11

Day and Time: Thursday/ 6.00 PM- 9.00 PM

Date(s): October 6th – December 15, 2011

Room: 340 + 203A, 203C,121(203A, 201C, 121 only applies for computer lab sessions)

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

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

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
Develop a deeper understanding of your personal process, strengths and weaknesses in creating successful work
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

Longer In class group feedback/critiques of homework assignments
Challenging and valuable weekly take-home research and technique assignments
In class exercises designed to inform and aid with homework assignments
Learning through example: Looking at other illustrators
Develop technical and conceptual skills though in-class projects, exercises demonstrations and homework assignments.
Hardcopy and/or online handouts are provided
Additional resources are provided weekly via instructor’s blog on children’s picture book illustration
Presentations and lectures, guest speaker

COURSE CONTENT

- Weekly group or one-on-one feedback sessions
- Guest speaker Kallie George, editor & writer: Presentation and Q&A
- 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$)

- - - - *All books are available at Oscars Art Books at Broadway and Granville.(if not they will be happy to order them in for you!)

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: from 6-8pm!

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’

- - - a look at various Illustrators working habits
    - studio vs home
    - thoughts on maximum productivity
    - 10.000 hour theory

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

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Shaky Snakes Album Cover

By Lisa | Published: May 10, 2011

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

By Lisa | Published: May 10, 2011

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

Enjoy the festival of chocolate and bunnies!

By Lisa | Published: April 24, 2011

Filed under News | Sketchbook & Projects

Info about Presentation & Readings for elementary schools and other interested venues:

By Lisa | Published: March 14, 2011

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

By Lisa | Published: March 13, 2011

HURRAH!

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!

Check out the shop!

(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!

By Lisa | Published: February 11, 2011

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

By Lisa | Published: December 9, 2010

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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Sooooo true!

By Lisa | Published: December 4, 2010

via http://spdnews.tumblr.com/

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Surveys are very fun! … no?

By Lisa | Published: December 4, 2010

Hello hello hello!

I have not been updating this blog or my Iheartbpicturebooks blog for a very long time … because… I’m currently in the early stages of putting together a little business operation I’ve dreamed up. I’m taking a pretty fun program at the YMCA called the New Ventures Program (as discussed in the last post) and one of the things we are to do for an assignment is … create a survey!

So here’s my survey. I would really truly appreciate it if you could take it and also if you could pass it on to anyone you know who might be interested in taking it. Your friends, family and so on. I know that surveys can sometimes be really uncool and take forever, but this one will really only take 3 minutes -there’s only 10 questions. (use the blue scroll bar to get to all of them) And hey, it’s about a pretty fun topic I think. And think of all the fun in checking off little dots with check-marks!

Thanks in advance and remember that we’ll still be friends even if you don’t take the survey!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

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Illustration for Children’s books level 2: Writing & Illustrating the Dummy Book/ Course Outline

By Lisa | Published: November 6, 2010

For all of you who have taken my ‘Illustration for Children’s Picture Books’ level 1 course at ECUAD. Here is the Course outline for the level 2 class that will be offered in the spring. Subject to change a tad, but overall that’s pretty much what it will be like. I’m excited for it! If you are too, sign up and let’s make some dummy books! Hurrah! I don’t think it’s up on the ECUAD website yet, but it should be really soon, in a week or so. If I forget to, remind me to post a link to it here once it’s up.

Class Outline for Illustration for Picture books Level 2: ‘Writing and Illustrating the Dummy Book’

Instructor: Lisa Cinar

CEIL 340 S001

Feb. 19th- April 15th, 2012

Sunday/ 9.30 am-12.30 PM

8 Sessions

Room 279 (+203 lab from 7-9.30 only)

Suggested supplementary Books: Illustrating Children’s Books’ (By Martin Salisbury, Barron’s, 28.99$), and ‘What it is’ (By Lynda Barry, D&Q ~ 30$ both should be available at ‘Oscar’s Art Books’ on Broadway and Granville)

* Completion of Homework assignments is crucial and integral part of this class as it is build upon the students own book projects. Please be prepared to spend at least 5 hours per week on your homework assignments. There will be an assignment for every day of class. (7 total)

* 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

Session 1

Introduction of students

Go over Course outline and goal expectations/ supplementary blog

- What we will concentrate on

- Generating Ideas (Handout)

- On Creativity (Handout)

- Finding your OWN processes/ every book is different

- Writing techniques

In Class exercises:

1) Writing brainstorming exercise. (Handout)

2) Lynda Barry writing exercise

Go over Homework assignment

Session 2

- Writing exercises with Images and Words

- Main elements of a good story: about general plot

In Class Exercise:

- Ad Hoc image generating techniques/ Pulling an image out of thin air (Handout)

- Image bag writing exercise

Go over Homework assignment

Session 3)

The importance of editing!

In Class Exercise:

- story editing assembly line

- rewriting our story in class.

Go over Homework assignment

Session 4)

Presentation of homework and critique: Critiquing our rough dummies, and sample illustrations

In Class Exercise:

- Colour palettes and mood

Go over Homework assignment

Session 5)

- more on pacing a story (Handout/ Scott Mc Cloud)

- the book as a whole

- basic binding techniques

Presentation of homework and critique

- Comparison of two styles/which is more suitable?

Go over Homework assignment

Session 6)

- Creating stronger Images & Compositions

In Class Exercise:

- Tonal exercise (Handout/Tamaki)

Presentation of homework and critique:

- Looking at the tonal values in our images/compositions

Go over Homework assignment

Session 7)

In class anonymous editing assembly line

-Prepping for final book dummies

-Writing positive and negative reviews

- Situating your book

Presentation of homework and critique

- Ask anything or show anything you are struggling with or would like to have input.

Session 8) (last class)

-Final Presentations

- reading our dummies to the class

- presenting our 3 finished illustrations to the class

-Go over any other questions that students have

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Comic Book Confidential: Lynda Barry!!!!!

By Lisa | Published: October 27, 2010

Soooooo…… After lamenting the fact that I hadn’t seen the pamphlets for the Readers and Writers Festival in as many places as per usual and thus getting to one a bit on the late side…. I pretty much totally lost my mind when I glancing through the events noticed a Writing workshop with… LYNDA BARRY!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG! I of course called immediately to get a ticket and OF COURSE, it was already a hundred percent sold out. F.

Buuuuuut, after I fought of the urge to kill myself because of this, I happen to notice that there was another event featuring Lynda that also looked to be of definite interest titled ‘Comic Book Confidential’.

I’m so glad that I got to see Barry live and in person. She is one of the true veterans when it comes to female comic book creators and also… she’s friggin hilarious. But better yet she is also very smart. In her talk/presentation Barry touched on subjects such as trigger objects/ transitional objects that help children (and adults if they want) to cross over into a state of play.

I really respect Barry for talking about this notion of play and how important it is for our psyche.

In her talk Barry referenced the neuroscientist Ramachandran and his mirror experiment that helped rid a man of his phantom limb pain and relates this back to the importance of the act of creating/ the act of play. She notes that when we are in deep play parts of our brain get activated and stimulated that otherwise stay dormant. Barry touches on this in many ways in her excellent book ‘What it is’. She calls the lack of play/creativity that most adults experience a Public Health issue and I couldn’t agree more.

Lynda Barry is convinced that art serves as part of our immune systems, and that it has a biological function. To quote Barry directly from the lecture: ‘What the hell do we need prescription drugs for if all we have to do is draw a turkey with a cigarette saying something about someone we hate’. She is referring here to the section of her follow book to ‘What it is’ entitled ‘Picture This’. the section is called ‘A chicken in winter’ and talks about how making an image of a chicken out of cotton balls is sometimes all ‘one’ can do when feeling like a total wreck. How a repetitive act of creating with ones hands can be of so much value, even though it is such a seemingly simple act. Also on the notion of the healing qualities of repetitiveness, Barry mentions that she drew hundreds of images of meditating monkeys, (some of which can be seen in ‘Picture This’) when she was feeling particularly in the dumps due to several deaths of close friends of hers. I had noted these images in the book when I first got a glimpse at it and they have stuck with me ever since, so hearing Barry explain the origin of them was very enlightening and interesting. Barry then also related this repetitive task of drawing the monkeys back to when her own mother started doing coloring in coloring books after the war.

I was also lucky to get to have my book signed by Barry and managed to ask her is it was ok to use and modify some of her writing exercises for my class. (Reply: YEs! That’s what they’re there for! insert funny husky/hippie Lynda Barry voice).

I have gone to events featuring people I deeply respect and lost a great chunk of it when meeting them in person, but let it be said that this was definitely not one of them. LYNDA BARRY REMAINS ONE OF MY TRUE HEROS.

Hopefully she’ll be back in Vancouver to do another workshop in the near future.

oh man am I ever glad I got this one! Stoked!

there was a really long line up to get autographs, this is sort of the end of the line

Lynda Barry and Sarah Leavitt

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Children’s Literature Roundtable/Illustrator’s Breakfast

By Lisa | Published: October 24, 2010

So I did end up going to the Illustrator’s breakfast put on by the Children’s Literature Roundtable. The event featured the Illustrator Pierre Prat and him doing a presentation of his work that lasted roughly 45min. to an hour amongst other things. One of those other things was strange prices that people were winning when your ticket got picked. … Which mine did thank you, and now I am the lucky owner of a gigantic… fantastic… plastic… pumpkin….?! Just what I needed. It’s funny because all the presents were on a table where you could then go up and pick the one that most appealed to you and I liked this one because I really didn’t have the slightest idea what it would be. Fake, hollow, plastic pumpkin wasn’t something that immediately came to mind for some reason… weird, I know.

Another great thing about the breakfast was …surprise, surprise … the actual breakfast! I had full on expected it to be a somewhat continental breakfast with a croissoint and a coffee and your on your way, but those people weren’t joking around about the food part. De-li-cious! Hm… so good.

Anyhow, getting off track here. Also fantastic was that I got to meet lots of great people, among them Kathryn Shoemaker, illustrator/author Julie Flett and the illustrator who did the artwork for Robert Heidbreder’s Crocodile book. Speaking of Robert, he was there, which was fantastic, and in fact the very first person I saw when getting there was his fantabulous wife Jane who remembered me right away. Those guys are so great! Also some of my students from my first class were there and in fact one of them was working for the event and was nice enough to send me the photos I am posting here.

Piere’s talk was great and really insightful for me. Also, I ended up buying his book ‘The Ladder’ and then getting it autographed and meeting him for a tiny bit.

Overall a really fun time. Unfortunately I did not take a lot of photos while there. I always forget to take photos, arrghhh…

Here are some pictures from it

Me with all of the thousands of things from the breakfast upon return

posted by Priscilla Holmes.

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Vancouver Antiquarian Book Fair

By Lisa | Published: October 24, 2010

Charles van Sandwyk and me at the Joyce Williams booth

Also from the Joyce Williams Antique Prints & Maps booth

This was a spine I really liked

So I went to the Antiquarian Book Fair at the Downtown Public Library last Friday evening with my friend Fabiola. Admission was 5.00$ and I think it was so worth it. It was pretty late in the day when I got there, but I was really surprised how few people were visiting. Talking to the vendors though it seemed that it was busier earlier on in the day. The event was put on by the Alcuin Society. Most of the booths there were independent bookshops, but a couple of them were actually just set up by people (actually I only recall two and they were both guys) who were big time collectors themselves and who were showcasing their wares and bringing in the pieces they were ready to let go off. I found myself at one of these booths looking at a tiny Mickey Mouse Comic book that was in a square format with only one panel on the right and then text on the left throughout the book. I wish I could have gotten that one too, but I was under a self imposed budget cut for book purchases when attending and so all I did was look at it and talk about it with the guy manning the booth. Then when I asked for his business card he said he didn’t have one because he wasn’t a bookshop. At the time i just laughed and said it was fine, but in retrospect I’m like: Man, you put all this energy into getting a booth for this and you brought all of these cool books in, but then you don’t have a business card? Weird. Later on I heard someone else ask him for his card, at which point he leaned over to the table next to him and asked for a piece of paper…I have the feeling he probably had to borrow more paper the next whole day.

Upon entering the Fair you got a pamphlet that lists all the booksellers and their location, but most tables had their own cards to give out as well. The only thing I ended up totally caving in for and buying was the strangest edition of Tin Tin comics that I’d ever seen before. They are tiny and there were two of them. They are both in Chinese even though we ( Cathy Sorensen from Sorensen Books and me) didn’t know that for sure at the time. All the reasons why I had to get them: The format is amazing. … Imagine the regular Tin Tin books that are vertical and have at least 8w panels per page, and are in color. Then imagine the tiny b&w square version in Chinese! … One of the covers let me know right away what book is was. The other one didn’t ring a bell. When I asked the bookseller who turned out to be the owner of the shop herself, she said she didn’t know anything about the books, and a only brought them because they are very unusual looking. She was selling them together for 10.00$. I was for a second tempted to buy only one but then she mentioned that she really wanted them to stay together, which turned out to be a very clever idea. It’s funny in hindsight, because I was standing there at her booth and going on and on about how weird it is that they changed the overall layout of the book so much and how they must have edited the story a ton in order to get it in such a relatively close space, …. then later on when my friend Francis who knows Chinese looked at the books with me… it turned out that they are actually part 1 and part 2 of the same story! Ha! What do you know! … love it. Sometime people do things for reasons they don’t even know, and just have a gut feeling about something, and it turns out to be the right thing to do. Way to go Cathy Sorensen for keeping them together for so long! Now I will.

So here a few picture from the event. Some sellers were very talkative and ready to give you all sorts of interesting information about their wares. Some you had to pry it out of them, and then there was even one who was literally asleep. I had to wake him up in order to ask him something about one of the books he had showcased. Good times. I had a good laugh at that.

Overall I had a really good time and if I didn’t have another event to attend the next day already I would probably have gone back for a second day.

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Website Updates and return to teaching

By Lisa | Published: September 7, 2010

Yey! Thanks to my super star pal Christy Nyiri, my site is finally a bit updated. Some new images in the Illustration Portfolio section. Also, next week is the start of my second semester teaching ‘Children’s Picture Book Illustration’ at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Hopefully my students will be just as awesome as my first class… almost impossible as it would be…

Here’s one of the new images added to my portfolio.

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I DO wanna make a book… buuuut… this video is the best!

By Lisa | Published: August 31, 2010

I recently (and still am) spent wayyy too much time on my friend Julia Feyrer’s video blog and though there are SO very many amazing videos featured there that I’d love to share, there is ONE that I can’t not put on here. I really highly recommend this amazingly curated blog of you tube videos by Julia. You won’t regret it. And please keep in mind that I actually really do wanna make… a… book.