Student Successes: Rong Yuan Ma

Rongyuan (Roya) Ma won the Gold Award in the Children's Market catagory from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles 54th Annual Illustration Exhibition for this stunning piece of art.

She did the line art in ink, scanned it, and painted it digitally.
Congratulations, Roya! 

© Rongyuan Ma, "Daughter of the Dragon"

More Catching up: Student successes: Sarita Rich!

I'm trying to catch up with a few of the accomplishments of students from the RISD-CE Children's Book Illustration certificate program. Although the program is being discontinued, the students who went through the program are out there doing fantastic work.

Sarita Rich is one of those students. Her book, Hypnosis Harry, came out February 28, 2016, written by Catherine Bailey, published by Sky Pony Press. In the meantime, Sarita is busy working on more books and raising two daughters.

Hypnosis Harry, Illustrated by Sarita Rich

Want to read about how she got an agent?

Read the 7/11/16 blog interview ​
Author/Illustrator Sarita Rich travels the road of Persistence and Luck in acquiring a Picture Book Agent.
 
http://www.moniritchie.com/book-nook/sarita-rich-books-an-agent

Interior spread of Hypnosis Harry, Illustrated by Sarita Rich

Another blog about her first book, Hypnosis Harry:

https://taralazar.com/tag/sarita-rich/

Catching Up and Student Successes: Lesley Breen Withrow, Meg Sodano, Melanie Linden Chan

It's been a long time since anyone posted, but that doesn't mean that nothing's happened.

The biggest event was the the Children's Book Illustration certificate at RISD-CE was discontinued. We are finishing up with students who were already "in the pipeline," and those amazing students will be graduating this year and next.

Great children's book illustration classes continue to be offered.

And the grads and students who went through the program continue to do us proud. Here are a few of the folks who are out there creating amazing books for children!

One of our earlier graduates, Lesley Breen Withrow, had TWO children's books come on the market this year.

"Bunny Bus," illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow

Here's what PW has to say:  

Bunny Bus
Ammi-Joan Paquette, illus. by Lesley Breen Withrow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
Public transit gets a springtime makeover as Paquette (Ghost in the House) and Withrow (You’re My Boo) introduce the Bunny Bus, an anthropomorphized conveyance with a fluffy tail, two large ears, and a bucktoothed grin. Dapperly dressed owls, cats, and other animals clamber aboard: “Room for more? Of course! Pile on!/ The Bunny Bus rolls on and on.” Withrow’s scraggly pencils, lined-paper backdrops, and splashes of color and pattern create an exuberant atmosphere that’s only briefly interrupted when the overloaded bus temporarily breaks down, sending carrots and painted eggs flying. It’s a novel spin on familiar Easter themes. Ages 2–4. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Chris Tugeau, Christina A. Tugeau Artist Agency. 

Interior spread from "Bunny Bus," written by Ammi-Joan Paquette, illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow

And "You're my Boo," written by Kate Dopirak, published by Beach Lane Books (S&S). 

"You're my Boo," by Kate Dopirak, illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow.

Meg Sodano, who has two certificates... one in natural science illustration and the other in children's book, has been combining her talents perfectly. Not only did she take an amazing trip to the Galapagos, teaching natural science drawing, but she has a new picture book out! 

 

Meg Sodono's illustrations grace "Lila's Harbor"

 To see more of Meg's amazing work, go to her website: 

https://msodanoillustration.com/

Melanie Linden Chan had quite a year. 

She signed a contract to illustrate a non-fiction children's pickturebook for Tilburyhouse. 

In the meantime, she built and moved into a house, and she and her husband created a beautiful, amazing, perfect baby boy!!!

I will post some more catch-up posts asap. Congratulations to our talented illustrators!!!

Student Success: Brook Gideon

CBI program graduate Brook Gideon illustrated the middle grade Azalea, Unschooled by Liza Kleinman, recently published by Islandport Press.

The book has been attracting attention, and was recently awarded a Gold Medal by the 2015 Moonbeam Children's Book Award, for Best First Chapter Book.

Congratulations Brook Gideon and Liza Kleinman! 

Student Successes: Robert Martin

As our children's book illustration certificate students head out into the "real world" to pursue their dreams, news of successes have been coming my way. I need to crow a bit about their accomplishments, so here is one story. More will follow. 

Bob with his family at RISD CE graduation, 2014

Robert Martin teaches photography at Wheeler School in Providence, RI. He embarked on a personal project to turn the story of the school's founder, Mary C. Wheeler, into a children's book.

To bring this dream into reality, he took his manuscript to Marlo Garnsworthy's Writing for Children class at RISD-CE. Then he signed up for the children's book illustration certificate, and used the classes to hone his drawing, color, digital, and designing skills.

"Mary Wants to Draw" © Robert Martin

He took Book Dummy to do his prototype, during which he took a vacation to France where he tracked down and photographed some of the locations Mary visited in the late 1800's. While he did venture all the way to Germany to find the bridge connected to Mary's arrest on suspicion of espionage, he ended up using one of the stone bridges from our very own Roger William Park instead.

Bob used Final Projects to complete many of the illustrations. After he graduated from the program, he  continued work on his own, and Wheeler School published the completed book in 2015.

Illustrations of Mary Wheeler as a child © Robert Martin

Mary Wheeler was born in 1846 in Concord, Massachusetts, a neighbor of Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was a time when her dreams of becoming an artist were not supported by American society.

After traveling to Europe to study art, she returned to Providence RI and established Miss Wheeler's Studio, at 26 Cabot street.

Mary Wheeler studying art in France.

 In 1889, she turned the art school into a college preparatory school for young ladies. Wheeler school still provides a fine education in Providence, RI today.

Congratulations, Bob, for following your dream!   

Mary being arrested!

RISD certificate grads attend NE-SCBWI Conference

One of the most active organizations that supports children's book writer's and illustrators is the  Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators, know as SCBWI.

Clare, Meg, Cheryl, Marcela and Anne 

I just returned from the New England chapter's annual conference in Springfield, MA, "Think Outside the Crayon Box." With over 600 participants, it's quite an event. I recognized two of our instructors and eleven students or grads of the certificate program while I was there.

Cindy, Brook, Jeanette

What do you get if you go to a SCBWI event?

For illustrators, there were various workshops.
There was an Illustrator's Challenge, designed as a portfolio building exercise and promotional opportunity. This year's challenge was to illustrate a single line of text for a double-page spread: "Don't worry-I fixed it."

Marcela's Illustrator's challenge

Ann with her Illustrator's challenge (and a corner view of Marcela's)

 Marcela with Sarita and Stella

Award Winners

There is a Portfolio Showcase, viewed by attending agents, art directors and editors, judged by professional art directors, with prizes awarded.  Recent grad Marcela Staudenmeier won the R. Michelson Gallery Award, and will be included in the annual CBI show there in November.

Recent grad Rong Yuan Ma (Roya) won the Ann Barrow Scholarship, which gives her free tuition to next year's conference. She attended the conference with her husband Luc, and their eight month old baby.

I couldn't be prouder of all of the attendees for putting themselves out there to be seen, to learn, and to network.

Roya and McKenzie with Illus 3 instructor, Emilie Boon

Roya, Luc and McKenzie

Brook and Lin

Instructor Marlo Garnsworthy (front rt.) with friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workshops, Speakers & Critiques

Many agents, editors and art directors attend, and  portfolio and manuscript reviews can be scheduled.

Illustration by Dan Santat

The keynote speaker was Dan Santat, author/illustrator of this years Caldecott Award, "The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend".

Josh Alves did a workshop on Planning, preparing, and Publishing an interactive app book, and Nicole Tadgell did a watercolor workshop, to name just a few of the workshops geared towards children's book illustrators, as well as author/illustrators.

Milanka with author Jane Yolen

One of the fun events was Pitchapalooza, an American Idol for books (only kinder and gentler). Twenty writers are selected at random to pitch their book in one minute—and only one minute!  A panel of experts critique the pitch. Winner gets introduction to agent or publisher. 


The conference is run almost entirely by volunteers, and is an amazing feat.

We're proud that the latest RISD-CE catalogue, Summer 2014 cover is illustrated by Children's Book certificate graduate Lauren Anton. Great work, Lauren!

cover illustration by Lauren Anton

RISD CE Children's Book Illustration students and instructors celebrate at opening for "Picture This!" at the Danforth Museum in Massachusetts

Roya with her artwork, and Emilie and Marcela at the opening of "Picture This!".

Emilie and Marcela with her beautiful cut paper illustration.

CE Instructors Dara and Emilie also had art in the show. Here celebrating with Marcela.

CE student Linda Norman-Lyman with her lovely illustration.

Portfolio Review Class of 2013

Some pictures of this years graduating Children's book Illustration Portfolio class are up.

Great effort was spent gaining some amazing progress. Check out the students and some of their work here.
I grabbed Sherri's photo as her name was at the top of my list, and I wanted to visually grab your attention. Now go see all the students wonderful art!

Latest labors of love..

I've been pretty quiet lately...thought I'd show my friends what I've been up to...combining my love of Herbology/Wildcrafting with Illustration and creating an herbal calendar.  Each month contains a plant found in New England, some info/easy recipes, an interesting quote, and the "spirit/fairy" of the plant...   LOVE doing this...in colored pencil on vellum...
Best,
Tina

Little Women

posted by Cindy Cornwall

This is my entry for the 2013 Tomie de Paola contest. Though I hadn't yet read it, I thought that of the three book options, I could relate best to "Little Women." And I did enjoy the book, after I got over the conventions toward women of that period. Thank goodness for Jo, who was the rebel of the family!

Art in full spread layout

After many versions, I did mine in pencil with digital alteration in Photoshop. It was fun to add pattern to the piece and (hopefully) not go overboard!

Art before layout

Overall, it was a learning experience working in just black and white. As an artist, I'm still working on balancing detail vs. overall composition and creating strong values that read from a distance.
As always, I enjoy seeing the variety of pieces that come out of the Tomie de Paola contest. There are so many wonderful illustrations that I can't imagine how he picks the winner!

Tomie 2013

posted by Brook Gideon.

Here is my entry for the Tomie DePaola contest for 2013. I chose to work from The Yearling. I did my piece in linocut and watercolor on hot press watercolor paper.  It was fun to create and participate. As always, the Tomie awards are very random, he often chooses simple over complex and the styles he likes and the winners he chooses, he states they are "HIS" choices. Congratulations to the winner, Sandra Ure Griffin and the runners-up, Brent Beck, Anni Matsick, Bradley Cooper, Stephen Ingram, Sarah Dvojack, Alice Ratterree and Andrea K. Lawson!

Tomie does explain that black and white is very hard to master successfully. He stated that some actually used bits of color, a no-no, and others were very muddy in their execution. I agree and it is definitely something I would love to work more on perfecting!

You can certainly get a better ( and bigger) look at all the entries on the link Cheryl posted!

The 2012 Graduating class of CE Children's Book Illustration certificate program 

students and teachers:
Judith Moffatt, Brook Gideon, Susan Fellows, Caroline Gray, Cheryl Kirk Noll, Lauren Anton, Marlo Garnsworthy, Todd Casey, Emile Boon, Milanka Reardon. 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Final Projects Studio class of 2012

 Teacher Judith Moffatt (left) with the class of 2012:

Brook, Becky, Janice, Lauren, Dede, Milanka, Todd, Huijung, and Caroline  (not shown).

Each Student below with their favorite portfolio piece.

 Becky Rebentisch

 Milanka Reardon

 Janice Lee

 Brook Gideon

 Huijung Cho

 Todd Casey

 Dorothy Carlsten

 Lauren Anton

Caroline Gray

Special Thanks to Susan Novich our unofficial Teacher's Assistant who was an amazing help.