This year’s NESCBWI spring
conference was held in Springfield, MA, May 2014. The theme was
“Create Bravely,” with a focus on having the courage to find your voice and
make your mark. RISD CBI students are always well represented at the
conference. This year, Anne Wert (class of 2013) and Marcela Staudenmeier and
Sarita Rich (both in the class of 2014) enjoyed a productive weekend networking
with fellow artists at the conference. Marcela is a conference veteran; this
was her third year attending the NEWSCBWI conference. It was a first for Anne
and Sarita.
Marcela, Anne, and Sarita
got to hang out with inspiring speakers including Jane Yolen, Peter Reynolds,
and Laurel Snyder. They received helpful critiques of their book dummies
(created in Cheryl’s fall 2013 Book Dummy) from literary agents. And they each
displayed portfolios of their best work from the CBI program in the Portfolio
Showcase.
During conference weekend, all
three RISD CE students demonstrated the theme of creating bravely.
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| Anne Perkins Wert and Marcela Staudenmaier |
Marcela entered the
“Pitchapalooza,” an event in which contestants’ names could be drawn for a
chance to have one minute to pitch their book to a panel of judges featuring the
Book Doctors
and several literary agents. The author of the winning pitch received a free
critique of their entire manuscript from an agent on the panel. Marcela’s name
wasn’t drawn, but she had an amazing pitch ready to go!
Anne took advantage of a
great portfolio building exercise and free promotional opportunity by entering
a poster in the Illustration Challenge. The task was to illustrate a passage of
choice from The Wizard of Oz. Her
beautiful poster was
displayed for art directors, editors, and conference participants to view. Anne
was also named the runner up for this year’s Ann Barrow Illustrator
Scholarship.
In her final semester of the
CBI program, Sarita had a chaotic few months of preparation prior to the
conference. From January to May, it was the first time for everything: making a
website, drafting and printing promotional postcards and business cards, and printing
reproductions of her work for a presentation portfolio. She submitted a
portfolio for the Ann Barrow Illustrator Scholarship because she read about it
on Marcela’s blog after Marcela won the award in 2012. This year, Sarita was
pleased to accept the scholarship.
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| This image was a favorite of Ad's and Editors from Sarita Rich's Anne Barrow Scholarship award winning portfolio |
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| Another favorite of Ad's and Editors from Sarita Rich's Anne Barrow Scholarship award winning portfolio |
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 Two images from Anne Wert's "Anne Barrow Scholarship Award" runner up portfolio––the Candy shop was a favorite of Ad's and editors! |
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| Sarita Rich and Marlo Gansworthy |
Some of our RISD CE instructors also participated at the conference and Marlo Gansworthy’s artwork won the runner-up R.Michelson Galleries Award 2014. You can see Marlo’s artwork and read about her conference experience on her blog post.
In addition, Mary Jane Begin presented her workshop "Colors, Contrast + Compliments".
All around it was a successful conference for both our students and instructors! Next year’s conference will be during April 24-26 and the theme is “Think Outside Your Crayon Box.” Get to work and plan to register early so you don’t miss out on all the opportunities to get your name out there!
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Anne Perkins Wert and Meg Brewster Sodano |
To see more of Marcela’s,
Anne’s, and Sarita’s work, visit their websites:
I'm so impressed by all of you!!! (A shout-out to Meg, too!) Can't wait to see Sarita and Marcela's portfolios before graduation, and loved your new painting, Anne.
ReplyDeleteYes, Cheryl––definitely a shout out to Meg and all other RISD CE alumi who were at the conference. Unfortunately, I was not there so I apologize for any incomplete information gathering or reporting on my part!
ReplyDelete