Tales for Creative Minds

A World of Pure Imagination - An Interview with Artist Cindy Dauer

2012-01-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”

~ Jamie Paolinetti

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Hello! Office manager in north Chicagoland by day, furious doodler/scribbler/beast tender (and sometimes computer game player) by night. I did not go to art school but did go to a cool tiny liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida. Some years later, as a delay tactic, I got an ill-advised (student loans, eek) MA in Creative Writing [wrote a sci-fi love story screenplay for my thesis, which may yet one day get a much-needed re-write].

What first drew you to art/illustration? It must have been the doodling, which I have done since I was a wee lass. And cartoons and fantasy books. And the bottomless pit of potential imaginary creatures in an infinite array of universes.

How did you develop your art style? Drawings lots and lots of cartoonish horses and dogs, which led to imaginary creatures that often resemble horses and dogs. And then, at some point last year I started collecting close-up photographs of a variety of animal faces/noses, and it's such a fun and silly perspective that I started drawing close-up faces. And I've recently become enamored of all kinds of farm animals like sheep, goats and llamas. Their faces are just so fun and goofy! I am a big fan of fun and goofy. And then the steampunk thing, which I ventured into most recently (because it's also fun and goofy - and also full of neat, teeny detail).

What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use? I'd have to say pen and ink, which has the potential for so many cool effects and details. And in the last year I discovered Copic Markers. I must give credit to Brooke Connor who does terrific, colorful work with markers, and was the inspiration for me to finally try them and make the leap from black and white work. I will likely go back to acrylics at some point because I really like the idea of really large pieces, but that is not so feasible with markers! (to me, at least.)

Can you share your favorite technique? Please see this blog post for Cindy's favorite techniques.

What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? Although I got some art scholarships out of high school, I got talked out of going to art school. So I do regret that. But I can't put all the blame there. A lot of years went by with no art, years I could have spent increasing my skills. So if you're reading this, even if you don't want to be an artist full-time, just do a little bit every single week. One day you'll be able to say wow, I really know how to do some things!

What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? Edward Gorey is a big one. Some (obvious?) children's illustrators like Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Chris Van Allsburg. Fantasy artists like Michael Whelan and Roger Dean. I am a huge fan of Studio Ghibli, particularly My Neighbor Totoro, and Pixar, though I am embarrassed to admit I do not know the names of any of the artists from either studio. Perhaps I'll look some up! There are so, so many great artists out there. It seems like I run into a couple new ones online every other day (including through Illustration Friday, which I believe is how you ended up on my page!) Seeing so many great artists can be depressing (like, is there room for me, will I ever come close to their mastery?), but sometimes it's very inspiring.

How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft? I think experimenting is really cool and valuable, but not a necessity. I suppose it depends what your goals are.

What is your view on the development of an artists style? If any one thing has become very clear to me, it's that the most important thing you can do for your art, is to do a lot of art. Seriously, do it every day or do two new pieces a week but keep doing it. It's the same with writing, or woodworking, or whatever creative pursuit you choose. You can read all the books and blogs in the world but if you don't put in the time, none of that will matter. I suppose I knew that all along but only last year did I start to really put in serious time. I think as long as one is inspired not only by a variety of other artists, but also the natural world and one's own imagination, you can't help but develop a personal style.

[NOTE: Are you familiar with that Ira Glass quote on just doing a lot of work? It's long but worth reading.

What were some challenges in selling your work? I haven't really sold much. Well, 30 small pieces at Etsy in about nine-ten months. And one super-fan accounted for about half that. Which was very flattering, I must say.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? I'm hoping to put together a children's book this year. I already write short biographies of most of my characters, so I envision an imaginary city where they all live. It probably wouldn't be a linear story, more like a collection of creatures and their particular tales, with some overlap. On the other hand, once I get it going I might go off on a completely different tangent. Which goes back to that whole business of the bottomless pit of potential imaginary creatures in an infinite array of universes.

Here're some cool short stories by Cindy:

Sheep and Cow:

Hattie the Highland-cow-type beast is slightly irritated but holding her tongue because she and Hemmy the sheep have been friends for more than ten years. Stumbling out of her bedroom moments ago, Hemmy trod squarely on Hattie's ankle. Ouch! But Hattie would get over it. (Also, the last time Hattie forgot to clean her hair out of the shower, Hemmy didn't even mention it.) It's so nice to have a good friend like that, even if it means getting your ankle accidentally stepped on from time to time.

Aviator Emu:

This fine steampunk aviator emu is known as Pippin Blue Eyes. He has a quick temper but it rarely escalates beyond (what he thinks are) proper British exclamations such as *** it!, Absolute rubbish!, and Flibberty Gidget! So he’s really both mild-mannered and cranky, a bit like a Caractacus Potts (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

Blog: http://www.theslumberingherd.com/

Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/theslumberingherd

1, 2, 3 ... Counting in Guache and Watercolor

2012-01-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

This is the first of a series of ten images I created for an illustrated
children's book to help learn how to count 1 through 10.

I painted it with gouache and liquid watercolors on a 100% cotton

acid free acquerello paper.

Illustration Friday - Emma the Bear

2012-01-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I last posted here. I've been very busy working on design collections for licensing - stationary, cards, gift wraps and fabrics... but my plan is to get back to the illustration world very soon!

So happy 2012! And to start the year with a smile, here is Emma the Bear, an illustration I hand painted with gouache and watercolor. Emma is one of the key characters in new my upcoming children's book. I hope you like her!

Illustration Friday – Topic: Grounded

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-08T19:44:00.001-08:00

Where Monsters Meet! – An Interview with Artist Gretchen Deahl

2011-11-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see".
- Edgar Degas

Could you tell us a bit about yourself (brief bio + your story)? Hmmmmm. Can I make things up? (ahem...just kidding). Let's see... I've been working as a professional artist since graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1982, applying my design and illustrative skills in fields as diverse as real-estate advertising, hospital communications and children's literacy education. For about 10 years, I partnered with my tech-wizard husband, Robert, and opened our own website hosting and design business, while we cared for both of my parents who were going through major health issues. He managed the hard stuff - keeping up with the latest web and Internet technology, while I had the fun job of designing the actual websites. For the past couple of years I have been blessed by the support of my husband and have been able to go back to my first passion - Illustration.

What first drew you to art/illustration? I have been creating some kind of art since I was a child and too young to know what I was getting myself into. Fortunately, both of my parents appreciated the arts in all of its glorious forms and encouraged me to pursue my passion. My father painted watercolors and my mom worked in clay, so I figure that's where it all started. I recall spending countless happy hours surrounded by piles of books, like the American Heritage series, avidly perusing the pages looking for fascinating images. I was too young to read most of them, but the pictures would light up my imagination! Of course, I also devoured any children's books I could get my hands on. Dr. Suess, Maurice Sendak, an early copy of the original Alice in Wonderland were beloved companions (next to my twin sister and stuffed animals).

How did you develop your art style? Working as an in-house illustrator for several art directors, I had a chance to explore a full range of styles. One art director would request an illustration of a picnic (with all the trimmings) that resembled a woodcut. Another wanted a drawing in a loose, free-form style. Yet another would need a precise, detailed ink rendering of the human spine, or a pencil drawing of the inside of a microscopic mitochondria. I found them all challenging but great fun, though I highly recommend not doing photo research on surgical procedures while trying to eat your lunch. When I wasn't mimicking a particular drawing style, my own personal style would always emerge. I think personal art styles are kind of inborn, similar to personal signatures or handwriting. Left to my own devices, I simply drew a certain way.

What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use? Without a doubt, pencil (both bw graphite and colored) are the mediums I gravitate towards first. When approaching a new project, sketching and drawing come most naturally and allow me to focus on my ideas without worrying about how they will be rendered. These days I also use digital drawing and painting "tools" to expand my range and explore additional avenues of enhancement like adding photographic textures.

What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? The learning curve of digital drawing and painting. It has been an exhilarating but often frustrating adventure. My mood swings daily from pure glee when something I just tried works, to exasperated growls when it doesn't. It is probably a very good thing that I work alone. I'm sure my "multiple personalities" would annoy anyone within range of my voice. I often annoy myself as a matter of fact! :-)

What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? That is an endless and growing list. There are so many amazingly talented artists whose work has touched me in some way, that I hardly know where to begin. Sometimes it's the actual style of art that grabs my attention. Sometimes it is the brilliant way an artist has expressed an idea so perfectly. I am often inspired by artists whose styles are on the opposite spectrum of my own. When I come across some mesmerizing piece of work, I usually stop in my tracks and just sit/stand there and gawk. My mouth is most likely hanging open, drooling, as I get completely lost in the piece. It's not a pretty sight, I am sure. From the classic painters like Vermeer (whose quality of composition and color, make his paintings glow with light and air) to the oils of Georgia O'Keefe, watercolors of Charles Demuth, and pastel masterpieces of Edward Degas -- I am humbled by their depth of skill and perception. Recently, I have become obsessed (hope they don't mind) with the works of contemporary artists like Mexican illustrator and designer, Alberto Cerriteño and Finnish illustrator, Vladimir Stankovic. I find their works rich in delicious, often subtle textures, patterns and colors. Yummmm!

In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artists work? In my opinion, making art is an ongoing, cumulative act of creation. The longer you live and experience the difficulties, challenges and pleasures life offers, the more knowledge and hopefully wisdom you may acquire. Through wisdom, you gain perspective, compassion and understanding for different cultures, points of view, lifestyle choices, etc... allowing you to truly appreciate the vastness, complexity and ultimately the beauty of our shared existence. As a result, your art can not help but be influenced by your opened mind and heart and must be expressed in some form.

How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft? I believe it is essential! Artists should continue to grow and evolve within their craft. The essence of their artistic vision may remain consistent, but experimenting with different types of media provides experiences and challenges that I think are necessary for exploring different ideas and possibilities of expression. And, it can be fun to dust off the cobwebs of a practiced, time-tested technique and try something new!

What is your view on the development of an artists style? As I mentioned earlier, I believe that a personal style is innate, to a large degree. That doesn't mean, however, that this style should become stagnant. In fact, my most recent "new tool" - the computer - has become and integral part of my craft. Without its assistance, I would not be able to produce the artwork that I am currently creating. I love the ability I now have to enlarge, colorize, add levels of detail, and most of all, play with different ideas without going through reams of paper, boxes of pencils, etc... before executing the actual artwork. (Thank you Photoshop layers! :-)

What is/was your experience as a freelance artist? Lots! Although I have worked happily as an in-house artist for several companies, I've found that working as a freelance artist, both I and my work seem to be more appreciated and respected. That is as important to an artist as anyone else. Even better, you have more control over which clients and projects you wish to take on. As long as you are a professional and deliver your work on schedule, within budget and without unexpected surprises, you should succeed quite happily.

What were some challenges in selling your work? Were and still are! Having opened up my own online store through Etsy in April of this year, the challenges continue to be:

1.) GETTING NOTICED: Within the vast sea of competing, talented artists, just getting found by potential customers is a great challenge. Learning the ins and outs of how a particular venue works is invaluable. Take the necessary time to discover the most effective way to get your work front and center. You might have the most beautiful masterpieces of amazingly creative art available for sale -- but, if no one can find it -- no one can buy it.

2.) MARKETING SMARTS: The learning curve in discovering the various venues to sell ones work can feel daunting. Unless you have a mentor, it is up to you alone to surf the net, make important connections and discover those valuable resources that will be necessary for promoting your work to a larger audience.

3.) LEARNING PATIENCE: I consider myself a relatively patient person. I know that "all good things come to those who wait". But boy oh boy!, when you are on fire with ideas and think (meaning hope and pray) that your work is really good - patience is one virtue I keep running out of. Mini episodes of checking my Etsy shop EVERY FIVE MINUTES become pleading (to no one in particular) NOW! NOW! I WANT TO BE DISCOVERED NOW! tantrums. Advice to myself: "Get a Grip for Goodness sake! " The world wasn't built in a day. Chill out and follow rules 1 and 2 above.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? Well, yes... thanks for asking! For months my head has come close to bursting with ideas as I have been exploring so many titillating avenues of creation. An example of my ongoing self discussion: Should I move from artwork created mostly for children OR expand my work to include more adult tastes in home decor? How about finishing that children's book I started writing and illustrating almost 15 years (sheesh!) ago?? Hey, and don't forget those 3-D crafty-type art pieces I was so keen on doing a few months ago!... Of course, this endless mind chatter occurs most frequently (and loudly) when I am right on the verge of sleep.

Fortunately, I have finally reigned myself in, at least for awhile, and plan to continue with my Monster prints. In particular, I am focusing on two new different series called "Inner Monsters" and "Midnight Monsters". I have learned the hard way, that when eager monsters are knocking at your consciousness, it is better (and healthier) to pay attention and let them out, before embarking on anything new.

My Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/wheremonstersmeet
My Monster website: www.wheremonstersmeet.com
My LinkedIn Profile page: www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=73236013&trk=tab_pro

Illustration Friday - Mmmm, I Smell Apple Pie!

2011-11-25T13:20:00.001-08:00

Illustration Friday – Topic: Round

Our friend is about to have another nice dinner ;)

This character was a hand sketch I originally did for one of my children's books.

It was one of the many friends Mr. P made in the course of his adventures!
Ink, watercolor and Photoshop.

Illustration Friday - The Caged Bluebird and The Stolen Treasure

2011-11-08T11:13:00.001-08:00

Illustration Friday - Topic: Stripes

A visual story of the caged bluebird and the stolen treasure.

The Stolen Treasure - © Alex Colombo

From Architecture to Illustrations - An Interview with Italian Artist Francesca Tesoriere

2011-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

"All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster's autobiography".

- Federico Fellini

Artist Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Francesca Tesoriere, the second of three sisters. I was born in Palermo, Sicily, where I currently work. The choice to do professionally do illustrations did not follow a straight line, but it was very twisty, I'd say! I always had a predisposition for the design but I did not know it could become a trade. In fact, my journey was classical studies – I graduated in Architecture. In all those long years of studying, I felt stifled about something important to me (and I didn't know quite what it was!). I decided to continue my studies with a course of illustration, in Rome (Istituto Europeo di Design) through which I have finally taken my first steps into the world of illustration.

Tales for Creative Minds: What first drew you to art/illustration? A few years earlier, before arriving in Rome and while studying architecture, I had the good fortune to participate in the student program during which I spent a year in Spain, in Madrid. There, I attended a course in design called "Analysis de formas", that taught to look at forms in space, to draw freehand figures and architectural elements. It was like a lightning! After those wonderful lessons in drawing I haven't stopped learning, looking, and improving myself.

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: How did you develop your art style? I know only one way to do it and that's to work hard. The rest comes by itself, I would say. Naturally there have been and still have difficult times!

Tales for Creative Minds: What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use? I love using traditional techniques, and despite the daily use of computer graphics, I prefer as it's possible, drawing on paper and watercolors, although in the beginning I used acrylics a lot.

Tales for Creative Minds: What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? Many and they varied. I immediately set my business as a real working activity, almost entrepreneurial, with lots of bumps at the beginning. The hardest thing to understand is that what you do is a job, first of all, even if you do it with passion. As an artist, the first difficulty I had was to find a quiet place, where to work peacefully, like a room, a studio, a house, which I eventually found at the end!

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? There are many, first among all those who I had the good fortune to personally know. Then there are those who feel closer in style or the way they feel – among them Quentin Grèban, Jessie W. Smith, the legendary Hollie Hobbie with which I have literally grown up in the 80s! And lots of other illustrators: Yan Nascimbene or Cicely Mary Barker, to name just a few. But there are so many others, who continue to inspire me, also with a completely different style! I first learned to love the painters of all the ages, showed in art history books, although there are no mentions of Illustrators in those books, and I think it's a mistake.

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artists work? I think any creative activity, involves a deep understanding because otherwise you could not think of new creative ideas. It's important first of all, to grow as a person.

Tales for Creative Minds: How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft? Essential! Try them all! And then choose what you like, or sometimes, simply the most suitable for a particular project. I constantly experiment, even digitally! I know my limits with one technique or another, so it is important to try them all, a little bit!

Tales for Creative Minds: What is your view on the development of an artists style? I think it's possible to do completely different things, while remaining themselves. Basically what characterizes each person is their own way of being, talking, walking, writing, sneezing or laughing! We all have an "own way". The difference is that we illustrators, spend more time with colours... maybe?

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: What is/was your experience as a freelance? Very hard! But it's worth it, or at least I'm still hoping!

Tales for Creative Minds: What were some of the challenges in selling your work? I tried in the past and still challenge luck with the new technologies! Due to necessity, or to just experiment. I'm using my computer to establish business contacts, potential opportunities, which sometimes disappear into the thin air. Other times they become concrete realities! Sometimes it's lacking direct human relationships... but in any case even this is a challenge for me!

© Francesca Tesoriere

Tales for Creative Minds: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? Many ideas, some publishing projects. But I prefer to work on specific projects as they occur ... I keep ready and see what happens! I'm trying to keep updated, more than anything else, while making order among things and thoughts. This is one of those moments!

Francesca's links:

Website: www.francescatesoriere.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ftesoriere
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NLJQ1000
Imagezoo: http://www.imagezoo.com/artist.asp?id=FTE
StudioCreativity: http://www.studiocreativity.com/web/index-content-artistdetails-cat-illustratori-id-251.htm

The challenge to express one's own world beyond the mere illustration - Artist Lucia Guarnotta

2011-10-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

"To create one's own world,
in any of the arts, takes courage".

- Georgia O'Keeffe

© Lucia Guarnotta

Tales for Creative Minds: Tell us a bit about yourself: My name is Lucia Guarnotta, I'm Italian and I live in Tuscany. Since I was very young my first interest was drawing so I studied arts in high school and eventually did the Academy of Fine Arts. After school I began as a graphic designer with a small Design Studio called "Naos" where I worked with my brother and a friend of mine, Cecilia. The "Naos" lasted only few years and then we decided to close it and choose different paths.

Each year I used to participate in a traditional art exhibition held in my town during the summer, called "Rotonda" where I met a publisher and licenser who was looking for an artist for some dog art prints, so it began my career as illustrator. The first illustration I was commissioned to do represented a couple of dog puppies playing on the grass, created with tempera on paper.

TFCM: How did you develop your art style? There is no trick or secret, only practice and patience and good masters at school! I went through different stages: at first when I was very, very young my paintings looked like vector images with no shades, made by a complicated interlace of flat fields of colors. Then they became more and more realistic over time but always with a solid detailed drawing on the background.

© Lucia Guarnotta

TFCM: What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use? Well, as for traditional illustrations, I like handmade illustrations, I prefer tempera or gouache or/and acrylics, but it depends also on the kind of illustration you have to do. Each media has its own characteristics so it is better to change the media to fit the needs of the project or painting you are working on or even work with mixed medias or digital media sometimes.

TFCM: What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? Challenges ... well, every time I begin a new illustration or project is a challenge ... the real challenge for an artist is to be able to express their own feelings, poetry, his or her world beyond the mere illustration and even beyond the actual subject of the illustration or painting. It doesn't matter what you are drawing or painting, the challenge is to express your thoughts, express yourself. Actually it can be a little difficult when you work on someone else's project, as an illustrator I mean .... it's sometimes frustrating, but it is also a job, not pure art! The challenge in this case is to be able to mediate between your art and the job!

© Lucia Guarnotta

What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? For my experience the influences or inspirations arrived from the world outside, especially from the colors, or sometimes from my interests beyond the art itself or from my own feelings - rarely from the works of someone else. Even if I admire a lot of artists and their work, they have not influenced me directly except for the colors. I'm always influenced by the colors!

TFCM: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artist's work? Each person is influenced by their own background, experiences, knowledge, culture, and for artists it is not different. The knowledge of art and its history could be an important beginning point.

© Lucia Guarnotta

TFCM: How important is experimentation with media in developing one's craft? Experimentation belongs to the forming path of every artist but it continues during all his or her life. No doubt, it is never too late to learn.

TFCM: Can you share a routine technique you use in your paintings? Once again no trick... I begin with the drawing that it must be as much detailed as possible, I spend a lot of time on drawing, developing, and finishing each part of it. It is better, easier and faster to draw by hand, even the illustrations that will be then painted using a computer with software like Photoshop or Corel Painter. Then I go on with the painting process with the chosen media, usually beginning from the background and according with the media technique.

TFCM: What is your view on the development of an artist's style? The artist style comes from different aspects, first of all from their own skill, then from their personal way to "feel the world," and then from the goal they have chosen for their work. The style of an artist develops with their own painting technique; they are often the same thing.

© Lucia Guarnotta

TFCM: What is/was your experience as a freelance? Hard life, especially now!

TFCM: What were some challenges in selling your work? I have a very detailed and realistic style. It means a lot of work and a lot of hours, everybody usually appreciates this so the challenge in the past was only to be paid enough, but now it's to find good commissions. Due to the global crisis the publishers and manufacturers tend to save as much money as possible, well, here in Italy at least ... so there are fewer jobs for illustrators like me in comparison to the past decade.

What's more, in the past I've worked most as a naturalistic illustrator, due to my style. I worked a lot in this branch of illustration and I had little time and interest, even economic interest, to develop a different style... maybe an "quicker" or a "fictional style" that now I could sell more easily! It is my fault of course, my mistake! There is also to say that there are a lot of wonderful illustrators from the eastern countries near Italy, where life costs less and who can work for lower rates in comparison to an Italian illustrator. There is not only one reason of course, but now it is not an easy life!!

© Lucia Guarnotta

TFCM: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? I'm working on a book... but I cannot share it at this moment! I have also some projects in mind, more fantasy-oriented but for now they are only ideas!

You can find more about Lucia on

Behance, or Linkedin, or on her website.

Just keep at it! - An Interview with Illustrator Alison Kolesar

2011-09-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

"The courage to imagine the otherwise is out greatest resource,

adding color and suspense to all our life."
- Daniel J Boorstin

Artist Alison Kolesar

Tales For Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Alison Kolesar. I’m originally from Scotland, but have lived in the U.S. for 27 years. Coming from the very specialized British education system, I had to choose between my three favorite school subjects (English, History and Art) and did History for my undergraduate degree and Art History for a masters. It was only after two years of studying other people’s paintings that I decided it was time to develop my own art.

TFCM: What first drew you to art and especially children’s illustrations? I always loved to draw and spent enormous amounts of time as a kid reading. I still find (good) children’s literature immensely satisfying. And these days the illustration of children’s books is at least as creative and high quality as any other kind of illustration.

TFCM: What challenges have you faced as an artist? I’m essentially self-taught and I do wonder whether I would have progressed faster with instruction. I also missed out on trying a lot of different techniques in art school - not to mention that even if I’d gone, I’m too old to have learned all the computer stuff back then and that has definitely been a slow learning curve for me.

TFCM: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your work? I enjoy so many artists. Beatrix Potter was a very early influence – as much for the cadences of her language as the illustrations. I admire Trina Schart Hyman, Tomie de Paola and Lisbeth Zwerger tremendously. And although my own work is less decorative I like the work of artists like Christina Balit and Julie Paschkis. And there are so many more!

TFCM: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artist’s work? I’m not sure how to evaluate the effect of my life experiences on my work but I know that the experience of drawing regularly has made me a better artist.

TFCM: How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft? I need to change media every so often just to keep myself engaged. Going from watercolor to collage to gouache and ink requires different types of thinking and I enjoy them all in different ways. Having said that, I know that art directors prefer to see one style at a time so that they can feel they have a handle on what you do.

TFCM: Tell us about your favorite technique. My favorite technique tends to be whichever one I’m currently using, but one technique I’ve been enjoying recently results in something like a woodcut. After drawing the design in pencil, you paint it in gouache leaving the outlines as bare paper. Then cover the entire painting in ink, let it dry and wash it off. The ink goes into the exposed paper, but not where the gouache was. The washing removes the gouache but leaves a stain of the colors. The results are a bit hard to control but you can do some judicious touch up in Photoshop afterwards!

TFCM: What is your view on the development of an artist’s style? This question has always been a bit mysterious to me. There are some ways in which your style is like your handwriting and there’s a limit to how much you can change it. In other ways it feels like your style keeps changing as you look at other work and keep practicing your craft.

TFCM: What have you published so far? I’ve illustrated over 80 non-fiction books and booklets and painted maps for magazines. I’ve done craft and gardening books and lots of how-to knitting illustrations, but I’ve yet to really break into the children’s book market which is where I’d love to be.

TFCM: What were some challenges in publishing your work? In many ways I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and much of my published work has been for companies based near where I live. An on-going challenge for me has always been self-promotion.

TFCM: What encouragement can you give to our illustrators out there who wish to grow as artists and illustrators? This isn’t very profound advice, but just keep at it! And wherever possible find venues to share your work, including online.

Alison's website, blog and online shop.

Illustration Friday - Paco the Mouse is Being Shipped to Alaska!

2011-09-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday - Topic: Boundaries

"Mr. P got a box, cut some holes in it, set Paco inside, and added a shipping label. He would mail Paco to Alaska!" - page 24 of the children's book:

The Adventures of Mr. P - The Case of the Missing Cheese

2011-09-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday - Topic: Mysterious

Who's she?

Hand painted with gouache on cork paper

Creating Unique Illustrations for All Occasions - Artist Michelle Littler

2011-08-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Dreams, ideas, and plans not only are an escape,

they give me purpose, a reason to hang on.

- Walt Disney

Tales for Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and about you as an artist? I have always loved drawing and especially creating greeting cards. When I was little my grandma took care of me while my mom was at work and was always looking for a way to keep me busy (and out of trouble). One day instead of buying a card for a uncle's birthday she had me make one. That's when I learned how much people appreciate getting a personal letter or card in the mail opposed to just a store bought one. After working in the corporate world (and still there today with high hopes of escaping soon) I never thought of being my own boss or that I could actually sell my illustrations.

© Michelle Littler

But one co-worker asking for wedding invitations and a huge amount of support later and I took the leap (no pun intended) and created littletoad. I love creating unique and personal greetings for all occasions from weddings to just a note saying "Hi"! I think in this age of email it's even more important to never forget the feeling of getting a letter in the mail.

© Michelle Littler

TFCM: What first drew you to illustration? I have been drawing as long as I can remember but I never knew it could be an actual job. I was originally planning on attending law school until I saw a commercial for the Art Institute; two months later I was on my way to art school. I originally started out in animation but soon learned I'd rather be one of the students covered in charcoal so I took Graphic Design with a focus in Illustration.

TFCM: What challenges have you faced in developing your style? People's perceptions about it. Since my style is cartoony and fun some people tend to undervalue it both in time and money.

TFCM: What techniques do you use? I would say 90% of my time is sketching with a pencil, the rest of the time is spent digitally coloring my illustrations.

© Michelle Littler

TFCM: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? Walt Disney is my biggest influence. I used to watch the movies over and over again but unlike other children I would watch them with a pencil and a sketchbook in my hands, trying to recreate the characters I was seeing on the screen. I also loved Jim Henson, Jim Davis, Bill Watterson, Frank & Ollie and more recent influences have been Roma Dirge, Rob Scotton, Holly Hobbie. Also I'm lucky to have extremely talented friends who are a constant source of inspiration and people that I am always bouncing ideas off of. Shameless shouts outs: uglyclothes (amazing creations), lani harmon (wonderful photography).

© Michelle Littler

TFCM: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artist's work? Experience is important because it gives you a great perspective and the knowledge to let other people's opinions dictate your work. Knowledge is important because if you want to be a great illustrator you are going to be a constant student.

TFCM: How important is experimentation with media in developing one's craft?
I love to try new mediums because it gets you unstuck and, who knows, you may find something you never thought you would be good at.

TFCM: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us?

I am currently working on a series of "UP" inspired wedding invitations and cards .
Also in September I will be at the DIY festival in Ferndale Michigan.

© Michelle Littler

TFCM: Anything else you'd like to share?
Love and believe in what you do and everything else will fall into place.

You can find Michelle's work here:

Etsy: www.littletoad.etsy.com
Weddings: www.littletoadweddings.weebly.com
Twitter: @littletoad1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/littletoadspad

An Organic, Vintage and Utilitarian Art - Interview with Artist Sasha Prood

2011-08-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

"Logic will get you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere."

- Albert Einstein

An exciting interview with emerging artist Sasha Prood, designer, illustrator, and devotee to all things paper.

Artist Sasha Prood

Tales for Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA and trained at Carnegie Mellon's School of Design. In addition to freelancing full-time, I'm attending Type@Cooper starting this up coming school year to further develop my typographic skills. I currently reside in a tiny studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York filled to the brim with plants. I create typography, illustrations, patterns and graphics using pencil, pen and watercolor with the computer. Thematically my works lean toward the organic, natural and scientific with vintage, utilitarian and childhood influences. Animals, vegetables and minerals of all kinds are commonly found in my illustrations, creating anything from logos to posters to apparel graphics.

TFCM: What first drew you to art/illustration? Everyone needs a creative outlet and art has always been that for me.

TFCM: How did you develop your art style? My point-of-view as an artist has, and still continues to develop organically from my preferences in medium, my inspirations, my experimentations, etc.

TFCM: What tool/s and medium/s do you prefer to use?I love to work with watercolor, pencil and pen and to merge these materials with the computer.

TFCM: What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist?One of my most significant challenges as an artist has been my shyness.

TFCM: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work?A list of artists that inspire me could go on for days, but I will try to keep it short. I'm obsessed with the work of James Turrell—the environments that he creates with light blow me away every time. I love the work produced by the late Jean Michel Basquiat. I'm also a fan of Aurel Schmidt and Swoon. Tim Walker creates the most amazing fantasy photographs. And I hugely admire the illustrations of the late Edward Gorey, Charley Harper and William Steig to name a few.

TFCM: In your view, how does knowledge and experience influence an artists work?The more knowledge and experience an artist has, the better their work is going to be.

TFCM: How important is experimentation with media in developing ones craft?I feel that experimentation is key to the progressive development of ones work over time.

TFCM: What is your view on the development of an artists style?An artists style should develop and evolve organically from within the individual.

TFCM: What is/was your experience as a freelance?I love working as a freelancer! I work best when able to control my own time and the projects that I take on.

TFCM: What were some challenges in selling your work?I find the largest challenge in selling my work to be manufacturing it (in my case screen printing it) to the level of quality that I'm satisfied with.

TFCM: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us?I'm working on illustrations for Bon Appetit Magazine, a commissioned painting, promotional illustrations and a few self initiated projects. I like to keep busy!

TFCM: What encouragement can you give to other illustrators?Work hard and put your self out there as much as possible—eventually the timing will be right and opportunities will materialize.

Telling a Story with Images - Illustrator Patti Gay

2011-08-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since the last interview. I was looking for inspiration and found it here with professional illustrator Patti Gay! Patti is a versatile artist in both style and medium, and she works in oils, in watercolor, acrylic and goache. Patti has done illustrations for children's books, magazines and advertising promotions.

Artist Patti Gay

Tales For Creative Minds: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? What first drew you to art and especially to children's illustrations? I am a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design, where I received a degree in illustration. I have always loved children’s books and have a collection of favorites. There is something exciting about telling a story with images.

TFCM: What challenges have you faced in developing as an artist? I like setting up my own challenges when it comes to art. If there is an area that I am uncomfortable with or is out of my comfort range, I will make myself work on it. I think we can always grow as artists. That is one of the things I love about being an illustrator. It never gets boring! Right now I am trying to learn how to make interactive apps which is totally out of my area, but I am excited about the prospect.

© Patti Gay

TFCM: What other artists would you say have either inspired or influenced your own work? I am a big fan of a lot of illustrators. One of my favorites, Tim Bowers was in all of my illustration classes in art school. He was great even then. I also love Mark Buehner and have several of his books in my collection. Other favorites are Mark Teague and Kadir Nelson. I also love Shaun Tan’s extraordinary work. There are so many incredible illustrators out there and these are just a few.

TFCM: How important is experimentation with media in developing one's craft? I think it is crucial to expand beyond your comfort zone. It keeps the work fresh and evolves one as an illustrator.

TFCM: What is your view on the development of an artist's style? I am an illustrator that works in a couple of different styles. I like trying new things and will do several images within a look, but I don’t limit myself to one style. I am painting or learning every chance I get to get into my studio.

© Patti Gay

TFCM: What have you published so far? If you self published, what influenced your decision to self publish? I’ve illustrated a book, Cats, for Golden Books and I have illustrated two books, All about Plants and All about Ponds for the educational publisher Evan and Moore Publishing. I have two ebooks out that I wrote and illustrated, Friends, Amanda and Max and animals MUST BE.

I have a book agent, Ronnie Herman in New York. I decided to go ahead with the ebooks myself after the changes in the publishing market got really difficult for picture books. I belong to a wonderful SCBWI writing critique group, and got the writing tightened up. I then did dummies that my agent has for publishing submissions and started working on finishes for the ebooks. I have them on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

They are also on The illustrated Section Web site. The links for Barnes and Noble are also on my blog. For the Amanda and Max book I created a separate blog with coloring pages and paper dolls kids can download in the characters voices.

© Patti Gay

TFCM: What were some challenges in publishing your work? I think it is more difficult to get a picture book published by traditional publishers right now. Things have been changing quickly. It will be interesting to see how things go. In the mean time I am trying to learn about new ways books are being presented and am taking on those challenges.

TFCM: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can share with us? I am working on a picture book app. I have the story developed and the characters are drawn. I now am delving into the technical aspect of things. It may be a while until the finished product is done, but it will certainly be a learning experience.

TFCM: What encouragement can you give to our illustrators out there who wish to grow as artists in their abilities in digital children's illustration? I think we are in a remarkable field at a remarkable time. My advice is to dive in and learn as much as you can.

Illustration Friday - The Fantastic Music Band!

2011-08-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday - Topic: Influence

Liquid watercolors and gouache - © Alex Colombo

I originally made the graphite sketch for a fun commissioned project

that influenced a whole group of people :)

© Alex Colombo

Illustration Friday - Mr. P Goes Surfing!

2011-08-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday - Topic: Swell

The Adventures of Mr. P

Tascha and Modigliani - A Unique Inspiration

2011-07-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Modigliani - print on canvas

Amadeo Modigliani has always been my favorite Italian artist and has inspired me since I was little. My mother had a beautiful reproduction of one of his paintings in our family room. Last year, I re-discovered his talent through a unique exhibit of his greatest works in Milan. Shortly thereafter, I ran into his most famous paintings in several other exhibits. Modi, his favorite nickname, seemed to be everywhere! I even found a flick called "Modigliani", with Andy Garcia. Great movie and examples of his fantastic art! Finally, I bought a print on canvas of one of his charming portraits.

Tascha is a contemporary artist from Toronto, Canada. Her paintings are very whimsical and vivacious. She also draws inspiration from Modigliani. Here's an exclusive interview with the artist:

© Tascha

1. The Moon from My Attic: your paintings are very unique and whimsical! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your art? Hello! I'm an self representing artist living in downtown Toronto Canada. I have been selling my art online since 2001. I began with eBay, and then when Etsy started up I joined there also. I love meeting other artists and collectors from all over the world. Being self representing, I can have total control over what art I want to make. I create something and put it out there, I don't have any pressures of what an art director or gallery owner might want. I just do whatever I feel like and hope that people can relate to it. Most of my art would be considered too "cutesy" for the regular gallery scene and that is okay with me. I like being free to be myself.

2. TMFMA: The colors in your paintings are so vibrant and fun! What is exciting about your creative work? Color is really important to me. I strongly believe that your mood can be influenced by color. I like making my paintings bright and colorful because they give the impression of a bright sunny day with colorful flowers. A feel-good day. Bright colors also bring you back to your childhood when everything was fun and happy.

3. TMFMA: What's you favorite medium or tool you create with? My favorite medium would have to be acrylic paint. I love the immediate gratification of doing a painting in acrylic and having it be dry and on the wall within an hour.

4. TMFMA: Tell us of a fun and creative project or a collaboration, and what you learned from it. Every year I participate in the "Toronto Square Foot Art Show". The show has hundreds of artists in it, all painting on a one foot by one foot size canvas. The walls of the gallery are covered in paintings in a grid pattern. It is so interesting to see everyone's ideas of how to handle the one foot square canvas.

5. TMFMA: Is there a person or thing that has influenced you in your artistic efforts? What inspires you? My cats in my life have always been of great inspiration to me. I also love all things cute and child like. Bright colored candy and cute toys. I also love Picasso and Modigliani, a lot of my portrait work has been inspired by them.

© Tascha - Valentine's strings of heart

6. TMFMA: What are your future aspirations and goals? I would love to open a gallery shop someday. A shop with all unique gift items and crafts with paintings on the wall. That would be so much fun I think.

You can find Tascha at:

Colors that Suggest Moods and Cheer the Soul!

2011-07-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am republishing a fun and colorful interview with artist Keith Banner, originally published on The Moon from My Attic blog.

Colors are a fascinating subject. Some say they suggest moods. Some like them bright, some don't like them at all.

A few years back I was traveling around Italy and went to Venice amongst other places. While roaming around the city I came across this very colorful (natural) pigments shop – Arcobaleno Pigmenti e Belle Arti, de Nube Massimo, San Marco, Venezia. I felt very inspired just looking through that lively window, so I went into the shop and bought a whole bunch of them :). More recently I came across some very colorful artwork from Keith Banner, which reminded me of that fun adventure, so I invited him for a guest interview with us. Keith "loves bright colors that cheer the soul."

Keith Banner - Artist

1. The Moon from My Attic: Please introduce yourself. I'm Keith Banner, a freelance artist, painter and graphic designer; I have lived in New York City, Nassau Bahamas, Los Angeles, California and am now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

An exhibition at Toronto Dominion Bank launched my career, featuring oil and acrylic paintings. I then went on to work in computer generated art, etchings, sculpture and now I design greeting cards for Kab Designs.

My Caribbean background has been a major influence in the use of color and texture, which for me are two of the most important aesthetic considerations. My style ranges from varied ethnic designs to modern abstract art.

I studied at Otis Parson School of Design, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Pierce College, Los Angeles City College, San Bernardino and Riverside Community College.

I have exhibited for the May Company's Street Gallery (Los Angeles, California), Toronto Dominion Bank (Los Angeles, California), Lucy Florence Art Gallery (Liemert Park, California), The New Mexico State Capitol Rotunda (Santa Fe, New Mexico) and the Albuquerque African American Performing Art Center.

2. TMFMA: Where do you enjoy doing your creative work? In my studio.

3. TMFMA: How did you get started? I originally started oil painting and then went on to acrylics for many years. It was not until the 90's when I became really interested in computer generated art. My work continues to primarily be created by way of the computer.

4. TMFMA: What is exciting about your creative work? I would say my color choices. I love bright colors that cheer the soul.

5. TMFMA: What's you favorite medium or tool you create with? I primarily work with Photoshop and Illustrator.

6. TMFMA: Do you work by yourself or do you also do collaborative work? I work with my partner, Floyd Schock.

7. TMFMA: Tell us of a fun and creative project or a collaboration, and what you learned from it. I have found after many hours spent on a project and feeling you have it all done and it looks good, stepping back and taking a break is always a good thing because most of the time you find that changes are indeed needed. During this time, talking it over with Floyd, we decide what changes could be made if any.

8. TMFMA: Where do you like to look for inspiration? My inspiration comes from a number of sources, people on the street, fashion, fabrics, architect, to name a few.

9. TMFMA: Is there a person or thing that has influenced you in your artistic efforts? I would have to say my mother was a really great inspiration as a kid. She too is an artist.

10. TMFMA: What are the reasons for you to do what you do? I feel that we all have a purpose, a gift, and I believe my gift is the art of being creative.

11. TMFMA: What are your future aspirations and goals? Floyd and I have a greeting card business and continue to build it, along with seeking licensing activities.

Viva All the Artists Around the World!

2011-07-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

I was barely 5 years old when I helped paint a mural at my grandpa's summer house in Brunate, Italy. It was such fun! We spread pots of paints out on a table while my aunt sketched in a scene from a fantasy world with fish and boats and moons and stars on a white-washed wall. Then, we were given free rein to paint and step by step transform the blank slate of a wall into a fun, exciting, fabulous experience.

Many moons have waxed and waned since that pivotal day at the working end of a paint brush. However, that first memory of such intense, creative joy is still as fresh as the paint was on that day. Thus, I'd like to dedicate this blog to all that is creative and to the many interesting tales of artists throughout the world :)

Creating Visual Stories that Make People Happy :)

2011-07-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Note - this article was previously posted on the "Moon Over My Attic" blog, and is republished here as it is definitely appropriate to illustration!

When I first saw Bas' illustrations I felt like smiling... it was a good feeling, so I looked for some more. It's a joy to make and see people smile, even if just a little!

Bas made me even more happy when he agreed to give this very inspirational interview. Enjoy!

Artist Bas Waijers

The Moon from My Attic: Please introduce yourself. My name is Bas Waijers and I’m an illustrator. I wanted to tell stories ever since I saw Fantasia as a 10-year-old kid. I was born and raised in The Netherlands, but seven years ago I moved to New York; that’s where I currently live with my wife and 2 1/2 year old son.

TMFMA: Where do you enjoy doing your creative work? I enjoy working on ideas pretty much anywhere. Inspiration comes from many unexpected places sometimes, so I make sure to always carry around a sketch book and a pen. I love to sketch outside and then produce the actual illustration at my studio. You see my favorite park bench in the picture above!

TMFMA: How did you get started? I remember drawing ever since I remember dreaming! As I kid I was always drawing characters from Disney movies. Then around the age of 12, I started to draw more from my own inspiration. My professional career in illustration began in 1996. I never had a formal education in illustration or character design since those don’t exist in Holland. I’m pretty much self taught and learned mostly by looking at work that inspires me, and by trying to figure out how it was made.

TMFMA: What is exciting about your creative work? I love to create characters and the worlds they live in. But the most exciting, and the hardest thing to do, is to give my work a heart. It’s always a thrill when somebody picks up on it, and that’s the greatest reward I can get! I also love the challenge of coming up with new ideas and being original.

TMFMA: What’s your favorite medium or tool you create with? Every new illustration starts with making sketches. I always draw my sketches with a ballpoint pen. As a technique, it’s very unforgiving because I can’t erase anything. But because it’s so final, it has taught me to sketch quickly and decisively.

When the sketch is done, I produce the final art digitally. At the moment I’m really into working with Flash in combination with a Wacom tablet. I like how flexible the drawing tools are, and how they allow me to work loosely and quickly. I also work with software such as Painter and Photoshop.

TMFMA: Do you work by yourself or do you also do collaborative work? I work on my illustrations by myself. But I’m also illustrating two interactive iPad books, and that’s all team work. It’s a great way to get immediate feedback and to see a entire project come to life. These images are from the upcoming app “The wonderful Colorful House.”

TMFMA: Tell us of a fun and creative project or a collaboration, and what you learned from it. One project that I’m really proud of is a book that I illustrated for my Dad when he got sick. I was able to show it to him two weeks before he passed away. It was my way of telling him how much he had meant to me throughout my life. Months later I was asked to develop it further into an interactive book for the iPad. It’s almost done and has a lot of heart. It touches on the topic of losing a loved one, and does so in a gentle, playful way. My hope is that it can help parents discuss this with their children.

TMFMA: Where do you like to look for inspiration? The great thing about inspiration is that it can come from anywhere, at anytime. It’s in everyday life, the way that people act and interact. I also get heavily inspired by animations, movies, games and music. The trick is to be able to recognize a good idea in the middle of a flurry of not-so-good ones. Brainstorming is a very fast process, and it’s easy to dismiss ideas because you think they may not work for whatever reason. A lot of times though, it turns out that those original thoughts are the ones that are the best.

TMFMA: Is there a person or thing that has influenced you in your artistic efforts? I’ve mostly been inspired by the wonderful animations from Disney, Pixar and Hayao Miyazaki. To me they are the absolute master storytellers. It’s incredible how they transport the viewer into their worlds of imagination.

TMFMA: What are the reasons for you to do what you do? After I saw Fantasia I knew that I wanted to create work that makes people happy, work that can lift somebody’s spirit and that can make them believe in an imaginary world! That is still my most important motivation today.

TMFMA: What are your future aspirations and goals? I hope to tell many more stories that people can enjoy, in whatever form. Make Believe!

Website Apps: baswaijers.com/apps

Website Illustration: baswaijers.com
FaceBook: facebook.com/baswaijers.makebelieve

Children's Art - Illustrations that Express Emotions

2011-07-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Illustrations that express and/or create emotions - I'd love to hear your thoughts about this concept. How does it work?

To continue the editorials on children's illustration, here's a fun interview with Jeehyun Hoke, our featured artist this week, who tells us how she feels about it!

Artist Jeehyun Hoke

The Moon from My Attic: please introduce yourself – My name is Jeehyun Hoke, an illustrator focusing on children's books and book covers. I was born and grew up in Korea; I studied some boring subjects like economics and politics. When I realize that art is the forever exciting thing for me, I came to US to study and went to University of Kansas. I graduated in 2010 and now I am learning the business side of illustration. So, I feel very honored to be interviewed here as a fresh one in the industry.

TMFMA: Where do you enjoy doing your creative work? I am very lazy about going out or moving around, so my home office is where I mostly work. Luckly, my family respect my work space – my 18 months old baby is blocked to come in, and I can be as messy as possible with some toxic materials.

TMFMA: How did you get started? I was a student studying economics and politics in Korea. Having only one semester ahead to graduation in summer 2005, I was pretty lost about what I wanted to do. I did not want to do those boring jobs that I would not have much passion for. In fact, I never understood those graphs in economics books and hardly watched news or read papers, though grades were okay. One day, I went to a book store and wandered around the children's book section, and then I was hit by a realization. The illustrations in the books looked really fascinating, I thought I would be happy by doing them, unlike other jobs. It was the moment. After that, I started looking for schools that had illustration program, made my portfolio to apply, graduated the school and moved to the US in 2006.

TMFMA: What is exciting about your creative work? There are several exciting things. First, I get really excited when I see the emotions that I wanted to deliver expressed in my illustrations. That does not happen all the time, but when I got the result, it is like solving a difficult math problem. The second would be experiment. Experiment is part of my work process, and I take this working time as playing time. The most rewarding and exciting about my creative work is when kids are enjoying my works. I specifically wanted to work for kids friendly image from the beginning of the illustration journey, so, when that happens, I get truly excited and happy.

TMFMA: What's your favorite medium or tool you create with? I love watercolor for practical reasons. The watercolor works are very easy to store and carry around. The watercolor tools are also very handy to carry around for trip and draw and paint outdoors. The drying time is fairly short, so the process goes pretty fast. However, I experiment with other materials, besides watercolor.

TMFMA: Do you work by yourself or do you also do collaborative work? I work by myself, though I wish I could have more chance to do collaborative works.

TMFMA: Tell us of a fun and creative project or a collaboration, and what you learned from it. I have illustrated a children's book called "Eli's Magic Blanket Ride" working with author Bill McCleave. I took this when I had no idea of business, but I got the total freedom of making images. It was really fun story and fun project to work with. I could use a lot of my imagination for many buildings made from ice cream cones, cookies, pound cakes and so on. Finding out how to support the story better and looking for the right character were all fun processes. Through the process, I could understand the children's book illustrator's role better. Also, I learned a lot of business side. At the beginning I did not know anything about business. By doing this, I needed to study contracts, terms, rights and money in this industry. Over all, this project opened my eyes to the actual illustration business. By the way, this book is in the process of being published. Sometime this year, you will see it.

TMFMA: Where do you like to look for inspiration? Bookstores and libraries. They have tons of images by categories of books. I can see the trend and study book designs and recent covers at one sight. Also, when I get to read books and some articles from magazines, those stories inspires me to a new idea.

TMFMA: Is there a person or thing that has influenced you in your artistic efforts? I am inspired many Korean artist like Makitoy, Heena Pack, Sudong Lee. Also, I love Nara Yoshimoto's works.

TMFMA: What are the reasons for you to do what you do? It is all about my happiness. I think my happiness comes from two sources: one is family, and the other is dream. So doing illustration and being an illustrator fills the dream part, which is 50% of my happiness.

TMFMA: What are your future aspirations and goals? For now, my goal is having a settled business with my illustration. For the future, I want to write and illustrate children's books related to travel and information about different countries.

Jeehyun's website, blog and portfolio website.

Featured as cover artist for Pen & Palette 2011 Spring Issue.

Tales for Creative Minds - The Children's Visual Storyteller Series

2011-06-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

The word "Illustration" is rather inspirational. Its origin comes from some late Middle English meaning illumination, spiritual or intellectual enlightenment, from Latin illustratio(n-): illuminate, shed light on.

There are many different types and styles of illustration – you can see some beautiful examples of hand painted and digital images that I published sometime ago through a series of interviews with fantastic illustrators like Bas Waijers, Tascha, and Katriona Chapman. Their stories and work inspired many.

In today's editorial we will cover the first of a series of articles specifically on children's art, from painting to drawings, and much more.

Let's start with a blog about a group of very talented and friendly artists who decided to collaborate and showcase their creative work. It's a very fun and colorful blog called The Visual Storytellers Studio.

It all started about 2 1/2 years ago when artist Jill Bergman was trying to find an online illustration critique group. She couldn’t find one so she posted on the SCBWI boards (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) asking if anyone wanted to start one with her.

About six illustrators formed a group right away. They set up a private blogger site and the group grew. They also wanted to have a public gallery in addition to the critique group. Lisa Michaels, one of the new members offered to build it. She designed the layout of the Visual Storytellers Studio (VSS) and set up the basic way it would work. Her idea was to invite other artists to contribute as well as the core group. That way there would be more variety to the VSS. It all worked out great!

In addition to the main page where you can see a continually updated show of children’s art, there is also a page with interviews of the members. On the interview page you can find out how each artist came to be a children’s illustrator, how they work, and what inspires them. There are also photos of the artists’ studios and lots of artwork. You can also follow the group on facebook or on twitter.

Jill herself is a very creative artist who does fantastic illustrations and linocuts :

"When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be an astronaut or a writer. Instead I became a musician. After I quit the orchestra and sold my oboe I grew into an artist.

I loved printmaking from the beginning of my artistic experiments. My first prints were of little couches I carved out of potatoes - couch potatoes, hahaha!

I quickly moved on to linoleum printing and I’ve been happily stuck there ever since. Linocuts are made by attaching a piece of artist linoleum to a backing block. The picture is carved into the linoleum and then a roller spreads ink over the carving.

Paper laid over the ink is printed by rubbing the back or running it through a press. Once the ink is dry, I paint it with watercolor.

For the last few years I’ve been committed to becoming a children’s book illustrator and author. I love the back and forth of working on a story, sketching the pictures, rewriting the story, refining the art, throwing the whole thing out, and starting again with a much better story. It takes a lot of time! But when someone reads one of my picture book dummies and gets engaged in the story it’s so fun to watch." - Jill Bergman

Jill lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a small town with a really big ski area. Her work has been exhibited in many fine art galleries.

Here's also her blog Art on the Page and her VSS interview!

Stay tuned for more editorials and interviews with visual storytellers from around the globe!