SCBWI Picture Book Workout Workshop Fun!

    Two weeks ago I attended the Northern Ohio SCBWI
Picture Book Workout Workshop with  Laurie Knowlton
and Lindsay Ward.  I came away focused and ready to get
back to the drawing board.  Both Laurie and Lindsay were
very helpful in giving great tips.  After presentations from
both women we worked in stations.  We began analysing
everything about our stories. During this time we could ask
questions.
 
    When Lindsay heard my pitch and saw my illustrations
she suggested that the story be from the perspective of
the animal in the story as opposed to the kids.  I knew she
was right.  That was my original thought but honestly I
chickened out because the animal is pretty tiny and I knew it
would be a tough road to illustrate from that perspective!
It will require more time and research but I know it will
be worth it.

    I have learned so much recently its a bit overwhelming.
Listening/watching videos by various illustrators has given
me valuable information.  Will Terry has some great videos
on youtube and offers some wonderful classes. Here is a
helpful video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWxdLNLKJvk
Peter Brown tells his story and also offers great insite into
the world of children's books here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w2vC-9An0k

    So what can I offer you?  Maybe you need to learn by
making mistakes too, but if you want to read on here are
a few tips...some of them are sort of common sense!

   1. Who are you as an artist?  Concentrate on your strong points.
Write down what makes your style you.  Don't get sidetracked or
discouraged by the work of others!

    2. I ended up wasting a lot of time by illustrating before I had
a solid story.  It's okay to be inspired by an illustration you do,
but if you try to write around it, it's confusing.
Have a great story, then illustrate it.  

    3. RESEARCH.  Know who and what your character is
before you spend time doing a finished illustration.  Even if
an animal is stylized you have to know what it looks like to
get the essence of it!  Know their personality! Write down
emotions and draw your character with those feelings.

    4.  Know everything that is happening in your story.
Time of day, weather, mood, etc. and then create visuals
reflecting those details.

    5.  Plot out every inch of the book with a story board then do
a book dummy.  Start sketchy if you need too, you can fine tune later.

    Here is Lindsay Ward with some sketches for her book When Blue Met Egg
and Laurie Knowlton's  first book Chilly Willy.  Their advice and presentation gave me the
boost I needed!
    Good luck with your work!  See you next time:)
 

Granny Gator's Resolutions

        
          Gertie Gator's New Year's 
                         Resolutions for 2015

        1. Enjoy more swamp juice!
        2. Worry less about what other
           gators are up to.
        3. Soothe animosity among the 
           swamp family
        4. Eat fewer turtles.
        5. Swim more. 
        6. Be more Gertie-like.
        7. Look disappointment in the
           face and bite it.
        8. Carry on...
                                                                  

Doing the Holiday Hustle!

    Here I am and I have a confession to make.  I've abandoned my
illustrations.  Working like mad to get those 5 finished for the
Bologna Book Fair when it hit me the day before Thanksgiving.
If I rush through these illustrations I will screw up and hate them.
I had transferred each one onto watercolor paper and they were
ready to go...but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.   I really want
to wait until I have time to commit.  These will be great for the 
picture book workshop I am taking in late January.
    I'm also busy exploring other things right now...listed a couple
elf dolls and a painting on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RachelBollmanDesign?ref=hdr_shop_menu
    My nieces are asking for American Girl doll PJ's for Christmas.
I know I will be busy with making several gifts and preparing for
Christmas for the next few weeks so I will not be posting regularly
until after the holidays.  I hope you all have a very happy holiday
season.  Here are a few gift tags I did to wish you well.  (My daughter
penciled in the to and from!)

 


I used brown India ink and watercolor for vintage looking tags.
You may have seen the girl illustration before.  Last year I painted 
her with watercolor and outlined with a Sharpie.  Happier with
this look.  These were very fun to do.

(If you want to make some special tags check out your local office

supply store first-less expensive than at art supply companies.)

  Oh and I almost forgot...this sweet paper cat doll.

Miss Kitty Tibbs, on her way to a party.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!

Visions of Lizards

    Took a little break yesterday and went shopping for my birthday.
Bought a pair of butt kickin' boots.  NOW I am ready for winter!
     Had to put my brochure on hold again for another project.  Found
out about a week ago on the SCBWI website that the Bologna Book Fair
is excepting illustrations from members.  The submission guidelines include
five illustrations that are related.  Oh boy.  Maybe is was unrealistic (two
birthdays and Thanksgiving being within my deadline) to try to do this but
I felt like I needed a goal like that to push myself.   Still not sure if I will
make it but working like mad.
     I am using characters from sketches I already had in the works, so at
least I didn't have to start from scratch.
     Here is a rough sketch from the series.

                                                                         









The idea of putting the
lizard in a bonsai came to
me so I sketched this...

    It made more sense in the series to do a close up so I used tracing paper and
transferred my work.  Still not totally happy with this one.  I like the boy's face
better in the other sketch. (My scanner cut off their thoughts, those will be included
in the final work.  Also maybe the scene in the window...and the cute bird.?)

I will show you the final in a couple weeks, sorry I need to work 

next weekend so I won't be posting.  

Take care and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Mischievous Elves Capture Rudolph!

I know it's a bit early for Christmas stuff but this

is that illustration I mentioned (Color Me Merry) doing 

for the  http://www.doodlersanonymous.com

coloring book.  They had over a thousand

submissions and unfortunately mine didn't make

the cut.  No regrets, these elves were really fun to draw!
I used a vintage calligraphy pen and ink.
Stressful, but worth it.
I only spilled a
tiny bit of ink... 

Tried to download as a pdf so my blog readers

could print and color but when I tried to upload it 

gave an error message.  You have my permission to

print the jpg if the quality is okay for your little ones 

(or yourself) to color for fun.

Personal use only please, do not redistribute.

Just registered for a SCBWI picture book workshop! 

Lindsay Ward (writer/illustrator of the 

awesome When Blue Met Egg!) and writer 

Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton (Why Cowboys Sleep 

With Their Boots On) have teamed up

to create a Picture Book Workout Workshop!  

http://bit.ly/1zrqZ7Z

This is just what I need to give me that 

little push!  I have had the honor to meet and 

attend workshops by both Laurie and Lindsay.   

They are both very informative and fun.

I can't wait for this event. 

Very excited to be working on several

projects I can't mention right now.  

Tune in next week for a glimpse!

Arts and Crafts Movement

  Last week's craft show was great.  I didn't make tons of money but met a
lot of nice people and connected with friends I haven't seen in a while.
One customer friend said "I just really like the way you draw."  That made
it all worth while:)
  I shoulda woulda coulda told you in advance I wouldn't have time to post
last week, apologies if you tuned in to see no new post.
  Remember I mentioned I was going to try to do some paintings on wood?
I managed to do two small paintings based on a couple sketches.  These
acrylic paintings were especially fun to paint.

I left a bit of the wood exposed on the

Bright! Elf which I think made it a little 

more interesting.  

The sides of the "canvas" were crying out 

for color so I painted them as well.  

The gold paint is from a tiny bottle of enamel. 

I finished each with a coat of Modge Podge 

avoiding the gold areas-

I found it makes the gold look dull.

     





Be Merry and Bright! 

                                                                                                       Here are a few items in my booth.
If you see any items you would like to purchase
please let me know via email.  I sold a few of these items but I will do custom orders
for your special someone;)

The fun~filled~crazy~world of Rachel B.

Notice the sides of the paintings?

                                                                             Details make a difference.

                                                                  See you next time...

P.S. The Big Bear Chair is a great place to read.

Little Helpers

  Apologies for my late post. Insanely busy weekend for me including
Halloween parties and school fundraising dinner which equals costume
making, chauffeuring kids to parties, cake making, and volunteering.
Now that I can breathe I will take a moment to share a couple sweet
friends who have come to life with quality soft suede-like and vintage fabrics,
fringe, yarn, needle and thread...
  Are you ready for Christmas???  No?  Here's your solution!  A little helper.

Copyright 2014 Rachel Bollman 

Meet Ernie and Eve.
Remember my post/sketch?  Fairy Obsessed was the title, though these are elves.  (If you are interested in purchasing an elf they are a steal at $50.  I have invested eight hours and my precious vintage fabrics... Contact me via email at raradesign@yahoo.com)

This craft show I am doing has served as a distraction from my illustration which was my fear.  Sometimes I think I need that however.  It gives me a chance to step back and look at where I am.  My illustration work is really coming along and I am really happy with how I am progressing.
  I am going to finish the elephant shrew illustrations next week and concentrate on work for the show this week.  I really wanted to do some little paintings on wood, those will most likely be spontaneous and happen naturally.  Tired of over thinking(=overworking) and know it will be liberating to just have some fun with my art this week.
I will let you know how it goes...