Illumination Sunday

There is a pinhole in my thick skull which is finally excepting illumination.  I’ve been so busy working diligently to bring my drawing and digital painting skills into line with what I know I can accomplish, that I have forgotten the light, the spirit, the magic of telling a visual story, naturally.

Particular rays of light emerged in the forms of Marijka Kostiw and Laurent  Linn Sunday,  when the New Jersey Chapter of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators held our annual “Illustrator’s Day”.  Marijka Kostiw of Scholastic Books presented a thoroughly  enjoyable and informative critique session, evaluating the illustration assignment described in earlier posts.   I learned a lot in general, and was pleased in particular, that what was for me, a looser , chancier, more “from the heart” piece  turned out to be the best direction to take with the assignment .  Later in the day, Laurent Linn of  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, very kindly urged me in the same  less calculated more natural direction, while critiquing my portfolio.  Leeza Hernandez, a really fine illustrator, rode the prevailing glow into her workshop seminar, reminding illustrators to rediscover  the very basic elements we instinctively know, but often suppress when concentrating too hard on getting the job done.  Thank you!

It was a good day.  I wasn’t the only illustrator who walked away vowing to reignite the inspiration that led us to illustration for children in the first place. I met some really lovely people who are as interested as I,  in  helping each other to bring our work up to the next level.  I feel encouraged, unbound, and eager to let go….