For the next critique hangout, art rep Melissa Turk wants to see some emotion-driven character sketches from you!
July is "great visual character month" with longtime children's publishing art rep Melissa Turk guest instructing at 1 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) Monday, July 17.
Melissa, who owns The Artist Network writes, "One of the most challenging skills for a children’s book illustrator is visually representing their main character or characters, multiple times and still representing them clearly as the same character."
Which brings us to her assignment for the group, for the live July 17 critique.
Ready?
"Choose 1 to 2 characters and illustrate them in different situations, expressing different emotions," Melissa writes. "These characters can be human, animal or anthropomorphic animal. They do not need to be fully visualized scenes, but enough to see that the character is happy, mad, scared etc. and doing different activities. Pay attention to their entire face and body form, not just the clothing they are wearing."
This will be a bit of a challenge. "Harder than you think," she suggests.
Got it?
You can opt for just this month's single Group Critique session with Melissa Turk (replay included) or subscribe for access to this and replays of all past months' sessions.
Ready to try it with feeling?
The Artists Network represents a broad range of illustrators and illustration – from chapter and picture books and covers to museum and aquarium murals and calligraphy, subjects from anthropomorphic animals to realistic wildlife scenes, nature and science to historical.
In addition to discussing a number of the group's uploaded pieces, Melissa will share her insights into the current kid lit art marketplace, offer valuable tips for freelance illustrators and take your questions.
Don't miss Monday's rich, interactive session! (But if you must miss, we've got your back with the replay!)
Monthly group critiques are 'perfect practice'
They tell you...
What isn't working
When to push harder
When to just stop
And help you...
Get a fresh perspective
Our guest critiquers – illustrators, author-illustrators, children’s literary agents, art directors, maybe an editor or two – examine your final in a spirit of teaching and mentoring.
Think more like a pro
Watch up close and personal how full-time creatives evaluate and troubleshoot their own and others’ pieces.
Prepare for... that thing
That upcoming kidlit (or illustrators’) conference, important promotional mailing, post or sit-down with a client or a prospect.
And nudge you to...
Sharpen your discernment powers
Remind you of those bedrock principles of draftsmanship, design and communication. (Funny how they keep bringing you back to those.)
Meet your tribe
Your colleagues and the expert practioners. Who share their What I Wish I Knew Then stories and become your contacts in ‘the biz.’ (It’s called networking.)
Get better at... getting better
Practice with critiques helps you understand the hierarchy of feedback and how to navigate it wisely – knowing what’s valid for you now, vs. what to set aside for later.
Precious moments. Practical stuff. Group critiques – in the classroom or around a cafe table with friends – have been training artists for centuries. Be part of a time-tested tradition, updated for the 21st century.
Join us around the table in new, live, online group sessions every month – and enjoy watching replays of past sessions at your leisure.
Improvement comes from consistent focus
Sometimes it will be your work being discussed. More often than not, it will be someone else's.
You'll benefit by being there. Watch and listen. Absorb the insights to help you later, when it's just you behind the drawing board making all those essential design decisions.
You don't have to go it alone...
Participate in all of our monthly live programs. Access replays of all past sessions...
Like the ones we've enjoyed and learned so much from last year, taught by these wonderful children's publishing professionals:
Mira Reisberg, author-illustrator, teacher and founder, Children's Book Academy
Jeff Crosby, author-illustrator
C.S. Jennings, author-illustrator
Giuseppe Castellano, senior art director, Penguin Random House
Jodell Sadler, founder KidLit College and agent
Len Smith, animation character designer
Abigail Samoun, children's book agent, co-founder of Red Fox Literary
Karien Naude, illustrator
Marsha Riti, illustrator
Nicole Tugeau, agent and artists' rep, Tugeau2 Children's Illustrators
Annette Simon, author-illustrator
Renowned author-illustrator Robert Quackenbush Halloween Critique Bash (explains the scariness)
Terry Widener, illustrator
Jill Corcoran, founder of Jill Corcoran Literary Agency
Just us, with Mark and Chris, illustration art by Chris Perry
Chris Schechner, designer, illustrator and art director for 20+ years for "Pockets" magazine
Christy Stallop, illustrator
Award-winning storyboard artist and children's illustrator Larry Day
Mark Mitchell, author-illustrator and moderator
Wendy Martin, author-illustrator and teacher
Kelly Sonnack, senior agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Picture book series author-illustrator Janee Trasler
Mira Reisberg, Round 2, illustration by Lisa Goldberg
Loraine Joyner, senior art director for 23 years with Peachtree Publishers
Nick Balian, illustrator animator, art manager for digital publisher ustyme Books
Denise Fleming, award-winning author-illustrator
Mary Sullivan, award-winning author-illustrator
Catch up critique - Illustration by Kathryn Powers
Mira follow-up critique, illustration by John Wanczyk
A bit of art school...
For $10 per month.
Video thumbnail illustration by Mariama Ross.
We'll keep it real by limiting enrollment...
Secure your spot at the table while you can.
30 Day Money Back Guarantee!
Try out the subscription. You can easily cancel at any time. If you find your first experience of a session not helpful or just not your cup of tea, write me (c/o the How To Be A Children’s Book Illustrator blog) and I’ll refund you same day, no questions asked and no worries (and we’re still friends.)