How to draw cute while capturing natural realism
So that's Shirley's prompt for the Marks & Splashes Group Critique set for 1 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, December 20. "Please illustrate one of the following prompts using a young animal (or animals) in your narrative piece. Choose one or a combination of these words to convey in your sketch.
Patience Optimism
Warmth Kindness
Gratitude Being Present.
Shirley Ng Benitez has worked as an illustrator and author of children's books for more than five years, and as a graphic designer for American Greetings, Inc. and many other clients in the technology, medical, toy and publishing industries. "I paint traditionally in gouache and watercolor and also create mixed media pieces as well as digitally on the computer.
She's a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Picture Book Artists Association, Pacific Scribes and Friends of Calligraphy.
Shirley is a guest teacher in a new Marks & Splashes online workshop series, Drawing Children for Children's Book Illustrations. Other guest instructors in the six month interactive series are Patrice Barton (January 30), Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Juana Neal-Martinez (April) and children's book literary agent and artist rep Christy Tugeau Ewers (March.)
Registration for Shirley's December 20 workshop covers you for all other workshops in the spring series, the video replays and to the recording of last month's live workshop with licensed artist and online drawing teacher Cindy Wider, How to Draw 'Cute' While Capturing Natural Realism.
You can buy a ticket to participate in just this month's single event with Cindy and Mark ($27) or subscribe for this and future sessions and videos of all past sessions, too ($10 monthly.)
Develop your own totally original young character
Here's her assignment for us in her words: "Design a totally original cute character (either animal (anthropomorphic) or human child) and place that little character in various different positions or scenarios.
"Consider the facial features as well as body proportions and aim for consistency as best you can. Practice various body parts individually and a lot before you bring all of the parts together - so that you feel confident to draw your character and most of all have fun!" she says.
As soon as you register, you'll receive an email with directions on where to upload your submission for Cindy's challenge. (It's OK to fit all the exercises on one sheet) You'll also discover how to participate in this week's interactive live event – and receive permanent access to the video replay.
In addition to being a leading online teacher of classical drawing methods, Cindy is an ambassador for Derwent Cumberland pencil company as well as St Cuthberts Mill paper (both long-standing UK companies.) She has appeared on live national television twice in England demonstrating Derwent colored pencil products.
Cindy's fine art is represented by one of the world's leading commercial art licensing companies, the U.S-based Art Licensing International. Check out Cindy's website.
You can catch her latest video/blog post, a nice lead-in to what she'll be talking about in our November 30 session here where she shows the very first stages of taking just an idea through to the construction sketches on location at the gorgeous Lake Placid in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Come join us Thursday, November 30 for the live workshop with this professional artist and remarkable teacher!
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
Author-illustrator Kelly Light
Karien Naude, illustrator
Marsha Riti, illustrator
Nicole Tugeau, agent and artists' rep, Tugeau2 Children's Illustrators
Annette Simon, author-illustrator
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
Page Street Kids publisher Kristen Nobles
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
Illustrators' agent Melissa Turk of The Artist's Network
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.)