Animator Len Smith wants to see your
character's front-to-back model sheet
You know, those three basic views that give the sense of your story character 'in the round' – and make him or her easier to render throughout your story pages.
It's one of the first questions asked by beginning illustrators ("How do you keep someone looking the same from scene to scene?") And it's one of the first skills that a professional animator must learn.
Next week, animation artist Len Smith will share some of his best 'process tips' gained from a career as an animator, concept artist and licensing artist for Hanna-Barbera (where he started working right after high school), Disney, Disney Publishing, Disney Pixar and Mattel Toys.
Come join us this Tuesday, December 13 at 6 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) for December's Guest Group Critique with someone who learned his skills at the world's top animation studios.
Len was a lead artist for the 'Toon Town' sequence of the once- groundbreaking Disney animated movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. (Disneyland’s Toontown today uses many of his original concepts.)
His work appears prominently in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which won four Emmy Awards.
For Disney TV he developed characters for The Muppet Babies and TailSpin.
He's also illustrated many licensed character children's books, like the Disney book version of its Pixar film, Ratatouille.
And he has a fun assignment for us for our Tuesday session with him:
Draw three views, 'front-to-back' of a character. Your story character) person, child, animal – vegetable or mineral, too if it's your character.
Your character seen from the front, side and back. (Or if you want to get fancy, 3/4 view front, 3/4 view side and 3/4 back, like Len's in the top image above.
It can be a single face or a complete figure. Rough sketch or final art, whatever you can muster up in the time available. We'll tell you where to upload your work and where to be for the live session when you register!
Of course you'll also receive the replay.
(Until Tuesday, have fun with your character scribbling!)
Monthly group critiques are 'perfect practice'
They tell you...
What isn't working
When to push harder
When to just stop
And help you to...
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.
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.
Participate in new live critique sessions with KidLit illustration professionals every month!
Group critiques – in the classroom or around a cafe table with friends – have been training artists for centuries.
Be part of the conversation, starting today!
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 – and take away insights to help you later, when it's just you behind the drawing board making the decisions.
You don't have to go it alone...
With a subscription you can participate in all of our monthly live critique programs and access replays of the sessions we've learned from and enjoyed so far.
Taught by top professionals like these:
Click on the photos to see their websites!
Mira Reisberg, author-illustrator, teacher and founder, Children's Book Academy
Jeff Crosby, author-illustrator
C.S. Jennings, author-illustrator
Giuseppe Castellano, Penguin Random House art director
Jodell Sadler, founder KidLit College and agent
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)
Terry Widener, illustrator
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
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
It's a bit like art school...
But for $8.95 per month.
We'll keep it real by limiting enrollment.
Secure your spot at the table while it's available.
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.)