Two evenings with this art director to make your work better

Loraine Joyner is the former senior art director of the Atlanta, GA. based Peachtree Publishers, which specializes in children's picture books and YA and Middle Grade fiction and nonfiction.

Many of the more than 300 books she has art directed have received awards and critical acclaim, including recently 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Thomas Gonzales, which became a New York Times bestseller.

As the February and March critiques guest instructor, Loraine has a two-part assignment for us. The deadline for submitting Part A of the assignment for the February 25 critique has already passed.

But the deadline for submitting Part B of the assignment (Hans Christian Andersen spot art rough sketch) has been extended to Sunday night, March 20.

Loraine's interactive critique for Part B will stream live beginning at 8 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) on Thursday, March 24.

To re-iterate from the video, Part B is to submit a rough sketch (in any medium) for a piece of spot art that features a character interacting within one of the Hans Christian Andersen tales that Loraine specifies in the video. Because it is spot art, your rough should be of a 'lowercase' small scene (perhaps a transitional moment between two larger story scenes) though it still needs to show an engaged character in some way.

Upload your sketch to the March 24 critique shared folder here.

Of course you are always just welcomed to watch, lurk and learn as we say around here.

You'll also receive reminder e-mails and the replay link after both live critique events.

You're welcome to upload work for Loraine to look at even though you can't make the live event, as long as you meet the stated deadlines.

Links to the February 25 and March 24 shared folders to upload your work to, and the two scheduled live event 'watch pages' are below.

2 Part assignment for February Critique (Click here)
Download a PDF with Loraine's complete two-part assignment 'marching orders' for the February 25 Critique. (Click on the PDF icon.) Remember that Part B critique has been pushed back to March 24 and now has its own separate folder to upload work to.

Our shared folder to upload your assignments to for February 25 (Click here)

Our shared folder to upload your Part B assignment for March 24 (Click here)

Tutorial video explaining how the critiques work and how to upload your submission to the folder (Click here)

February 25 Guest Critique live broadcast set for 8 p.m. U.S. Central Time (Click here)

March 24 Guest Critique live broadcast set for 8 p.m. U.S. Central Time (Click here)

See you Thursday, February 25!

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.