Takeaways from #LA17SCBWI - Part Two

It's Part Two of the LA SCBWI Conference takeaways!  I feel like I could spread this out one day, one sentence--one nugget--at a time because I'm encouraged each time I read my notes :D  But ain't nobody got time for that, right?  That's what bookmarks are for!

The rest of my conference takeaways will be shared in pictures and highlights; a few today and more a bit later. I hope those who were unable to attend will feel a part of what we all experienced.  Although LA was a great adventure, the real magic happens in our regional chapters.  The Carolinas is my home tribe!

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Leuyen Pham is an author/illustrator who has illustrated over 90 books. She successfully works in different illustrative styles from picture books to middle grade and beyond.  The following are highlights from her workshops, One Artist, DIfferent Styles and Creating Middle Grade Art. My personal favorites are in bold.

• If you’re too comfortable doing what you are doing, you’ll stop growing.
  
• When switching styles, you need to convince your editor you can do it. *Keep 3-4 samples of different styles in your portfolio to show you can maintain the look.
  
• Simplify through shapes and silhouettes.  Remember: balance, curve and lines.
  
• Copying from a photo gives your work a lifelessness.
• ALWAYS keep a sketchbook with you!  You don’t have to share it with anyone.
  
• Thought: If you can do it digital, can you do it traditional?
• Try this: Work your illustration as shapes first to check for balance and then add the details.
• Exercise: Draw with pen or marker – no eraser – and keep doing it.  Keep a sketchbook/copies to mark your progress.
• Exercise: Draw from bottom to top. It engages your brain and you will actually look at your subject while you sketch.

The following are highlights from her next workshop, Creating Middle Grade Art

• Illustration references:  Garth Williams – Encyclopedia Brown, Hiliary Knight - Eloise, Ernest Shepard – Winnie the Pooh, Brian Gelznick - Wonderstruck
  
• Chapter book art is more sophisticated and uses more precise interpretations for an older crowd.
• Children look at the connection between text and the illustration.
  
• When choosing what to illustrate, find the precise moment to illustrate. Don’t go for the obvious. Go for the one that is emotional.
  
• Showcase what you are best at doing.
  
• Sometimes you can choose a moment to illustrate that’s not in the story, perhaps a relief moment after the event. Understand the subtle emotions of the moment being illustrated.
• Illustrate Chapter Headers.
• Ask to do double page spreads in the book – it creates a pause for text.

Leuyen was part of the Illustrator Intensive faculty.  She covered character design, including finding the balance in your character movement. She used my illustration sheet of a dancing pig as a good example of balanced movement (and she said she really loved the pigs!).  That absolutely made my day!

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Marvin Terban - Mr. English for Kids and Scholastic's Mr. Grammar

• Humor Sells!
• According to the Kids and Family Reading Report book covers are important, good stories and laughter are what sells.
• Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.
  
• Humor heals
  
• Create characters that get laughs.
• Young children like sounds.
• The top three funny words are underpants, poop and fart!
  

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Notes from the PB Panel: LeuYen Pham, Tammi Sauer, Javaka Steptoe and Raul Colon:

• Add backstory element to the character with research.

• Bring feelings and emotion to your characters.
• Create characters that people care about – ARF: Active, Relatable, Flawed
• Give the character a problem or conflict.  Make it a great big problem.
• Make the mommy promise! I will not interfere with my character’s problem. He will solve it on his own.
• The character must solve the problem.
• Get inspired by other artists.
• Sketch every day to loosen up.
• Work to keep illustrations loose from original sketch to final art.  Start with shapes first and make sure they balance before adding details and line.
• Staring at a blank page? Try getting out of the studio and working at a local coffee shop, etc.
• Read your story out loud.  Print it out.
• Thumbnail sketches – work in shapes first to see if the design works.
• When going to final throw the first “2 or 3 finals” away.  By the time you get to the real final, you’ll have a better feeling for what you’re working on.
• Play music or movie in background to occupy the analytical side of your brain when doing final artwork

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EXERCISE for today: Pick something from the lists above and put it into action.  Perhaps it's remembering to take your sketchbook with you (I love my @BaronFig sketchbooks!). Take time to observe people. Draw them. Be brave...keep it loose and don't use an eraser.

Be an ambassador of good vibes today!

Which tip inspires you?  Share it in the comments below.