May it be warm and bright and exuberantly decorated!
Showing posts with label character. Show all posts
Showing posts with label character. Show all posts
Radio Silence and News
Halloo blog readers,
It's been a hectic few months, and my blog updates have been sorely neglected. Alas, this is going to be a brief one too. Just a quick apology for the long silence and a bit of good news.
I've been doing quite a bit of work on two new dummies, one featuring this little fellow (quick on-the-road sketchbook color study):
And this week, I made my very first appearance in Publisher's Weekly's children's book announcements! I'll have a longer post about this later on. But for now:
It's also worth mentioning that in the absence of my blog posts, I do post updates, sketches, and process images to both Twitter and Instagram.
Find me and say hi:
Instagram: @lisa.anchin
Twitter: @lisaanchin
It's been a hectic few months, and my blog updates have been sorely neglected. Alas, this is going to be a brief one too. Just a quick apology for the long silence and a bit of good news.
I've been doing quite a bit of work on two new dummies, one featuring this little fellow (quick on-the-road sketchbook color study):
And this week, I made my very first appearance in Publisher's Weekly's children's book announcements! I'll have a longer post about this later on. But for now:
It's also worth mentioning that in the absence of my blog posts, I do post updates, sketches, and process images to both Twitter and Instagram.
Find me and say hi:
Instagram: @lisa.anchin
Twitter: @lisaanchin
Nearly-Summer Fun
Wherever you are, dear blog-readers, I hope the weather is as delightful as it is in Brooklyn today. And I hope you're outside enjoying it.
Wedding Whatnots - Invitations!
Halloo folks,
Seeing as tomorrow marks my six monthiversary, I figured it was time for a long overdue wedding post.
Those of you who've been reading the blog for a while know that I got married last October. There were a few sneaky peeks of some of the bits of illustration and art I did before (and for) the wedding, but today you get to see how all of it came together. (Well, almost all of it... stay tuned for a post positively blooming with paper flowers.)
Wedding invitation suite!
We're not very serious people, so our invitations had to be silly and entirely fun.
It was an entirely DIY endeavor. Ez and I printed, assembled, taped, stamped, and hand embossed each piece.
You have a wee sneak peak of some of the flowers here and only one of the wee mini-pins we made. Our amazing photographer, Seth Kaye, did a fun photo featuring the rest of them, though:
The whole project was so much fun. Because we were getting married at the Eric Carle museum, I hid a few little sneaky (kids-book-nerdy) details throughout.
And programs. We had A LOT of people to thank.
Hope you had as much fun looking as I did making them. And stay tuned. Next up, paper flowers!
Seeing as tomorrow marks my six monthiversary, I figured it was time for a long overdue wedding post.
Those of you who've been reading the blog for a while know that I got married last October. There were a few sneaky peeks of some of the bits of illustration and art I did before (and for) the wedding, but today you get to see how all of it came together. (Well, almost all of it... stay tuned for a post positively blooming with paper flowers.)
Wedding invitation suite!
We're not very serious people, so our invitations had to be silly and entirely fun.
It was an entirely DIY endeavor. Ez and I printed, assembled, taped, stamped, and hand embossed each piece.
You have a wee sneak peak of some of the flowers here and only one of the wee mini-pins we made. Our amazing photographer, Seth Kaye, did a fun photo featuring the rest of them, though:
The whole project was so much fun. Because we were getting married at the Eric Carle museum, I hid a few little sneaky (kids-book-nerdy) details throughout.
And the Save the Date postcards. I designed these well before I started work on the invitations. I used them as a guide to inform the entire invitation suite.
And programs. We had A LOT of people to thank.
Hope you had as much fun looking as I did making them. And stay tuned. Next up, paper flowers!
The Difficulty of Defining Goals
This month over on the KidLit blog, we're talking about goals. I've been attempting to write my post for the past week and have deleted more first paragraphs than I would have thought possible. Allow me to explain.
Most folks in the field of children's illustration will tell you that their ultimate end goal is publishing a book. I do want to acknowledge that, yes, of course, I'd love to publish any of my books, but I have a lot of trouble thinking about publication as an actual goal. When you define your goal as publishing, you essentially place your hopes and hard work in the hands of sales departments, "the market", and an industry, which, though it strives daily to create excellent content for children, is still an industry, and by definition, concerned with the production of commercial goods.
I can only speak for myself, but, as an illustrator and writer, my goals are about my craft. I want to learn as much as I can about illustration and storytelling and spend each day experimenting with words, composition, character, color, and line. While I do hope to publish someday, I cannot control what someone else will think about my work. I can, however, strive to tell the best stories I possibly can. It's a subtle distinction, but to me, it seems a very important one.
Fellow kidlit blogger, Jen Betton, and I were talking about this post, and she summed up what I was trying to say rather succinctly. "Publishing isn't your end goal, but rather storytelling is. Publishing is the secondary—important, but secondary—reward to telling an awesome story."
Long term objectives are great; I cannot wait until I can walk into a bookstore and find books by all of my talented illustrator colleagues and friends. However, it is really important to take pleasure in the work itself and in the process of getting there.
Happy New Year!
Hey there, party people,
It was a big, fantastic, fun, filled-to-the-brim sort of year here. It's hard to believe that 2013 is nearing a close. But old years end, and new ones fly in, whizzing and spinning with the unknown. And I will be greeting this one with friends and fizzy drinks and fireworks.
Wishing all of you a bright, sparkling end to the year, and may your 2014 be chockfull of stupendous, extraordinary things!
Character Development
Hey there blog readers,
I've been working on some character designs for a new story. I know I frequently say this, but seriously, this is the best part of the process. Character development is one of the earliest (and most fun!) parts of my process, during which I get to experiment and create the initial visual designs. It's a lot like a kid playing dress up, but instead of costumes, I'm trying different faces and bodies on all of the various characters in the story. I usually have a vague idea about the main character when I start writing, but there are always supporting characters that require hours of quiet doodling.
This first sketch was one of my initial concept designs, but it's followed by a number of new sketches.
Until next time!
I've been working on some character designs for a new story. I know I frequently say this, but seriously, this is the best part of the process. Character development is one of the earliest (and most fun!) parts of my process, during which I get to experiment and create the initial visual designs. It's a lot like a kid playing dress up, but instead of costumes, I'm trying different faces and bodies on all of the various characters in the story. I usually have a vague idea about the main character when I start writing, but there are always supporting characters that require hours of quiet doodling.
This first sketch was one of my initial concept designs, but it's followed by a number of new sketches.
Until next time!
Of Doodles and Sock Monkeys
Hey there blog readers,
I recently had a skype-date with an excellent writer friend (who I met at my first SCBWI conference) who read me one of her manuscripts. It was amazing. I am consistently bowled over by my talented peers. In any case, I couldn't get her story out of my head, and as I was between gigs, my itchy fingers grabbed for a pencil.
I filled up pages of my sketchbook with character doodles and thumbnails.
And without much more prep, I transferred a couple of the sketches onto some good paper and added a wee bit of color.
I recently had a skype-date with an excellent writer friend (who I met at my first SCBWI conference) who read me one of her manuscripts. It was amazing. I am consistently bowled over by my talented peers. In any case, I couldn't get her story out of my head, and as I was between gigs, my itchy fingers grabbed for a pencil.
I filled up pages of my sketchbook with character doodles and thumbnails.
After I had finished, I realized that I had never drawn a sock monkey before. I'm adding a check to the ole bucket list.
It's that time again...
Hey there blog-readers,
It's that time again - SCBWI conference time!
This year, when SCBWI published its winter conference schedule, my jaw dropped. Listed among the scheduled faculty were Shaun Tan, David Ezra Stein, Mo Willems, Barbara McClintock, the Brothers Hilts, Mark Teague, Julie Andrews(!)... I mean, how could I say no? I've traveled across the country for conferences before. I can certainly manage to get myself uptown.
And then again...
And finally, this past week I got around to giving Henrietta her very own pre-conference painting.
And now, I'm off. There's just enough time for a few last minute preparations before tomorrow. Wish me luck!
It's that time again - SCBWI conference time!
This year, when SCBWI published its winter conference schedule, my jaw dropped. Listed among the scheduled faculty were Shaun Tan, David Ezra Stein, Mo Willems, Barbara McClintock, the Brothers Hilts, Mark Teague, Julie Andrews(!)... I mean, how could I say no? I've traveled across the country for conferences before. I can certainly manage to get myself uptown.
I'll be back soon with an update about the conference. In the meantime, however, this seems an appropriate image to leave you with because this character first showed up in my journal at an SCBWI conference...
And then again...
And finally, this past week I got around to giving Henrietta her very own pre-conference painting.
And now, I'm off. There's just enough time for a few last minute preparations before tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Life, Little Fox, and Cookies
Hey there blog readers,
Many thanks to all of the folks who checked in after Sandy. We were lucky; our building and neighborhood were just fine, and our loved ones made it through safe and sound. And for the first time since the storm, I can see lights on in most of the buildings in lower Manhattan. I have a lot to be thankful for this week.
Since getting back to Brooklyn, I've been volunteering at a few different places nearby, trying to help those hit hardest by the storm. It feels good to be useful, but at the same time, it's hard knowing that there are so many other folks out there still in need of even the basest of needs - somewhere warm to sleep, a hot meal, clean water, and a little bit of light.
I needed something to cheer me up, so as usual, I grabbed a pencil and started drawing. This little fox found his way onto my drawing table and made me smile.
Many thanks to all of the folks who checked in after Sandy. We were lucky; our building and neighborhood were just fine, and our loved ones made it through safe and sound. And for the first time since the storm, I can see lights on in most of the buildings in lower Manhattan. I have a lot to be thankful for this week.
Since getting back to Brooklyn, I've been volunteering at a few different places nearby, trying to help those hit hardest by the storm. It feels good to be useful, but at the same time, it's hard knowing that there are so many other folks out there still in need of even the basest of needs - somewhere warm to sleep, a hot meal, clean water, and a little bit of light.
I needed something to cheer me up, so as usual, I grabbed a pencil and started drawing. This little fox found his way onto my drawing table and made me smile.
And later, needing further comfort, I made orange-chocolate biscotti and a cup of tea.
Tease...
Halloo Internet friends,
Every now and then I get busy. I know, I know... everyone gets busy. But when I get busy, I seem to get extraordinarily-crazy-burning-both-candles-free-time?-what-free-time? sort of busy. It's like that old expression, "if you need something done, ask Lisa to do it".
It's true.
And I'm terrible at saying no to people.
In this case, much of the busy is (or has been) for jobs or volunteering or planning very exciting weekends with dear friends. Which is to say, none of it's bad... just plain, old no-time-to-update-the-blog style busy.
So here are some of the greatest hits...
The last weekend in September, I helped organize a Mountain Day weekend and reun-ed with nine of my dear college friends. (We made t-shirts, so I feel like this is a relevant to mention.)
The fourth article (and illustration) in the InsideOut series for the Forward came out last week, and I'm currently working on illustration number five. They're all good, but number four is a particularly excellent read.
I have eight - yes, I said eight - illustrations due for another job next week, and yet I believe I'm volunteering for the election this weekend. (I shouldn't even have to remind you to register to vote, but if you haven't, go do so.) I've also started volunteering for another stellar organization that I mention on here now and again.
I'm working on a project that requires lots of lovely doodley character sketches.
I visited my sister and helped her winter-proof her windows and hang curtains. (Again, project involved, so completely relevant...)
While we were busy hanging curtains, we ran into a couple of friends.
And took just a couple of photos...
And meanwhile, I've been ever-so-slowly working on a new piece just for me... it features this little fellow.
He's pretty cute, not to mention a bit of a tease... there's actually an entire ten-character extravaganza that you're missing out on.
But, alas, I seem to be a wee bit busy. I'm going to need more time before you get to see the rest of that one.
Every now and then I get busy. I know, I know... everyone gets busy. But when I get busy, I seem to get extraordinarily-crazy-burning-both-candles-free-time?-what-free-time? sort of busy. It's like that old expression, "if you need something done, ask Lisa to do it".
It's true.
And I'm terrible at saying no to people.
In this case, much of the busy is (or has been) for jobs or volunteering or planning very exciting weekends with dear friends. Which is to say, none of it's bad... just plain, old no-time-to-update-the-blog style busy.
So here are some of the greatest hits...
The last weekend in September, I helped organize a Mountain Day weekend and reun-ed with nine of my dear college friends. (We made t-shirts, so I feel like this is a relevant to mention.)
The fourth article (and illustration) in the InsideOut series for the Forward came out last week, and I'm currently working on illustration number five. They're all good, but number four is a particularly excellent read.
I have eight - yes, I said eight - illustrations due for another job next week, and yet I believe I'm volunteering for the election this weekend. (I shouldn't even have to remind you to register to vote, but if you haven't, go do so.) I've also started volunteering for another stellar organization that I mention on here now and again.
I'm working on a project that requires lots of lovely doodley character sketches.
I visited my sister and helped her winter-proof her windows and hang curtains. (Again, project involved, so completely relevant...)
While we were busy hanging curtains, we ran into a couple of friends.
And took just a couple of photos...
And meanwhile, I've been ever-so-slowly working on a new piece just for me... it features this little fellow.
But, alas, I seem to be a wee bit busy. I'm going to need more time before you get to see the rest of that one.
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