Interview with new SCBWI Illustration Mentee, Rodolfo Montalvo - by Jen Betton

Rodolfo Montalvo was the recipient of the SCBWI Mentorship Award at the 2013 Summer Conference. Kidlit Artists would like to officially welcome Rodolfo to the blog, and ask him a few questions about the Mentorship experience and about what he is up to these days.

Kidlit Artists: Did the feedback you receive during the mentorship critiques either change or confirm the direction of your illustration? Are there any specific examples you can share?

Rodolfo: The feedback by the mentors did confirm a lot of the ideas I had about my work going into this year's conference. The portfolio I presented this year, much like the ones I presented the two years prior, was composed of a lot of pieces that explored slight variations of my "style." With some pieces I explored colors, with others I tried to limit my pen line, and one piece was just an old drawing that I pulled out to see if I could turn into a successful piece. While I'm always exploring with my work, creating the most cohesive portfolio possible is always my main goal. The mentors really help me figure out what was working and what wasn't. Every place where I was going in the right direction, the mentors really helped make the direction more clear, and every place I explored, whether I was successful or not, the mentors also helped in pointing the way.

Kidlit Artists: What kind of projects are you working on now?

Rodolfo: Currently, I am working on the sequel to "The Contagious Colors of Mumpley Middle School" and on a couple of picture book dummies. It has been really great getting to go back to the "Contagious Colors" world. We are currently working on the cover and should be completing the work pretty soon. But we still have all the interior illustrations to get to, which I'm really looking forward to. One of the dummies that I'm working on is based on the illustration with the boy with the paper airplanes, his name is Vincent, and I'm co-writing that project with my wife René. The other dummy is a new idea I've been playing with about a boy in a mountain. This project is very early in the development stage and right now I'm just having fun with the words and the drawings.

Kidlit Artists: Is there any type of illustration (or other work) that you're hoping for in the near future?

Rodolfo: I would love to get to write and illustrate my own graphic novel. Actually, the first project I tried writing was a graphic novel. When René and I were dating I asked her if she wanted to write the project with me. We worked on it for a while but I think it was probably too big of a project to start off on. So we eventually moved into picture books. That same graphic novel project is one that I really want to go back to and give it another go. There is a short list of stories for graphic novels that I really want to work my way through.

I still haven't done a picture book either, so I'm really hoping I get to do one sometime in the near future. 

Kidlit Artists: Is there one really helpful piece of advice that you've gotten since pursuing illustration? Any one piece of horrible advice?

Rodolfo: I don't know if it was a piece of advice that I might have heard or just something that just stuck with me, but patience and persistence have always been very important in my path to becoming an illustrator. Whatever small victories, or goals that I've met, they have never been accomplished over night.  Everything that I have as an illustrator is owed to countless hours working on my craft, staying focused on my goals, and going for it, over and over again. 

Kidlit Artists: Last, please tell us where we can find you online.

Rodolfo: You can contact me here:
info@rodolfomontalvo.com   
www.rodolfomontalvo.com
https://www.facebook.com/rodolfomontalvo.illustrationworks

Kidlit Artists: Thank you Rodolfo!

Interview with new SCBWI Illustration Mentee, Linda Dorn - by Jen Betton

Linda Dorn was the recipient of the SCBWI Mentorship Award at the 2013 Summer Conference. Kidlit Artists would like to officially welcome Linda to the blog, and ask her a few questions about the Mentorship experience and about what she is up to these days.

Kidlit Artists: Did the feedback you received during the mentorship critiques either change or confirm the direction of your illustration? Are there any specific examples you can share? 

Linda: I really needed these masters to point me down the right path. 

Focus my style.

I had been working in a vacuum in Hawaii, literally, and without feedback. I was playing with different styles. Drawing had always been my strength but I had started playing with design (eg. the mermaid). I admire the mid-century artists like Saul Bass, and the current trend seemed to lean in this direction. However it was a relief to hear the mentors say stick with the drawing, let your line work show (eg. girl with cat gestures). It always seems to come back to “do what you love, and the doors will open”

Kidlit Artists: What kind of projects are you working on now?

Linda: I am developing a story based on my drawing of a little girl and a tiger. It was an image that attracted a lot of attention at the conference. A good friend was clever to remind me I often refer to myself as a tiger when I talk about the strength that gets me through tough times. Rawrr.

Kidlit Artists: Is there anything, looking ahead, that you're excited to be working on?

Linda: Well, I am looking forward to working on my first book, that would be lovely. I am particularly excited to work with good people in the publishing business, people I can learn from. This mentor program is heaven.

Kidlit Artists: Is there any type of illustration (or other work) that you're hoping for in the near future? 

Linda: Picture books, YA, magazines, I am just excited about illustrating.

Now that I think about it, I should put together a separate portfolio promoting my life drawings as illustrations. I feel I have developed a freshness, emotion, and story in my life drawings that is rare. I life-draw a lot, it’s my bliss. Maybe someday I will meet a sassy agent that sees their potential. 

Kidlit Artists: Is there one really helpful piece of advice that you've gotten since pursuing illustration? Any one piece of horrible advice?

Linda: Give it heart. This is something that I have heard at the conferences from many different people in many different ways. It is something I focus on when working, and has elevated my work. I think my animation industry work was about being slick and dramatic. I find when I really get into the character’s shoes, in the moment, be honest, something magical happens. You don't fall in love with a picture, you fall in love with a character that feels like a friend, and/or a world that feels like the home you would like to have. I think it was everything to me as a child to find a book that made me feel understood. I clearly remember that comforting thrill of a good book. This is what drives me.

Kidlit Artists: Last, please tell us where we can find you online.

Linda: Website: www.lindadorn.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/linda.dorn.hi

My blog: http://acmlinda.blogspot.com/

Kidlit Artists: Thank you Linda!

Interview with new SCBWI Illustration Mentee, Brooke Boynton Hughes - by Jen Betton

Brooke Boynton Hughes was the recipient of the SCBWI Mentorship Award at the 2013 Summer Conference. Kidlit Artists would like to officially welcome Brooke to the blog, and ask her a few questions about the Mentorship experience and about what she is up to these days.

Kidlit Artists: Getting such specific and direct feedback on your work, did you find the experience enlightening? Affirming? Confusing? Conflicting? Why?

Brooke: I found the feedback I received to be both enlightening and affirming.  All of the mentors zeroed in on two main weaknesses in my work, which made it very clear what I need to focus on moving forward.

Each of the mentors talked about my timidity with shadows and the need to improve my use of both light and shadow to ground my characters in their settings.  Everyone also talked about my character's faces being generic and interchangeable.  One mentor noted that if you removed the hair from my characters, many of them would more or less look the same, which I thought was a really helpful point.  Since the conference, I've been working on drawing more unique and interesting faces.

I also came away from the critiques knowing that I need to do more life drawing.  In grad school I spent two years drawing the figure from life, but somehow, once I was finished with school I fell out of the habit of life drawing.  I'm excited to start drawing from observation again.

One mentor remembered my work from last year's conference and noticed that I've been working on painting more loosely and that this has improved my work.

Kidlit Artists: What kind of projects are you working on now?

Brooke: Right now I'm working on my first two books, a middle grade book for Disney/Hyperion, called "Cupcake Cousins", written by Kate Hannigan and a picture book for Beach Lane Books, called "Baby Love", which is written by Angela DiTerlizzi.  Working on my first books has been really exciting!  Next year I'll be doing a picture book for Random House, written by Linda Ashman, called "MORE!".  The manuscript for this story is really lively and fun and I can't wait to get started. 

I'm also working on revisions to a picture book dummy, as well as working on manuscripts for two different picture book ideas.

Kidlit Artists: Is there one really helpful piece of advice that you've gotten since pursuing illustration? Any one piece of horrible advice?

Brooke: Several years ago at the SCBWI L.A. Summer Conference I received a portfolio critique from Marla Frazee.  This was the first time that I had my portfolio reviewed by a professional illustrator and Marla's advice was extraordinarily helpful.  The main thing that stuck with me was that she told my to keep going.  She said that I was on the right track and that I just needed to keep pushing ahead.  That piece of advice came at a time when I really needed to hear it and I feel so grateful to have had such a thoughtful and encouraging critique of my work.

Kidlit Artists: Last, please tell us where we can find you online.

Brooke: You can find me online at www.BrookeBoyntonHughes.com, where there is a link to my blog.  You can also find me on twitter, @BrookeBHughes.   

Kidlit Artists: Thank you Brooke!

Interview with new SCBWI Illustration Mentee, Andy Musser - by Jen Betton

Andy Musser was the recipient of the SCBWI Mentorship Award at the 2013 Summer Conference. Kidlit Artists would like to officially welcome Andy to the blog, and ask him a few questions about the Mentorship experience and about what he is up to these days.

Kidlit Artists: Did the feedback you receive during the mentorship critiques either change or confirm the direction of your illustration? Are there any specific examples you can share?

Andy: I definitely feel the feedback confirmed my direction. While opinions varied on my technical and design choices, I felt that everyone appreciated my unique voice and really encouraged me to continue developing my style. One mentor said something along the lines of: “You need to figure out the language of your quirky,” which I was happy to hear. It's exciting that they could see my “quirky,” regardless of style, and that my challenge is to continue exploring how to communicate it. Since the conference, I've scheduled a hour of “playtime” every night, to cut loose and try new ideas and techniques. The mentors also reminded me of the importance of informing my illustration with real world experience and research. So I've started regular plein air drawing and painting expeditions too, which have the added bonus of getting me out of the studio.

The mentors' advice covered many topics, from process, character, and expression as well as how to improve the physical presentation of my portfolio. Many of my illustrations were horizontally oriented, but my portfolio was vertical. They showed me how by placing double-page spreads side-by-side, I could use the format to display my handling of the gutter and page turns.

I included a dummy book in my portfolio, and there were many helpful comments on how to improve the pacing and flow. One mentor encouraged me to approach my layouts like a conductor, and use the full range of my orchestra to add variation and subtly. Since the critique, I've started a major overhaul of the story, and the mentors' advice has been incredibly useful.

Kidlit Artists: Getting such specific and direct feedback on your work, did you find the experience enlightening? Affirming? Confusing? Conflicting? Why?

Andy: Affirming and enlightening for sure. It was affirming to know that my work resonated with industry professionals who see potential in what I'm doing. Enlightening because the mentors were able to pinpoint issues in my illustrations and talk with clarity about how to improve them. If I had to pick a word to describe the experience, I'd say motivating. It's been great to return to my studio with a renewed since of direction, along with all the excitement and inspiration from the conference.

Kidlit Artists: What kind of projects are you working on now?

Andy: I'm writing and illustrating a story about a boy who meets mischievous night visitors in his garden. My agent, Brianne Johnson, has been a great sounding board and I'm excited with how the story is coming together. I also have an exhibition of paintings of musicians opening in September at the Kirkland Performance Center, here in Kirkland, Washington where I live.

Kidlit Artists: Is there any type of illustration (or other work) that you're hoping for in the near future?

Andy: There are so many types of illustration I'm excited about right now. Picture books top my list, and I'd love to try my hand at a range of children's genres and formats: a wordless picture book, a picture book of short stories or poetry, as well as illustrating something for the middle grade audience.

Kidlit Artists: Is there one really helpful piece of advice that you've gotten since pursuing illustration? Any one piece of horrible advice?

Andy: At the SCBWI Winter conference this year, Shaun Tan said something along the lines of “Don't be afraid and stay interested.” I have that quote tacked on an inspiration board in my studio, it's a great reminder when I get bogged down. I'm not sure I've gotten any horrible advice, but I will say that I've learned to be more confident about trusting my intuition after hearing other people's opinions. I think it's crucial to listen and learn from my audience and peers. But I always try to remember to take risks, be surprising, and listen to my own “quirky.”

Kidlit Artists: Last, please tell us where we can find you online.

Andy: Please visit me at: www.andymusser.com, my site has links to my blog and social media too.

Kidlit Artists: Thank you Andy!

Interview with new SCBWI Illustration Mentee, Corinna Luyken - by Jen Betton

Corinna Luyken was the recipient of the SCBWI Mentorship Award at the 2013 Summer Conference. Kidlit Artists would like to officially welcome Corinna to the blog, and ask her a few questions about the Mentorship experience and about what she is up to these days.

Kidlit Artists: Did the feedback you receive during the mentorship critiques either change or confirm the direction of your illustration? Are there any specific examples you can share?

Corinna: The feedback I received during the mentorship critique was beyond helpful.  Mostly, it matched up with my own feelings about the strengths and weaknesses of my portfolio.  Though the mentor's disagreed on which specific pieces were their favorites (which gave me a nice sense of freedom to follow my own vision) they agreed on the overall strengths (line work, color palate, composition) and weaknesses (too much of one emotional quality, too many solitary figures (yes, my daughter is a quiet introspective girl who often plays by herself!)  lazy hands, arms that are too long for a toddler) of my portfolio as a whole.  I came away with a very strong sense of what I need to do next: show characters interacting more, show a larger range of emotions, create an entire sentence instead of solitary words, and keep working on my life-drawing skills!  

Kidlit Artists: Getting such specific and direct feedback on your work, did you find the experience enlightening? Affirming? Confusing? Conflicting? Why?

Corinna: I found the experience of getting such specific and direct feedback on my work from five different professionals in the field to be enlightening, inspiring, and also a tremendous relief.  After having worked alone for so long (I've been plugging away at this for 10+ years) it was amazing to get feedback from folks that have made such a tremendous and varied contribution to children's books.  

Kidlit Artists: What kind of projects are you working on now?

Corinna: I am currently working on the dummy for a new book idea, about a young girl's first experience digging for razor clams, at night, with her family.  I am hoping to have the dummy and a handful of finished pieces ready by February for the SCBWI winter conference in NYC. 

Kidlit Artists: Is there one really helpful piece of advice that you've gotten since pursuing illustration? Any one piece of horrible advice?

Corinna: I think the most helpful advice I've heard recently was at an SCBWI conference and is a quote by Chuck Close:

“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work.  All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you're sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that's almost never the case.”  -Chuck Close

Kidlit Artists: Last, please tell us where we can find you online.

Corinna: You can see more of my work at:

http://www.corinnaluyken.com      

and

http://corinnaluyken.blogspot.com/

Kidlit Artists: Thank you Corinna!