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Imagine! - a Picture Book Illustration Exhibit

Hello again!  Since my last post I've been in a whirlwind of activity, both professional and personal, but I'm happy to be back, with new posts to come!

There are not many opportunities to see exhibitions of original paintings created to illustrate children's books.  I was particularly honored to be chosen as one of the 22 artists included in the current exhibition at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona (California) with two of my illustrations from Signed, Abiah Rose.  The non-profit gallery and community gathering place organized the event with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

No matter how beautifully paintings are reproduced, nothing can equal the experience of seeing original art.  The dA Center wished to highlight "some of the best examples of how illustrations sharpen perception, stimulate imagination and increase sense of observation for all ages".

Gina Capaldi

 

There was a very enjoyable and well-attended reception on opening night, with an opportunity to meet the illustrators and authors of the featured books and to have books signed.  Some pieces of art were offered for sale.

It was lovely to see so many old friends and make new ones!

Frans Vischer

Mary Ann Fraser

Joe Cepeda

My friend, award-winning illustrator Joe Cepeda, was the honored special guest illustrator.  He spoke of his appreciation of the opportunity to interact with the community and to have a venue to celebrate children's books.





 


The SCBWI OC/IE Gallery Committee (Gina Capaldi, Priscilla Burris, QL Pierce, Francesca Rusackas) and Margaret Aichele, Executive Director of the dA, did a beautiful job organizing the exhibition and the opening event!  

Check out the fabulous window display!  My photos didn't do it justice -- see it for yourself!  The Imagine! exhibition runs through July 18, 2015.

An Intriguing New Graphic Novel about Nicola Tesla

My multi-talented agent, Abigail Samoun, and fellow Red Fox Literary illustrator, Elizabeth Haidle, have an exciting project in the works!Their book, Mind Afire, is about scientist/inventor Nicola Tesla; and should appeal to children's book enthusiasts, graphic novel collectors, science geeks, steampunk fans, librarians, teachers and, of course, kids!  When Abigail and Elizabeth discovered they were both intrigued by the story of this eccentric, turn of the (20th) century genius, they decided his story would be perfect for a graphic novel. I think so too. I love Elizabeth's illustrations and can't wait to read the finished text.

Check out the book's animated trailer, introductory video by the author and illustrator, and sample pages from the book at Kickstarter. Abi and Elizabeth have already reached their initial goal, but are hoping for more pre-sales so they can make it an even more fabulous book!

Mind Afire: The Visions of Nicola Tesla is pre-selling on Kickstarter throughout March!

Inspiration Boards at the Illustrators' Table

I am now a member of Carol Heyer’s fabulous artist-foodie group, which meets once a month. The food and the discussions are always different, always interesting, and always delicious!

On our new group blog, the Illustrator’s Table, I have just posted about my love of artist inspiration boards. I have had boards in the past, covered with whatever took my eye and made me happy. I knew I wanted to be an artist since childhood and started early saving favorite art images from magazines. This was during the heyday of great magazine story illustrators, and my fashion-artist mother, my sisters and I all collected our favorite artists’ work in a large black scrapbook. As a teenager I filled filing cabinets with research ‘scrap’ in my mother’s studio.

Today I still save research material. As I work on a new manuscript I begin collecting items and envisioning the way I will design the dummy. I look for images to inspire setting, clothing and color palette. I fill folders with what I find, each folder marked with the corresponding page in the dummy or with general descriptions such as horses, carts, flowers or jugglers. And the best items go up on the board.

The folders are vital -- but the inspiration boards!  They’re fun and make me happy and excited about my project.  They keep me on target, and are an aid to sustaining the flavor of the story and the emotion I wish to evoke with my illustrations.