Blog Archives | Page 3 of 5

SACRED Art Show… with Erin O’Shea!

Posted on November 10, 2012

Today I have the pleasure of sharing the work of the artist whose idea it was to do a SACRED Art Show in the first place! Erin O’Shea suggested we do a show and she introduced me to most of the wonderful artists whose work I’ve shared on my blog.

And here is the haunting piece she created:

Elana: Wow. Tell me how you came up with your vision for this piece.

Erin: I was really drawn to Scarlett’s relationship with her mother, or her initial persistence in wanting connection. Her mother’s way of dealing with tragedy is what sets the stage for Scarlett’s experience. I really wanted to show that Scarlett feels like she’s just part of the scenery. Scarlett’s form of self-destructive grief is overpowered by her mother’s drug addiction, which permeates their home. I wanted to capture the last time she stepped toward her mother and because her mother continued to choose pills, their home was full of her absence. I also wanted the pills to look enticing, because to someone facing tragedy, escape in any form is tempting.

Elana: I know that you work in many mediums. Can you tell me about some of your favorites?

Erin: I love relief printmaking which is what my current portfolio is full of, but I also love watercolor and am trying to find my visual language in this medium.

Elana: What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being an artist?

Erin: Making the time to grow is the biggest challenge for me. I could continue making work like the work I’ve already done, but there are other styles I have yet to birth and want to explore, but this takes extra time. Not just time to work, but time to play with my art. Which is difficult with multiple jobs and children and that feeling of guilt when you spend time “playing.” It can be very counterproductive to feel like every minute should be spent being “productive.” Honestly, the space between my ears is my biggest challenge!

Elana: Who and what inspire you?

Erin: My soul is inspired by time spent in nature, I feel like anything is possible when I’ve had quality nature time. So it’s a priority for me to spend time floating, climbing, digging and hiking. Artists that inspire me right now are Jen Corace, Nikki McClure,Yuko Shimizu and Tomer Hanuka. The palette for this piece was directly inspired by Tomer. They all have distinctly different styles and create incredibly beautiful work. Music is also a big part of my creative experience, and I love having the right type of music to support my studio time.

Artists who inspire Erin

Elana: What is a typical workday like for you?

Erin: Well, my three kids take classes two days a week and are home/unschooled the rest of the time. I also teach at a local college and the high school of the arts, so finding time to do my work is a challenge. I fit in as much as I can in my studio on the days they’re in school and I stay up late to work when the house is quiet. But Sunday is my holy day, as it’s the only full day I have set aside for illustration. A perfect Sunday is breakfast with the Fam, then cycle to my studio and come back whenever I feel like it!

Erin’s workspace

Elana: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

Erin: I’m working on a wordless picture book with Joel Harper that I’m very excited about. He has published an environmental children’s book about ocean pollution, and we are now working on a story that encourages children to not only clean up their beach, but to make art with the trash they’ve found. I’m also a part of a fiber arts collaborative that knits and crochets large installations, so I always have something on my needles. I’m currently knitting large white “gauze” bandages for trees whose limbs have been violently removed. That project it titled “Amputrees” or “Arborgeddon” Not sure yet.

Elana: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

Erin: I’d like to know the answer to that too!!! I try to say “yes” to every opportunity that presents itself, as well as seek out locations for shows, participate in contests and attend publishing/illustration events. For some it’s a quick thing to be a success in this field, but I’m going at the pace my family can handle. I’m usually fairly unsatisfied with how little time I have to make stuff I love, but I think that’s part of being creative and always wanting to discover that next idea/project. Being an active member of an artistic community is also very important and helps to keep me motivated, engaged and always learning.

Elana: Do you have a web presence?

Erin: Yes indeed, I do: www.erinoshea.com.

Elana: If you could meet any character in SACRED, who would it be and why?

Erin: I would love to make and share a meal with Will’s dad Martin. He was such a solid presence and I really enjoyed his whole character. I think I want to adopt him!

Here’s a photo of Erin’s piece in progress:

And once more, here’s the final piece. Thank you so much, Erin!

SACRED Art Show! With Christina Forshay!

Posted on November 9, 2012

Lots of SACRED is dark and emotional… a good clue to its tone is that two Sylvia Plath quotes open the book! But there are light, funny parts too, and Christina Forshay has focused on one for her fabulous piece. Here it is:

E: I love how lighthearted and fun this picture is! Can you tell me why you chose this scene?

C: This scene really grabbed my attention because of its fun qualities. I always think I want to do a dark or serious painting, but my subconscious always seems to want to create the more lighthearted imagery first.

Here are a couple of those lighthearted images:

C: Plus, this scene also totally reminds me of something my friends and I totally would have done in high school.

E: Really? Tell me about something crazy you did in high school!

C: In this scene, Lily is enjoying playing “secret agent” and hoping to not be spotted by anyone who might recognize her and Scarlett. Well, one evening, my friends and I decided we were going to go “incognito” to a fancy restaurant in Laguna Beach. BUT, to “up” the excitement, we created fake fancy names for ourselves and pretended like we were rich, fancy ladies with European accents sipping tea. It was pretty ridiculous, but a great memory nonetheless. I think my name was Mercedes for the night!

E: How fabulous! I would have loved to have joined in. Were you always an artist? Do you remember any one moment when you decided you had to create art?

C: I’ve always craved art. Since before kindergarten, one of my favorite things to do was open a brand new box of crayons. Nothing better than that “new crayon smell”! I was always coloring, or making clay creations with my dad, or drawing. From about elementary school to high school I thought I wanted to be an architect. But I realized at some point that architecture was too structured for me. Then, I dabbled in graphic design which was “ok”, but still too structured. And finally, after a couple of years spent thinking that I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I finally listened to my heart and made the decision to major in illustration. So, some form of creativity has always been at my core.

E: Who and what inspire you?

C: I’m inspired by a lot of things: my kids, the morning sun glowing through my kitchen window, and even something as silly as watching that really big guy ride his really tiny bike down the street. And music. Music is always an inspiration for new ideas and almost always acts as motivation while I’m painting. For example, I listened to a lot of Edith Piaf while painting this piece. It just felt like it made the perfect soundtrack for this scene.

E: What is a typical workday like for you?

C: Well, given my family dynamics I don’t have any kind of typical workday. It’s usually just whenever I can squeeze in a bit of time here and there. I’ve got a son who just started kindergarten, a two year old, and a firefighter husband with a very crazy schedule. If I’ve got a deadline, my most productive time would be after everyone else is sleeping at night, which makes for some really late nights! I’m always trying new ways to find time to work during the day, but so far night works best.

Christina’s workspace

E: Do you have a favorite type of art to create?

C: Fun, bright and colorful art naturally pours out of me. Cartoons were a HUGE influence on my creativity growing up and I think my art reflects that. I like to create visual worlds where I think, “I want to jump into this painting and live there!”

E: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

C: I’ve got a picture book I illustrated coming out in Spring of 2013 called “Goodnight Baseball” through Capstone Young Readers. I also recently finished up some designing wine labels for a good friend who has her own vineyard. The past year was so crazy with illustration deadlines, that I’m currently taking some time to explore my style and get back into painting with actual brushes versus digital brushes.

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

C: It is important to be brave and courageous. Put your work out there! You can’t go anywhere in the art world if you are too filled with fear to show your work. We all have self-doubts, but we shouldn’t be paralyzed by fear of rejection.

E: I agree completely. Also, do you have a web presence?

C: I do! My website and blog are at www.christinaforshay.com.

E: Do you have a favorite character in SACRED?

C: Oooh, that’s a hard one! I like all the characters for different reasons, but my favorite has to be Lily. She is super confident and comfortable in her own skin. I wish I had those qualities when I was her age. Heck, I could probably use more of both of those attributes now!

Me too. Once again, here’s Christina’s wonderful piece:

SACRED Art Show… with Annie Ruygt!

Posted on November 6, 2012

Today’s beautiful piece comes from Annie Ruygt. Behold the fall beauty of her vision:

E: Looking at your Scarlett is like looking into my own imagination. Can you tell me about how you came to create this piece?

A: The moment when Will and Scarlett first meet is quite beautiful and it felt like time stopped around me when I was reading that chapter. I knew I had to illustrate it! I imagined soft colors and whirling leaves. I felt like watercolor would suit the moment just fine.

E: I’ve looked at several of your pieces, and many of them seem to share a certain sensibility, a kind of simple, quiet… something. How would you define your aesthetic?

A: I like to think my art reflects a little magic, solitude, and reflection in each piece. I love the feeling when you understand the whole world as you look up at the stars. I try and add a dash of that into the illustration.

E: Who and what inspires you?

A: I’ve been goo goo about quotes and poetry lately. I love Mary Oliver, Mark Twain, and Maya Angelou.

E: What is a typical work day like for you?

A: I teach art classes 3-4 days a week, but I work on art in the mornings at my little white desk, sketching, painting, or just playing around. I’m currently working on a couple children’s book ideas. I’ll sketch, do some research, facebook, then sketch again.

E: Do you have a favorite type of art to create?

A: There’s nothing more fulfilling than whipping something up completely on a whim. That’s my favorite kind; the kind where it’s truly inspired and as soon as the idea hits, I have to do it.

E: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

A: I’m doing all the posters and website graphics for my band, Good Girls and Smokers. It’s been fun branding the band and designing merchandise. Besides that I have my two children’s books that have become back burner regulars but I still love taking them out and working on them. I have a hard time rushing the children’s books I work on… they mean too much to me.

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

A: I would only say– if you love it, then make it a part of your life, have fun, and opportunities will surface for you.

E: Do you have a web presence?

A: I do! I have a website, blog, Facebook page, pinterest board, and you can find me on a few other business sites.

E: Do you have a favorite moment in SACRED?

A: By far my favorite moment is the one I illustrated. It was mysterious and electric! I’m still reading SACRED, so I’m sure several moments will top that one soon, but until then, it’s a lovely scene and it has left me wanting and wondering!

And here’s Annie’s SACRED piece once more. Thank you, Annie!

SACRED Art Show… Julia Collard!

Posted on November 5, 2012

One of my favorite things about publishing SACRED is meeting so many cool people along the way. Julia Collard is one of those cool people. And here is her SACRED piece:

E: I love the lighting in this picture, and the gazebo! What drew you to illustrating a night scene?

J: I’m so glad you like it! This illustration is pretty different from what I usually do (think dancing elephants etc.), so I was a little nervous.

This scene was one that stood out to me after reading SACRED, an it had the advantage of being not too far along in the book. There’s another gazebo scene later that could have had more action in it, but I didn’t want to give anything away. Besides, I’ve never illustrated anything overtly romantic before, so it was certainly a challenge for myself. Same goes for the fact that it’s a night scene. I was drawn to the challenge of representing two different light sources within the image: the moon and the Christmas lights on the gazebo.

E: What was your process when creating this piece?

J: 1) take detailed notes from the book

2) thumbnail sketching

3) loose line drawing. Using an unsharpened pencil always forces me to stay general.

4) scan into computer at 500 dpi

5) tighten and clean up line drawing in Photoshop

6) add layers of texture and color

7) wonder if you stuck to the notes (I think Will was supposed to be wearing brown??)

E: You seem to travel pretty regularly. How does your travel affect your art?

J: Very true, I’ve got a bad case of wanderlust – that’s one of the reasons I call my art studio Nomadic Concepts. I’ve been to all seven continents, and I take my sketchbook and journal wherever I go. When I first started traveling, I made a point of trying to mimic the art style of a particular area (for example, practicing aboriginal designs when I was in Australia), but as time has gone on, I find that the time it takes to teach myself a new art making style takes away from the time I have to spend in the particular place. Also, I used to travel for months and months at a time, which made that sort of thing more practical. Now, with my husband’s “real job,” we can only escape for a few weeks at a time, so I want to see and do as much as possible outside.

Julia at work

E: Who and what inspires you?

J: Art art art! Illustrators: Quentin Blake – my goodness, his freedom with the line. So envious.

Fine artists: Klimt, bar none, as cheesy as some people think it is. One of the portraits from his gold period came to LACMA a few years ago, and I was just blown away by how different it was in person. The Klimt Museum in Austria is still, surprisingly, on my bucket list. I see this happening soon.

E: What is a typical work day like for you?

J: I get up around 7:45 and tell myself to exercise (only happens for sure 3x a week), then coffee, catch up on email and social media. Once the coffee kicks in, use that prime focusing time to write or do art, depending on what project I’ve got going at the time. Lunch is sad – 9 times out of 10 it’s just a protein bar, but that’s because I get into what I’m doing and I don’t want to stop. Afternoons are typically better spent doing a long stint at my Wacom – detail work, coloring, something time intensive that is strictly visual. That way I can listen to audiobooks or NPR and know what’s going on in the world. On a productive day, I work until my husband comes home around 7, but when I’m not on deadline, I usually pick up a book or waste time on social media after 5pm. Night times are a no-work zone, unless I’ve got a big deadline.

E: Do you have a favorite type of art to create?

J: I’m happiest when I’m in the same space as other people who are creating. They don’t have to be painting, but for me to feel really alive, it’s usually painting acrylic on canvas that’ll do it for me.

E: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

J: I just painted a zombie mural for a Halloween party – and made some zombie heads. That was a fun project.

My next commission is a proper portrait – it’s of a mash-up of internet memes. This is for a repeat client and he’s always coming up with fun ideas. The last piece I painted for him was the LOLcat using a banana phone (Google it if you don’t remember).

On the personal front, I’m currently writing a YA novel called HOW TO SAY FRENEMY IN CHINESE. It’s a satire centered at an extremely exclusive private school in LA. Fictitious OF COURSE, wink wink!

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

J: Don’t wait for someone to give you permission when it comes to art.

I was lucky enough to have had a person in my life (a family friend), who was essentially my angel – when I was still toiling away at an office job, he got ahold of my wishlist from an art supplies catalogue and bought me EVERYTHING I could have wanted. I had always intended to slave away for a decade or so when I was young to get compound interest working in my favor, and then retire super-early to write and illustrate children’s books. I even got my MBA, for crying out loud. But he basically told me to be a little stupid, to take some risks, and do what I really want to do. I haven’t looked back.

E: Do you have a web presence?

J: I certainly do. If only I updated my blogas frequently as I update my Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts!

E: So you have a favorite character in SACRED?

J: I’m always partial to the crazy best friend characters in books. I like to think I’m that friend – *crazy wiggly eyebrows* – so I can relate.

And here is Julia’s lovely piece once more!

SACRED Art Show… with Aileen Holmes!

Posted on October 31, 2012

So far, I’ve shared art that features Scarlett, her mare Delilah, and handsome, green-eyed Will Cohen.

Today’s addition to the art show by Aileen Holmes introduces a new element of the SACRED story… Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah. Take a look:

The image behind Scarlett is the Tree of Life, a map of the Sefirot. The rose… well, you’ll have to read the book to find out about that!

E: I love how you incorporate the Tree of Life in the background. You mention an interest in mystical symbolism… is this something you often have an opportunity to include in your work?

A: I’ve always had a fascination with symbols– from studying hieroglyphics and cryptography as a kid, to drawing the perfect star with a compass and ruler in geometry class in high school, to exploring ancient mystical symbols when I was studying art history in college. Now, I am going back to my roots on a more spiritual level studying tarot. I hope to create my own tarot deck someday!

E: Oh! I love Tarot. My next book BURNING kind of revolves around a Tarot reading.

E: How does being an artist affect the rest of your life—the non-art creating moments? (I find being a writer influences a lot of what I do, think, and say, even when I’m not writing!)

A: I see everything through an artistic lens–the lights, colors and patterns of everything around me. I’m always on the hunt for new inspiration whether consciously or not. Since much of my art involves fashion, I enjoy playing with color, texture and pattern in what I wear everyday. Sometimes I change my outfits multiple times a day just because!

E: Who and what inspires you?

A: I’m most influenced by art nouveau from the ’20s and re-imagined in the ’70s. I love the organic and mysterious yet sometimes wild and psychedelic nature of that artwork! I am also inspired by estate sale shopping. I am a total snoop–I like to wander around in the houses of folks and piece together what I imagine life was like from the artifacts in their home.

E: What is a typical work day like for you?

A: I am so lucky that I live next to a park and two miles from the ocean. If I manage to wake up early enough, I like to take a stroll in the park first thing and write down my dreams in a journal. If there’s nothing urgent pending, I might linger a bit longer. : ) I work from my home office and try to book half of my day for billable hours. The other half is used for meetings and boring businessy stuff but who wants to hear about that?

In my creative work, illustration is sometimes involved in creating textile prints or designing a character for a brand, but most of my work involves graphic design. Most of what I get hired for these days includes: accessory design, t-shirt graphics, footwear design, and generally decorating cute products with graphics!

E: Your workspace is so lovely! Here are some photos:

E: Do you have a favorite type of art to create?

A: I love creating patterns! Whether hand drawn or on the computer (or some mixture of both), I love making repeat patterns. It’s also obvious that I love to draw girls with really cool outfits and accessories. I was really into screen printing on fabric and paper too and I hope to get back to that. And, I am generally crafty–jewelry making is my fav.

E: Here’s a shot of the SACRED piece in progress:

E: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

A: Some of my big professional projects right now involve: creating graphics for a licensed character’s style guide, designing fashion totes + backpacks for Target and Walmart, designing graphics + prints for shoes and helping little start-ups develop their branding.

I used to over volunteer and be in tons of art shows and basically be a workaholic but I’ve cut back recently to actually enjoy the fruits of my labor! I am focusing on the simple pleasures in life, soaking up inspiration and building up energy for my next big venture.

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

A: Be willing to experiment and seek an internship or apprenticeship while in school. You don’t want to build up expectations of being happy after your ultimate goal is fulfilled (i.e. perfect job, degree, etc) without actually trying it out first!

I also recommend making tons of creative friends and staying in touch with everyone you work with. When your old co-workers go on to different jobs at different companies so after some time, you’ll have contacts everywhere! Be free with information and develop a culture of sharing and everyone can succeed together.

E: Do you have a web presence?

A: My website

My facebook fan page

My tees + art for sale on etsy

If someone has a design project in mind, please feel free to contact me for my latest portfolio! Since it takes at least a year for my designs to be produced and get onto shelves in stores, there’s much work that I cannot put on my website but I’ve had permission from clients to share privately. Don’t hesitate to ask!

E: Without giving too much away…do you have a favorite scene in SACRED?

A: Call me dark but I really enjoy the more introspective moments like when Scarlett choses not to hurt herself and faces her inner pain. Wow, I sound so goth!

And once more, Aileen’s beautiful SACRED piece…

SACRED Art Show… Casey Girard!

Posted on October 26, 2012

I love horses. I love love love horses.

So I was thrilled to get this fabulous piece showing Scarlett and her mare Delilah in action.

E: Ah! I love this! It brings me back exactly to the blissful feeling of galloping on the trail. Do you have riding experience? How did you get this horse so right?

C: Thank you. Being born in Lexington, KY, “where the horses are,” I have been drawing horses as long as I could draw. I had the little girl love of horses, and with them all around me it was easily fed to last a long time. I was able to see horses almost every day. I wanted to ride whenever I could, but it was only something I got to do as a treat. My great aunt had a friend with horses and they would let me ride around the ring when I visited. I was the two-year-old with cowboy boots, feather-adorned cowboy hat, and sparkle unicorn t-shirt a top a humongous Appaloosa. Then once I was old enough, I was able to take some riding lessons and go to horseback camps. Once I was a teen another aunt purchased a few horses and I was able to ride them occasionally as well. I have never galloped freely on a horse and I have always wanted to.

Casey as a young lover of horses!

Casey today! Still looking great in the cowboy hat!

E: How did you come to art? Can you describe your journey as an artist?

C: Art was and is a necessary part of my life. It has been a part of me as long as I can remember. Drawing and painting have always been important. You can flip back through my sketchbooks and see my early attempts at drawing horses. They remained my favorite subject for many years. It wasn’t really a choice that I follow a career into art, it just was the path before me I needed to follow.

E: Who and what inspires you?

C: Animals are the strongest inspiration. I am inspired by people at moments of honesty. When they are themselves unprotected by their social walls. There are so many artists that inspire me I can’t list them all. I am just going to list one, Quentin Blake; even though I draw nothing like him, the life he puts into his characters is something I aspire to.

E: Tell us about when and where you work.

C: I work in the evening hours once my family has wrapped up for the night. I have a studio space in what used to be a dinning room of my house. We use this room as the studio/art room for the family. We have a patio outside of it where we watch the hummingbirds visit our feeder. Art projects range from big sheets of paper loaded with tempera paints and chalk to lego builds that lead to multiple character stories.

E: Do you have a preferred medium?

C: I love the tight control of colored pencils and the loose textures and washes of watercolors. I try to blend these elements together. I have found that pastels with water acheive this nicely.

Casey’s SACRED piece in the wash stage

E: What other projects—both professional and personal—are you involved in?

C: I am currently working on a picture book with a friend that we may push out as a self published book at small press expos. I also have a project called Animals in Alphabet. This has been published in a small press run, as a poster and individual 8×10 prints, and I sell them through etsy, at small press expos, and Fab.com.

E:What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

C: Don’t be afraid to get yourself and your work out there and have a great time as you meet others in this super fun business. And never stop practicing.

E: Do you have a web presence?

C: I have a blog (caseyg.com), a tumblr (http://caseygirard.tumblr.com/), a twitter (https://twitter.com/CaseyGirard), a dribbble (http://dribbble.com/CaseyGirard), and a portfolio on behance 90(http://www.behance.net/CaseyGirard).

E:Do you have a favorite character from SACRED?

C: Lily Adams instantly won me over. I love how wild, fearless, and caring she is. She knows who she is and what she wants and she is intouch with the people around her.

And here once again is Casey’s vision of Scarlett and Delilah:

SACRED Art Show… Jennifer Gray Olson!

Posted on October 4, 2012

It is so interesting for me to see the visual responses that different artists have to SACRED. Today I have the pleasure of sharing the work of Jennifer Gray Olson.

“Numbers”

Wow.

E: This is such a powerful piece. What can you tell us about it, and about how you came to represent Scarlett in this way?
J: The period in the book when Scarlett was obsessed with the numbers in her journal really stuck with me. To me they seemed to represent her decline and her depression. Who hasn’t been obsessed with something that may one day ruin them if they don’t break away from it? [Some of Jennifer’s fabulously insightful remark deleted here as it contains spoilers. Sorry. You’ll just have to read the book.] Anyway, that’s what made me thing to portray her this way… her wasting away into the numbers.
E: How long does it take to complete a piece of art like this? What is your process?
J: If I were working only on this it would probably take me a couple of days from sketch to finished piece. I’m juggling a couple of projects at the moment, so it took me about two weeks to complete.
E: Tell us about when and where you work.
J: I work from home in a crazy jungle of a studio and, unlike Kim Dwinell in your previous interview, my chaos is not at all organized! (I’ve included a rarely seen picture of my desk in its natural state.)

As far as when I work… I work whenever I can. I have three kids, Ethan (9), and Eli (7), and a nine-month old baby girl named Charlotte (Charlie), so finding a lot of solid time to work can be challenging. Luckily I get a lot of support from family and friends. My mother-in-law watches the baby two days a week while the boys are in school, and my husband takes over at home from about five o’clock until ten o’clock most nights so that I can work then, as well.
E: I can identify with that! SACRED was written largely in stolen moments. I wonder, do you have a preferred medium?
J: My preferred medium by far is ink and watercolor. I’ve created artwork in just about every medium from digital to ceramics to glass, but ink and watercolor always feels like home.
E: What other projects are you involved in?
J: I’m working on two projects at the moment that I’m super excited about. The first is an e-book I’m working on with movie director and co-creator of Blues Clues, Todd Kessler. The book is entitled The Good Dog, and it’s about an adorably entertaining dog named Tako who, through a series of events, realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules in order to do the right thing. It’s a fifty-two spread book, so it’s a pretty major undertaking, but I absolutely love the story! We’re hoping for a release date around May 2013. I’m also working on my own book dummy that I plan to send out for submissions in the next couple days. It’s a picture book about a ninja bunny who, after following some bad advice, learns how to become his own ninja.
E: Those projects sound so exciting! What advice would you give to people who’d like to break into the art world?
J: My advice to anyone trying to break into this industry (myself included) is to stick with it and always keep your goal in mind. There’s this great speech by Neil Gaiman that I try and watch every time I lose focus or start to stray from the path that will get me to where I need to be. I also find it tremendously helpful to have a great critique group that will always be honest with me, even when it stings a little.
E: Do you have a web presence?
J: I sure do! My website is jennifergrayolson.com.
E: One last question about SACRED… was there a character in the book with whom you felt a particular affinity?
J: I actually felt a real connection with Will’s father. What a great character! He always seemed to know all the answers, but gave everyone the space to figure things out in their own way and in their own time.

And, once more, Jennifer Gray Olson’s “Numbers.” Thank you so much, Jennifer!

SACRED Art Show… Kimberly Dwinell!

Posted on October 1, 2012

I’m so excited to share another beautiful SACRED-inspired artwork, this one by fellow Long Beachian Kimberly Dwinell.

I got to ask Kim about her process and her life in general, and here is what she shared:

E: I so love the composition of this picture. Tell me, how did you decide on this angle?

K: I loved the thought of a girl riding up to a house on a horse; it was such a poignant scene in the book. What girl wouldn’t love to do that? I did some initial sketches from my head and showed them to my studio group. They gave me some great feedback- that the streets in Catalina would all be build on hills, so I angled the sidewalk to show that. I wanted her to look tentative, and I knew I wanted a physical barrier between her and the door.

Here are some shots of the piece in process:

I went around Seal Beach looking for the perfect house, which brings me to question 2!

E: Is the house in the picture modeled on an actual house? If so, how did you decide on it?

K: I like to walk and run in Seal Beach, and that’s when I do my best creative thinking. I tried to imagine what kind of house an intellectual man and his son would rent as a getaway… it had to have charm, cool plants, be a little funky. I didn’t want it to look perfectly manicured but not run down, and it had to have comfortable places for sitting outside and reading. I took pictures of three different houses, and this one won out. I think it was the staghorn fern and the tree. I’m definitely a bit of a plant geek.

E: You mention that you tried a new technique with this piece. Tell me about it.

K: I love Tony DiTerlizzi and have been drooling over his illustrations in the SpiderwickChronicles. Such amazing linework, and done so masterfully in nib pen. He, in turn, thanked Arthur Rackham in the book dedication for being his inspiration. I had artwork from both artists on my desk as I was inking and I was very inspired by both of them. However, when I started to think about color, I knew I didn’t want to try to be too realistic and plan out a lighting scheme with watercolor like I normally do; I wanted to be a little more playful. I wanted to use chunky blocks of color and to make it look like rough offset printing. I’m happy with the result, and also amazed at how easy it is to change things when it’s digital!

E: Tell us about when and where you work.

K: Here’s the schedule on a perfect day. Up at 6:30, coffee in hand. Morning panic ensues, boy to school, man to work. Grab the dog, head out for a run. Come home, deep breath, head down at the desk and blast out a few hours of work. I then realize I should shower before I see anyone. Smelling better, I get a few more hours of work done before the boy is home from middle school. I work in an office in my house that adjoins the sunroom. It always seems to be a mess but the chaos is organized chaos. That’s what I keep telling myself, at least. It’s a great space but I live with the normal work-at-home issues like laundry and dishes, and a dog who endlessly wants to play ball.

The drawing desk in the office

The view to the sunroom

E: Do you have a preferred medium?

K: I love pen and ink and I love watercolor. Sometimes I’ll add colored pencils over my watercolors. I’ve been working on a project in this medium for a while, and I find that to keep myself fresh and not bored I have to break out every so often and experiment. I had a fun artist playdate at my house a couple of months ago and did collage with corrugated cardboard, torn paper and Sharpie marker. I’ll always go back to ink and watercolor, but I would like to pursue this digital collage color a little more.

E: I know you are involved in an interesting project of your own. What can you share?

K: It’s a project really close to my heart- a graphic novel in watercolor about a surfer girl whose life changes for the weird after she swims through a cave. It’s goofy and fun and my protagonist is like the daughter I never had. I am fortunate enough to have a very supportive agent who will be taking it out into the wide world to look for a home in October. Fingers crossed!

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

K: We all bring a little piece of new to the drawing board. Stay inspired, have something to say, and keep your skills up at all times. It helps have an insatiable desire to learn and the ability to take constructive criticism. It’s a privilege to be an artist, and not to be taken lightly. Be a good one. Oh, and make arty friends. Artists totally need a support group, especially if you’re working isolated at home.

E: Do you have a web presence?

K: I do, though I really have to update my personal website (it’s on the list.) You can find more of my work at www.kimdwinell.com. My graphic novel also has a website, you can check that out at www.surfsidegirls.com.

Kimberly Dwinell

And here’s Scarlett on her mare Delilah, one more time. Thank you, Kim!

In Which I Discuss New York

Posted on September 26, 2012

Me (Grown-Up Version): Describe your fantasy trip to New York City.
Me (12-Year Old Version): I would fly to New York all by myself. I’d pack light but I’d somehow manage to fit four pairs of shoes into one small bag. I’d land and I’d take the subway into the City.

Me (12 Years Old): My first glance of the skyscrapers would be after emerging from the bowels of the city, into a blue afternoon with gleaming glass buildings all around. I’d crane my neck to see their summits.

Me (12 Years Old): Even though I’d never been there before, the city would open to me, full of smiles and love and friends new and old.

Me (12 Years Old): I’d visit Central Park.

Me (12 Years Old): Then I’d go to Random House. And they’d actually KNOW who I AM. They’d be expecting me.

Me (12 Years Old): I’d meet my editor. I’d meet the people that designed my books. I’d be a writer.

Me (12 Years Old): I’d go to the Museum of Modern Art and see amazing things.

Me (12 Years Old): I’d go out for dinner and drinks with my AMAZING agent. Later, we’d see a show. I’d drink Lambrusco with my agent, in honor of my grandmother.

Me (12 Years Old): It would be the most AMAZING trip ever. I wouldn’t get lost. The weather would be gorgeous. The stars would align for me. It would be perfect.

Me (Grown Up): It was perfect.

SACRED art show… first up, Travis Moore!

Posted on September 10, 2012

One of my favorite things about going to college was the year I spent living on Balboa Island. I was an undergraduate at UC Irvine, and the tiny island of Balboa (connected to the mainland by a quaint arched bridge) was just a few miles away from campus. So my friend Wendy suggested we rent one of the cottages for the school year.

These cottages are vacation rentals during the summer, but during the off season–September 1 to June 1–some of them are rented out at a greatly reduced rate, providing that you’re out by the time the tourists flock for vacations.

We found a tiny house that looked like a ship, with round porthole windows and a Dutch door. It had two tiny bedrooms, neither big enough for two beds, so bunkbeds it was. Wendy and I shared one room; Travis and Derek shared the other.

I have remained friends with all three of them–Wendy, Travis, and Derek–since graduation. Even though we didn’t always agree about dishes and the proper placement of throw pillows, that year was magical.

Part of what made it so magical was watching Travis draw. He drew like some people dance–so naturally, seemingly without effort, in a way that makes everyone else sit up and take notice.

So when my friend Erin O’Shea and I decided to do an art show in conjunction with SACRED’s launch, Travis was on the top of my list.

And he’s still magical.

Look. Here’s his vision of Will Cohen:

I know. So, so gorgeous. Amazing. Travis, thank you!!!

I asked Travis a few questions. Here is what he shared:

E: I think your Will is amazing and perfect. Tell me, how did you arrive at this image?

T: Thanks, Elana! I’m sure you have a very clear picture in your mind of how Will is supposed to look, so knowing that I met your expectations is a relief and an honor. I knew I was going to do a portrait before I even read the book because I love drawing people more than anything and I wanted to focus on the character aspect of your story. Plus I wanted to make your hero look as dreamy as possible! When I sat down to do the piece, I first had to pinpoint exactly what I had in my own head as to how he looks. I’d been watching Teen Wolf and decided that Tyler Posey had Will’s hair. Then I went to the internet and looked through pictures of actors to try to narrow down what I thought his facial features should be. Then I started painting. I spent an hour or two on one piece, but wound up not liking it and started over. The do-over became the piece you have now. It has better composition and, I think, is more intense. As Tyra Banks would say, he’s “smizing.”

E: I agree completely!

E: Lots of your past work has been of superheroes; do you have a favorite hero or heroine?

T: I read one of your interviews where you said that the inspiration for Sacred came from a friend suggesting you write a superhero story. So maybe my favorite superhero is Will! In comics, my all-time favorite superhero is probably Wonder Woman. I’ve been a fan ever since watching Lynda Carter do her magic twirl back when I was a kid. I also love Spider-Woman because I thinks she’s such a complex character with so many outside forces pulling at her. Wiccan and Hulkling of the Young Avengers are my other favorites because I think they’re such positive role-models for gay teens. In books, Thom from Perry Moore’s Hero is a great character.

E: That makes two of us! Will is my favorite superhero, too!

E:Tell us about how you work.

T: At heart I will always be a sketch artist, so I almost always work with pencil and paper. That being said, this Will portrait is entirely digital from start to finish. It really depends on what I want the end result to be as far as how to approach it. When I draw, I’m usually just trying to express an idea, not creating a finished piece for everyone to look at. The finishing part is kind of like going on autopilot; it’s that initial burst at the beginning of the creation process that’s the fun part, which is why I don’t have a lot of finished work. Most of the art I have floating around in the world has had other hands touching it (inkers, colorists, finishers, etc). This Will piece is a rare instance where I actually did the whole thing.

E: I know you’re a writer as well as an artist. Do you think your work as an artist has made it easier or harder for you to describe characters in words?

T: It surprises me how similar the processes of writing and drawing can be. For example, if I’m designing a character for a comic, I have to think about who that character is, what he looks like, how he would stand, gestures he would make, etc, the same as I would in writing the character. I will usually do a sketch exploration of the character to sort of “settle in” to him before taking him to the finished comic book page, the same way I’ll often write short stories about characters I want to use in a novel so I can get a feel for who they are, how they speak, and how they react to different situations. I also give some thought to how the words on a page look visually to a reader, how will the eye flow over them. For example, I might make a sentence longer just to create a visual barrier to the big reveal in the next sentence. Can the way the words are arranged create an illusion? I started out a story once with water dripping. Instead of writing, “Drip. Drip. Drip.” I wrote:

Drip.

Because, to me, that “looks” more like dripping water. I think that comes from having a visual arts background.

E: What are you working on now?

T: Currently, I’m writing a novel about a group of teens in a small Oregon town whose high school becomes ground zero for a hostile alien invasion. I’m also working on a collaboration with two other writers, a post-apocalyptic tale where we each take a character through the first year after the end of the world. I have a lot of other projects floating around in the background, too, but I’m not ready to talk about those yet. Stay tuned!

E: I can’t wait to read it! I hope I can get my hands on it early…

E: What advice would you give people who’d like to break into the art world?

T: Network. Nothing gets you in the door faster than the recommendation of someone who’s already through it. Also, be aware that breaking in is an ongoing process. I “broke in” to comics four times. Even when you break in, it takes a lot of diligence and, again, maintaining professional relationships, to stay in. And one other thing–never stop learning and growing as an artist. You can never know enough. I think that goes for writers too. They say, write what you know; if that’s true, then Know. More.

E: Travis, you’ve known me a long time, since college. And since I’m in the unique position of getting to interview you, I have to know… what was your first impression of me?

T: Aside from the fact that you’re gorgeous? Well, okay, my first memory of you was when we were living in the dorms, and there was a group of us in the common room all playing various forms of solitaire. You walked in and said, “Half a dozen games of solitaire? That’santi-social.” We were all like, “Who does this girl think she is?” Hahaha. But now I love that about you. You say what you think and you’re completely honest. And funny as hell. And so caring toward the people you love. You’re amazing! I’m so proud you’re my friend. Oh, one other thing I remember thinking about you back then was, what the heck was that pi sign doing in your name?

E: (Blushes). Aw, thanks, Travis!! (And, more on the mysterious pi sign in another post…)

E: Do you have a web presence?

T: Yes! I’m on Twitter, goodreads, Deviantart, and Pinterest. I’m also working on a website/blog where I’ll be posting artwork, short stories, and general musings about art and writing and pop culture. Hey, maybe I can interview you!

E: I can’t wait!

Also, Travis shared some of his early sketches and ideas for the Will portrait.

Here’s a sketch he started on before deciding to go another direction:

And here are a few screenshots of the final portrait as it progressed:

And one final shot of the final art. Because, come on, he’s freaking gorgeous:

Travis, thank you so much for being part of the SACRED art show. I think you are amazing. And your artistic ability makes you a superhero to me!