tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24044672812658581052024-03-13T10:37:27.960-07:00Kary Lee IllustrationWhat have you learned, Dorothy?
Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-48527857069361576902018-01-29T18:11:00.002-08:002018-01-30T15:16:34.875-08:00OLD AND NEW<br />
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Reworking an old illustration from my first picture book.</h2>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D3XoVKZtimY/WnD8vgwlNlI/AAAAAAAABi8/y7_f112eCRoilYoBp5BxTG1zsD-Y5-6KQCLcBGAs/s1600/10%2Bdots%2Bin%2Bdress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1190" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D3XoVKZtimY/WnD8vgwlNlI/AAAAAAAABi8/y7_f112eCRoilYoBp5BxTG1zsD-Y5-6KQCLcBGAs/s640/10%2Bdots%2Bin%2Bdress.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ5e5BPcY0E/Wm_H9D2JWfI/AAAAAAAABig/918ALaL-fxIvdqWh0Sw0iH4bAyUbhTLWgCLcBGAs/s1600/Swoozy%2Band%2BSuzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1058" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ5e5BPcY0E/Wm_H9D2JWfI/AAAAAAAABig/918ALaL-fxIvdqWh0Sw0iH4bAyUbhTLWgCLcBGAs/s200/Swoozy%2Band%2BSuzy.jpg" width="168" /></a>Last summer we moved to Seattle. In the process of packing and moving my studio, I ran across my first book illustration project <i>(among many other things)</i>. </div>
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It was one my favorite projects, and like finding an old friend. A simple 8 page reader an education book series. And, it got me thinking. </div>
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<b><i>"If I got this project today, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>what would my art look like?" </i></b></div>
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I've spend the past 18 months revamping my portfolio and refining my process. So it seemed like a good idea to take what I've learned and apply it to an old image. So, I did. </div>
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COMPARISON: <i style="font-weight: normal;">Then and Now</i></h3>
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<i style="text-align: center;">Do you notice anything else different about these images? Because of some edits I had to re-shoot the reference photos for this image and my model was out of town. In order to make my book deadline, I had my daughter stand in as the model. I morphed the original models head that I replicated with other photos. Sneeky, huh?</i><br />
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<br />DRAWING: <i style="font-weight: normal;">The foundation.</i></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3tAxmbseFo/Wm-nZ1AyhmI/AAAAAAAABhA/fe7EE0rMl4AS9AkBj30JSYIfFJeNRbBMQCLcBGAs/s1600/line%2Bart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1100" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3tAxmbseFo/Wm-nZ1AyhmI/AAAAAAAABhA/fe7EE0rMl4AS9AkBj30JSYIfFJeNRbBMQCLcBGAs/s640/line%2Bart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I don't have samples of my original drawings on the old line art. Here in my new line art I am mindful of the line-work, making sure I know exactly what is going on before I start painting. In my old approach I only drew lines to mark where to paint, meaning I drew with my paint brush and hoped that things would work. Now I use line as part of the design, with intent. It's a more stylized look that allows the image to hold it's own, without paint. Above: The first image defines the hard lines. In the second image I've added in detail and pattern that will improve interest in the final composition.<br />
<i>WHAT I LEARNED: Be careful not to rush onto the next thing before you're really sure what you want to do. It was hard to admit, but I was rushing through a step because it was hard. Making myself follow through has helped not only my image, but I am much faster. And if you are working on 32 pages, that can really come in handy.</i><br />
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SETTING THE TONE: <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Primary color glazing.</i></span></h3>
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In order to get the glow in my image I glaze the entire sheet with yellow. Then I lay on red and blue to create the cool spots. This also pops the yellow. You can see how the yellow is toned down in the second image. But as things build you'll see that it's still there waiting to pop! </div>
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ADDING THE COLOR: <i style="font-weight: normal;">Simple washes.</i></h3>
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Now, I start building the image. Sometimes I go straight for the pure color, and some times I build with glazes. Things are starting to come together.</div>
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VALUES: <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Lights and darks.</i></span></h3>
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You can see the golden glow coming through. Now I need to make sure my values are correct. You can see here that the color between her shadowed hair is darker than the backgound. They need to read as the same value. This is what pushes back the darks into the background. Need to fix that.</div>
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<br />FINAL IMAGE: </h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLAM1U5BaEE/Wm-8BHUrofI/AAAAAAAABiQ/H2CyDH6zBq8NvcrSbhhIBfFUlCRGzENoACLcBGAs/s1600/final%2Bimage%2Bsignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLAM1U5BaEE/Wm-8BHUrofI/AAAAAAAABiQ/H2CyDH6zBq8NvcrSbhhIBfFUlCRGzENoACLcBGAs/s1600/final%2Bimage%2Bsignature.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It's simpler and cleaner than my original image. I tried to keep it to only four values of each color. This gives it the flatter more stylized look in my new work. And, I'm feeling focused again, and having fun. </span></div>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-83410478536678643872017-04-10T10:05:00.001-07:002017-11-12T07:20:26.334-08:00Updating a traditional piece.<h2>
Even if you paint traditionally, digital can be your friend-<br /><div style="text-align: start;">
<i style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: small;">...a friend that can save you tons of time. And with that</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> 10,000 hour rule looming over our heads, we need every break we can get</span>.</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;">This piece started out as a simple study. After it was finished I couldn't help but think how fun it would be and more dynamic if my drummer was performing and the other toys reacting to the music. Rather than repainting the whole thing, I decided to experiment with just changing parts of the painting. In watercolor this would have been nearly impossible before digital tools. I am one of those 'old school' traditional types. But I don't have to give that up to take advantage of the digital opportunities. <i>It's just another tool.</i></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i> </i></span></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is the before and the 'repainted' modified images. I only had to repaint the things I wanted to change. This saved me from having to redo the whole painting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">First, I traced the original watercolor and then modified the characters (keeping them to scale),<br />
scanned the image and printed it out on my watercolor paper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Once I had my image I made note to the original pallet and painted traditionally glazing and building the colors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Glazing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You can see the phantom soldier arm and foot. These will be layered onto the digital image<br />
altering the original watercolor image.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here is the finished "revised" illustration. I scanned and used Photoshop to all a new layer and merge the two images.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here is the finished image.<br />
(but I see in this pic, his foot is still a little transparent.... <i>I will have to check on that.</i>)</td></tr>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-89084341661677682782016-08-31T07:17:00.003-07:002016-08-31T07:19:47.362-07:00<b><span style="font-size: large;">PRINT IS STILL VALID IN YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGN</span></b><br />
Last week I was a guest blogger on Sub It Club discussing my postcard marketing strategy. If you're interested, pop on over and take a look: Here are some samples. <a href="https://subitclub.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/the-postcard-post-kary-lee/" target="_blank">Click here for the full interview</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chase -Post Card Front</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chase - Post Card Back</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window Girl - Front</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzFN-459ApA/V8blZ1fS5BI/AAAAAAAABT0/AkfOtr6ihfIyOiv_sYPFoTa4mNbYT55KgCLcB/s1600/7%2BPromo%2BJuly%2B16%2Bback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzFN-459ApA/V8blZ1fS5BI/AAAAAAAABT0/AkfOtr6ihfIyOiv_sYPFoTa4mNbYT55KgCLcB/s640/7%2BPromo%2BJuly%2B16%2Bback.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window Girl- Back (general information)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window Girl - Back (option 2, event promo)</td></tr>
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Catch the full interview on <a href="https://subitclub.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/the-postcard-post-kary-lee/" target="_blank">Sub It Club's Post Card Post.</a>Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-64016048503062622892016-04-30T15:38:00.003-07:002016-04-30T15:38:42.692-07:00Guest Illustrator for SCBWI Conference<img alt="The Official SCBWI Conference Blog" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Owi84mOROj4/VxFinN4u6VI/AAAAAAAAFyw/qJRNDh9TT-kGO4mwuhFR8GZ6FCteBCqcgCK4B/s1600-r/2016-Summer-Conference-blog-header.jpg" /><br />
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Finally getting these posted. I had some fun as one of the <a href="http://www.scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2015/08/kary-lee-la15scbwi-conference.html" target="_blank">SCBWI Conference Guest Illustrators</a> at the last LA Conference.<br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-24894472618862015432014-12-19T12:37:00.000-08:002015-03-09T15:40:16.387-07:00Opening doors, Disney style!<h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Linda Dorn and her assistants.<br />
(From right: NakYong Choi, Linda Dorn, me, Mike Piwowarczyk)</td></tr>
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<h4>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToNBezPH2nw/VIaYWW09xFI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/n25UxP_cmJk/s1600/cal%2Barts%2Blogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ToNBezPH2nw/VIaYWW09xFI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/n25UxP_cmJk/s1600/cal%2Barts%2Blogo.png" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">The New York SCBWI conference always opens doors. But this year who knew the door would actually open onto sunny southern California, and an opportunity to push my craft even further, through the eyes of animation and storytelling. </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It seems silly that I hadn't connected the dots between illustration and concept animation art until I met <a href="http://www.lindadorn.com/" target="_blank">Linda Dorn</a>, a book illustrator who just happens to be a successful animator and professor at the prestigious CalArts. I saw her portfolio at the New York SCBWI conference. It turns out she heads a pre-animation residency at California Institute of the Arts (<a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/03/calarts-animation-1970s-tim-burton" target="_blank">yeah, the Disney people</a>). "Hey, you should come!," she said. </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">At first it seemed crazy. Just leave my job for the summer? Live in a dorm? Draw, all day... everyday. That was crazy! But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that not going would be crazy. It really was the perfect progression after my SCBWI mentorship. I had more questions than ever. And, there was something in Linda's portfolio that I couldn't put my finger on, that I wanted in my work. Of all the portfolios in the room (a BIG room) that was the one, the one I loved. So I did it. I took a leave of absence from my job, got in my car and drove to California. </span></h4>
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<b>May, 2014</b></h2>
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The Story Begins:</h3>
It's had been 25 years since I'd lived in a dorm room. Most of my roommates weren't even that old, except Kevin. Thank GOD for Kevin. We're what you call 'returning' students.<br />
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I was able to keep my wine in the fridge without getting a time-out, but the bathroom situation brought me back to the days of old. I never thought I would be wearing flip flops in the shower again. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda showing her portfolio on the first day.</td></tr>
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My time at CalArts brought back a lot of memories. Reminders as to what I wanted to be when I grew up, and if it was working. It reminded me that I have always been a storyteller. No matter the subject or conversation, when I have something I want to communicate, I turn it into a story, much to the dismay sometimes of people in ear shot, as they unwittingly become my audience.<br />
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This experience gave me a new energy, perspective and appreciation for creativity and the importance of telling the <i>right</i> story, the <i>right </i>way. Linda and Robert immersed us in story, characters, gesture, pacing and the list goes on. It was revitalizing and just what my creative muse needed. At the beginning I wasn't sure what to expect. Was this chapter in my
life going to be a thriller, a drama? Maybe a comedy, or (gulp) perhaps
a tragedy. <br />
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Figure drawing in the Palace. </h3>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT0q5Q2_0AM/VJSFkQLp9aI/AAAAAAAABEg/ChqoXLVkoP4/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uT0q5Q2_0AM/VJSFkQLp9aI/AAAAAAAABEg/ChqoXLVkoP4/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" height="400" width="295" /></a>Musician day.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AGdaE8ksHxk/VJRjPdGw-MI/AAAAAAAABBs/njxO6FydXv4/s1600/IMG_6900.jpg" height="314" width="320" /> </td></tr>
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Robert and I. <br />
Turns out he is a Cougar Fan!</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Story: </h3>
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0501729/" target="_blank">Robert Lence</a> was a bonus! I had no idea how instrumental his depiction of storytelling would be on my experience. His teaching pushed my understanding of concept, setting, and humor to a new level. His input has already had an impact on my work. </div>
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Some of my projects:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Project from Robert's class. Telling a story with one frame and no words. <br />
This was inspired by an actual event I shared with my dad on my 6th birthday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o2LTV7tl1q4/VJSHBSEUM_I/AAAAAAAABE0/9mNW1MTL_D8/s1600/IMG_7204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o2LTV7tl1q4/VJSHBSEUM_I/AAAAAAAABE0/9mNW1MTL_D8/s1600/IMG_7204.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avvqSX9RTpc/VJSG-i1SROI/AAAAAAAABEs/14IArt5XRLo/s1600/IMG_7205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avvqSX9RTpc/VJSG-i1SROI/AAAAAAAABEs/14IArt5XRLo/s1600/IMG_7205.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qdBiuPD4TM/VJSHJz46jfI/AAAAAAAABFQ/mqaHvLZFOyo/s1600/IMG_7206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qdBiuPD4TM/VJSHJz46jfI/AAAAAAAABFQ/mqaHvLZFOyo/s1600/IMG_7206.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Final project; beat boards and a pitch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A quick pic on our way to a private screening of Malificent at theScreen Writers Guild Theatre.<br />
Thanks to Robert Lence for a wonderful day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert signing his picture book for me.<br />
Yep, of course he's also an author/illustrator. </td></tr>
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<h4>
The Final Chapter:</h4>
Many lessons learned, new friendships, and insight that I couldn't have found anywhere else. Looking back on the story of my CalArts experience, I would have to say it was a combination, thriller, comedy and drama all wrapped into one. <br />
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Thanks CalArts, Linda Dorn, Robert Lence and the rest of you. Miss you all!<br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-68620128725524410522014-05-27T15:17:00.003-07:002015-03-09T12:02:35.913-07:00Mentorship, the conclusion: An ending to a new beginning.<h3>
Creativity isn't linear. It's on a pendulum.</h3>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2i1I9L2L-0/U4Le7CyKt6I/AAAAAAAAAxU/PoaXMLhk85c/s1600/IMG_6572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2i1I9L2L-0/U4Le7CyKt6I/AAAAAAAAAxU/PoaXMLhk85c/s1600/IMG_6572.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a>I've created more work in the past six months than I have in the past 5 years. And looking back, I'm a different person than I was at the beginning of my mentorship. I used to think progress was linear. This frustrated me because many times it would seem like I was right back where I started. I felt like I wasn't progressing. Through experiences in this program, I now realize its more like a pendulum. Situations seem similar because as my work evolves I revisit the same questions. Each time the bar swings to the right or left I am back in the same place. B<i>ut </i>now it's with new perspective through working so hard during that last swing. The more things change, the more they stay the same. And every time, (in theory) my work gets better. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4JoWxPvwlU/U4Le8VEnpsI/AAAAAAAAAyA/25j3wywG9qM/s1600/IMG_6586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4JoWxPvwlU/U4Le8VEnpsI/AAAAAAAAAyA/25j3wywG9qM/s1600/IMG_6586.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>It's ironic, but the things I deem successful on this side of my mentorship are entirely different than that of my original agenda. The real magic wasn't in perfecting my painting, or even finding my voice. It was forming this wonderful community of writers and illustrators, people who know what I have to say before I speak. They know because they are experiencing the same things, fear, anticipation, anxiety and joy. There are no words for how important they are to me. Knowing my fellow mentee's have my back is so empowering. It's through their support I have rediscovered confidence in my own work and have acquired such respect and admiration for theirs. </div>
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<h3>
David Diaz, our mentor extraordinaire!</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with David Dias.</td></tr>
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Our discussions and exercises have been informative and insightful, graciously lead by our fearless leader, David Diaz. He has a way of posing questions and situations that allow us to discover what we need to know for our own personal journey. Nothing condescending, nothing preachy and always with utmost respect. The past six months have been a time of taking risks, pushing the envelope, and not being afraid to get my hands dirty; all things that came quite easy at age seven. So I'm relearning, reprograming and the most important having fun again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2i1I9L2L-0/U4Le7CyKt6I/AAAAAAAAAxU/PoaXMLhk85c/s1600/IMG_6572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>(Illustrator Mentees) Sylvia Liu, me, LoriAnn Levy-Holm, Steve Roe, Sidne Teske, Heide Sheffield,<br />
(Our Fearless Mentor) David Diaz.</td></tr>
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That support from my creative community makes me realize what I was really looking for I have had all along, it's just that I didn't see it in myself. It's with the support of the entire group I have gathered strength, confidence and an appreciation of what I do and why I do it. I see now that it's been my insecurity that's held me back, not my technique.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJmA61cE99Y/U4UD3LfNqvI/AAAAAAAAAzE/uH4rkabgMs0/s1600/10257086_10152405983119837_274101548270177307_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJmA61cE99Y/U4UD3LfNqvI/AAAAAAAAAzE/uH4rkabgMs0/s1600/10257086_10152405983119837_274101548270177307_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The tables turn when mentors David Diaz and Jim Alverbak, take a lseeon from mentee LoriAnn Levy-Holm.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGx4KG4exKI/U4LhYYbj4CI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/iVVtpFY7xXA/s1600/virginia+city+stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGx4KG4exKI/U4LhYYbj4CI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/iVVtpFY7xXA/s1600/virginia+city+stove.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
I am drawn to this industry because of my love of storytelling (pun intended), but I stay and continue to do it because of the people, their support, their similar struggles and the sense that we're all in this together! I love this community and the gift of learning from their perspective; new things, old things, scary things and amazingly happy, wonderful things. Great memories and a great ending to our new beginning.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">So the official mentorship is in the books. But this is just the beginning. Who's to say what the future holds. No matter what, we're all in it together.<br /><br />Thank you Nevada SCBWI, we appreciate you!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLBHhy-qpPs/U4T5gMD4aWI/AAAAAAAAAy0/jinRONH3UIU/s1600/virginia+city+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLBHhy-qpPs/U4T5gMD4aWI/AAAAAAAAAy0/jinRONH3UIU/s1600/virginia+city+kitchen.jpg" height="451" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The epicenter of our group was in the kitchen of our haunted hotel in </span><a href="http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/about-virginia-city/live-virginia-city-web-cam.html" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Virginia City</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hey Cathy, have you tried this Granola? It's the bomb." <br />
"No David. But thanks, I think I will."</td></tr>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6Wcm_04MTUw%2FU4Le8qLfKMI%2FAAAAAAAAAx0%2FaoBIpaVshtE%2Fs1600%2FIMG_6594.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wcm_04MTUw/U4Le8qLfKMI/AAAAAAAAAx0/aoBIpaVshtE/s1600/IMG_6594.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wcm_04MTUw/U4Le8qLfKMI/AAAAAAAAAx0/aoBIpaVshtE/s1600/IMG_6594.JPG" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Wcm_04MTUw/U4Le8qLfKMI/AAAAAAAAAx0/aoBIpaVshtE/s1600/IMG_6594.JPG" -->Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0Virginia City, NV, USA39.3095135 -119.6499792999999839.284941 -119.69031979999998 39.334086 -119.60963879999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-90755340310270243452014-05-22T09:47:00.000-07:002014-05-22T09:47:30.900-07:00The parting of the Red Sea, or.... not.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
"Did you get discovered?"</h3>
The first words out of my bosses mouth upon my return from the New York SCBWI conference. Not intending to be rude, I stared back my face void of any emotion. I could see he was expecting something.... anything but the blank stare he got, straight through him to the clock on the wall. <i>Tick....Tick....Tick. </i><br />
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I'm sure his intent was to be optimistic and supportive. He had no idea what a terribly loaded question it was. And, at that moment, between the jet lag and information overload, I kind of wanted to punch him. Instead, I took a breath, managed a smile and answered politely, "<i>No, ....not yet."</i> It was the simplest way to avoid a long drawn out explanation that would most likely bore him to tears. He was just trying to be nice, he didn't really want to hear the seven part, two-tiered answer complete with footnotes, references and a three page bibliography, compiled over the past fourteen years as to why being <i>discovered</i> is an ambiguous and I might add ridiculous question. Frankly, it was just the wrong question.<br />
<br />
The right question would be, What did <i>you</i> discover? But, in hindsight and fairness to him, and looking back to the beginning of this journey I did think of it as <i>being</i> <i>discovered</i>. But it was an abstract dream, kind of like when we refer to an arbitrary group as <i>they, </i>merely a metaphor and not an actual group. <br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you're good enough you hang around the right people and follow their words of advice until eventually you get your big break, the red sea parts, <b>they</b> see your fabulous talent and poof! You're discovered, and on easy street! Just sit back and let the contracts roll in.</i><br />
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<h3>
Back to Reality, <i>sort of.</i></h3>
Los Angeles, 2003, my first SCBWI conference. I received immediate recognition with a portfolio award. So, check international portfolio award winner off my list. Now onto that book contract. Right!<br />
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At the risk of sounding smug and ungrateful, recognition so early on really just muddied the waters. I didn't know that wasn't supposed to happen. The next couple of years were a bit frustrating as I waited for things to just fall into place. I'm not quite sure how I expected publishers to know about me when I didn't actually contact anyone. It takes years of making stuff, lots of stuff, mostly bad stuff, taking risks, putting yourself out there and talking to people, everyone you can, asking questions then putting out more stuff. I now understand all the hard work it takes to gain the respect and craft necessary to sustain success as an author/illustrator. And, I'm still here.<br />
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With all of the information and advice I have acquired from conferences, writing workshops, my mentorship program and my newest endeavor, a <a href="http://filmvideo.calarts.edu/programs/character-animation" target="_blank">Summer Artist's Residency program at California Institute of the Arts</a> (more on this later), I realize that it's not about being discovered. It's about meeting people and asking questions, immersing yourself in your work and just plugging away at it every day. This industry is full of amazing people and resources and I haven't met one (okay, maybe <i>one</i>) fellow author or illustrator that isn't rooting for me and everyone else in this crazy industry. We are all capable and it's a matter of doing your work, lots of work, <i>volumes</i> of work! It's about <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2404467281265858105#editor/target=post;postID=3631992258800011465;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=5;src=postname" target="_blank">The 10,000 hour rule</a> and not being afraid to fail, knowing that even the bad stuff has to be created to get to the good stuff.<br />
<br />
Okay, guilty! When I started this journey I was hoping for that magic bullet, the parting of the Red Sea and being discovered! If that's what you're looking for, I regret to inform you that you're probably in the wrong place, at the wrong blog, in the wrong industry. I have been doing this for a long time, writing and illustrating (among other things). So long in fact that had I chosen a different field, I could have an MD by now open up a nice little family practice. Through the journey, many things have happened, good and not so good. Although I focus on the good, I am grateful for all of it.Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-32601787771012878392014-04-09T17:43:00.002-07:002014-05-27T15:33:29.039-07:00SCBWI NYC: Tomie dePaola Takes the Cake!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yPphL6ZqJE/U0WeIijS6WI/AAAAAAAAAsM/z3xDO-0v7JA/s1600/tomie+takes+the+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yPphL6ZqJE/U0WeIijS6WI/AAAAAAAAAsM/z3xDO-0v7JA/s1600/tomie+takes+the+cake.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomie looks hungry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIyj0OqGUvQ/U0XA9rXgwGI/AAAAAAAAAsY/fWavM-a-NoU/s1600/Akiko_White_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIyj0OqGUvQ/U0XA9rXgwGI/AAAAAAAAAsY/fWavM-a-NoU/s1600/Akiko_White_sm.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akiko's winning 'cakilstration.'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">No, <i>really</i>! </span></h2>
After learning that she was chosen as 2014's <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/awards/tomie-depaola-award/" target="_blank">Tomie dePaola Illustrator Award</a> winner <a href="http://akikowhite.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Akiko White</a><u> </u>did what any Cakelstrator would do. She baked and illustrated Tomie a cake! And look at me, the <i>official cake cutter</i>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8n0TVllv-8M/U0Xm2JrBI0I/AAAAAAAAAtU/wT2dmBPioTc/s1600/group+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8n0TVllv-8M/U0Xm2JrBI0I/AAAAAAAAAtU/wT2dmBPioTc/s1600/group+NYC.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Akiko was one of the many talented illustrators I met at this years Winter SCBWI Conference in New York. And as with every conference the community that is formed within a small amount of time ads to my arsenal of friendships that I will cherish and continue to cultivate for years to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiPz1foO7hs/U0XCZBJ37rI/AAAAAAAAAsk/yTnaqThXjo8/s1600/IMG_6372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiPz1foO7hs/U0XCZBJ37rI/AAAAAAAAAsk/yTnaqThXjo8/s1600/IMG_6372.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lin Oliver, Tomie DePaola and myself pose for a candid.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's about community. </span></h2>
The talent is abundant, but the most amazing thing is the grass roots sense of community this organization practices. Whether it's your first conference or you're a published veteran, you are welcomed and encouraged.<br />
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Tomie dePaola has probably set the grandest example of this. I had the rare opportunity to spend an evening with him. And, he couldn't have been more personable and supportive if he were my own father (<i>not that I'm dissing you daddy</i>)! His passion for life, creativity and genuine love of his craft was evident in his bubbly laugh, his smile and the big wonderful bear hugs, of which I got two! <i>Oh, I suppose there was the interview with Pricilla Burris regarding his 60 some odd year career. </i><br />
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In addition to Tomie's insight to our craft, other highlights included the evening portfolio showcase and several break out sessions and keynote speakers. To get the best reviews, highlights of each session are available on the <a href="http://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Official SCBWI Conference Blog. </a> Can't wait for Los Angeles. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUdqWFzpIQg/U0XRh-JyUGI/AAAAAAAAAs0/T6oPtp0gvLA/s1600/Rachel+Hamby+Connie+Krebs+NYC2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUdqWFzpIQg/U0XRh-JyUGI/AAAAAAAAAs0/T6oPtp0gvLA/s1600/Rachel+Hamby+Connie+Krebs+NYC2014.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel Hamby, me, Connie Krebs<br />
SCBWI's Inland Northwest Representatives</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XGIFozpYJE0/U0XhJhor4TI/AAAAAAAAAtE/IuG10zYs3Wc/s1600/david+pricilla+eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XGIFozpYJE0/U0XhJhor4TI/AAAAAAAAAtE/IuG10zYs3Wc/s1600/david+pricilla+eb.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My amazing mentors, David Diaz and E.B. Lewis with Pricilla Burris speaking at the Illustrator's social.</td></tr>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-36319922588000114652013-12-03T18:01:00.002-08:002014-05-27T16:15:14.878-07:00Lesson 1: The 10,000 Hour Rule<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 22px;">"It takes about 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to truly master a skill...."</span></h2>
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<a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/08/14/malcolm-gladwells-10000-hour-rule-visualized-practice-makes-perfect/" target="_blank">Malcolm Gladwell, <i>Outliers</i></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Non-shit brushes.</td></tr>
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I've heard the quote before. Based on the fact that I had been painting for a little over ten years I thought I had a few thousand hours under my belt. But sitting here six weeks into my mentorship I realize that my TRUE clock hours have just begun. This is a complete overhaul.<br />
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Upon arriving home from Tahoe I ordered my new brushes, took the necessary reference photos and set my sights on my first assignment. Things went smooth. I applied my techniques, careful to pull out all the stops in hopes of wowing him.<br />
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First Submission: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Technique, or the lack there of.</span></span></h3>
I emailed my masterpiece.... two days early, and called him. And with new found enthusiasm I answered his first question.<br />
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"How did you approach this?"<br />
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Perfect, I thought as I began reciting my vast arsenal of technical expertise: <i>glazing the face... the hair effect.... the 40% shadow rule... my pigment formulas for making the various ethnic skin tones and on and on.... and on. </i>I spilled the beans on every precious technique acquired over the years from various workshops and instructors. I took a breath and awaited his reply.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Hello?"</i> Had we lost service? Then he spoke.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr>
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<i>'Those are techniques, not painting. I don't want you to paint hair, I want you to paint what you see, not apply a technique that makes it look like hair.'</i><br />
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Me: You mean just paint? <br />
You're saying, <i>just paint</i>?<br />
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EB: Yeah, <i>just paint</i>.<br />
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I stood there stunned. What the hell is <i>that</i> supposed to mean? I took another breath, my mouth hung open like a marionette. And then it occurred to me, the gig was up. My secret was out, <i>my biggest secret!</i> I hadn't been formally trained. And if I didn't pay attention I ran the risk of achieving <i>my biggest fear</i>, to become <i>the Bob Ross of Watercolor</i>.<br />
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Those who know me would probably describe me as laid back and low key. And, this is true in every facet of my life EXCEPT my work. I am obsessed. I over think, I worry and most important, I rely on my techniques! I've spent the past ten years squeezing my obsession between ice skating lessons and laundry and a freaking day job. Techniques were what got me through, to where I am. And, I <i>do</i> paint what I see, I'm a realistic illustrator for Christ's sake! I closed my mouth as I started connecting the dots. Deep down I knew he had a point, and it was a damn good one.<br />
<br />
EB: Do it again, and only paint what you see.<br />
ME: (A bit deflated) Okay.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Second Submission: <span style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Paint what you see.</span></span></span></h3>
It was hard at first as I went through the motions. I set up my pallet and sketched the image onto the paper, his words hanging over my head. I grabbed a new stiff brush, doused it with water and dipped it into my pigment. I studied my image and made the decision where to put my first mark. I drug the brush across the paper. It sucked up the paint as the brush released. Wow, the new brushes WERE wonderful. My anxiety gave way to curiosity. I started to have fun, playing with the colors, not thinking about techniques but what I saw. And, strangely enough even tho there were problems, I could see an improvement. Was it working? I completed the image and sent the file.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvAoDly_Bx0/Up5kDTRxZMI/AAAAAAAAAj4/EQ_LUnlBTZU/s1600/IMG_5156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvAoDly_Bx0/Up5kDTRxZMI/AAAAAAAAAj4/EQ_LUnlBTZU/s640/IMG_5156.jpg" height="640" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
EB: Is that what the shadow looked like in the photo?<br />
ME: I was being careful to make the eye...<br />
EB: There's your problem right there. You just called it an eye. Once you do that, you lost it. They're just shapes, you're painting shapes."<br />
EB: Do it again, painting shapes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Third submission: </span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Painting Shapes.</span></h3>
I did my best to apply his suggestions. "More pigment, less water, no glazing, just paint [what you see]."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNxjR4CU5y0/Up5kER-6KII/AAAAAAAAAkA/gqMkhsY0yxc/s1600/IMG_5159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNxjR4CU5y0/Up5kER-6KII/AAAAAAAAAkA/gqMkhsY0yxc/s320/IMG_5159.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I decided to redraw the image.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9q1spdvW4M/Up5kJo2411I/AAAAAAAAAkI/qzN7kOs9PFA/s1600/IMG_5160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9q1spdvW4M/Up5kJo2411I/AAAAAAAAAkI/qzN7kOs9PFA/s320/IMG_5160.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laying in the shadows.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dupubx7Vc3Q/Up5kLHklghI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/t9zcLaEDSVA/s1600/IMG_5162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dupubx7Vc3Q/Up5kLHklghI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/t9zcLaEDSVA/s320/IMG_5162.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More pigment, less water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhux95UwXw0/Up5kNRO7JMI/AAAAAAAAAkY/3Bm8q2vfwic/s320/IMG_5166.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make every mark count.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiUEJ5jXTpY/Up5kQWOeydI/AAAAAAAAAkw/XJBzPpCeM_Y/s1600/IMG_5172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiUEJ5jXTpY/Up5kQWOeydI/AAAAAAAAAkw/XJBzPpCeM_Y/s640/IMG_5172.jpg" height="624" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3<br />
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I sent the file.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7v9KL2jby5c/Up5lE4eJbdI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/cGz365_6kEg/s1600/IMG_5173cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7v9KL2jby5c/Up5lE4eJbdI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/cGz365_6kEg/s200/IMG_5173cropped.png" height="200" width="172" /></a></div>
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I smiled a little, but careful not to be overly excited. I hesitated in my response.</div>
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Me: So now what?</div>
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There was a long pause. I braced myself for the inevitable.</div>
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EB: The hands are wrong. The color is off. Do more.</div>
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ME: Same thing? Still only three colors?</div>
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EB: YUP. You have about 9500 more hours to go.</div>
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ME: Same photo?</div>
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EB: Same Photo.</div>
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ME: The whole thing or just the hands? </div>
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EB: 10,000 hours!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69qgmrWbf60/Up6JKn3f48I/AAAAAAAAAlw/hrzBp70ID9k/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69qgmrWbf60/Up6JKn3f48I/AAAAAAAAAlw/hrzBp70ID9k/s640/IMG_5230.jpg" height="609" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4</td></tr>
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I sent the file and have spent the morning writing and editing this blog waiting for the call. I just got off the phone. I asked him what he thought. </div>
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<i style="font-size: x-large;"><b>'Dead on. You nailed it.' </b></i></div>
<i><b>Me: </b></i><b>YES!</b><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
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I have my new assignment. It seems that the lesson will be in patience. "Okay," he explained, "this time it shouldn't take four tries to get it right." His word of caution: "You've raised your bar. I have new expectations." And the cool thing is, so do I. </div>
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Clock hours logged? I've lost track.</div>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-62677600855856525032013-11-13T10:00:00.000-08:002017-04-07T17:18:02.870-07:00Mentor Retreat, Part 2. The Narrative.<h1 class="title" style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What Have You Learned, Dorothy?"</h1>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_xj2S42wNDk/UoQlZcOLhTI/AAAAAAAAAic/2EKLkN_Q4wE/s1600/IMG_2166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_xj2S42wNDk/UoQlZcOLhTI/AAAAAAAAAic/2EKLkN_Q4wE/s320/IMG_2166.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Writers have it easy. When they pack for a workshop their manuscript fits in a nice manila envelope. They look so cool sashaying through the airport, satchel draped across their chest and a sleek carry-on trailing behind. Sure, there may be a rogue pen or a laptop bogging<span style="background-color: white;"> them down, but as an </span>illustrator I'm not impressed! Luggage for an illustrator's workshop that has to make it through security, two connections and one layover is a much different animal. An artist needs tangible examples in order to be critiqued! To be sure I was getting every advantage of this experience, I needed to pack it all, thumbnails, sketch books, color copies; the good, the bad and the ugly. The weekend would be filled with fellow mentees, a jury of my peers. We were coming together to learn, not to impress as it goes at a conference. I needed substance. I decided it was best to take everything not nailed down. I sorted my things, careful to pack Exacto knives and other questionable supplies in my checked bag. Clothing would go in my carry-on, doubling as a cradle for my 35mm camera and 17" Mac. I threw all my weight on my over sized touristor and pulled the zipper. I heard it exhale as if it had breathed it's last breath. It had become apparent that sashaying would not be an option. Manila envelopes be damned. I thought about reinforcing my luggage wheel axles. Arriving at the airport, I leveraged my checked bag onto the scale. It fell sideways and rested. 49.3 lbs. I had dodged the first bullet. I was on my way.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdiYdIjfXb0/UoQi7TbOPgI/AAAAAAAAAh4/cPCtyS3lgWc/s1600/IMG_8707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdiYdIjfXb0/UoQi7TbOPgI/AAAAAAAAAh4/cPCtyS3lgWc/s320/IMG_8707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Upon arrival I was given a map and pointed toward a cute little cabin.... way over by the water, three hundred feet from the road to be exact. I took a deep breath, and started my trek. Pulling luggage through three inches of bark made the tarmac seem tame. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tia and Me!</td></tr>
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<br />
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<br />
I met my roommate, albeit an amazing illustrator, she was here as a writer. I noticed only a carry-on. We unpacked and made it just in time for the first break out session. The conversations were brilliant, witty and outright hilarious. Colorful scarves, faces of anticipation and enthusiasm. I thought of the tense conference mixers spent spotting agents and art directors hoping for a chance to hand them one of my slick new post cards. I exhaled. The pressure was off. These were my people!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4usIxUg0c0/UoQrrMYI7oI/AAAAAAAAAis/XCz6BiEFs54/s1600/IMG_4916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4usIxUg0c0/UoQrrMYI7oI/AAAAAAAAAis/XCz6BiEFs54/s320/IMG_4916.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our deck.</td></tr>
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Dinner was served and we made our way to our first breakout session. I felt a sense of urgency in getting my questions answered. I hoped I would have enough time to ask everything without capitalizing on the session. I was ready, loaded for bear, prepared to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity. Questions and discussions made made their way around the room, closer and closer to me. I started feeling overwhelmed and insignificant. Then it was my turn. In a poor attempt to expedite things, I hurled everything onto the table. I could hear myself blurting out half sentences about style, technique and process while rifling through tissues, overlays and sketchbooks describing my dilemmas, hopes, fears, dreams, happy accidents all in one big, blobby blurb. I realized somewhere between fears and dreams I had lost my point. Eyes began to glaze over. Then, silence. They may have been a little frightened. I took a breath. The color in their faces started to return. I closed my mouth and folded my hands in front of me, eased back into my chair and casually looked to the woman on my left. I cracked a smile and cocked my head as if to say, "next?" I decided it would be best to chill for a bit. And then something wonderful happened. She smiled back and asked <i>me</i> a question. A really good one. Click! The sense of urgency dissipated and was replaced with a warm calmness. All eyes were on me, waiting for my response. And, I had one, a good one. I felt a connection with everyone in the room, common ground. The seal had been broken and the learning had begun. My papers, carelessly spread over the table, seemed ridiculous and obsolete. Rather than talking, I started listening. And in turn, started to hear. The information was not in the form of answers to my questions, things I had intended to check off my list. It was stuff I hadn't even thought to ask; fresh, insightful and organic.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JtkwUGZyG5k/UoQ27vyeZeI/AAAAAAAAAjA/HuKwiQRAxyw/s1600/critique+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JtkwUGZyG5k/UoQ27vyeZeI/AAAAAAAAAjA/HuKwiQRAxyw/s640/critique+group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Diaz during one of our critique sessions. You can see me practicing my new found skill,<br />
biting my lip and listening. (photo: Sylvia Liu Land)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">Over the next three days I listened. Those of you who know me can appreciate that keeping my mouth shut is not easy. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I realize I have a tendency to lead conversations. I now realize it may be why I sometimes miss stuff. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I'm waiting for people to stop talking so I can comment, rather than listening to the information being given. Could this be, perhaps, a reason for my </span><i style="text-align: center;">stuckness</i><span style="text-align: center;">. Another breakthrough! "Keep your mouth shut, Kary. And your ears open." Bingo!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7m8DNI7lg2Y/UoQixEFjfqI/AAAAAAAAAhc/GahOwNbY5b8/s1600/IMG_4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7m8DNI7lg2Y/UoQixEFjfqI/AAAAAAAAAhc/GahOwNbY5b8/s320/IMG_4980.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mentor, E.B. Lewis, giving a demo <br />
using my brushes of which he had a strong opinion.</td></tr>
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<br />
I quickly developed a thick skin. My mentor has what would be best described as a <i>direct approach. </i><br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Your brushes are shit!" </blockquote>
That sense of urgency? Taken care of. </div>
<div>
No time wasted with niceties here. But honestly, it's refreshing. And, don't forget, I asked for this. </div>
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<div>
FINALLY, I'm being told what I need to hear. No holding back. Sugar coated advice hasn't gotten me anywhere. Also, I realize that my mentor can only teach me what he knows. So, I pay attention, taking it all in. I will have plenty of time to sort things out later. But for now, I am a sponge. I don't want to be him, but through his guidance, I hope to find me. <br />
<br />
I could go on, but I think you get the jest. More useful and insightful I think are some of the quotes I jotted down by our two illustrator mentors throughout the weekend, <a href="http://www.nccil.org/experience/artists/diazd/" target="_blank">David Diaz</a> and <a href="http://eblewis.com/" target="_blank">E.B. Lewis</a>.<br />
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They are both brilliant but in spending time with them it's apparent that there is more than one way to skin a cat. So here in no particular order are some insights quoted and/or paraphrased by them.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality with the same intensity.” -Re-quoted by EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Ask yourself, ‘What does my world look like?’ ” -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“It’s about intention. You’re never gonna achieve it, but you have to do it.” -EB</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Action, Reaction, Interaction. Every image and spread has to identify those three things. EVERY ONE! “ -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Style and Voice are two different things. Style is how people recognize you. Voice is what distinguishes you." -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Illustration and Fine Art should meet.” -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What we do is a craft. It takes a lifetime to master." -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Photoshop can save five to ten years of your life.” -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Make sure your pieces are narrative.” -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Painting is 90% drawing." -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Kary, Your portfolio presentation is shit.”-EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You need an online presence. Traditional portfolios are not as important as they once were. Editors and agents ask for online portfolios. You need both. -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Your work is only as good as your reference.” -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“There’s no shame in using reference, but if you use it, own it.” -DD </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Squinting is important.” It will save you grad school tuition -EB </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And, although this one was for the writers, I had to include it:<br />
“If it sounds like writing, rewrite it!” <i>Sarah Davies, agent/owner at Greenhouse Literary Agency.</i></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops! Someone cracked a joke!<br />
Our cool cover is blown!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and E.B. in a formal and regal<br />
J.C. Penny Catalog shot.</td></tr>
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I'm home now and a good two weeks into this experience. I am a student again. There is a sense of freedom, a huge sense of relief, focus and new found creativity. It's like rediscovering what first excited you about your partner after several meaningful years that have somehow gone flat. It's new, exciting and motivating. I can't wait to get into my studio every morning. There is a sense of focus I haven't felt in years.<br />
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And remember, this is only my narrative, a single example of the impact this experience has and will continue to give us. Thank you Nevada SCBWI for providing this venue. And thank you mentors, all of you, for your time.<br />
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See you all in April! -Kary<br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-37795029125899136342013-11-05T17:10:00.000-08:002013-11-06T18:27:50.586-08:00Mentor Retreat, Part 1. The Descriptive.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Talent, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">smart-humor, passion!</span></h2>
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These words, albeit descriptive, only begin to emulate the remarkable group of writers and illustrators I had the privilege of spending time with during last weekend's 2013 Mentor's Retreat in South Lake Tahoe. Time was short, information was abundant and memories were made!<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/" target="_blank">Jim Averbek</a> and E.B. Lewis discuss opinions <br>
during a critique session</td></tr>
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The mentors talent, styles and opinions varied greatly. But it just added to the depth of our experience. We quickly learned that there is more than one way to approach and solve problems. There was something for everyone!<br>
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By day we gathered in organized groups discussing and critiquing everyone’s work. <br>
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It started out a little daunting but we soon realized no one or thing was sacred. If you can’t stand exposed in front of this group then what was the point? <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nccil.org/experience/artists/diazd/" target="_blank">David Diaz</a> presenting a PhotoShop tutorial.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We attended impromptu Photoshop sessions, participated in a hands-on reference photo-shoot, watched a painting demo (<i>yes, we watched paint dry!</i>), and even found time to pour through one mentee's favorite picture books as a group, discussing what worked and why. </span><span style="text-align: center;"></span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eblewis.com/" target="_blank">E.B. Lewis</a> during a painting demo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing stories during a break.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writers and illustrators unite!<br>
Toni Galliger, YA Writer with <br>
me (<i>Kary Lee</i>), illustrator.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">In the evenings, we observed heated fireside debates (no pun intended) on the relevance of Twilight, recited personal paranormal-ghost stories, and observed first hand the millennium generations’ rendition of Rocky Horror Picture Show attire (interesting indeed) all while nursing our egos with a nice glass of Red.</span><br>
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<span style="text-align: start;">New friends, new colleagues, new ideas! My mind is full and my brain is tired. I can't wait to see what the next six months brings.</span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustrator Mentees for 2013 pictured with mentor E.B. Lewis, upper left.</td></tr>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-40926337483445606722013-10-25T16:40:00.004-07:002013-10-25T16:53:44.042-07:00A New Leaf for me!<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I'm at the airport. I'm booked on the three-thirty flight to Reno, headed to <a href="http://www.stanfordsierra.com/" target="_blank">South Lake Tahoe, Fallen-Leaf resort</a> to be exact. It's been three months since I got the news. The news that could potentially, possibly, HOPEFULLY be a game changer in my career as a book illustrator. No pressure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was selected as a mentee in <a href="http://nevadascbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI Nevada</a>'s prestigious Mentorship program for 2014. The phone call came as a complete shock. I had applied a few months prior at the recommendation of a dear friend and successful YA author, <a href="http://www.kirbylarson.com/" target="_blank">Kirby Larsen</a>, Hattie Big Sky. I looked over the choices for illustrator mentors. They were all accomplished and all amazing. But once I saw <a href="http://www.eblewis.com/" target="_blank">E.B. Lewis</a>' work, my choice was obvious. I was a little amazed to see a realistic illustrator on the faculty! This was someone who actually did what I did only better, 55 books and counting! Most of the feedback I've received throughout my career although positive about my work, had been posed more in the form of a question. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Kary, your work is beautiful, but..... (then there's that awful pause)</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do you want to do picture books? You should be displaying in galleries. There's not much Trade work for realism. How do you feel about the Education market?" </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seeing E.B.'s work pushed my little shadow of doubt to the side. Maybe I <i>could</i> make it with realism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At that time I was knee deep in a book project for a small publisher. I was refining my style and adjusting according to what I thought was the logical direction for my work. I didn't feel great about it. It seemed forced but I couldn't put my finger on the problem. Lately I saw an underwhelmed reaction of my work from my peers. Then, ironically for reasons that in hindsight were somewhat related, the book deal fell through and I found myself with time on my hands. I looked at the sliver lining. Now I would have time to prepare for this mentorship! I would have time to analyse my mentor's work, contemplate what I want to gain from the experience. Maybe </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I should explain why I sound a little obsessed. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(E.B., if your reading </i><i style="font-family: inherit;">this, I promise I'm nothing like Kathryn Bates' character in Misery.)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Truth be told, the first time I saw </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">E.B.'s work, I cried. I did! I was overwhelmed. Here was a realistic picture book illustrator, not only published but creating beautiful, heartfelt images of people.... of children. The feelings I strive to capture in my own work flooded over me. 'This guy gets it,' I thought. And, maybe just maybe he will get me! And if I am good enough to be selected, maybe he can coach me on how to stop excelling in the mediocre and make that move to the next level. This opportunity could be a game changer. If I was lucky enough to be chosen I would make sure it was! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> All this time to prepare and I didn't have a freaking clue what to do. I've felt paralyzed for the past two months. Didn't pick up a brush or a pencil. I've been honing my style, working on a<i> respectable </i>whimsy, keeping it light, drawing all sorts of things, pushing myself to fit in. It's all been quite frustrating. Every time I thought I might have a breakthrough, I would go another illustrator's blog, or look at books in my illustrator library filled with the <a href="http://marlafrazee.com/" target="_blank">Marla Frazee's</a> and <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 18.59375px; text-indent: 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TonyDiterlizzi?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Tony DiTerlizzi</a></span> of my world thinking, 'wow, why didn't I think of that.' It wasn't until last week when I was about to give up. I began fantasizing about being an accountant. And something amazing happened, I picked up my pencil (freshly sharpened) and exhaled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, one thing I'm not allowed to do when I get 'stuck' is leave my studio. I have to stay, even if I am sharpening pencils! So I pulled out some photographs of kids playing and a beach scene of my friend's daughter spoke to me. I started sketching. No agenda, just playing around. It took about 5 minutes. Then, a quick trace onto watercolor paper and in less than an hour I had painted a cute little vignette. Nothing fancy, but it was mine! I felt that 'thing' I have missed for so long. That 'thing' that I can't describe. It's what causes me to want to go to the next 'thing.' And my energy started returning. I am feeling that voice (my voice) creep back into my head and it's loud and clear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I painted three more images this week! This one below I actually did yesterday. I think I'm ready for this new adventure and excited to be turning over a new leaf at Fallen Leaf Resort. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Wish me luck!</span><br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-60259323887818556572013-10-05T09:44:00.003-07:002013-10-08T12:08:41.473-07:00Girls gone blog!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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So, my daughters both have blogs. No big deal. We all have one these days, right? And, being that these writers are my babies, you're probably not amazed that I think they're brilliant writers....yawn. Ok, fair enough.<br />
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My youngest, Katy Bug, made a New Years Resolution last December to blog and include a photo every day for the year of 2013, the last half of her high school senior year and the beginning of college. Hence, <a href="http://www.theyearitallchanged.com/" target="_blank">The Year it all Changed</a>. I remember saying, '<i>nice idea honey,' </i>fully meaning it. And it would support her dream of being a photographer. That seemed nice. I mean, I was an illustrator at that age so yeah, I was intrigued. But, I<i> </i>remember senior year and I didn't give her idea much clout. That was (according to her blog) 285 days ago. This has been quite a year, and she will appreciate that it's actually documented. I especially love day... oh who am I kidding, I can't narrow it down.<br />
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Aaand, then there's Debbie. She might be more like her momma, writing more sporadically, when the time calls for it. But for smart, funny? You gotta take a peak at her Mexico experience on <a href="http://www.littledebbiebigworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Little Debbie, Big World</a>.<br />
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<br />Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-49139220123549343072013-08-31T10:36:00.001-07:002013-08-31T14:02:16.210-07:00Goals vs Dreams<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Is the choice you just made going to get you closer to your goal?" </span></h2>
That was the question Grant Kollet, Director at <a href="http://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank">University of Washington</a> asked us yesterday, at my youngest daughter's college freshman orientation. Its wonderfully ironic when being a parent teaches me. <br />
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<a href="http://www.theyearitallchanged.com/" target="_blank">Kate</a> starts college at the 'U' next month. She is my third kid. So I got this, right? Yet, that sentence hit me like a ton of bricks. So simple, so logical, so easily applied to all of us at any stage of our lives and so easy to screw up! I admit, I've learned the hard way, although sometimes life happens and we have to adapt. But if we ever want to achieve our goals we can't forget them. What's more, we actually have to have them in the first place. I grew up in a reactionary household so goals were not in my vocabulary. I didn't understand how to follow through even with all the creative passion I had for everything around me. It took years and many lost opportunities to understand. However, hearing Mr. Kollet's words made me realize how far I've come. I have goals! I have dreams! And, I am moving forward in achieving them! The simplicity of the sentence helped put all these things into perspective. The tricky part is in letting things go if they aren't keeping us on track while constantly re-evaluating our said goals and modify when necessary. <br />
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I define myself as an illustrator, a children's book illustrator to be exact. And yet, it's only one component of who I am. I have to balance between my role as a parent, partner, sibling, and community member, not to mention hold down a real job because book illustration is not exactly the mecca for income. So, it was good for me to hear that sentence and bring back my focus. I have had to make some tough career decisions recently. But with that, I have had new doors open that I might have missed. <br />
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Back to the parenting component, it's pretty universal. We want more for our children than we had. But it's a fine line; if you <b><i>give</i></b> them too much they won't appreciate it, if you <b><i>provide</i></b> too little to avoid 'privilege' you have a child who may not think they deserve what they have or want. Entitlement versus low self-esteem, a parent's balancing act. I am excited for my daughter to be in an environment at this point in her life that will challenge her to think, to take risks, and to live outside of her comfort zone. All three of my children are light-years ahead of where I was at their age. So, I guess I'm doing something right. The next chapter in our lives is here and I am so excited! Mr. Kollet's words will help me in all of my roles to do better and stay on track. <br />
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<i>Good Luck <a href="http://www.theyearitallchanged.com/" target="_blank">Katy Bug</a>.... I can't wait to see what you do with this new adventure! -Momma</i><br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-38343270089939034762013-08-30T09:06:00.000-07:002017-04-07T17:19:28.651-07:00Wake Up Katy. Its' time to go to College!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took my youngest to college last week, the University of Washington. Pretty cool, huh? Ranked 16th in the world. Who knew? So excited and proud of her. She is right where she is supposed to be.<br />
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After two days of moving in, shopping and hanging photos all reasons for me to stay were exhausted. The time had come for our good-bye. We shared an awkward hug and she managed a crooked smile, picked up her bag and walked away. I took a deep breath and watched and her frame shrink as she crossed the parking lot. Suddenly I felt frantic. My throat tightened up. I realized I needed to grab a picture as she walked away. That's what a good mom would do, right? It would make it all easier. Of course, a final shot!<br />
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I dig in my purse, fumbling for my iPhone. She's ten feet away. I grab the phone and touch the camera icon only to find that it's photo stream. Swipe to the next screen. Twenty more feet. I'm gonna miss this. Where is that damned camera icon? I find it. Another five feet away. I zoom. Ah, she's in the frame. I focus. She slips behind a tree. My stomach drops an inch. But then, for just a split second, I see her sauntering across the parking lot with her purple bag in hand. I think of a photo I snapped several years ago, her first day of kindergarten. My eyes fill with tears, I am overwhelmed. CLICK. And she is gone. <br />
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At home I pulled out the kindergarten photo. And I noticed something wonderful and ironic; <i>the purple 'pack-pack'. </i> A subtile sign of things to come. I smile.<br />
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She starts classes this morning. You would think it would be easier this time, the third time I've done this. My older kids are in college too. They also start this week. But now we're all in different cities beginning the next phases of our lives. It's quiet in the house. I miss them. But I am happy.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbzbry23ZrU/UkMGQWPzbiI/AAAAAAAAAbw/prpHArii6a4/s1600/katyfirstdaycollege.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbzbry23ZrU/UkMGQWPzbiI/AAAAAAAAAbw/prpHArii6a4/s320/katyfirstdaycollege.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gbzbry23ZrU/UkMGQWPzbiI/AAAAAAAAAbs/h-z16LkGCgI/s1600/katyfirstdaycollege.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">....So, good luck little buggy, and bolbies and barney too. </a></div>
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I love you guys and am so excited to see where you all go and what you do. -Momma</div>
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<br />Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-21482058375961419282013-08-15T11:31:00.000-07:002017-04-10T10:07:56.645-07:00Digitally editing a traditional watercolor!<br />
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Updating a Portfolio Piece </h2>
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from this: </h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKOiaGdKEk/VfhT7CyNZPI/AAAAAAAABOY/_gaxA3y3nfA/s1600/old%2Btruck%2B72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKOiaGdKEk/VfhT7CyNZPI/AAAAAAAABOY/_gaxA3y3nfA/s640/old%2Btruck%2B72dpi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This piece shows off my technique but is too sedentary for my portfolio. <br />
I wanted to keep the basic image, but update it with more interaction. </td></tr>
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<i>To This!</i></h2>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL504pgJ6DY/VfhWd_efpMI/AAAAAAAABPE/8BhVWVY2ORg/s1600/new%2Btruck-Recovered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL504pgJ6DY/VfhWd_efpMI/AAAAAAAABPE/8BhVWVY2ORg/s640/new%2Btruck-Recovered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More interaction between the characters!</td></tr>
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Original Shots:</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8i62dSejjo/VfhU5DaNYQI/AAAAAAAABOo/XgsCbJkWaYg/s200/IMG_9701.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not very interesting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7bT8UxvbBg/VfhU5_8p3mI/AAAAAAAABO0/OLLo0gyyHtw/s1600/IMG_9702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7bT8UxvbBg/VfhU5_8p3mI/AAAAAAAABO0/OLLo0gyyHtw/s200/IMG_9702.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute, but boring.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpBWHDGekbQ/VfhU5pZ3loI/AAAAAAAABOs/G8rYeyOQ3qk/s1600/IMG_9738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NpBWHDGekbQ/VfhU5pZ3loI/AAAAAAAABOs/G8rYeyOQ3qk/s640/IMG_9738.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Looking at my characters I decided that it would be better for the
drummer to be performing <br />and to have the other toys reacting to the
music. So I modified the doll, and the lamb <br />and added a second arm to
the wooden soldier to show more animation: </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUPCGLikzz4/VfhRrCzbpWI/AAAAAAAABNU/RaSwzTknAu4/s1600/Dancing%2Bdolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUPCGLikzz4/VfhRrCzbpWI/AAAAAAAABNU/RaSwzTknAu4/s640/Dancing%2Bdolls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, I traced the original watercolor and then modified the characters (keeping them to scale), <br />
scanned the image and printed it out on my watercolor paper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLwEezsUQQ8/VfhSP8Yg34I/AAAAAAAABNs/LId1SV9d13k/s1600/IMG_9708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLwEezsUQQ8/VfhSP8Yg34I/AAAAAAAABNs/LId1SV9d13k/s640/IMG_9708.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Once I had my image I made note to the original pallet and painted traditionally glazing and building the colors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glazing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ti48mtTT_d8/VfhSQWZjrEI/AAAAAAAABN8/YElV4fVfrsY/s1600/IMG_9735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ti48mtTT_d8/VfhSQWZjrEI/AAAAAAAABN8/YElV4fVfrsY/s640/IMG_9735.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the phantom soldier arm and foot. These will be layered onto the digital image <br />
altering the original watercolor image.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qdzKqXgGiQ/VfhSRG-pJbI/AAAAAAAABOA/jcC6jHwltmM/s1600/IMG_9739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qdzKqXgGiQ/VfhSRG-pJbI/AAAAAAAABOA/jcC6jHwltmM/s640/IMG_9739.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the finished "revised" illustration. I scanned and used Photoshop to all a new layer and merge the two images.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_E6oi95sy88/VfhRrpzuf1I/AAAAAAAABNc/Zk-iUwLFDmE/s1600/new%2Btruck-Recovered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_E6oi95sy88/VfhRrpzuf1I/AAAAAAAABNc/Zk-iUwLFDmE/s640/new%2Btruck-Recovered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the finished image.<br />
(but I see in this pic, his foot is still a little transparent.... <i>I will have to check on that.</i>)</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1063033536"></span><span id="goog_1063033537"></span><br />Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-88894018008377742592013-08-07T16:28:00.001-07:002013-08-07T16:28:26.005-07:00Mentor E.B. Lewis and Mentee (me!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fIKaBemWSzw/UgLYFm1XU4I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/W2pGcif18VI/s640/blogger-image--501387159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fIKaBemWSzw/UgLYFm1XU4I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/W2pGcif18VI/s640/blogger-image--501387159.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was fortunate to meet and talk to my mentor, E.B. Lewis during the LA SCBWI international Conference. In addition to his phenomenal talent, his passion for reaching children with that talent is more than moving. I am grateful to have this unique opportunity and can't wait to get started. </div>Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-32341593164320786612013-08-05T19:25:00.001-07:002013-08-31T10:52:02.739-07:00Traditional Illustration alive and well at SCBWI LA Conference!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Spend a great weekend learning, networking, meeting new and old friends (you know who you are). In exhausted but so excited to get back to my studio. </div>
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I spent a three days learning from the best of the best. The highlights were talks about process and his craft by David Wiesner, multi- Caldecott and honor books including Tuesday and The Three Little Pigs. And, Bruce Degan, illustrator of the infamous Magic School bus series. What a treat to listen to traditional illustrators and actually touch original art and actual pre-press film. Refreshing! </div>
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Descriptive and helpful tips and overwhelmingly beautiful work. Thanks for a great time SCBWI. #LA13SCBWI</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Caldecott Award Winner, David Weisner and a fan!</i></td></tr>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-50942106675196029902013-04-27T09:54:00.000-07:002013-04-27T09:59:33.015-07:00Kary Lee, featured illustrator on Kathy Teaman's 'Illustrator Saturday.'<h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My drawing table with a project in process!</i></td></tr>
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This week I had the honor of being interviewed by Kathy Teaman for her weekly blog feature <i><a href="http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/illustrator-saturday-kary-lee/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WritingAndIllustrating+%28Writing+and+Illustrating%29" target="_blank">Illustrator Saturday</a></i>.<br />
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Kathy, <i>former Regional Advisor for New Jersey's SCBWI, </i>shares information about Writing and Illustrating for children to published and unpublished authors and illustrators.<br />
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This weekly feature showcases illustrators, <i>like me</i>! It provides the us with a platform and others with insight into our processes, challenges and passion for our craft. <br />
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Her questions were well crafted. In the process of telling my story, ironically my answers brought me clarity about myself and my work. She really does a great job. Thank you, Kathy!<br />
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For complete <a href="http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/illustrator-saturday-kary-lee/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WritingAndIllustrating+%28Writing+and+Illustrating%29" target="_blank">Blog Interview, click here.</a><br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-88401344373828499552013-03-15T09:34:00.000-07:002013-03-15T09:34:03.498-07:00PASS IT ON: Cool Events and News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.shortcrazyvietnam.com/events.html">Book Reading at <br />Neill Public library</a></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pullman author to read from ‘short, crazy’ Vietnam War memoir</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julie Titone will read from the memoir that she co-authored with the late artist Grady Myers, “</span><a href="http://www.shortcrazyvietnam.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Boocoo Dinky Dow: My short, crazy Vietnam War</span></a>,” <span style="font-size: 12pt;">on March 21 in Pullman.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. at <a href="http://www.pullman-wa.gov/departments/neill-public-library/945-pullman-author-to-read-at-npl-32113" target="_blank">Neill Public Library</a>, 210 N. Grand Ave.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Joining her in reading from the book will be Washington State University professor of English and Vietnam veteran Victor Villanueva Jr.<br /><br />The book takes its title from soldiers’ slang pronunciation of “beaucoup dien cai dau,” meaning very crazy. A reviewer for the Vietnam Veterans of America called the memoir <i>“</i><em><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Lucid ... well-told ... beautifully illustrated ... infused with humor.” Washington State Magazine praised it as </span></em>"Part ‘M*A*S*H’ and part ‘Full Metal Jacket.’ ”<br /><br />Myers was an aimless Idaho teenager, when, desperate for troops, the U.S. Army overlooked his extreme nearsightedness and transformed him into Hoss, an M-60 machine gunner. In “Boocoo Dinky Dow,”<i> </i>he recounts his military initiation at Fort Lewis, Wash. He describes the intensity of Vietnam, where an old man carrying a bundle of sticks posed a moral dilemma and where his explosives-happy comrades in Charlie Company sometimes posed the greatest danger.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Myers returned from four months in Vietnam with a Purple Heart and spent the rest of his Army career recovering from his war wounds. He went on to a professional art career. His employers included the Idaho Statesman in Boise, the Spokesman-Review in Spokane and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Coeur d’Alene. He died in 2011.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Myers and Titone were newspaper colleagues when they produced the first manuscript of his memoir in the late 1970s. They eventually married, had a son, divorced yet remained friends. When he became bedridden several years ago, they revived the manuscript to give him a project to work on. This time, they added Myers’ drawings that had become part of the National Veterans Art Museum collection.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Titone has worked as a journalist and university communicator. Her writing and photography have appeared in regional, national and international publications; her essays have been published in three college textbooks and two literary collections. Her novel, <i>Deadline Affairs</i>, was recorded by Books in Motion.<br /><br />For more information, visit: </span><a href="http://www.shortcrazyvietnam.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">www.shortcrazyvietnam.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-67087004402242214602013-03-10T08:51:00.001-07:002013-03-10T08:55:58.376-07:00Whats up in Kary's studio?Work in progress.<br />
I wasn't real sure where this project was going. Pushing my characters Is the goal. This week I was fortunate to have two days where I didn't have to leave my studio. Those are few and far between. Just great music, my drawing board and a little paint. Life is good! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BJN3162bhv8/UTyr9OLTq-I/AAAAAAAAAUw/YwPj5sC9p48/s640/blogger-image--1213845075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BJN3162bhv8/UTyr9OLTq-I/AAAAAAAAAUw/YwPj5sC9p48/s640/blogger-image--1213845075.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wzOqzsWPEH8/UTyr-sMNj4I/AAAAAAAAAU4/r8Wzvtt-E3c/s640/blogger-image-1296880778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wzOqzsWPEH8/UTyr-sMNj4I/AAAAAAAAAU4/r8Wzvtt-E3c/s640/blogger-image-1296880778.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gZ2j1vAr4ps/UTysB47z8TI/AAAAAAAAAVI/SIHgxmPArPc/s640/blogger-image--885772735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gZ2j1vAr4ps/UTysB47z8TI/AAAAAAAAAVI/SIHgxmPArPc/s640/blogger-image--885772735.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WELbLACP_Sc/UTysALYLB2I/AAAAAAAAAVA/7dlFzb1Bi_4/s640/blogger-image--125415613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WELbLACP_Sc/UTysALYLB2I/AAAAAAAAAVA/7dlFzb1Bi_4/s640/blogger-image--125415613.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uBtbZokRg00/UTytDQh02tI/AAAAAAAAAVY/70h_l2lQ4hc/s640/blogger-image--1533730838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uBtbZokRg00/UTytDQh02tI/AAAAAAAAAVY/70h_l2lQ4hc/s640/blogger-image--1533730838.jpg" /></a></div>Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-65944828905398211922013-02-27T10:15:00.000-08:002013-02-27T10:22:42.033-08:00Online Gallery for SCBWI Award<h2>
<a href="http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Tomie dePaola illustration entries.</a></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 18.399999618530273px; line-height: 18px;">From Tomie dePaola:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"It seems as though we had more entries than ever this year for the black and white competition. ... I want to say a few things about black and white. On the whole it is much harder than full color, which some of you may have experienced. Especially when the illustrations were more tonal than line drawing. There is a tendency for the images to get overly dark and muddy, rather than rich."</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Congratulations to Sandra Ure Griffin, who attended the 2013 Winter Conference in New York, and received her award. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">And congratulations to all the runners up as well as everyone who entered the contest. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">We had over 300 submissions this year! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">Here's my entry. Click here to see them all!</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PT-xpWantLg/UKZnT_Ew-SI/AAAAAAAAAI8/g9IxQyNuvNU/s1600/signiture.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Applicants had the option to submit their art to our unofficial online gallery, so check out all the amazing talent here: </span></a><span style="color: #001698; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/">http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/"> </a> Enjoy! Thanks so much to Tomie dePaola for taking the time and effort to carefully judge this award, and to everyone who created artwork and applied.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #132447; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Georgia; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-46154440318884138482013-02-13T09:39:00.002-08:002013-02-13T10:28:34.948-08:00Jefferson Elementary and Neill Library Celebrate Black History Month.<br />
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<span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">2nd graders artwork highlighting famous African-
Americans. </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">Come see the </span><span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">children’s artwork </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">currently on display </span><span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">in </span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.pullman-wa.gov/departments/neill-public-library/?fb_action_ids=3857382413603&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=hovercard" style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Neill Public Library</a><span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">, </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">February 11 – 28. </span></h4>
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Jefferson Elementary's Jenny Barnes and WSU's College of Education's <a href="http://education.wsu.edu/directory/faculty/mencke" target="_blank">Paul Mencke</a> collaborated on a Black History unit focused on leaders such as <i>Mary Bethune, Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Dr. Mae Jemison</i>. The project was inspired by one of Dr. Mencke's current projects, a children's picture book. The alphabet style reader will highlight many African-Americans who have helped to mold the history of our nation. I plan on learning more about the project and will keep you posted!<br />
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<i style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 12pt;">Here is a sneak peak at some of the students artwork:</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phyllis Wheatley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Bethune</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Mae Jemison</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dred Scott<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Carter G. Woodson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: TT15Ct00; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Come celebrate the amazing artwork of our future leaders!! </span></h4>
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-30878953473500978742013-01-22T10:03:00.001-08:002013-01-22T11:03:29.979-08:00Sketch book studiesGetting to know my character. <br />
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I've actually known her since the day she was born. But it's always amazing what we don't see until we have to capture someone's personality. My sketches started out cold this morning; stiff and forced. As the day progresses I am able to relax my pencil grip and it starts to come together. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404467281265858105.post-60434501673850302072013-01-09T21:19:00.002-08:002013-01-09T21:19:46.568-08:00Pushing my Envelope, Tomie dePaola Entry 2013<h3>
"White Alley, Jim. And it's a bully taw!" </h3>
I have been a Mark Twain fan for as long as I can remember. So when I read the guidelines for this year's <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Tomie-dePaola-Award" target="_blank">Tomie dePaola's SCBWI illustration award</a> I decided to take the challenge. The requirements were to create a black and white illustration depicting a scene from one of the classics; Tom Sawyer, Little Women or The Yearling. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My! Dat's a mighty gay marble, I tell you! <br />
But Mars Tom,I's powerful 'fraid ole missis--</td></tr>
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I decided it was a good exercise to focus on my drawing skills. And Tom Sawyer seemed like a good story to use the twist of black and white images with the race undertones in the story. <br />
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Although the whitewash scene has been done many times, I found it ironic that I couldn't find any images with Jim the slave boy as Tom's first victim. He was bribed with a marble, <i>a White Alley!</i><br />
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It's always a fine line for me between realism and whimsy. So once I had my idea, I had to decide how best to show it. I am constantly searching for balance, pushing to find my voice while keeping rich and interesting characters.<br />
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Constantly evolving, it's the process that I love. I'm never quite sure where it's going, and then suddenly it all falls into place. The many things I learned from this project will help for the next one. There are things I love about the finished image and as always things I would do different. But that's what great about this job... there's always next time! This was a great project. Thank you <a href="http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/index.html" target="_blank">Tomie dePoala</a> for the challenge!<br />
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.....And it doesn't hurt that the winner receives an expense paid trip to this year's <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/Conference.aspx?Con=11" target="_blank">SCBWI Winter Conference</a>. <br />
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Kary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06128393035614952494noreply@blogger.com0