Pitching Your Portfolio: What Art Directors Really Want with Mina Chung
Description: There might be no such thing as a perfect portfolio but there are certainly great portfolios that will catch publishers' eyes. Selecting 10-12 pieces for a portfolio is not an easy task and based on my experience as an art director who receives numerous portfolios every day from agents and artists, I will talk about practical tips for building a great portfolio. Topics covered will range from what to include, what not to include, to what kind of pieces showcase one's ability to carry on an entire book, plus more.
Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate
This workshop is beneficial for: Artists who are ready to curate their current body of work.
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: Please come with any questions about your portfolio.
Tips and Tools to Approach Your Work in New Ways: A Two-Part Revision Workshop with Emma D. Dryden - PART TWO
Description: This session is a continuation of Part One. Please read the description under Breakout Session ONE.
Mixing It Up: An Exploration in Mixed Media with London Ladd - PART TWO
Description: This session is a continuation of Part One. Please read the description under Breakout Session ONE.
Picture this… Can You See Yourself Self-Publishing a Picture Book? with Michael Hale
Description: If you are considering self-publishing a picture book, be aware that there are more ways to go about publishing your own book than ever before. So, which self-publishing options are right for you and the book you want to create? And, more importantly, how do you figure it all out? To assist you in the self-evaluation and planning needed to successfully publish your own book, this workshop will put all of the pros and cons associated with self-publishing on the table so you can decide which is the best publishing option for your book.
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate.
This workshop is best for participants…
who are considering self-publishing a children’s picture book. Especially those who want to know what challenges they may face in taking on this endeavor. It is also relevant to creators who may have already self-published a book and are looking for ways to improve their product, marketing, and sales efforts.
Advanced Preparation: Bring an open mind, a pen or pencil, a notebook for notes, and a calculator.
Finding, Growing, and Preserving Your Illustrator's Voice in Picture Book Making with Cozbi A. Cabrera
Description: In this workshop we’ll examine the power of emotional register, practice, and iteration and the role of learning and exploration in our visual storytelling. We’ll go over design basics and hierarchies, materiality, playing with elements such as composition, value, color, line, texture, scale, light and shadow, repetition and pattern. Our goal is to leave this workshop with the bones of our next story and with an expanded toolkit, excited and charged about the next steps in our picture book journeys.
This workshop is beneficial for: Working artists who use traditional or digital media.
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: Please bring along one picture book that impacts you emotionally as well any 5 pieces of visual reference from photos or artwork that inspire you. Lastly, a scribble of an early childhood memory -- your own or one you might have inherited.
How To Sell Your Middle Grade Novel and Make It A Hit With Kids with Alyson Gerber
Description: What goes into a hit middle grade book or series? How do you craft a compelling concept and tell a story that really resonates with kids? In this session, I will share what went into my pitch for the New York Times bestselling series The Liars Society, as well as what went into pitches for other great books that are capturing the middle grade audience right now. We will talk about crafting a concept and a pitch that will help your ideas shine and get kids excited about reading. In this session, you will have the chance to workshop your own ideas.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
This workshop is best for participants…
who have an agent or have published books and are looking to write middle grade.
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation:
Bring a concept for a middle grade novel.
Maintaining Career Momentum in a Slow-Paced Industry with Linda Camacho
Description: It’s commonly said that the world of book publishing is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s very much a hurry-up-and-wait sort of cadence, with quite a bit of emphasis on the waiting. But how do you move forward when you’re in the waiting trenches? The way to keep your career momentum going is by shifting your mindset from passive waiting to active development. In this session, I’ll equip writers and illustrators with practical strategies to not only endure but thrive in the industry's unique pace. We’ll touch on three essential elements that lead to a thriving publishing career: Financial wellness, project development, and platform building. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the overall publishing process, along with new ideas for future projects and building connections in the industry.
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
This workshop is beneficial for: Writers and writer-illustrators, whether they’re unpublished or published
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation: No prep needed. Just be sure to bring pen and notepad/paper to work on some class exercises. Not required, but if do you have a list of ideas/pitches for works-in-progress, feel free to bring those as well.
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