Welcome Illustrators!
Come join other illustrators for art critiques and discussions on industry topics. All experience levels welcome!
Typically we meet the second Saturday of the month.
Next Meeting: Saturday, June 13, 10:00-12:00
Guest Speaker: Christina Forshay
Topic: Fantastic Portfolios, Feedback & Friends
Join Christina Forshay for an inspiring and practical discussion on portfolio development, creative growth, and the importance of building your creative community. Christina will share insights from her professional journey, offer guidance on creating an effective illustration portfolio, and provide live portfolio critiques and feedback for attendees who bring work to share. The session will also explore how supportive creative relationships can help sustain and strengthen a long-term career in illustration.
Christina is a Los Angeles–based illustrator who loves creating art that celebrates strong, brave children and animals through enchanting worlds filled with color, light, and shadow. Growing up in a diverse Mexican American community, she rarely saw families like her own represented in books or media, an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of belonging and representation. Through her work, she hopes diverse young readers can see themselves reflected in the stories they read and feel empowered, while also encouraging all children to appreciate cultures and experiences different from their own. When she’s not painting or drawing in her studio, Christina enjoys doing fun stuff like hiking, golfing and exploring new places with her two kids!
Where: Zoom & Irvine Ranch Water District Community Meeting Room
15500 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618
Irvine Ranch Water District makes its facilities available for use by residents and nonprofit organizations merely as a public service, but does not, by allowing this use, endorse or support the purpose of the event or its sponsor
Cost: Free
Please email Heather Soodak: [email protected] to be added to the illustrator emails, get the zoom link, and for specifics on submissions.
WHAT WE DO:
- Exchange Ideas And Mingle: Meetups are the best place to get to know one another! Come hang out.
- Illustration prompts: Prompts will be announced a month before the meeting. Then we will critique each other’s illustration during the meeting. The goal is to develop your portfolio.
- Portfolio Hot Seats: Illustrators can submit their portfolio to be reviewed by the group. You can ask once a year.
- Guest Speakers: We occasionally have guest speakers!
- 15 Minutes Topic of the Month: We pick a topic every month such as agents, self promotion etc. Ask anything, share anything!
COMMUNICATION:
Keep up with announcements, polls and discussions by following us on social media and signing up to be on the illustrator email list.
- Bluesky
- Illustrator Email list: Contact Heather Soodak at [email protected] to be added to the Illustrator email list.
....................
Future meeting dates will be:
Jun 13 - IRWD, speaker TBD
July- No Meeting (SCBWI summer conference)
Aug 8 - Lisa Johnston Hancock - IRWD
Sep 12 - Arvida Books, Tustin
Oct 10 - Zoom - speaker TBD
Nov 14 - Larissa Brown- location TBD
Dec 12 - Desi & Jon St. Amant- location TBD
Some In person events take place at the Irvine Ranch Water District Community Meeting Room
15500 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618
Irvine Ranch Water District makes its facilities available for use by residents and nonprofit organizations merely as a public service, but does not, by allowing this use, endorse or support the purpose of the event or its sponsor
Some in-person events take place at the: Orange County Classical Academy (OCCA) 4100 E Walnut Ave, Orange, CA 92869