Author, Illustrator, Editor

Friends, what do you compare a picture book illustrator and an author to? What about an editor? In the last post, I enjoyed a chat with one of foremost authors on a uni campus. I'd write more about what I've learned about publishing and picture book illustration in the conversation.

I compare an illustrator and an author to a composer and a lyricist. "Sometimes, people say which is more important. It's pointless. Illustrator composes music. Author and Illustrator sing together," I said. The lady completely agreed with my say.

Then, the lady and I happily went on together like a duet, 
"(Illustrator will) weave emotions into a text, respond to words and visualise a scene." 
This awesome author very well understands the importance to leave space for Illustrator to work on a text and clearly told me so. Yes, otherwise, Illustrator gets distracted and will lose her own visual images. 

So, Author and Illustrator need Editor, a director to work together like a conductor for an orchestra. Even though Illustrator is respected to work on a text, Author and Illustrator are a key and a lock that need each other. Two in one, eventually, work to create a picture book. 

Editor's job is, the lady depicted, to nurture Author and Illustrator. Editors do mothering us (*women are a majority in publishing indutry). I really appreciate Editor's work that is often at backstage and hardly recognised.  

After seeing the author, I came to know she has had a brilliant career as an editor, too!! (What a humble author! She pretended she did nothing as an editor.) The lady emphasised, "You're a visual person." Yes, I am!  I certainly feel how sensitive and so caring that great author and marvelous editor at the same time! The lady's profound knowledge of picture book illustration amazed me so much.

I'm working on rough colours for the project to check a colour balance on a storyboard in the whole pages.

An unexpected bonus. The lady encourages me to write stories like my mentor Ann says! The great author talked to me as if she were teaching me. Indeed, so! Special thanks for her!
"Invite me to your book launch. I look forward to it," she said at a good bye.  
Wow!! Her cheers were wonderful for me. Step by step, I come closer to my own dream.

Friends, Happy Painting! Make your dream come true.

Author, Illustrator, Editor

Shortlisted for Victoria Cancer Council Arts Award

Hi, Friends, good news! My still life work, "Alive or Dead" is shortlisted for Victoria Cancer Council Arts Award 2013.  
The final judging will be held at Cancer Council Victoria on the 24th of September, next week. Shortlisted work will be on display at the Arts Awards Exhibition in Melbourne from the 20-26 of October 2013. 

Each artist submits a short statement on work.

Alive or Dead

Are flowers in a pot alive or dead? Balance between life and death is vague, because they are “inseparable two in one.”  My two friends were gone from cancer, but certainly they live in us. It’s very sad when people we love and cherish are taken from us. But it forces us to enjoy the present, make the most of it and move on. The grevilleas show how much they live each moment fully.

*             *               * 

Each moment and everyone is shining in my life.
Today, I saw my most admiring and best known Australian picture book author on a uni campus. We had a wonderful time. I never expected her comments, but she happily looked at my ongoing work and generously gave suggestions. "Do you have more?" she asked me! No, I left them all behind, but I had some life drawings. The lady encourages me so much, saying, "Invite me your book launch at uni!" at good bye. Yes, certainly!

One more good thing was I donated uni my educational picture book designed for children's literacy research. It was very nice to see my familiar librarians. The author, the librarian and I enjoyed a chat.
Ah, nice! I felt each second shining.

I'll work on the project!
Friends, Happy Painting!

Shortlisted for Victoria Cancer Council Arts Award

Frog's Story & Self Reliance

Are you enjoying your lives confidently and have you ever thought of self reliance? I was invited to a life drawing class member's group exhibition! At the opening, an executive lady gave this speech and inspired us. The frog's story implies the importance of "self-reliance." I'd like to share it with you.

 *             *              * 

Frog's Story

There once were little frogs who arranged a climbing competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheered on the contestants. The race began. None of the crowd really believed the frogs would reach the top of the tower.
The crowd yelled, 'Oh, too difficult', 'They will never make it to the top', 'Not a chance they 'will succeed', and 'The tower is too high'.
The frogs began collapsing one by one. The crowd continued to yell, 'It is too hard! No one will make it!' More tiny frogs gave up and came off from the tower.

But one tiny frog, after a big effort, became the only one who reached the top! All other frogs wanted to know how the winning frog had found the strength to succeed and reached the goal. They asked the frog questions.  

He was deaf!!

*             *              *

Friends, did you enjoy the story? What do you feel about it?
In that story, the winner is the frog who did not care about a pessimistic say. In my personal view, the disability has turned out a blessing! That's what the lady and I chatted over. Without my difficulty in a leg, I might not have become an artist. Indeed, I know a hearing impaired, very famous and successful illustrator in Australia! Yey!!  

Also, the contrast is impressive between a self-reliant frog and a third party's negative and untrustworthy say. The mob's say is far different away from a healthy critiques, because their say is irresponsible.

For artists, critiques are inevitable in society. Our work has two contradicted natures in one -- very private work, yet that has publicity. In other words, an artist's work is an isolated job in a group work. Thus, art work is connected to others and to society. I'm open to any feedback, while keeping my own stance.

So, this is my another finding from that story. In my view, a balance is necessary between a healthy self-reliance and a genuine confidence, in order to achieve a goal. Otherwise, overconfidence and cowardice are counterproductive. Particularly, I feel an objective view is vital to look at my own work in a group work like a picture book project.
I also feel a person who has real confidence will not easily either get upset with other people's critics. A person with a real confidence well knows what she is. Be flexible and not stubborn in a healthy manner.

Regarding life drawing class, I'm blessed that I could meet very nice models. Especially, the woman and the man in this post are my favorites. Yes, Friends, I finished up the first "portrait" on A2 Arche based on the rough sketch on A2. 

I simply love life drawing. It lifts me up and excites me, when I'm down in other work.

These life drawings (A2) and daily sketches(A4) certainly improve my drawing skills. These days, I can "correct" my drawing with colour in sketches. Yes, I can see value/colour very well!

Art always brings me a new nice friend. The exhibition manager, very caring and thoughtful lady and I will soon get together for coffee. We enjoyed a chat over psychology. She passionately talked about her support for local artists at a grass root level. Me, too, have enthusiasm and happily encourage my colleagues or local artists. Lovely!  

Friends, let us gain genuine confidence and keep growing day by day.
Happy Painting!!

Frog's Story & Self Reliance

1)Federal Election 2) BookFest

Hi, Friends, how have you been? We had a federal election last Saturday and now, have a new Gov. "The answer is blowin' in the wind," is my honest impression of political debates on tv. But chidlren's innocent smile makes us happy.

None of politician well answers the questions in the song, "Blowin' the Wind." Anyone will do. We need someone who really thinks of us and acts on behalf of us at parliament. Also, without art, our life will be so poor and no taste. But sadly, art is neither appreciated nor valued in society.

Voting at Town Hall

BTW, I've been busy with the picture book project, portraits and a book festival (*a charity work, We had lunch with pupils at school ). It was wonderful to see children's innocent and beautiful smile and laughter. Edensor Park Public School (School Newspaper p2). (thank you for including me in your school newspaper!! Honoured and so COOL!)  

A teacher said,  "Sadami, you have a talent to make us laugh!"  Hahaha, it could be!

Friends, let us bequeath a bit better world to our next generation, of course with art! 
Happy, Painting!!!

1)Federal Election 2) BookFest

1) Podiatrist 2) Storyboard & Group Work

My update about picture book project and portraits. Here we go!
1) podiatrist's portrait
A podiatrist is a specialist for feet, a "foot doctor." Usually, podiatrists do not have a high light in society. So, I created the work. I heartily hope this work will send special thanks for my podiatrist and big cheers for service users so that they would overcome difficulties and enjoy life fully!   
 

In this work, I hope the podiatrist's very caring and positive personality will shine through. He has a great fame as a foundation member of Sydney Sports Medicine Centre which provides medical support for professional or National Sporting, Commonwealth and Olympic Games Teams. He also assists non-athletic and workplace injury patients.

The portrait shows the podiatrist working on my splint. I met him to make an orthotics and to choose an embrace for the leg. With a wonderful humour, my podiatrist makes colleagues and patients happy. As if he put a beautiful rainbow over patients. Clients are all ages at any level of need in feet and legs or difficult walking like me. His frank and warm welcome and commitment is wonderful. Also, He really loves his own job. I feel his joy, dedication and pride. Indeed, he and the centre have a local, national and international reputation as excellence.

Did you enjoy his portrait? 
I keep on other portraits. When I finish it, I'll upload it.

2)  the storyboard & group work
Our picture book project is at a very important stage, "full set of roughs for the whole book." Before moving onto colour, we do examine the SB closely, over and over again. 

My wonderful publishing team is working together well.  We exchange our candid opinions on the SB. Yes, discussion continues about page by page and each page/spread in a book. Unanimous agreement of our team members is the essential condition.  

I'm checking a dummy in regard to an "information flow." I, as if I were a third party towards my own work, critically analyse each page in relation bewteen next pages and in relation with a whole. I'm looking at how depicted images convey a message to a next page and in a whole. Also, I'm reviewing the allocation of a text in a page. Yes, a picture book illustrator does a book-designer-like work, too. Always I seek other members feedback and respect advice.

Friends, get surprised? Picture book illustration is not a simple process. It requires huge energy, lots of team work and much time.  Without creating a good working relation, a picture book illo is impossible.  I love group work because of mutual help!  How wonderful to know I'm not alone on the earth in the middle of night in a studio!  So, I really appreciate other team members' work and enjoy working together. 

Also, it's really nice to work on other genres such as portaraits, writing stories, even "doodles" like above etc at the same time. It reduces another work's stress. So, if you have different jobs, keep them and enojy them together. Actually, my publishing team encourages me to enjoy portraits more and more. Nice! 

Friends, thank you so much for your warm cheers. You, too, enjoy drawing and whatever you like!! We're getting into summer.
Happy Painting! 

  

1) Podiatrist 2) Storyboard & Group Work

Writing Stories for Picture Books

Friends, another good news, I've started writing down stories!  
I have been strongly encouraged to write picture book stories and to illustrate them by my own for these years -- special thanks for my mentor Ann James and big names in publishing industry. Although a bit shy Sadami was prudent, I finally felt the encouragement as a wonderful opportunity! Yes, writing stories is quite a fun. Also, thank you for warm cheers, support, visits for my blog and great patience for a new post! 

Actually, I've been enjoying writing stories since childhood (and kept it secret with diaries like other girls do). Yes, young Sadami loved to imagine characters and created tales. Now, a dream is  becoming true. You'll certainly find "author and illustrator Sadami Konchi" printed on picture books in the future. NOTE: It will take years to come up in publishing industry. So, please look forward to it without a time frame.

Now, the ongoing picture book illustration is going steadily. The stage of a "full set of roughs for the whole book." I'm enjoying working on the all roughs, even though it's not easy and quite demanding. I'll organise the storyboard again. Challenging, but these labour pains are so lovely.

A dear linguist friend will visit me for tea before going back to a field work in overseas. We will enjoy chatting over nudges for my writing stories. She and I both love readings and writing. Oh, tea will be a great fun!

These picture book related project occupy me 

These picture book related projects occupy me more and more. I'm also working on portraits. Weekly Monday posting is very hard and please forgive me. I'll upload a post from time to time. But I'll certainly visit your blogs between projects!
Friends, Happy Painting and Writing!  

My favorite say is, "Dream is unrealised reality." 

Let us make dreams come true.

Writing Stories for Picture Books

Feedback of Storybord

Hi, Friends, how have you been? The feedback came back for my submitted storyboard. Very positive. (*It's written in a block font.)

'I have great faith that your illustrations will be beautiful. I’m really looking forward to seeing you develop colour roughs of your illustrations. It’s going to be a lovely story & a beautiful book.'

I'm ... speechless and crazy happy!!!!! Very exciting. There are challenges, too. I need to change some to accomplish this picture book. I'll work on them!

These picture book related projects occupy me so much. I'm also working on portraits. A bit hard to blog every Monday. If I do not upload a post every Monday, please forgive me. But I'll certainly visit your blogs!

 

Above is a very big colour study on A2. These buildings are all out of my head. First, I created a black and white, below. I slightly changed an angle and made different buildings for a second black & white. Then, I enjoyed colour. It came up very nice. Another big name looked at that colour study in my studio and said, "That's a design!" Yes, indeed. My observation of buildings and study of architecture helps me. But I did not make meticulous buildings in this study. I prefer wibble wobble drawing lines to dead straight lines, because I want to create something natural or fun. Yes, I love something humane in drawings than mechanical correctness. 
Our publishing team has a wonderful rapport. The team backs up me very well. 

I'm right on a track. Everyday is shining and full of joy. Today, I saw a friend. He said, 'Sadami, if you haven't got a disability, of course, it is very a pain and how tough it's on you, BUT without it, I'm sure you might not have created these beautiful paintings. Or I should say, today's your paintings might not have had such a beauty. Your disability must be a gift and blessing.' Moreover, he prayed for me! His say touched me. Yes, I thank for this disability today. I promised him, "Yes, this is my dream that I'd advocate people with disabilities in the future." Nice to have a wonderful friend to share joy and even pain!!

Thank you for warm cheers. I'm passing on your sent encouragements to someone in need around me. I had a wonderful weekend and ready, set, go for a creative week!
You, too, have a wonderful and productive week.
Friends, Happy Painting!!   

Feedback of Storybord