Be Positive in Illo Work

Hi, Friends, how have you been? 
I enjoyed the weekend and come back to the picture book projects : an education picture book and a trade picture book. Both are going well. I've been enjoying lots of Black & White roughs and Colour roughs. Technically, many "washes" will come up in the trade picture book that bridges reality and unreality. The education one is factual.  

BTW, I'd chat over our job, picture book illustration in physical and mental aspects. Once, I wrote about the picture book illustration process in the post.
Illustration is like "falling in love" with a "manuscript." You love it at a first sight. You can't hold your emotions and respond to the text! --- is essential or preferable.  

However, it's a hard task to keep an illustrator's emotions fresh and high. Picture book illustration often takes a "year" (or years) to finish up 32 pages (*an average page number for one trade picture book). Please imagine, a person must be excited nearly everyday for a year. Friends, we all know, not easy to keep falling in love with the same person for 24 hrs for 365 days. Furthermore, submitted illustrations could come back for try-it-again. 

Physically and mentally, very demanding job. Technically, very sophisticated. We work very hard and try experiments lots at the stage of roughs and a story board -- I'm just there! Readers only know a tiny bit of an illustrator's huge efforts like an ice berg. 

Sometimes, our job is undervalued.  
Recently, when I was invited to a public library's event, a lady approached to me arrogantly. 'I've heard you're an illustrator. I have wonderful texts(=I'll give you a chance). Work together.'  Patient Sadami courteously and proudly answered, 'Rule of thumb, we'll never work for freebie. Quite expensive. Please check ASA rate, our minimum wages. I'm a picture book illustrator.' My say disappointed her badly. She said in disdain, 'Picture book? (with a full contempt) I don't work with a kid's picture book illustrator. I'll tell you, my daughter, talented daughter, 8 yrs old already writes a chapter book....blablabla.'  Very patient Sadami gave her the info on Australian Society of Authors and suggested, 'Please consult ASA about your daughter's case,' and got back to dear librarians.    

Friends, I love this job, illustration, although it consumes both energy and time so much. You know my daily sketches that allow me to create picture books. Quite tough job, but, --according to another big name's say, -- 'You'll get addicted to this job!' Yes, indeed. Also, I'd like to believe that many people appreciate our work, picture books. Actually, this blogging and blog friends back me up so much. Thank you! 

Friends, chin up, if you're in a tough time. You're not alone! I'd send you my biiig hugs!

Keep up and Happy Painting!!

Be Positive in Illo Work

World Book & Copyright Day

Hi, Friends, did you have a wonderful weekend?
Now, 23 April is the World Book & Copyright Day set by UNESCO.
I'll chat over pros and cons of E children picture books.

E books, in general, have many advantages -- more compact, light weight, economic than printed books and accessable at anywhere and from all over the world. However, in disadvantages, E books lack human interactions and without computers or pads, people cannot access E books.

Regarding children's picture books, I love printed books more. Probably, the most beauty of print books is sweet human interactions between children and readers(= care givers). We stay together and enjoy books. Great joys are touching pictures in pages, smelling a book etc, etc, sensing a books on a parent's lap. Not only touching a book, also we feel, touch our bodies, warmths and love, hearing voices! Talking of human relation, printed picture books often become gifts of love between family and relative members. Of course, human interactions could be possible by E books. But in an art phase, a small screen is equivocal to appreciate pictures. Another concern is appropriate page turning timing. When we, illustrators create a book, book design always accounts page turning with the real sounds of text reading out. It's uncertain that E books's page turning displays what an illustrator means to show in an information flow. Or, I should say, can young readers fully enjoy page turning in E books?  

But today, society is moving toward digitisation more and more. E books beat hard cover books in many points. Take a public library for an example. A same budget takes more E books than print ones. E books save space on shelves. Moreover, any procedures over a counter are not necessary. A trip to a library does not bother users any more. Overdued E books are simply access denied by libraries. Also, fonts are easily enlarged, which is helpful for readers who need help. So, E books save time, money and space, and very accessible for users such as people with disabilities and in countrysides.

Besides the E books's strengths, in reality, babies are born with computers and mobile phones. Kids are growing up with computers whilst playing around with them. I wonder only me have sentiments for old printed books, particularly, for children picture books...? They might become fossils in a museum ...and, gulp, for school excursion in the future...? Sigh.

What do you think, Friends? Let me hear your throughs. Anyway, a book is a little universe, and probably, one of our most precious inventions on the earth.  

BTW, I'm very busy with the education picture book project in a tight schedule, while I'm having a fun in colour roughs for the trade picture book. Editors and famous illustrators encourage me very much.
Friends, thanks for cheers and pardon me, if I should not upload a blog post regularly.  
Anyway, Friends, Happy Painting!!

World Book & Copyright Day

Research for Picture Book Illo

Hi, Friends, how have you been? Picture book projects occupy me. But what a surprise! An old uni friend visited my place whilst her temporary staying in Sydney. Today, the friend is a linguist doing research in a field work. Her team is making a picture dictionary for the researched language. Validity and reliability of visual information is crucial for both picture book illustration and academic use.

Regarding research, creating a children's picture book is nothing different from the linguistic work mentioned above. Based on a deep text analysis, data collection starts for pictures. Gathered data will be categorised and critically analysed for use. I know many famous illustrators did/do research for YEARs to create a picture book. 

Think of this ;  if an illustrated picture should give inappropriate information such as too much generalised or stereotyped one. Yes, it's important to be aware of responsibilities of pictures. Thus, research for pictures is necessary and essential.  

So, Friends, your research skills and academic background are great strengths to approach publishers and to work on projects.
My linguistics and sociology study definitely helps my illustration work. I've won Editors's trust in me. I always submit a text analysis for Editor/Publisher like an academic research essay. Then, Editor and I will discuss about a project and pictures more and profoundly. 

This post might sound hard, but good children picture book illustrators are all good researchers with good writing skills -- is so true and not well known. In clear writing, Illustrator logically convinces Editor of her text analysis and greatly enjoys discussions over a text. 

Back to the light topic, my dear linguist friend. Unexpectedly, my experiences as a picture book illustrator helped her! An illustrator pointed out a linguist's blind spot. The linguist would contact the team. Very happy! I heartily hope their project, too, will go well. After a long chat, the friend and I went to a beach for swimming. In turn, she helped me revise roughs for the education picture book project. With her help, I could reorganise roughs in a few days before a due date, this Monday. Yey!  
In addition, "Friends Make Our Life a Party!"  -- is also true!! Hahaha!

Friends, Happy Painting!

Research for Picture Book Illo

Sydney International Chess Tournament

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? 

The education picture book project is going wellʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ.

Now, I enjoyed sketching "Sydney International Open Chess Tournament" held from 10-15 April in Parramatta Town Hall. The sketches were done by the courtesy of Mr Shane Burgess, vice president of NSW Chess Association. 66 players had battled everyday from morning to evening for prizes. 
Friends, shhhh, later, I'll tell you how to beat an opponent with "tricks."ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

My first impression. A player's concentration was astonishing. Crashing an opponent is an ultimate goal in a tournament. Huge pressures are on players. In high tension, each player's body language told me very well about what was going on and who was a winner or a loser. I was quite empathic for a loser. 

But a player told me, "No! Body language does not always match a player's thinking. Chess is much like a poker." Then, the giggling female player whispered me two tricks.

Trick1 : Pretending! A player pretends perfectly ok at a bad movement and puts pressures on an opponent. Or a reverse, "smokescreen," a player pretends as if he has made a great mistake, in fact, a very clever movement. Or another player always keeps "smiling" in any context.
Oh, I see! Chess certainly is a psychological game!

Trick 2 : Maximize What You Have?!
Another trick I heard was, a woman's "sexuality show-off," = put on a very pretty and low cut shirt to show your "milk-tanks." It distracts a male player. Male players told me, "And they (=women) lean forward, while they are struggling. Once, they feel they can win, then, they will not show it any more!"  Players and I chuckled together!
Friends, if you play chess with a male friend next time, go for it. You may beat him, "Checkmate, daarrrling"?! ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ Or, gentlemen, when you play chess with women, look at a flat chess board, not at "two mountains." Otherwise, you'll be led into a death valley.  

By the way, chess players and visual artists have similarities in socio-economic aspects. Financially, chess hardly supports a player. Many chess players have day jobs or teaching others chess for income. Also, a social status is low for chess players as well as artists. It is a great shame neither chess players nor visual artists are respected well. An artist once said to me, "Think this -- society without art! Where's happiness and joy? We, visual artists have to do strike!" I'd say the same is true of chess players in society. 

Ultimately, chess is interactions between two people. After the game, both sides shook hands and smiled at each other, which touched me, too. Wonderful! Players know very well each other. The tournament is a "chess lovers community" and "socialisation." It was so lovely to make friends with chess players, who respect a visual artist.
Finally, I'd say special thanks for Mr Burgess and his staff or backstage players who organised the event. You're great!!

Friends, Happy Painting!!

Sydney International Chess Tournament

Reconnected & Sadami Update!

Hi, Friends, finally, the telephone company successfully registered the modem!! (My friend smiled at me, "...feel a miracle?" Oh, yes! Hallelujah!) Thank you for your great patience. Update, here we go!

Trade Picture Book & Education Picture Book
An education picture book project has come to me. A time frame is very tight (*This week is a due for "black & white roughs.") A book will assess children's reading ability. Very interesting from a linguistic view. Uni professors and linguists really celebrate this achievement and encourage me so much. Already, Editor is happy with my work and wants me to illustrate another project. We'll work together onward. I'm very happy!! 

I have a dream. In education picture books, I'd advocate disadvantaged children/adults and tackle other social issues. Next year, my trade picture book will be published. My another dream is to do a book launch at uni. I'll invite you and uni lecturers who have cheered me up.

Life Drawing & New Techniques
We had a wonderful time in a class(*self-directed). The uploaded work is very the last one (A2) in 15 minutes. Each model's face expression quite interests me. 
I've explored new techniques such as putting a paint first. Very much fun(see below, A2, 5 minutes). Although I still cannot get well how to create value without drawing, I'll keep up in a next term.
A challenging spirit is essential to grow as an artist. 

Happy Easter! --- Miracle Baby 
I was thinking over life and death in front of our church after the service. A second service was going on. One lady was holding a girl baby at an entrance, which made me smile. 
"This is a miracle baby," the lady proudly said. It puzzled me. 
"Her mother has cancer. At the 5th month, doctors recommended her to give up a baby. But she never and gave a birth. She has a strong faith." Wow...the mother was just in the service!! It touched me so much (as you know, recently, I lost the friend.) 
The little girl looked so cute and often smiled back at me. I shed tears.

I feel this paradox ; always hope stays with us as long as we can trust in hope.  That story inspired me so much. Based on it, I'll make an image soon.

Special Thanks For Supporters
Now, I'm reconnected to internet or civilisation. I was out of society for these four weeks from 5th March, no joke.
The telephone company and me enjoyed a last chat. They put a credit on my account (my internet use will be free next month). Happy ending. But I hope it will never happen on me! Never, ever!

A funny bonus. An Internet cafe manager says, "Oh, I miss you!" (It seems he hardly comes across an illustrator?!) Hahaha, I'll pop up there to have a chat with him from now on! Librarians at public libraries have always cheered me up at the tough time. 
Thank you for supporters and visitors for this blog. 

These days, the projects occupy me too much. If I cannot update a post regularly, please pardon me. But certainly, I'll visit your blogs! Thank you for your wonderful friendship. Have a wonderful week!

Friends, Happy Painting!!

Reconnected & Sadami Update!

Special Thanks & C U soon!

Friends, thank you for the warm cheers. I've come back to Happy Sadami. 
Also, thank you for Jane (Minter) who passed me a great honour and blog award. 
But the new modem registration is unsuccessful. A telephone company is investigating it. A very hard to define a cause. 

Ehum! It's young Sadami. Other illustrators really love her image. Sure, she will be a picture book character in the future. The current project is going well. Publisher/Editor Helen Chamberlin is so lovely and we work together well. I'd really appreciate kindness. 

Special thanks to dear friends. Please keep patience until the technical issue will be fixed up. 

See you soon! Happy Painting!!

Special Thanks & C U soon!

Three Qs at Funeral

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend? I attended a funeral.
Have you ever thought of  "three questions"? 

What is the best time to do each thing?

Who are the most important people to work with?

What is the most important thing to do at all times?

A sudden death shocks anyone close.   
A former camera club member suddenly rang me up (*Once, me, too, a member). His wife passed away. The old couple cherished me like a daughter. The husband said he wanted to see me. 

... his call made me blue, dark blue. I began to wonder about life... thought of many things, which brought me down...

A bit strange feeling... the wife certainly remained in my heart. Indeed, she began to pull me back to the past. But was it a good thing to get stuck in a past? 

To refresh myself, I went to Narrabeen beach in the evening. Luckily, I could see a dear friend! I was thinking of flowers and etc for a funeral. The dear friend cheered me up.  "He wants to see you. That's the most important thing! You do not need to bring flowers. Church will organise them. There might be donation instead of flowers and a book you can leave comments." I see.    
We enjoyed a long chat over job, swimming, family business. We hugged each other, saying, "See ye next time!"

At the funeral, in a prayer, I promised the wife to make lots of beautiful picture books and art works! I thought of the ongoing picture book illu, not of the past. The husband, his daughter and me cried lot together. Sharing tears and hugs were lovely. It let out overwhelmed emotions and gone. The daughter said to me, "Mother was very fond of you. You came a long way. It has a meaning." Attendances had a good time over lunch that became like a camera club reunion!

On the same day, I submitted a reorganised storyboard to Editor.
Blog friends lifted me up, too.
One said, "We all can be gone tomorrow so cherish today fully (as if I need to tell you this - you are the poster child for positive thinking and seizing the day!!)" Brillinat! Yes, it's me!! Com'on Sadami!
How nice my friends are! They are more precious than gold.

Then, when I really got back to normal, cheeky Sadami, I  remembered "Three Questions" written by Leo Tolstoy. 

The answers below. Tolstoy's story shows how to live life fully. I like these answers, although, of course, different views and critical analyses are respected.

• The most important time is now. The present is the only time over which we have power.
• The most important person is whoever you are with.
• The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.

I seemed to answer well to "my life" in a sad context with friends' help. Friends, let us live life fully! I feel every moment is like my birthday, seriously!
Happy Painting!!

Reference

Three Questions (2012) Tolstoy, L. University of Adelaide

Three Qs at Funeral