IMC Report -The Teachers

Finally posting about IMC 2011. Rather than break this down day by day, I will summarize with a post on the teachers, then the students, and finally, the assignment. So here goes:

The League of Extraordinary Artists

IMC 2011 Faculty

This is the last day...teachers are as exhausted as the students. Starting from the right and working back, Dan Dos Santos, Donato Giancola, Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Adam Rex, Scott Allie, Scott Fischer, Greg Manchess, Irene Gallo, Jeff Mack, Rebecca Guay, and Iain McCaig.

Here's Rebecca, working on her demo. Her lecture about creating an emotional impact with your painting was a highlight for me. Always ask yourself, "what's your point". "If you don't know what emotion you want to convey in your work, your viewer will feel....NOTHING".

I didn't interact with Jeff Mack much on a one on one level. That's okay. You tend to gravitate to those teachers you feel a connection with. I love this painting of Jeff''s and he was a tremendous help with those students who had a book dummy with them.

Iain McCaig did a spontaneous watercolor demo at midnight during the week. Using two of our UK students, he came up with this version of Gandalf. He gets these wonderful colors using only two colors, ultramarine and Indian red. He didn't get to finish it but from what I understand, you apply transparent glazes to either warm or cool the planes of the face.

Didn't get to see a whole lot of Scott Fischer but his lecture(s) were very informative. He's such an imaginative and versatile artist. Just a few points he stressed: Understanding connective lines in your drawing. Utilizing computer along with traditional, such as scanning in a sliced cabbage for awesome texture in a ruffly sleeve on a woman. Also talked about having ownership of your painting.

Here's Irene Gallo, the Art Director at Tor.

"Be in control of your style"; "Label your images online...embed your name"; "She hires artists to think for her. Not the other way around".

This guy with the wacky ringlets (all natural) is Scott Allie. He was the comic book artist and though I didn't have any one on one interaction with him, he was extremely helpful to those who selected that assignment. His lecture was very informative, especially about the importance of "tracking" throughout the page with an object or color.

Here's Dave Palumbo (helped with the portfolio review with Night Shade AD) along with Greg Manchess. Greg presented his "Talent is Crud" lecture and as usual, wowed us with his "secret" painting demo. Always so motivating and positive. "Thumbnails...do more than you need. Overlap something. Don't hesitate to show your influences in your work"

This is Peter de Seve at the bottom of the stairs. Hilarious lecture and slightly evasive afterwards. There were a lucky few who got sketches in their books by Peter.

The very energetic, Mo Willem. Even Trixie was there from "Knuffle Bunny". His lecture had so much info and I forgot my sketchbook. I gave up trying to write on a grocery receipt from my purse. Waiting for my friend (hi Tara) to pass them on to me. I did learn how to draw a pigeon with sound effects.

Julie Bell and Boris Vallejo were there and I regret that I missed their lecture, which was fantastic from all reports.

Donato Giancola's Joan of Arc. His work ethic is so exemplary. "Do it well until you get it right. No matter who your client is, knock them dead with the quality of your work".

Here's our critique group (Julie, Greg, Rebecca, and Iain) having too much fun while we're shaking in our shoes.

Here's James Gurney. He presented two lectures. One on Color and Light and the other on Composition which concentrated on how people actually look at pictures. He encouraged us to "invite and delight, be clear of intentions, and write down the word you want to convey".

Dan Dos Santos's Wheel of Time painting.

Dan: "Have clear goals. Without a specific destination, you will waste a lot of time taking detours. Being passionate is critical to success"

Adam Rex....funny man. His lecture was so entertaining, as well as touching. His reasons for illustrating children's books was so tender. Plus he GAVE me one of his books, "Pssst!" which is quickly becoming a new favorite here with the grandkids. Watching him paint this octopus was mind blowing. It went from flat paint to 3-D-about-to-jump-off-paper-it's-so-alive. The painting is from a book he is illustrating for Neil Gaiman. Adam read my story (gulp) and gave me some great advise (start over) and helpful suggestions.

How, oh how do I try to condense this man...Iain McCaig? Gave two lectures. Basic Drawing and then Storyboarding 101 where he gave us the 7 Deadly Skills. He compared art to any language we must first learn through copying. (I've often compared this process to that of the language of music). He talked alot about living in your drawing. Living the story. During my critique he talked about the rhythm of my drawing and the problem of breaking that rhythm with her legs. He fixed the issue so quickly with a few strokes of his pencil. He also did a spontaneous Creature demo that I missed. This man doesn't stop. EN ER GY! and he really liked my flying pig.

So there you have it. Little tidbits from each teacher. Next: The Students.

IMC Report

Well obviously I didn't get very far with my documentation of IMC. I managed to make it to day 3 and then dropped off. You simply get so carried away with the instruction and networking and socializing, as well as painting that there's not a drop of energy left to do anything else but drag your tired carcass back to the dorms and grab a few hours of sleep before the next day. I will attempt to relay all that was IMC this week. I'm still recovering and adjusting to regular life. For now I will post the drawing I did for the interior of Rebecca Guay's sketchbook as a thank you for all her efforts in creating and producing this wonderful week of instruction. The students gave each of the faculty a personalized moleskin/sketchbook and then Tara Chang who organized the gifts, asked certain students to draw a picture on the front page. I was both honored and intimidated to do Rebecca's. She seemed to be happy with it. This is her daughter.

IMC 2011 - Day 3

Well, I'm not too sure where day 2 went, but it's gone and it's almost day 4. So let me squeeze day 3 in before I forget what my name is. Yesterday was spent making the corrections on our sketches after the critique. The teachers are available to offer guidance on your piece. Sometimes, you get conflicting comments from the teachers but it's all good advise. In the end, it's up to you but I've usually gone with most of the suggestions since, well... they are the professionals. Here is my revised sketch.
I printed it out on 140 lb. Lana watercolor paper. Have wet it down and stretched and taped it. It will be ready come the morning.
Mo Willem gave a hilarious lecture today, plus he had some fantastic advise on writing children's books. This man understands the mind of a child. James Gurney delivered his fantastic lecture on Color and Light. But the highlight for me was Peter de Seve. Great speaker. So funny. His art truly speaks to me. I got the giggles so badly looking at his process and work. Tomorrow, James Gurney will deliver a lecture on composition. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

IMC 2011- Day 1

UGH! This hasn't started out ideally. Having delayed flights throughout the day put me at the hotel in Hartford about 3:00 am. Got up and shuttled to Amherst with a fine group of fellow students with Steph at the wheel. Checked in early then walked and explored stores in the area. Ate a wonderful Beet Salad at Jodie's. Been working on this assignment in preparation for the critique tomorrow...well, technically, today. (My body has no idea what time it is).
I didn't allow enough room on my vellum and need to allow for more space around the girl. But you get the idea. I also put in a little sidekick...a stuffed pig for her to share adventures with and for children to find on each page. I'm done for now....come here fluffy pillow. Time for Dreamland.

IMC 2011

Do you ever feel like you are trying to spin too many plates? How I wish I had another week to work on this but such is life.

I reworked this to face the other direction. I read that with children's books you should try to keep the movement within the page working toward the right so that the viewer will want to keep turning the pages. I've worked on the study for the little girl and think I have her the way I want. I've also posted her wrapped as the cocoon.

Portrait Commission

This is a commission I've been working on, along with my assignment for IMC. The client only had access to three old photos of this man so I was worried about coming up with a likeness that was accurate. I hope she will be happy with it.