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illustrator-sam.com  -- website update! Gone Conferencing! The website has been updated with a fresh coat of (digital) paint, and new pieces born since the New England SCBWI Conference . Now I'm setting off for the West Coast for the Biggie Conference in Los Angeles. Hope to see some of you there, and for those not attending, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators will be blogging and Tweeting the whole shebang here (blog) and here (twitter feed or follow #LA13SCBWI). I'm ready for some learning!

I flourished despite about 50 disputes with a container of Mod Podge: "Flourish" decorative collage. I'm going to be perfectly honest here: I nearly (and am still tempted to) tear up a huge wad of tissue/tracing/velum/watercolor papers and just spell out the word "SHIT!" I didn't think it would be appropriate for the class, it seemed resentful. It does sound snarky and negative, but I can see it... "Shit" would be fun. Who wouldn't want a big "S-H-I-T" on their wall? Yes, I did swear at my materials about a dozen times before collaging  won me over. I think it's the designing of the composition I like so much... that and transparency papers. Part of the construction of this piece consisted of a fight with a single paint brush, glue, humidity, bleeding inks, and my inability to get a zipper to zip the way I wanted it to. Also I was stabbed by a staple from the zipper package. My grudge against the zipper has passed and I...

Meet my egotistical snail! So week #3 from Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells eCourse was all about the Picture Book. "Yay!" I thought. I thought.... Almost there, but no lollipop! We were to either illustrate a book cover or interior spread to a Hans Christen Andersen fable. I chose the spread because I really liked the assortment of possibilities, but I feel like I tried to show too much: "Finished" illustration spread for The Snail and the Rose Tree , by Hans Christen Andersen. The bit I enjoyed the most about this assignment was that we needed to somehow integrate hand-lettering - whether it be the title of the book or text within the story.  I can't explain why I've been dragging my feet on about testing out hand lettering, but I really had fun with this, I just wish I tried illustrating type and hand lettering sooner: Text "Bear Nuts" - Those are Hazelnuts. Text "Give Milk". Text "Grow Roses". ...

Plate Designs for Home Decor Assignment Dinnerware screams "Paint ME!" so I took a shot at watercolors for my second assignment in the Make Art That Sells eCourse. When I couldn't get just the right colors I wanted, I took my designs to the computer. This turned into a week-long mini war with messy (paints) versus clean (digital). At the moment I'm struggling with my assessment of the Home Decor Market because I know I'll be a good fit for it, but I need to follow my gut. As inspiring as flowers can be, I overwhelmed myself with too many concepts and ended up picking none of them. My first reaction to an idea (generally) is to get it down on paper. But my first reaction to this assignment was "Get flower buds!" I sketched a bit in marker, took to watercolors, (which I'm madly in love with by-the-way,) and then eventually sketched out my designs in pencil. A little backwards for me. For the curious eyes, here are some of my watercolor doodle...

Submitted Bolt Fabric Assignment My first week of Lilla Rogers' eCourse  (Make Art That Sells) is winding down now. It was enlightening while challenging. I'm in LOVE with fabric designing and I'll most certainly begin exploring this area later this summer. For now I've got to get through weeks 2-5 and the  LA SCBWI Conference  - one focus at a time right now! Probably the most challenging bit was suffering through another cold, while juggling the work-load. What is this? #3 or 4 this year? It was the type of distraction which could derail creativity.... Could, but didn't. I did drift off to sleep thinking of the assignments very often, so there are some things I failed to capture just due to the fatigue. Of course a giant head cold strikes as soon as I've got to busy myself with a looming deadline!  Blah ! Well I'm surviving. I'm pretty sure the cold is starting to taper. At least I got SOME rest this weekend. I've been sneaking e...

Lilla Rogers MAKE ART THAT SELLS Course Back to school for me! I've signed up for Lilla Rogers Make Art that Sells  (MATS) eCourse. It all begins tomorrow! I'm nervous and excited. Nervous because it's a pretty big commitment. I'm fortunate to not have so much going on right now to participate - just a slow an steady spring clean mixed in with my regular evening sketch sessions. Excited because... come on - Lilla Rogers! What I'm hoping to get most from this course is the pants kicking I need to pump up my portfolio. Deep breaths! ~Samantha

3/4 of Southern NH Illustration Critique Group: (left to right) Me, Natalie and Sheli. It's been nearly 2 weeks since leaving the the New England SCBWI conference... Still giddy, but I'm recuperating from all the activity. I've been puttering around trying to clean up some non-picture book illustration works. Some "works" include writing out THANK YOU notes to those whom assisted me at the conference from critiquers, to workshop faculty. Here's a mini digital dose: Also I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't thank the ladies from our monthly illustration critique group: Sheli Petersen  and  Natalie Curtiss . (Go look at their websites!) Extra kudos to Natalie for driving! Also THANK YOU to the insightful Skia Lawrence who's the 4th member from our critique group; whom was unable to attend this year. Thank you! ~Samantha

Post-it Notes to self: "Don't forget your toothbrush... or hair stuff!" I will be leaving for the New England SCBWI conference in just a bit. I'm more than ready for an inspiring weekend! If you see me around, don't be shy and say "Hi!" Say "HI!" :-D  I will be toting my portfolio around with me all weekend, so if you'd like to take a peek, I'd be happy to show it off: Portfolio cover. See you in Springfield! ♥

Illustration contest submission for Jane Yolen's "Infirm Pachyderm". As one can see, I have been heavily involved with elephants lately. Nothing wrong with that! The New England SCBWI Conference (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) is only a couple weeks away. I had to pause portfolio preparations to submit to this year's poster illustration contest: Jane Yolen's poem "Infirm Pachyderm". My gut reaction to the first 30 or so reads were all somber. I wanted to gauge other illustrator's responses, so I preformed an image search... same reactions there. Since the poem is written for an audience that's Middle Grade age group at max, I wanted to illustrate a positive spin on the poem's outcome. Construction the illustration was a little less positive. I'm going to admit I have a weakness with Black & White drawing, so naturally I wanted to cut TONS of grey-scale images! Since my technique dwells on paper tex...

Sketching tortoise's shell. The past couple weeks, I've been steadily working on my own picture book. Some questions which keep appearing in my head consist of: Can a tortoise REALLY balance like that? If a giraffe could move like that, how would his legs bend? Should the tortoise have a top hat? I want my characters to look playful, but have some realistic value, so the top hat is a no-go. As for movement questions, I cannot rely on image searches, nor do I have regular interactions with these animals, so I'm making my own models: Giraffe skeleton doodle (left) and giraffe wire armature. I'm still working on this little guy (above). So far, I've bulked up his torso to help me with scale. Ideally, the giraffe will serve as a resource for consistent spot placement... same with the tortoise, who's still in the works - currently just a paper shell form. I am looking for some assistance with one of my animal studies. The giraffe has been V...

Basking Lion doodle (left). Actual Basking Lion (right) from the Franklin Park Zoo. Here's a mini rewind of the past couple weeks: Unfortunately, The Elephant Listening Project and I did not win the AE Roastery and Tea Earth Day coffee label contest . We'll get 'em next time! Congratulations to the winning Daddy-Daughter team (aww!) A teeny-tiny visit to the MFA (so small in fact, I'm plotting a re-visit for mid-April). I made a brief trip to the Franklin Park Zoo to spy on some of the cool-temp tolerant critters. The Zoo trip was very brief, due to my sudden spite for the cold weather. It probably didn't help that I lacked a hat and scarf, and had to keep pulling my mittens off to take a picture, or doodle in my sketchbook. I visited for the wildebeest, and I'm planning a return when the zoo "unpacks" the giraffe. Shocked, I was to see Zebras (one of which wasn't even a month old!) and Ostriches, romping around in the New England bree...

Toys coming to life assignment snippet with my portfolio. A few weeks have passed (THREE) since going to Ruth's Studio , so I want to be sure to post a THANK YOU to Ruth Sanderson and Denise Ortakales for their portfolio critiques. I feel as though I have a very clear direction for my body of work now. It's refreshing to have some unbiased eyes peeking at my work, outside of the monthly group sessions. Some mini renovations have already taken place on my portfolio space . For curious eyes, below are a few cellphone shots from the day:  Ruth Sanderson (center in red) browsing our sketches from the assignment. Assignment sketches spread for quick critique. The assignment (while we waited and listened in on critiques,) was "lively"... Living toys! I would like to explore the concept a little closer. It was tough to concentrate on drawing upon the assignment while eavesdropping on everyone's critique, but there was a LOT learned from the experience.  ...

Hi everyone! Out of the B L U E popped this local contest to design a label for an Earth Day-related coffee blend. Relying on Facebook and the social media, A&E Roastery and Tea will is allowing the public to vote on their favorite design. The winning design will be printed, AND $2.00 from every Earth Day Blend bag sold between April & May will be donated to a charity of the artist's choice. Not only that, but A&E Roastery and Tea will match the contribution, so a total of $4.00 per bag sold, will be going towards charity!  The label I created is based on the concept of GROWTH and "sweet citrus aroma". Featuring flowers made from orange peels and (cut-paper) coffee beans, I paired the arrangement with the bright blue background so that the oranges and yellows really stand out.:    Should I win, charity donations will be going towards The Elephant Listening Project : The Elephant Listening Project website. Voting started TODAY...

Right brain illustration - © Samantha Grenier 2013 Those on Twitter may notice me posting to hashtag #rbbiz. I have been participating in an online video summit run by Jennifer Lee of Artizen Coaching , based on her book the Right Brain Business Plan . Since I have decided to start-up as a cottage industry freelance illustrator, I've been seeking out all visual and inspirational sources to get me psyched up about actually running a small business on my own. Mainly free sources, like the library and Internet browses. Since I've gained so much incite from Jenn & her Creative Cohorts, I think it would be only fair to give her a nod and digital thank-you! Starting up is scary. I've tried, and re-tried making myself into a mini profitable machine, but my efforts were far too meek to be seen publicly. I've been getting in my own way for years, mainly because I'm terrified about failing.  I'd rather I quietly take my leave, while no one's looking, just t...

Here's a mini Homage to Ms. Potter: Shelldon the Sulcata Tortoise study sketches - from RISD Live Animal Drawing Session - Feb. 2013 I recently picked up a book of Beatrix Potter's art plates from the library for an inspiration spark. Naturally, I mulled over the book the whole week leading up to a trip to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for Christina Rodriguez's Live Animal Drawing sessions.  Sketches above are of the Sulcata Tortoise (Shelldon) from the center of my mini collage. Taxidermy and live animals in attendance at the RISD drawing sessions I did not bring my watercolors this year. If I had, I doubt they would look much like Beatrix Potter's studies anyhow.   The (blurry) images here are from The Art of Beatrix Potter . The book delves into her life a little bit, but it's mainly a book of plates showcasing her early works, letters and picture book studies. I LOVE Potter's fungi studies! I would have liked to read more from h...

Sketches & cover ideas for Plank & Pancake I follow enough librarians on Twitter to know that it's really that book cover that wins a reader's attention. It's also interesting to know that the book COVER, (though the first taste to the overall book experience,) is usually the LAST bit designed to complete the story. It's the reader's first introduction - that first impression, so you want it to be a good one. As I work on my first picture book dummy, I am piecing together a cover to make my story feel polished. Then this morning I couldn't help but think what would Master Kidd do ? Chip Kidd is well respected as one of the "Kings of book coverings. Though the titles linked to his name are actually novels, his Ted presentation is an excellent example of how he deconstructs a book to build upon the story it encases.  All this can be applied to Picture Books as well. One just has to be consistent with the book's illustration style....