Member Post of the Month: Franklin Haws talks about creating Digital Art with a Traditional Charm

As a student in a local art college, I learned how to draw and paint using the same media as the legends: Michelangelo, Picasso, and the guys from Mad Magazine; all the greats. Eventually, I got pretty good with most of them, especially pencils and acrylics. However one day in 1989 or so, I bought my first (of many) Mac computers and soon became a digital illustrator.

The drawing program I use is Corel Painter. While it does have some flaws (it crashes more then it should), it's the most popular and widely used program on the market that allows an artist to create pieces which have the look of "traditional" artwork while being created using digital media. 

I work 100% digital, meaning I never sketch the first drawing then scan it into my Mac. My illustrations start and end in Painter. And instead of using a sketch book and pencil, I use a Wacom digital tablet. 

Painter is widely used by illustrators in the entertainment industry for creating concept art for movies and video games. To see some great concept art samples, check out www.conceptartworld.com. In an industry where speed is important, digital illustration is the standard and Corel Painter along with 3D software are the tools of choice.

In the past few years, I've had the honor of giving demonstrations in Corel Painter and nearly every time I get the same question: Will digital illustration force out the artists who work in traditional media such as oils, pencil and charcoal? 

In my opinion, the answer is NO. 

A great illustrator is a great illustrator, regardless of what medium (digital or traditional) the artist is using. A drawing program is simply a tool. In the entertainment industry, as I mentioned, speed of creation is vital. Almost equally important is the speed in which corrections/changes can be made. The rhythm of illustrating a children's book is much different then creating a number of quick and unique concepts for a spaceship or movie set. 

If you've used Photoshop before, Painter uses the same layer concept. Below is my illustration River of Life with three layers made invisible showing how the art was constructed. There's a total of 25 separate layers that make up River of Life. 

"River of Life", by Franklin Haws

See more work from Franklin Haws by visiting his Website at www.franklinsartwork.com

Congrats to CBIG member Lou Wallis

Congrats to Lou Wallis on the book version of her new book "A Day at the Animal Fair".  The book originally started as a digital book and now has a print version as well!  Check it out at amazon!!!

Order the book or kindle version here:

Member post of the month: Working outside with Johnathan Kuehl

The snow is melting! With warm weather on its way I can't help but get excited. Sure I'm excited about grilling burgers at the beach. But there is something else I have been waiting for since the snow first fell last year; I cannot wait for the warm weather so I can paint outdoors again! 

I am primarily a digital artist. Everything I create ends up on the computer. Designs, illustrations and animations may all start out on paper, but eventually they end up on the computer. The digital medium is an incredible advancement and has allowed artists to share their work like never before. I illustrate and animate a variety of subjects; animals, people, inanimate objects and more; mostly for entertainment and commercial projects. Creating a story around an inanimate object and giving that object human characteristics and emotions is a challenge I love!

When I paint, there are no people. There are no things. There are no animals, no places, no trees or sky's or anything except color! It allows me a break away from the recognizable things that I normally draw and allows me to focus on the design, mood and color of the piece. It is a unique outlet for my creativity to take form. I like to keep things very loose when I paint. At times my paintings may contain tangible subjects, but the technique or application tends to be loose. I guess it makes sense because it is the opposite when I am drawing people or commercial items; these images tend to be very tight and exact. 

Last year, before the snow began to fall, I began working on a very large painting for myself. The canvas is about 6 feet wide & 6 feet tall. I live in an apartment so there is no room to paint something so large indoors. The canvas is so large that I have to take it outside in order to paint it. I created the perfect little set up outside last year where I could hang it up and work on it. Unfortunately, I did not get as far as I would have liked to, so I have been patiently waiting for the cold and snow to leave so I can finish my painting during the warmer months this year.

There is something to be said for creating artwork outdoors. It gives you freedom and a greater sense of "infiniteness." Everywhere you look in the summer you can see people outside creating artwork. I believe summer is when all the creative juices are at their peak! Just look around and you can see murals being painted on building walls, people painting landscapes, caricature artists at the park and much more. 

I can remember painting all sorts of things outside when I was a child. I found myself painting on forts, giant pieces of paper and even sidewalks with giant sticks of chalk. It's not a problem if you make a big mess while you work outside. If anything, it's more fun. If you look around, you can find artwork created by "little hands" all over the neighborhood. 

Now, while I work on my computer I lack this freedom. I tend to be confined to my computer & drawing space, and especially during the cold dark winter months you can feel this freedom slip away. At times, in an effort to overcome this, I bring my sketchbook outside and capture various subjects. You cannot beat the feeling a warm summer day can have on your creativity. The snow can't melt fast enough for me. 

I know many other C.B.I.G. members love working outside. Is there any thing you are looking forward to creating outside this summer?

To see more work from Johnathan Kuehl, visit his Website at www.bloovoodoostudio.com

Upcoming exhibit by CBIG member Tessie Bundick

Hello everyone.  Wanted to let you know that CBIG member Tessie Bundick has an upcoming show opening in Minneapolis.  Her information is below.  Hope you can make it there!!!!

Date: April 6 at 6 p.m.,

Where:  reception at the Hennepin History Museum, one half block from the

Institute of Arts, 2303 3rd Ave S in an lovely old mansion.  

This exhibit is a part of a series on working in Hennepin County, so my

career in theatre, film and the visual arts will be featured.  There

will be wine and catering with a jazz trio.  Please bring lots of

people.  thanks, Tessie

CBIG Member, Lenora Drowns shares some thoughts on pen & ink...

I fell in love drawing with pen and ink in a high school art class. The intrigue of using a finely chiseled pen tip, holder and ink to create delicate or bold drawings won me over the first time I pressed the tip on the paper. As with every new love there were mistakes. Pushing too hard broke the tip or poked a hole in the paper. Using too much ink on the tip and the drawing ended up looking like a Rorschach test (which in itself isn't a bad thing; abstracts free the mind on a different level). However, it's quite frustrating when the drawing is ¾ finished with a deadline looming and an ink blob river covers the face of a polar bear.

I have never paid attention to brand names for tip holders or pen tips. If it feels right, I buy it. Speedball is a popular holder. I find it too bulky and cumbersome to use. There are several different pen widths and sizes. I find I am able to achieve what I want, using a mapping or fine point tip. My ink of choice is Higgins BlackMagic waterproof ink. I have experimented using other brands and colors. I use a hot press 90 lb illustration board, Strathmore drawing paper or any paper that will not “bleed through” and has a semi-smooth surface.

I find the people at the Wet Paint Art Supply store at 1684 Grand Avenue in Saint Paul to be very helpful. They are all artists and share the same passion for drawing and art as I do.

I work mainly in pen and ink and watercolor; my art leans towards an illustrative style. I am currently working on a graphic novel and I am available for free-lance or commissioned work.

When I am drawing with pen and ink, I am closest to the heavens and all is right on Earth.  –Lenora Drowns
To learn more about Lenora and her work, CLICK HERE

Paul Zelinsky to speak in MPLS this Thursday RSVP required

Wanted to pass this event on to all you guys.  It looks to be a great one and is co sponsored by the great folks over at MNSCBWI and UofM

Just a reminder that next week MNSCBWI will be co-sponsoring the following event. 

PLEASE RSVP AT: https://www.lib.umn.edu/about/zelinsky

Thank you,

Quinette Cook

MN Regional Advisor, SCBWI

PAUL O. ZELINSKY: REFLECTING ON CHILDREN’S BOOK ART

Paul will talk about his recent experience as a judge of the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, what he was looking for in the work, and reflecting on his own work.

Paul O. Zelinsky is recognized as one of the most inventive and critically successful artists in his field. Among other awards and prizes, he received the 1998 Caldecott Medal for his illustrated retelling of Rapunzel, as well as a Caldecott Honors for three of his books: Hansel and Gretel (1985), Rumpelstiltskin (1987), and Swamp Angel (1995). http://paulozelinsky.com/

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2013

Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m., book signing 8:00-8:30

Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Room 120, 222 21st Avenue South, Mpls., MN 55455

Light refreshments will be served.

RSVP REQUIRED: https://www.lib.umn.edu/about/zelinsky

HUBBS Childrens Literature Conference

Hello CBIGer's

Thought I would pass this along as David sent out the invite to us all:)  If you can make it, please let us know how it went!

I would like to invite you, your colleagues, and students to the 21^st Annual HUBBS Children’s Literature Conference on Saturday, February 23, 2013, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Schulze Hall Auditorium (University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis campus).

This year we are proud to feature authors Jacqueline Woodson (website) and David LaRochelle (website).

The annual Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference provides an opportunity for parents, teachers, students, librarians and others interested in children’s literature to share information and learn how to better meet the educational needs of youth. Sponsored by St. Thomas’ School of Education in the university’s College of Education, Leadership & Counseling and supported by an endowment from Margaret and Ronald Hubbs, who were advocates for literacy in Minnesota and provided funds for the St. Thomas libraries’ children’s literature collection. For more information about the HUBBs Conference please visit the website (click here). You may register for the conference via USTs internal registration system (click here).

Conference Schedule:
8:30 a.m.:            Registration and check in at Schulze Hall Auditorium (Minneapolis Campus)
9:00 a.m.:            Hubbs featured speaker: Jacqueline Woodson

10:00 a.m.:          Break and book signing
10:30 a.m.:          Hubbs featured speaker: David LaRochelle

11:30 a.m.:          Break and book signing
12:00 p.m.:          Lunch
1:00 p.m.:            Breakout Sessions 1
2:00 p.m.:            Breakout Sessions 2 (All sessions are repeated)

Additional Information:

New Location: The location of this conference has been on the St. Paul Campus for the past 20 years, this year we moved it to the Minneapolis Campus of the University of St. Thomas.

Parking: Parking is included in the registration fee; please park in the Harmon Ramp (map link) or 10^th and Hennepin Ramp (map link). Please present your parking ticket at the registration desk for voucher.

Lunch: If you have any dietary restrictions, please contact David at celcevents@stthomas.edu.

Please forward this event on to anyone you feel may be interested in attending.

I hope to see you there!

David

Enclosure

David Hamm | Events & Outreach | p 651.962.4441 | f 651.962.4169

University of St. Thomas | College of Education, Leadership & Counseling

1000 LaSalle Avenue, MOH 217, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2009