I was at Illustrator day this last Saturday in the Los Angeles area. It made me realize that one really should be attending the local schmoozes...so when you go to a bigger event like this, you're standing in a sea of people you don't know. I still did quite well, I talked to a bunch of talented local artists, as well as the two big speakers (the art rep for Shannon Associates and Chad Beckerman who's an art director at Abrams).
One thing I found out is that Chad doesn't like big mailers and considers them a waste of time, and that a postcard is just fine. I liked hearing that from an actual art director - that postcards actually work...I guess you just have to have the right thing on the postcard that they're looking for...
Oh - and during some of the talks that I wasn't as interested in I was sketching for a freelance project. Above is the original sketch which I showed to my client and he wanted an older, leather clad rocker...and not so much on stage as in a loft practicing.
He just wanted a color rough drawing to show with a pitch, so we'll see where it goes. He wanted it on spec at first, but i was able to negotiate a small fee. But what was nice is that I really enjoyed working on this drawing (I did another one where the guy drove into a swimming pool)...but it was nice to do something different and to push myself to draw humans...I've been focusing on square little animals for quite some time...
Anyway - Chad (the art director for Abrams) also said that you should be sending postcards to everyone on the list - I had asked who to target (the editor, assistant editor, publisher, etc)...and he said everyone. It seems like a no brainer, I guess - but when I was putting together my postcard lists I always wondered if it was necessary...Anyway - he said that it could be any of those people that hire you...
Also - we got a list - these people accept e-mail submissions (either dummies or illustration samples):
Albert Whitman
Stone Arch Books
jewish publisher - Kar-Ben Publishing
Handprint Books
August House
Barefoot Books
So there you go. Good hunting!
7 comments:
Wow! You are a fountain of information. Thanks . As far as your rocker drawing goes...Is this from the same person that does those cute square characters? Is he really biting the head off some poor creature? EWWW.
I do like your sketch of the skydiving panda. Did you hear any more about the cartoon possibility? Do you have a name for these guys? They would be great to Brand.
It's going slowly, I'm still working out the storyline behind the square animals. And even if things don't work out with this one producer, I had a couple of high up people at Nickelodeon say good things about them...but it all comes down to the story and whether or not it can sustain a series. That's the challenge...I want to branch off and just start sending the characters to see if I can't get them licensed, but I'm still holding off just in case I can get them made into a cartoon (which is almost like hoping to win the lottery)...
Great post, Isaac! Make me think I need to order more postcards!
Thanks for this info, and I really enjoy the illustration you've added. You just don't see enough rockers eating rodents on stage anymore...
Here's hoping for your success in landing a cartoon!
I like the sleeping guy beneath and the colors you have chosen. Best of luck with the client.
Well, here's hoping something works out for you. You have certainly developed them so nicely that someone is sure to love them. :) The rocker...not so cute, but extremely well-rendered. LOL
Isaac- great sketches. It gave me a good morning laugh. Thanks for all the good information as well. Postcard, hmm? I love postcards because they save trees (no envelopes) and they easy to open (no envelopes). I'm on it!
Isaac- great sketches. It gave me a good morning laugh. Thanks for all the good information as well. Postcard, hmm? I love postcards because they save trees (no envelopes) and they easy to open (no envelopes). I'm on it!
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