June 2013

I joined Twitter about four years ago when it was still rather new. I’ll admit that back then I had no idea how to use it! But now, four years later, I find it to be one of the most helpful  ways to socialize, learn and network with others in the children’s publishing world. Along the way, I’ve met some really great friends. I met my fellow bloggers here on Simply Messing About on Twitter! Here are some very basic steps to navigating your way through Twitter to get the most from it.

1.  Set up your account so it is most beneficial for you:

I joined Twitter about four years ago when it was still rather new. I’ll admit that back then I had no idea how to use it! But now, four years later, I find it to be one of the most helpful  ways to socialize, learn and network with others in the children’s publishing world. Along the way, I’ve met some really great friends. I met my fellow bloggers here on Simply Messing About on Twitter! Here are some very basic steps to navigating your way through Twitter to get the most from it.

1.  Set up your account so it is most beneficial for you:

3.  Find topics you are interested in (i.e. HASHTAGS!)

The one thing that I have to have while working is something to listen to. I find that my mind wanders and it just gets lonely if I try to work in silence.

I have two listening modes:

Mode 1– Thinking mode
If I have to really concentrate to sketch out ideas or to work out a layout of a book, I need music. Not only any kind of music, but something droning and repetitive that I will loop over and over again. These days, the opening theme for Game of Thrones is my preferred song that I play on repeat. (Because of this my kid hums the Game of Thrones song. I keep on telling people that I don’t let him watch the show.)

Coffivity – Another thing I listen to when I have to think is the coffee shop noise from Coffivity. It sounds really silly but it really works to help you focus.

 Mode 2– Production mode 
When I’m painting for looooong hours, I listen to podcasts. I love listening to conversation and the idea that I’m learning things while working. Over the years I’ve collected quite a few shows so here’s my list:

Podcasts about Illustration/Comics:

• Concept Art & Illustration: Chris Oatley’s ArtCast
• Paperwings Podcast
• Escape from Illustration Island Podcast
• Make It Then Tell Everybody
• Your Dreams My Nightmares
• Big Illustration Party Time
• Comics Are Great!
• Lean Into Art
• Man vs. Art

Podcasts about Creativity/Productivity

• Back to Work You should especially listen to the first 12 episodes.
• On Taking Pictures This podcast is one of my favorites right now.
• The New Disruptors

Podcasts about Tech Stuff:

• CMD+Space
• The Big Web Show
• Amplified
• Accidental Tech Podcast
• Mac Power Users
• The Talk Show with John Gruber
• Enough- The Podcast
• The Apple Artist – a podcast where digital artists talk about their tech tools for making art. Note: I blabber on in the most recent 2 episodes of this podcast.

Podcasts about Stuff:

• Radiolab from WNYC
• The Pen Addict  This podcast about pens is hands-down my very favorite podcast right now.
• Generational
• Stuff You Missed In History Class
• The Splended Table
• Quit!

I’m always looking for new podcasts to listen to so please write down any suggestions you have in the comments!

Aside from client projects, in the past few months I’ve been taking a break from making "finished" personal art to concentrate more on my sketchbooks. Part of the reasoning behind this was to get away from the computer and the other part was to simply just get better at drawing.

Extremely inspired by children’s illustrator, Renata Liwska, I have filled 4 and a half sketchbooks in the past few months. Here they are:

I’m sure that most of you have seen Renata’s sky high sketchbook stacks:

Seeing this video and learning how Renata works reminded me of all the work I should be doing to achieve my goals.

Another artist I’ve been following for many years is Pascal Campion. This video, made by a friend of his, is about his "Sketch of the Day" emails:

This interview is from 2 years ago and, wouldn’t you know, he still makes a new sketch every day. You can sign up to receive an email from him every day with a new sketch on the main page of his website.

Both Renata and Pascal’s sketches look like finished art to me, but they are so practiced. What Pascal says in this interview really hit home for me. I feel that I need to not only keep sketchbooks, I want to show them to people. Therefor, just for funsies, I decided to step even further out of my comfort zone to make an uber-amateur video. 🙂 Enjoy!

Thanks so much to everyone for your continued support on our blog!

Cheers!

~Renee

Movies can transform you. They can change the way you see yourself and the world. One of my favorite movies is We Bought a Zoo. I love this movie! There’s a scene where the son is afraid to tell a girl he likes her and the father tells him, “All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it”. So simple, so profound!



I’ve used this mantra at conferences and bookstore signings. It’s so difficult to approach art directors, editors, and successful illustrators at these events. You desperately want to talk to them, to connect in some small way, but the hurdle of shyness looms large. I literally have to recite this phrase to myself before I take the leap. It works! Anyone can muster 20 seconds of courage. Remember that those people you’re afraid to talk to are just people. Most of them are incredibly friendly and generous. They share your passion for children’s books. I urge you to just go for it. You can’t make connections if you never try. Be brave! And for goodness sakes, please rent this movie!