Inklings Writers/Illustrators Group

2011-09-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

September Inklings meeting this Sunday!

A children's picture book critique group under the Austin chapter of the Austin chapter of the

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators will meet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, September 11 at the Green Muse Cafe, 519 W. Oltorf, Austin Texas.

Anyone interested in illustrating, writing, publishing or just even reading children's

picture books is invited!

Up fpr discussion: Our fall calendar, the 2012 Sketchbook Project and logistics of breaking out into smaller critique groups at our hunker-downs.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154207448000636&view=wall&notif_t=event_wall

Green Muse, July 10

2011-07-09T15:35:00.001-07:00

Maury Tieman will discuss the National Sketchbook Project and the sketch book mosaic team he'll head up this year with Austin illustrators -- at the Inklings meet-up at 10:30 this a.m this Sunday at the Green Muse Cafe.

Green Muse June 12

2011-06-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

We'll be back at the Green Muse for June 2011 and hope that we will continue to meet there afterwards. Hope to see you there.

Meeting location

2011-02-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

As the Green Muse burned down (not our fault, honest) we are seeking a new permanent meeting place. Stay tuned.

The Green Muse

2010-10-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

The Green Muse has been a very successful place for meetings. So until another announcement supersedes this one, we'll be meeting at the Green Muse, the second Sunday of each month from 10 a.m. until around Noon.

The Green Muse Cafe is located at
519 W Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704

The Green Muse Cafe

2010-09-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hola Inklings,

I'm sure my list of addresses for the group is woefully out of date so if you noticed that I've missed someone please pass on this message.

As promised, on the next Sunday morning following our last meeting Louise, Robyn and I went to check out the Green Muse cafe as a viable spot to move our Inklings meetups. In most ways the area in the back checked out as a quiet closed in space able to comfortably accommodate all of us- with free wi-fi, of course. We spoke to the manager who said Sunday mornings would probably be the best time for what we want to do as that's when it's the fewest number of people there. Sure enough, I went back again last Sunday and this Sunday morning around 11am and there were very few people. Arriving at 10am, I suspect we'd have no problem securing the room with the table that'd work for us.

My only concern is sound. Without a group of us actually in there holding conversations it's impossible to know what the acoustics will be like. Also, the first week we were there the music was turned up a bit too loud, but not so much the other times I've been (the place has become my regular getaway writing roost). Plus, if we were a group of paying customers it wouldn't be awkward to ask that the music be turned down a smidge.

Even if everything else failed there's a huge screened in patio that's lined in stone (hard to describe but imagine a rustic room with screen where the roof and top half of the back wall were supposed to be) that we could try as an alternative.

http://media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/ZrT1tSqJvTknhOaSGOuXmA/l

The Green Muse Cafe is located at

519 W Oltorf St

Austin, TX 78704

The Mother of All Reschedulings

2010-05-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Inklings will meet on May 16, 2010, to avoid conflicting with Mother's Day. Same time (10:00-12:15), same place (Central Market on North Lamar). But without the excuse of "can't make it, it's Mother's Day." See you there.

Sizing Images for the Web

2010-02-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

I've created a tutorial for those of you who work traditionally but want to properly prepare your images for the Web. No Photoshop, no problem. This tutorial requires Picasa, which is free, and for you to have images you've scanned in from your art. I'll be following up with a guide to getting the best results from Photoshop, but for now, I think some of you might find this useful.

The 2 Bad Mice Design guide to resizing your images for the Web.

Beyond Photoshop: Manga Studio

2009-12-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

At yesterday's meeting, we talked about the tools we use. Photoshop Photoshop Photoshop.

While a great tool, I've wandered away from it as the be-all-and-end-all graphics tool. I wanted to sing the praises of another program I use to cartoon: Manga Studio. Ignore the name, it's a marketing thing. It's a great comics creation tool, but also a great tool for imitating pen and ink drawing (and pencil, as well, though I've had to come up with a technique that combines Manga Studio with some final quick adjustments in Photoshop to get the effect I want). It comes in a basic version called Debut and a pro version called EX. Go with EX, it has great tools for perspective and other such useful things.

It's not a great tool for painters, but if you do comics, or pen and ink, or even under-drawings that require a lot of perspective, it's wonderful. But don't just ask me, ask the legendary Dave Gibbons, the artist behind The Watchmen.

Book Recomendation

2008-10-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

I wanted to point out this book (that I just discovered via my daughter) as an example of effective illustration. It has an alluring story with a pertinent message, that is fun to read. But every time we go through the book we find something else in the illustrations. There are many little illustration side stories and characterization going on. So I recommend taking a look at this one if you can. Princesses are not Quitters by Kate Lum and illustrated by Susan Hellard.

The Great San Francisco Black Hole...

2008-09-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

So there must be a small wormhole located somewhere over Central Market--or other places that Inklings hang out. It comes out in San Francisco. We know this much because yet another Inkling is about to be space traveled to the Bay Area. At some indeterminate time, (dependent on the housing market in Round Rock,) I will be moving into Sarah's shadow in SF. (My husband took a job there after getting laid off at Midway.) But I can always get back via the blog and email...
Heather

An Open Challenge

2008-08-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Writer/illustrators, save the date. October 18 is 24 Hour Comics Day: http://www.24hourcomicsday.com/

In short, the goal is to create a 24 page comic in 24 hours. You stay up all night. You come in without a story. You can bring different reference materials, but you should come in without a preconceived idea of what you'll be doing. There are all kinds of variants about finishing (do as much as you can in 24 hours, do as much as you can in 24 hours and finish up what may be left in the future, etc.). The goal is to create 24 pages, but the achievement is spending 24 hours writing and drawing.

I think comics are a great all-ages medium, and all people interested in kids' books needs to have a careful look at comics. And I challenge you to participate n this event. Usually, you start at around noon on the Saturday and work straight through, though starting at any time on October 18th works. Of course, you can do the challenge at any time, but the 18th is the official event date. Post a comment if you are interested in doing this thing... Austin is a hotbed of comics activity and holds the record for most people gathered to do 24-hour comics (at least, I don't think that record has been broken).

And for honesty's sake, I've done this twice. I finished 12 pages the first year and 17 the second. This year, I will be doing 24! Or die trying.

Creativity Exercise, or What Was I Thinking?

2008-08-16T18:48:00.001-07:00

I'd been planning to launch a Web comic for a while, and after a long period of planning, character design, and writing, I did so on January 1 of this year. But as an afterthought, I also decided to launch another project that had been in my mind. For that, I would create a new dog every day: drawings, photos, animations, writing, or any other creative exercise. The idea was that it would keep my creativity sharp, and force me to draw very regularly. But, I told myself, it would be secondary to the Web comic.

What was I thinking?

There is a quote about never working with children or dogs. They take over. And my dogs took over. When my teaching schedule looked heavy this summer, it was the Web comic that took a hiatus. I haven't missed a dog yet. And I believe that I haven't taken the easy way out by repeating myself or using the same style day in and day out.

I made a commitment to draw a dog every day, January 1 to December 31. Three hundred and sixty-six dogs (I forgot it was a leap year when I made the commitment). I take that commitment very seriously. It may not matter to anyone else, but it means a lot to me. And I've experienced some real artistic growth because of it.

Which is why I now extend a challenge to any creative types reading this. I challenge you to find a similar project, something that forces you to keep a commitment to regularly create. As stressful as it's been at times, realizing that I have to get to work on a dog when I simply wish to drop onto the couch after a hard day, I don't regret it.

I've posted it on the Web every day, to keep me honest. And I've developed a small following. Sold some t-shirts. Made some interesting contacts with people who've written to me about the project and shared their dog photos and drawings with me. I've watched my creativity grow, my drawing skills improve and my confidence as an artist grow. And when the year is over, I will continue to draw dogs regularly. Not every day, and not on a proscribed schedule. But I hope to post at least weekly, to keep my regular visitors coming back for more.

Now it's your turn.

Oh, by the way, you can find my Web comic, Hex Libris, right here.

Bernard Dummy

2008-08-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been working on--a dummy for the story about Bernard. Here's a black and white spread and a full color one (the last page of the book). I'm liking the illustrations but doubting the quality of the text. I'm ready for a new project, I think!

Illustration Friday and MORE!

2008-08-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

“Erreck, erreck,” croaked Bandi Boodle Boo
as the ship glided through the South China Sea.

With a kind look the helmsman said, “Chin up my friend.
You have not heard them all.”

This is my post for Illustration Friday on my personal Blog. We will be giving this blog a facelift here in the near future. Keeping checking back to see what those zany Inklings are up to.

Spill Movie Reviews

2008-06-12T20:46:00.001-07:00

Vote for two Austin SCBWI illustrators in the International Third Annual ABCBookCompetition

2007-09-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, guys, Austin SCBWI illustrators Christy Stallop and I are contenders in the ABC Book competition and so you need to go on-line and vote for us. Everybody can go on line and cast one vote per day through the end of the month -- and the winning author-illustrator team gets their book published.

The authors will already be notorious around the world by the time the winning book is announced because of all this Internet campaigning that's been going on all month. Famous like "Lynne and Tessa" of the Google International Music Video Idol (lip synching) competition. (Hey, whatever happened to them, anyway? They were good.)

As for the illustrators, Austin-SCBWI is already represented in this contest like no other SCBWI chapter anywhere in the galaxy. What a showing -- but now we need your votes.

So here's what you do, go to

http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/third_comp/LilTexVisitsTheAlamo.htm

and read the story by my two authors Karen Perry and Casey Wise of Houston, Lil Tex

Visits the Alamo. Click above the story where it says "See Sample Art" if you want to see my picture, then go back to the story page, and below the story, click on the colorful big word VOTE, and follow the next couple of prompts.

Could it be any simpler?

The next day go to

http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/third%5Fcomp/JunkfoodJack.htm

and read the story by Christy's author, Heidi McIntyre, Junk Food Jack, see Christy's illustration, and click on VOTE.

Each day thereafter, rinse and repeat until September 30.

The winners will receive a world cruise and a $10,000 website and they
don't even have to share the website or go on the cruise together --- wait, no, nevermind that's that other contest....

They (we) get their book published and get hundreds of free copies of their book. Not too shabby.

Here are those links again:

http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/third_comp/LilTexVisitsTheAlamo.htm
on "A" days and

http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/third%5Fcomp/JunkfoodJack.htm
on "B" days

Let's put Austin SCBWI on the Internet map!

Who were all those people huddled around their laptops at Central Market Cafe Sunday morning?

2007-08-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Martin for a super run through on Photoshop, starting with your superb inked sketch.
Photoshop just does so much. It's more painterly than painting! There is so much to learn. But you broke the ice -- especially for those of us who have not used it for our artwork before. I think everyone, even the more experienced Photoshop users, learned something.

Hey, I think Theresa took the best notes of anyone . I didn't know she was taking notes that whole time. Thank you for your post, Theresa and also posting your class notes in the comments.

For more study, don't forget Photoshop Classroom in a Book, mentioned by Sarah and Amy -- and make sure the book you find at Half Price Books or Amazon.com is pertinent to your version of the software, they said.

Thank you, Meg for bringing the power strip.

Martin's Spamarama Pig is now showing up in my dreams. Sometimes he's funny and clowning around and sometimes he's a little scary. I want to texture him so that he sort of fades into the background. But that means I have to add another layer. Maybe I can just drop a fill bucket over his head...

Martin's Photoshop Presentation

2007-08-27T08:25:00.001-07:00

Thanks Martin, for your great Photoshop presentation. We all learned a lot, especially about layers. My favorite demo on layers was using the polygon lasso for selecting so that you can color the ink drawing on a separate layer. Does that ever save a lot of work. I tried it out and it really works.

My notes are in the Comments. Anyone else who wants to post their notes, feel free.

Once again thanks Martin for sharing your knowledge on Photoshop, and we all loved your Spam Pig illustration!

BTW our meetings are 2nd Sunday of the month, as per unanimous vote.

Hi all!

2007-08-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

What a great idea this is.......
I have good news! I just signed on with an agency. Kid Shannon. This is a big step for me but it feels good to have someone else helping with the marketing. Trying to get a major publisher to pay attention is really hard these days. Having an agent will help.
I'm looking forward to working with you all and seeing what everybody is working on.
I've been writing a lot lately and need to share.

Ciao!
Mary

yay!

2007-08-14T07:28:00.001-07:00

I managed to join!! don't look at my blog--it's embarrassing. I'll fix it soon.

Test(y)

2007-08-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've had SO much trouble getting registered on the blog, I'm just testing to see if I finally got it this time. If you can see this that's good...but ignore it.

Hello fellow inklings and all visitors to our blog!

2007-08-13T17:31:00.001-07:00

Photoshop Demo 26 August

2007-08-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

Inklings,
You are invited to:
Photoshop Demonstration presented by Martin Thomas
Learn more about Photoshop!
Sunday August 26
10 am at Central Market (upstairs)

August 12 meeting minutes (sort of)

2007-08-13T05:28:00.001-07:00

Minutes from 8-12 meeting (such as they are):
The Inklings meeting today defined the purpose of the group:
1. Picture books and all their elements--manuscript, character studies, illustrations, dummies, etc.
2. Q & A about publishing biz in general.
3. Bring in your projects to show to the group and get some feedback.

We looked at several picture book WIP's and gave our ideas to the authors.

Welcome Inklings!

2007-07-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday July 22, several writer/illustrators in Austin, Texas met and formed a new group: Inklings. Currently there are eight of us: Mark, Amy, Frances, Torran, Martin, Sarah, Louise, and Theresa (please correct me if I misspelled your name). We plan to meet in person once a month and critique each other's writing and illustration.

Our next meeting will be Sunday August 12 at 10 am at Central Market. Bring something for the group to see: a couple new illos, or a manuscript, etc. The meeting will probably last around 2--3 hours.

Re. this blog, feel free to post some of your illustrations, also links to websites.