@Kevin-Longueil Great tips thanks. I bought a resizer app for the ipad pro. I can save from procreate, import to app, resize to 800x600, then upload to google drive copy link and post that. I was using the little image icon in the forums, but I will try the up arrow next and see if that works. Its all new to me as I have been primarily windows in the past. Its just a change in working process, but I am sure I will get used to it. Im temtped to make a little guide for new users answering all the questions I am encountering as I learn! Cheers again. 😉

@Naroth-Kean Thank you Naroth - really appreciate the kind words!

@Laurel-Aylesworth I hold my standard Wacom stylus (for Cintiq) the same way you do and sometimes accidentally push the side buttons. 🙂 Since it is programmed (personalized by me) to zoom in or out, it is not so distractive.

@smceccarelli Thanks for the work around, seems like jumping through hoops just to share an image 😞 But I will do as you mention and find some online storage solution. Cheers.

i think I should change that tongue to maybe pointing up and to the side. The idea is that he is concentrating on stealing that penguin. I also might not have it ripping--that might be too morbid for this type of cover.

I know I have several tangents to work out and my lighting is not great. If I go forward on this I think I'm going to try and heavily reference Adam Rex's painting/color style (in books like Chu's day, Billy Twitters...).

@QuietYell I'll see about putting together a tools list. IT's sad to me that Jake's tools page has more followers than I do. Haha!

I use Epson bright white watercolor paper on roll for my prints that I sell. This is an amazing paper. Better than any other paper I have found.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/757230-REG/Epson_S045242_Glossy_Exhibition_Canvas_17.html

They sell this in sheets too...

Hi all,

Results are out and the unofficial gallery has gone live today: https://scbwicontestentriesgallery.blogspot.ca/?m=1 Not all the pieces are showing yet though, but a few to browse through!

I'm kicking myself, especially since I'm a graphic designer so I should know better...But all the ones chosen have decent white space in them for SCBWI to include their logo (and if you go to their site the winning 5 are shown with the logos included). Mine didn't have any space. I thought of their colours, for branding purposes, but not space for their logo. DOH! That's something they should've listed though in their contest rules.

Anyway, it's all a learning opportunity. I might still print mine and send out for my own promotional piece!

Welcome!

This is a really nice piece and it's looking good!

Two things I want to mention to hopefully improve it. The first is the angle of the shadows of the trees. The sun is so far away that any shadows from it should all point in the same direction. The only time you have shadows that radiate in different directions is when the light source is close (such as a street lamp). This is a subtle thing, but not having the shadows correct will cause it to have an "off" feeling for many people although they wont be able to tell you why.

The next thing is purely an opinion, but I think you should put some kind of subject matter in there. It doesn't have to dominate or be very big, but this picture is dying for something to attract the overall focus. It could be a park bench, a jogger, or anything you want. Just to give the viewer some main thing that the image is about.

Like I said, this is very lovely. It will be a great gift! : )

Cheers,
Lee

The deadline is quickly approaching so I thought I'd share for any who might want to enter:

"Are you an unpublished artist with a great picture book idea?... Little, Brown Books for Young Readers announces the LITTLE, BROWN EMERGING ARTIST AWARD. This new initiative seeks promising new talent and encourages the development of high-quality picture books that resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds and experience, while also providing valuable mentorship by an acclaimed illustrator and children’s book professionals.... The award will be given to the entrant who submits the most accomplished picture book submission in the form of a mock-up... Submissions must be received between September 15, 2016 – January 15, 2017"

http://lbartistaward.com/

I'm looking forward to hearing the webinar. Definitely a difficult subject for some of us.

Started adding color. I couldn't leave it black and white.

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Thank you! I see what you're saying. @Joy-Heyer Something about her dress was bugging me and maybe that was it. I'll maybe give it a bit more definition and shape, some form shadow or something.

@Pamela-Fraley Thank you! It is a great resource, put on your list to Santa if you celebrate!

Also, here is the NYTimes "Notable Children’s Books of 2016"

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2016.html

An illustrator here in Dallas that I know (Terry Widener) got listed too! He's a great guy and we're all so glad he got featured in this list!

MY NAME IS JAMES MADISON HEMINGS
By Jonah Winter. Illustrated by Terry Widener.
40 pp. Schwartz & Wade Books. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 5 to 9)
http://amzn.to/2hwAJyK

@Judy-Elizabeth-Wilson Excellent!

@mattramsey 🙂 There's actually a sport associated with whipcracking (snuffing candles, complex multiple crack rotuines, etc.) and those of us who focus on that market have put a lot of effort into promoting it as a family friendly sport. Because of pop culture, 90 something percent of the time if people find out you make or use whips they say something like, " Oooohhhh.... I know what YOU'RE into!" Wink ! And after awhile it just gets a bit annoying, so I've developed the habit of stating upfront that what I do isn't that.

Love that cat on the desk image! 🙂

These are my characters.

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@Eric-Castleman by keep a "back layer set to color" I meant black layer ...... you probably figured that out though ... I seem to multiply my typos when typing on the iPad