I'm excited!
Can you tell I'm excited?
It's because I'm about to launch a new hare-brained scheme and you guys are all going to get to be part of it!
(And no, just because it's April 1st and we just had a contest, this is NOT an April Fool. I just couldn't add this to yesterday's Winner Celebration Post or tomorrow's WYRI!)
I've been thinking for a while that children's authors get all the fun. Contests and prizes and being able to claim top finishes in Pretty Much World Famous Writing Contests. . .
It isn't entirely fair.
In the world of picture books, authors are only half the story.
We couldn't do what we do without our illustrators!
I think it's high time to let the illustrators have some fun and a contest and prizes and be able to claim top finishes in a Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest!
So that's what we're going to do!
Are you ready?
Announcing
The First Ever Pretty-Much-World-Famous Illustration Contest!!!
 |
| the fact that this particular illustrator resembles a female is in no way meant to deter any male illustrators! :) |
The Contest: Draw/Paint a children's picture book cover illustration (no text required - art only) for one of the following stories (which you will recognize as the top finishers in the March Madness Fractured Fairy Tale Writing Contest - a little extra surprise for those authors :)):
- The Three Wiggly Worms Bluff by Wendy Greenley
- Goldilockup by Mike Allegra
- Goldibawks And The Three Pairs by Dawn Young
- The Sweetie Witch by Pen Avey
- The Princess And The Stinky Cheese by Lauri Meyers
- Mongoose's Holi Party by Darshana Khiani
- The "Princess" And The Pete by Jennifer Caritas
- The Jackrabbit Who Cried Gila Monster by Elliah Terry
Illustrations should be 8x10, horizontal or vertical, any medium, posted in jpg at least 72 px
All stories can be read on the March Madness Finalist Post HERE so you will know what to illustrate :)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Thursday April 24 at 5 AM EDT and Monday April 28 at 9 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on my Thursday April 24 post which will remain up through Tuesday April 29 so that people can come visit and enjoy your gorgeous artwork! (No PPBF on Friday April 25, no new post on Monday April 28, but there will be a brief interruption for WYRI on Wednesday April 30 because I forgot to leave it open for the contest :)). If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments of my April 24 post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, you may email me and I'll post your entry for you! Also, since this is the first time we've done an illustration contest, I'm not sure if you actually CAN paste your entry into the comments. If this turns out to be the case, email them to me and I'll add them directly to my April 24 post.)
Judging: entries will be judged by multi-talented, award-winning author/illustrators Iza Trapani, author and illustrator of over 20 gorgeous picture books, and Lisa Thiesing, author and illustrator of at least 16 beautiful and fun picture books and early readers! Judging criteria to include:
They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Thursday May 1 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Sunday May 4 and the winner will be announced on Monday May 5. (No PPBF on Friday May 2.)
- is the picture readable to a young audience,
- how well does it show the character(s) and
- is the character(s) appealing (character development),
- does it make you want to read the story,
- originality
- skill.
They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Thursday May 1 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Sunday May 4 and the winner will be announced on Monday May 5. (No PPBF on Friday May 2.)
The Prizes!: There will definitely be a 1st prize. Whether we give prizes for 1st only, 1st-3rd, or 1st-6th will depend on how many entries we get.
First Prize is absolutely amazing! A portfolio critique by celebrated author/illustrator Michael Garland, who has over 20 picture books to his credit!!!
Illustrators, we can't wait to see what you've got in store for us!
Everyone else (authors, parents, teachers, librarians, farm equipment retailers, etc. :)) think how much fun it's going to be so see what the illustrators come up with!
You've got three weeks, illustrators!
On your mark, get set, GO!!! :)
First Prize is absolutely amazing! A portfolio critique by celebrated author/illustrator Michael Garland, who has over 20 picture books to his credit!!!
- Second Prize - a $50 gift certificate to Dick Blick Art Materials
- Third, Fourth & Fifth Prize will be winner's choice of one of the following books:
- Writing With Pictures by Uri Shulevitz
- A Caldecott Celebration - Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal by Leonard Marcus
- Show & Tell - Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration by Dilys Evans
- 2014 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market by Chuck Sambuchino
- Sixth Prize - sketch pads/pencils
Everyone else (authors, parents, teachers, librarians, farm equipment retailers, etc. :)) think how much fun it's going to be so see what the illustrators come up with!
You've got three weeks, illustrators!
On your mark, get set, GO!!! :)
An illustrators contest? Let me be the judge of that :-) Oh wait- I am one of the judges! Have fun and good luck, all you wonderful artists!
ReplyDeleteIs this for real?!!! YIPEEEE! I am super excited! I'm definitely participating in this contest. Thanks for giving us illustrators a chance to shine.
ReplyDeleteThis will be so much fun! I'm looking forward to seeing all the entries!
ReplyDeleteOh what fun!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Iza!!
ReplyDeleteoh I am soooooo going to do this :)
ReplyDeletechuckle
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! Awesomesauce!
ReplyDelete*raises hand and waves it frantically to get the illustrators' attention*
Ooh! ooh! Pick my story. Pick me! I'll be your best friend!
I'm just hoping we GET some illustrators to think this is a good idea! Maybe why I think is fun isn't what everyone else thinks is fun! But you draw, Mike.... (hint hint) :)
ReplyDeleteYay! That makes potentially 3 contestants! Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteGee whiz, Teresa! I don't want you to feel coerced! It's supposed to be fun! (And I haven't even taken the ECP out of the closet!) :)
ReplyDeleteI hope some illustrators will think so! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too - if we can just get some illustrators interested...!
ReplyDeleteYou're the best, Iza! And Lisa too! Couldn't do it without you! So far it looks like you may have as many as 2 entries to judge! :)
ReplyDeleteI live in deep fear of your ECP! But mostly, I love to tease you. ;D
ReplyDeleteOh, no you don't! I'm out on this one!
ReplyDeleteBut Mike! The Jackrabbit Who Cried Gila Monster has your name written all over it! :)
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteOh YAY! I'm so excited, Heather! I think you make potentially 3 contestants!!! Woo hoo! :)
ReplyDeleteBut I could just phone it in with my Goldie doodle!
ReplyDeleteYou could... but you have too much professional pride for that :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous fun! Thanks Susanna
ReplyDeleteI'll be expecting an entry from you, Catherine! No pressure... :)
ReplyDeleteThis will be fun! Can't wait to see what people come up with!
ReplyDeleteThis will be fun to watch. I can't draw anything and am always in awe of people who can.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! And two of my favorite illustrators as judges! Too bad stick figures (crookedly drawn) don't count:-) I'll stick to writing, but will look forward to seeing all those creative submissions.
ReplyDeleteI know! Me too! I just hope we get some entries! Thanks again so much for judging :)
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, Rosi! :)
ReplyDeleteI know! We have the world's best judges :) And I'm with you in crooked stick figure land :) I hope we get lots of great entries!
ReplyDeleteYayyy! What a great contest! :D
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like it, Stacey! :) Will you be joining us? (hint hint :))
ReplyDeleteIf you post it, they will come!
ReplyDeleteI've sent word to my other crit group...two of them are illustrators and might not see your post. I'll be cheering and commenting...but not creating...maybe one day.:) Sounds like a fantastic opportunity and a fun chance for illustrators!
ReplyDeleteI'll tell Josie! :D YAYYYYYYYYYY!!! (Kermit the Frog style)
ReplyDeleteHow fun is this???? Why, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys...which is a LOT of fun! I can't wait to see the entries! I'll spread the news!
ReplyDeleteI hope it will be fun! I hope illustrators will want to do it! Thanks for spreading the word, Penny :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jarm :)
ReplyDeleteGreat! I hope she'll want to do one!
ReplyDeleteEek! Really excited to see if anyone picks Sweetie Witch :)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I will let some of my illustrator friends from the Midsouth SCBWI group to know about this. You are offering such wonderful prizes I'm sure there will be more takers.
ReplyDeleteVery excited can't wait to get started
ReplyDeleteAh, the talented Iza will be a judge. And the prizes, hoot! I love your enthusiasm, Susanna. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm especially enthusiastic because this time I don't have to judge :) I hope you're going to enter, Tracy!!!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so excited someone wants to enter! Go for it, Mary! :)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that me SO MUCH FUN?! I hope someone does :)
ReplyDeleteOh cool cool cool! Susanna, you must have been bubbling like a pot trying to hold in your plans for this contest! Can't wait to see what Julie R-Z draws:)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think so! :)
ReplyDeleteI know! She already did a beautiful illustration for her story! I hope she joins the contest - although I think she's already had a portfolio critique from Michael, so she might not want that...
ReplyDeleteHaha, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteI'm in! I've come back to this post 10 or more times and finally decided to take the plunge! Played around with a few ideas this weekend and have one I'm going with. I love a lil' competition, just hope I don't embarrass myself. ; ) Cheers to trying!
ReplyDeleteI hope Nata DonnaArtista enters. I am such a fan of her illustrations she posts on FB. This will be perfect for her. I also can't wait to see the other illustrators' works as well. I hate to say it, but I have to be honest. The illustrations is my favorite part of the picture books. Watching the story come alive through the drawing is amazing. :D
ReplyDeleteShe said she would, although she'll have to draw left-handed - which apparently she can do being extremely versatile and multi-talented :) I love the illustrations too, and I think it will be very interesting if a few people do the same title to see how different or similar their interpretations are!
ReplyDeleteI agree...I always like the writing exercises I give the students with a starter prompt, an love the different directions each child took. That would be amazing if the artists does this as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'll have time but it sounds fantastic! Maybe I'll have time for a sketch if nothing else. I'll be sure to post and make sure you have the link to it if I do!
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you'll have time, Dani! I'd love to see what you come up with!!! :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea, I'm definitely in. Hope you all like what I illustrate... :)
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so excited! Can't wait to see your illustration, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteHello, I want to enter this fun contest and you can check my illustration at http://bit.ly/1f7kmC3. (I hope I'm doing this right, linking it here).
ReplyDeleteHope you guys like it. Thank you for the opportunity!
= Louie =
Thrilled you're entering, Louie! The contest opens tomorrow, and you should post your entry on tomorrow's post so it will be with all the others in one place! Thanks so much! (and Wendy will be so excited! :))
ReplyDeleteOh sorry, feel free to delete this post then. I totally forgot about time difference (it's already April 24 here), and I couldn't find any other post mentioning about the contest. :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem at all! Just no one's likely to see it here so be sure it gets on tomorrow's post :)
ReplyDeleteOooh, I have been out of the loop and just saw this! I will try to do something today to enter. What fun and a good way to get my creative juices going! :D Thanks, Susanna!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Loni!!! So glad to see you! Oh, gosh I hope you can get something together to enter! That would be so fun! :)
ReplyDelete