Live Animal Study 2013 Recap

February weather didn’t put a damper on the fun that was had at Live Animal Study this past Saturday! A group of local children's book illustrators joined humane educator Laurelin Sitterly to study both live and taxidermy animals at RISD's famous Nature Lab. This was the second year Laurelin and I have collaborated on this workshop, and thanks to our generous attendees we’ve raised several hundred dollars in donations for the RISPCA!

My favorite highlight of the day: having Shelldon, the baby sulcata tortoise I fostered, as a model this year! He has probably tripled in size since he was adopted last fall and is quite the handsome and hefty boy! I’m so grateful to his adopted family for taking such wonderful care of him.

Laurelin is not only a rockstar in educating people on animal behavior, anatomy, and husbandry, but she’s also a super-talented illustrator. You can check out her amazing animal-themed artwork over at Blockhead Craftwerks.

Special thanks to RISD for letting us use the space, Jesse Smolover for volunteering as our “roadie,” and Renee Kurilla and Laurelin for all the great photos:

First Look: Your Single Best Piece Critiqued

Registration opens this morning for a fun panel I'm moderating at the upcoming NESCBWI Regional Conference:

First Look: Your Single Best Piece Critiqued
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
Place: Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, Springfield, MA
Fee: Included with Saturday's Conference registration

Ever wonder what that art director thinks when your promotional postcard crosses their desk? Watch as an experienced panel of industry professionals share their first impressions of artwork submitted by conference attendees. All submissions are kept anonymous, so you can secretly take in compliments, constructive criticism, and see how your single best piece stacks up against your peers' in a theatre-style critique setting. Panel moderated by Christina Rodriguez.

Participants will walk away from the event with:

• A beneficial peek at the work of other illustrators, including their artistic triumphs and mistakes.
• Insight from a panel of professionals in the industry as they quickly critique a range of styles and illustrations.

Only attendees who register for the workshop can submit an image for consideration. Once you have confirmation of your Conference registration, e-mail 1 (one) image to mail (at) christinarodriguez (dot) com:

• Image format: JPG
• Resolution: 150dpi
• Maximum image size: 1 MB
• Artist's name is to appear NOWHERE on the artwork.
• Deadline for all images: April 17, 2013

The images will be compiled into a randomized slideshow to be displayed in front of the panel and audience. Each image will get between 1-3 minutes of critique by the panel (as time & number of entries permit), and I will be auditing for time and guiding discussion as needed.

Please contact me with questions and be sure to register for this workshop at the Conference. Good luck!

Live Animal Study 2013

Live Animal Study: A Children's Book Illustrator's Workshop
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Place: The Edna Lawrence Nature Lab, 13 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02903
Admission: FREE, click here to register.

Bring your sketchbooks, pencils, and light painting supplies and enjoy a rare opportunity to study a handful of live exotic (and some not-so-exotic) animals up close and personal! RISPCA Humane Educator Laurelin Sitterly will present on each creature's basic anatomy, movement, and habits that will be sure to inspire you and provide a wealth of knowledge for your animal-themed book projects. Taxidermy and skeletal models will also be available to examine, courtesy of RISD's Edna Lawrence Nature Lab. This is an event to gather inspiration from the animal world, practice your craft amidst an active environment, network with other artists, and raise funds for a great organization.

This program is FREE but donations of pet food, supplies, or checks to the RISPCA are strongly suggested (click for the RISPCA Wishlist). Advanced registration is required and limited to 25 participants.

To register, go to liveanimalstudy2013.eventbrite.com or use the form below:

Online Ticketing for Live Animal Study: A Children's Book Illustrator's Workshop powered by Eventbrite

Special thanks to Gaia Cornwall for knocking it out of the park with her amazing logo! I hope to see you there!

**UPDATED Jan. 18, 2013** In just over 24 hours, this event has completely sold out! Please add yourself to the waitlist if you would like to be notified of an open spot. Thanks for the support!