An Interview With Abrams Creative Director, Chad Beckerman

Chad Beckerman is the Creative Director for Amulet Books, Abrams Books for Young Readers and ComicArts. Here's an insightful interview with him on the childrensillustrators.com Web site. An Art Director from Abrams will be joining us for our fall conference in Gettysburg this November 11-13. Details soon.

"Science to Go" art contest

The Carnegie Science Center and Pittsburgh-Area Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisees Partner to Host “Science to Go” Contest

Designed to motivate local science lovers and artists to go “above and beyond”, the contest winner will receive a $700 prize package and the chance to have their design featured on a Dunkin’ Donuts’ Travel Mug later this year.

Age: 18 or older
To enter: Visit http://ddsciencetogocontest.com
Deadline: August 7, 2011
Contact: Dena Rose at 412-481-5807 or drose@rosestein.com

Entrants are invited to submit an original work of art representing their adaptation of what is above or beyond the earth, including the, sky, weather, clouds, solar system, stars, planets, and more. Original works of art can be submitted as drawings, paintings, watercolors, photography, or graphic art. Submission deadline is 11:59.59 p.m., August 7, 2011.  Mail-in entry information can be found in participating Pittsburgh-area Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants. Entries by mail must be postmarked no later than August 1, 2011 in order to be eligible.

The winner will be selected on or around August 11, 2011 by a panel of judges from Carnegie Science Center and Dunkin’ Donuts. The winning artwork may appear on a limited-edition Dunkin’ Donuts’ Travel Mug, which will be sold in participating Pittsburgh-area Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants beginning approximately October 1 through December 31, 2011. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Carnegie Science Center’s mentoring and youth training initiatives.

For more eligibility, submission requirements and the Official Rules, please visit: http://www.ddsciencetogocontest.com or any Pittsburgh-area Dunkin’ Donuts Restaurant.

Critiquenic map

Here's a map to help you find our Critiquenic at Monroeville Community Park:


View Larger Map

And a link to the map on Google Maps in case the map above doesn't load.

Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Time: 5:30 to 9:00 PM
Place: Monroeville Park
What to bring:

• A finished illustration to have critiqued in peer critique groups
• Either a main dish salad, side dish salad, or dessert

Cost: FREE
Registration: Email patheaston@aol.com and include

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• What dish you will bring

July Critiquenic for Illustrators too!

Each year, writers from the WPaSCBWI get together to picnic and critique each others' work, and this year the illustrators will be eating and critiquing right along with them!

Since we're just getting our feet wet and feeling our way as we go, this year our plans will be to critique whatever you want to bring along. We're already making plans for next year's event, but we're open to any ideas you might have that can make this exciting and worthwhile.

Here are the details:

Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Time: 5:30 to 9:00 PM
Place: Monroeville Park
What to bring:

• A finished illustration to have critiqued in peer critique groups
• Either a main dish salad, side dish salad, or dessert

Cost: FREE
Registration: Email patheaston@aol.com and include

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• What dish you will bring

Advanced Illustrators Workshop

Openings are still available for the Advanced Illustrators Workshop offered by the Highlights Foundation September 1-5.

It's designed for illustrators seeking a technique-driven workshop to sharpen their skills in the field of children’s picture-book illustration.

Join award-winning illustrators Floyd Cooper, Eric Rohmann, Melanie Hall, Suzanne Bloom, and Lindsay Barrett George as they guide you through today’s best techniques.

Complete information and application form are available online at: http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/FWsched_advancedIllustrators.html

Sewickley Public Library call for entries

Sewickley Public Library will host Hello Kitty, an exhibit of cat paintings, drawings and prints (woodblock, litho, etc.; no photographs or photo-based images) during the months of July & August. Artists of any age are invited to submit entries. The library has a hallway of lighted and secure display cases, and receives over 25,000 visits per month. 

Entries must be no larger than 30” x 30” and mounted on a material firm enough to stand on an easel; framing is not necessary. You may submit up to two entries via email to: sewickleydisplaycase@einetwork.net.Your entry should include title, medium and size, as well as your name, address, phone number and email.

The deadline for submission is June 1st. A jury of four cat lovers and art professionals will select the works for the show, and a “Best of Show” will be selected. If your cat image is selected for the exhibit, you will be notified by email or phone by mid-June. All artists will be responsible for delivery and pick-up of their art work.

Good luck and happy painting!

Golden Penn call for art

The Golden Penn, Western Pennsylvania's SCBWI quarterly newsletter, is asking for illustration submissions for upcoming newsletters.

Now that The Golden Penn is online, color jpeg files (computer generated or scans) are acceptable. If you have any pieces with a spring theme or that show kids reading or just being kids, please consider submitting them. If they aren't used for this issue, they will be kept on file for future issues. It's a great way to participate in our region's chapter and to get your art out there for others to see and enjoy.

Please email files to: ChrisAnnKG@verizon.net

And thanks for your contributions, past and future!