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!

Kadir Nelson at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Kadir Nelson details his work on We Are the Ship,
a book he both wrote and illustrated.

Illustrator Kadir Nelson spoke at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture last Sunday afternoon as part of the Black, White and Read All Over series from Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. His illustration work for children has earned him several awards including Caldecott Honors for both Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad. Moses also garnered him an NAACP Image Award and both Moses and Ellington Was Not a Street have received Coretta Scott King Awards.

Prior to Nelson's talk, a handful of illustrators from SCBWI met for lunch and to review and discuss his many books for children. We noticed his varied styles from book to book, which he actually addressed during his presentation, saying he wanted to try something new with each book. His styles have ranged from watercolor and gouache to oil painting to fabric collage.

The afternoon included a slide presentation of not only his completed illustrations but also sketches, reference photos (he uses himself as a model), artwork he created as a child and concept art for the Steven Spielberg movie Amistad. He spoke about how his book We Are the Ship grew from single paintings submitted to Sports Illustrated to a 96-page, fully illustrated book.

While showing his childhood paintings and drawings, he shared a story about how his mother taught him to take hold of his dreams. "He gives his mother credit for teaching him to dream (in very specific terms)," Rose Gauss noted, "and then to work hard and practice long to make them come true."

"Dream big but work for it," Leda Miller agreed.

Kadir Nelson was soft-spoken, humble and inspirational, and I personally felt very privileged having been at the Center to hear him speak. But I doubt I was the only one. "Listening to him speak renewed my own confidence," Leda remarked. "There are no free rides and no magic pill."

Anne Trimble discusses
the various styles
in Kadir Nelson's
picture books.

After speaking, Mr. Nelson answered questions from the audience and then signed books and programs in the lobby of this beautiful downtown building.

Also in attendance:

Anne Trimble
Judith Lauso
Nora Thompson

Kadir Nelson at the August Wilson Center

It looks like we won't have enough people confirmed to purchase tickets as a group for the Kadir Nelson talk at the August Wilson Center, so anyone who plans to attend will need to purchase tickets individually. Tickets are available online through the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust:

http://www.culturaldistrict.org/production/25029

Individual tickets cost $10 and include Nelson's talk, a Q&A, a book signing and refreshments. The program begins at 2:00 and runs until 5:00 on Sunday, February 20 at the August Wilson Center, downtown.

We will meet at the Panera Bread at the Waterfront at 11:00 for lunch and to discuss Nelson's books before we carpool to the program. Be sure to bring any books you may have that are illustrated by Kadir Nelson including ones you've borrowed from your library. Please feel free to meet us for lunch at Panera even if you don't plan on attending the program that afternoon.

Reminder: RSVP for Kadir Nelson

Just a reminder that if you plan on going to Kadir Nelson's talk at the August Wilson Center with the WPaSCBWI group on February 20, you'll need to RSVP Rose or Nora by January 30.

Rose: RoseGauss@comcast.net
Nora: illustrations@nora-thompson.com

We need to know ahead of time so we can purchase group-rate tickets. If you don't know that you will be able to make it to the event by January 30, you can still purchase a ticket on your own through the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust after this date. Tickets on your own will cost $10.

Also a reminder that we will be meeting at the Panera Bread at the Waterfront that morning at 11:00 for lunch and to discuss Mr. Nelson's work before carpooling to the event. If you would like to meet us for lunch but can't make it to the event itself, please feel free to join us anyway; no RSVP necessary.

Please see the previous blog post for more detailed information.

Kadir Nelson at the August Wilson Center

The Carnegie Library’s yearly Black, White & Read All Over series this year includes double Caldecott Honor recipient Kadir Nelson speaking at the August Wilson Center at 2 pm on Sunday, February 20.

On the morning of the 20th, and prior to Nelson’s presentation, the illustrators group from WPaSCBWI will be meeting for lunch and to discuss Mr. Nelson’s children’s books. Please bring any and all Kadir Nelson books in your possession, including those borrowed from your local library.

Discussion can include:

• his illustration styles
• page compositions
• color choices and palettes
• lighting
• details added that weren't part of the text
• perspectives (camera angles)
• the "why's" for all of the above
• and what makes his books worthy of the Caldecott Honor

The group will meet for lunch at the Panera Bread at the Waterfront at 11 am and carpool to the August Wilson Center that afternoon. Tickets are $10, but rates are discounted if a group of five people or more attend and we order tickets online in advance. Please RSVP by January 30 and let us know if you plan to attend.

RSVP:
Rose Gauss: RoseGauss@comcast.net
Nora Thompson: illustrations@nora-thompson.com

Black, White & Read All Over

Sunday, February 20, 2011

2:00 pm
August Wilson Center
980 Liberty Avenue, Downtown

Rachel Abrams from HarperCollins

Rachel talked about what publishers want from their authors in reference to social media. They need authors and illustrators who are media savvy, who are already online with a presence and followers so a book's marketing and promotion can hit the ground running.

Cool.

Panel session

Writers Kitty Lagorio, Carla Mooney, Sally Alexander and Regional Advisor, Pat Easton.