Colorado Alliance of Illustrators

CAI Member Spotlight: John Francis - Industrial Illustration

2011-05-06T09:35:00.009-07:00

To see more of John Francis' work, visit his website:
John Francis Illustration

How long have you been a CAI Member?
JF: Since 1994 I believe, but quite sure there have been lapses.
How did you get started in the illustration field?
JF: My first job out of art school was for Factors Etc. in DE as an illustrator for licensed graphic t-shirt designs. Began freelancing a few years later.

How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?
JF: Tight airbrush art was my first love, then combining line / sketch with realistic focus, which became the style most interesting and familiar. The digital era proved to be an interesting transition..."I can change the background color without redoing it ?"

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?
JF: 1.) Purchase Order is important as all parties are agreed on terms before work begins - cost, usage, timing, etc. 2.) Reference and usually a couple rounds of sketches. 3.) Final art...on time of course ! 4.) After a good breather, send that invoice !

What is your creation process (start with sketches, etc.)?
JF: A layout from the client and reference material is usually handy when doing an ad, but many times just get the copy. A sketch or two for approval before going to final art. Often, I'll photograph my own reference.

How do you market/promote your work?
JF: Artist websites mainly: Theispot, Workbook Online, and Directory of Illustration. Direct mail when time allows, or sending promo sheets to specific agencies or publishers. Soon, as many others do, I plan to have a monthly e-mail campaign in action. Need to update my own site in a big way !

What was one of your favorite assignments?
JF: Now that's a tough one, could be Rollerblade, Timberland, Kellogg's but doing futuristic conceptional art in a feature for Scuba Magazine was a blast. I must say though, that I'm very excited about an ad series for MonoSol, LLC currently in the works...they haven't approved my concept drawing for Isaac Newton, but I've gone to final and can't stop !...The series is about partnerships in innovation...Jacques Cousteau is the next subject in the series....so cool, and might just become my favorite !

What is the best part about what you do?
JF: It's always a personal boost when I land a particularly sweet project, clicking with an art director, good budget and a new portfolio piece. Most freelancers may agree that they enjoy a level of freedom as well.

Describe your work setting.
JF: So grateful am I for my workspace !
I lease an office on the top floor/ roof in the heart of Lodo. Though often working solo, there's always plenty going on.

Do you have side projects you work on?
JF: Yes, after years of technical and commercial work, I have started painting on canvas when possible, and wish to incorporate into my options eventually. The Vivaldi Violin at the last High Five Show was commissioned, but my first time on canvas in over 20 years...what fun !

How do you maintain balance in your life between work and play?
JF: Excellent question, Play first ! Actually, play is more fun when the work is done...and helps avoid all nighters. Though I keep time sheets, as a freelancer it's hard to "punch out" so to speak. I played a lot of co-ed softball this summer as a balance promoter...didn't win any tournaments, but the social benefits were highly worthwhile.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?
JF: There are definitely times when I feel more creative than others, and when I find myself in a "tunnel vision" concerning a particular project, I'll look for others images (artists of all categories ) books or on-line. To break out of it, take a bike ride or go work out for an hour to clear any clutter. Some breakthroughs have come unexpectedly while in quite contemplation in a different place...changing your approach in an open positive state. Visit another creative and ask what they think.

What do you do for fun/when you're not working?
JF: Enjoy skiing when the snow falls, but excited about a week in Oahu...leaving next Tuesday !...I miss big water.

What has been inspiring you lately?
JF: Those past and present with a concept or an idea, then act on it with a flight plan to fruition.

Any advice for others who are pursuing creative goals?
JF: Working in a creative atmosphere such as an ad agency / art department for 5 years will teach one so much before entering the freelance world...I think I entered it a bit too green, and the lessons were painful at times. Plan your "Balance" of work, fun and family.

CAI 21st Annual Show, Tonight!

2011-05-06T09:24:00.002-07:00

It's time for the 21st Annual CAI show. In addition to showcasing our member and non-member pieces, we'll have performers, food, and beverages at our May 6th CAI Friday Art Walk opening.

Details:

WHERE:
Bizarre Monkey Studios
985 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204

WHEN:
Show runs Friday May 6th, 6pm-10pm through May 27th
Opening Reception: May 6, 6-10pm
Closing Reception and artwork pick up: May 27th 6-10pm
(artwork may be picked up at the end of the closing reception)

Attendees get to vote for their Top 5 Favorite pieces, on the night of the opening, and awards will go to the pieces which receive the most votes.

RSVP on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141136359293565

CAI Call for Art Entries: High 5

2011-04-13T16:59:00.006-07:00

Hello CAI members, former members and friends,

It's time for the 21st Annual CAI show. We'll have performers, food and beverages at our May 6th CAI Friday Art Walk opening and May 27th closing party.

Special Announcement: Like Last year this year's show will have our audience viewers voting on their
favorite top five artistic pieces. And the winning top CAI member image will be our featured artwork for the June Denver Chalk Art Festival chalk drawing! Thousands of cameras will be clicking at Larimer Square, so enter your best and invite your guests!

This is one of the best benefits of CAI membership-to enter your pieces without fees-if in early! If not already a current member, please renew now. We have so many great seminars, events, camaraderie and creative peer networking.

We need your art entry info online by April 26th. Late folks who want to pay extra have until May 3rd. Looking forward to our CAI 21st Annual High 5 show to be one of our best!

-Che' Rippinger, CAI Board Advisor

GET YOUR ARTWORK READY!* GET NOTICED!

We're creating big buzz this year for the big annual CAI show this May. Join us for our 21st Annual CAI Illustration Show at Bizarre Monkey Studio.

*Free Earlybird Entry for CAI Members! (before April 26th)

Call For Entries - Annual CAI Show: The High 5 Exhibit

SAVE THE DATE: Opening Night - Friday, May 6th from 6-10 pm
Bizarre Monkey Studio

985 Santa Fe Dr.

Denver, CO 80204

CAI SHOW: Opening Friday

2010-05-04T05:35:00.004-07:00

Opening This Friday, May 7th, 6 - 10pm

2ND HIGH 5 EXHIBIT and 20th Annual Colorado Alliance of Illustrator's Show

Anam Cara Living Arts Studio, 445 S. Saulsbury Street (Block 7 Belmar), Lakewood, CO 80214

This is a FREE event! You are invited to come to the 20th Annual Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Exhibit. Once again, we are letting the attendees on opening night vote for their top 5 favorite pieces. The voting will end around 9 pm and at 9:30, the top 5 pieces of the show will be announced. There will be FREE food and drink. Beer provided by the Del Norte Brewing Company. Also sponsored in part by AIGA Colorado and Art Directors Club of Denver.

We need your art entry info online by April 26th. Late folks who want to pay extra have until May 3rd.

http://www.allianceofillustrators.com/content.aspx?page_id=87&club_id=651408&item_id=127120

If you registered to be in the show, please deliver artwork with any of your promotional materials (business cards, flyers, etc...) to Anam Cara Living Arts Studio & Gallery (445 S. Saulsbury St., Lakewood, CO 80226) by Wednesday, May 5th... noon - 7 pm. Artwork may be picked up Friday, June 11th after the closing party, which will be from 6 pm - 9 pm.

CAI Annual Show: High 5

2010-04-12T09:07:00.004-07:00

Calling All Colorado Illustrators to Participate in Annual Show

Opening night and receiption: Friday, May 7th, 6-10 pm

All judging will take place the evening of the opening reception by all attendees "people's choice" vote. The top 5 pieces of the show will be announced at 9:00 pm, and awards will be handed out. The piece receiving the TOP votes will be featured and recreated by the CAI for the annual La Piazza del Arte chalk art festival the weekend of June 5th!

All pieces sold can be picked up at the Closing Reception, and sales proceeds are remitted in full to the exhibiting artist.
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Deadline for early-bird registration: 4/26/10 (CAI members free)

Drop-dead date: 5/3/10 (same date as drop-off)

Opening Reception: 5/7/10 6-10 pm, People's Choice Voting, awards at 9 pm

Closing Reception: 6/11/10 6-9 pm, art pick-up at 9 - 10 pm

REGISTER NOW!

When:

Friday, May 7, 2010, 6:00 PM until Friday, Jun 11, 2010, 10:00 PM

Where:

Anam Cara Living Arts Studio & Gallery
http://www.anamcarastudiogallery.com/
445 S. Saulsbury St.
Lakewood, CO 80214

720-933-3813

Registration:

Required

Payment:

Payment In Advance Only

Event Rules:

Eligibility: Illustration work by artists, created between January 2009 and May 2010, published or unpublished, submitted by professionals or students. CAI Members may enter up to TWO entries free until April 26th. After April 26th, each piece entered is $5.00. Non-professionals / Associates may enter up to TWO entries @ $20.00 each. Non-member students may enter one entry at $5.00 each. Drop dead drop off for art is Monday, May 3rd by 7 pm. Please RSVP your name, short background bio (2-3 sentences), and art info (quantity, size, description). If you are interested in having one of your images advertised with/for the show, please get us a small electronic file of your image by May 3rd. All pieces must be framed and ready to hang. Work should not exceed 26 inches in width or height and must be wire hung (not saw tooth). Artwork may be rejected if it does not reach a standard judged by CAI as acceptable. Please deliver artwork with any of your promotional materials (business cards, flyers, etc...) to Anam Cara Living Arts Studio & Gallery (445 S. Saulsbury St., Lakewood, CO 80226) on Monday, May 3rd, noon - 7 pm. Artwork may be picked up Friday, June 11th after the closing party, which will be from 6 pm - 9 pm.

Please be sure to submit all required information about your art pieces to assure that the gallery can insure your piece(s).

Registrants & Fees:

Registrant	Fee	Fee After 4/26/2010
CAI Member	No Fee	$ 10.00
Non-Member Professional	$ 40.00	$ 40.00
Non-member Student	$ 10.00	$ 10.00

For more info visit: http://www.allianceofillustrators.com

Comicfest 2010

2010-04-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Comicfest is Denver’s annual celebration of the comic book industry! In it’s first year Comicfest is looking to become an event to remember for fans in the Rocky Mountain Region with the goal of bringing a greater awareness of the comic book medium.

When:	Friday, Apr 16, 2010, 6:00 PM until Sunday, Apr 18, 2010, 4:00 PM
Where:	Hilton Garden In, Denver Tech Center 7675 East Union Ave Denver, CO 80237
Additional Info:	http://www.denvercomicfest.com/
	Professional Events

Breaking Into The Illustrated Children's Book Market

2010-04-12T09:01:00.002-07:00

Published Children's Book illustrators and authors talk about how they broke into the industry, what works and doesn't, and offer tips for success in a competitive market via an informative Q&A panel. Panelists include Patrick Loehr, Joyce M. Turley, Jeff Crosby and Shelly Ann Jackson.

Sign up now! (CAI Members are FREE)

In 2007, Patrick Loehr's debut children’s book, Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog(HarperCollins publishers) was nominated for the Borders Original Voices Award. In 2006 he was named a “Top 40” digital artist by the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. Loehr has since released a sequel to Mucumber McGee along with a Japanese language edition of the book, and become the department chair of the Art and New Media Design department at the community College of Aurora.

Award winning illustrator Joyce Mihran Turley, specializes in presenting scientifically accurate images of nature with a painterly style and colorful palette. Published by the Grand Canyon Association, Animals Count in Grand Canyon National Park is her latest book release. It introduces young children to the engaging animals and scenery of the park. Joyce's current projects include The Totally Out There Guide to Glacier National Park, a comprehensive illustrated guide to the park for older students, and One Night in the Everglades, a book detailing current research efforts to return the Everglades to a more sustainable condition. Her loon and osprey illustrations are featured in a series of books for children published by Mountain Press Publishing.

Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson are husband and wife author/illustrators who work both individually and collaboratively. Jeff and Shelley each hold BFA degrees in Communication Design from the University of North Texas and MFA degrees in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts. They have been illustrating professionally since 1997. Their work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, book covers, picture books, posters, greeting cards and advertisements. In his solo career, Jeff has illustrated six picture books. The couple’s love of dogs inspired them to try their hand at writing in their first collaborative children’s book, Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeds, which they also illustrated and designed. Little Lions was awarded a grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and was named 2008 juvenile nonfiction book of the year by ForeWord Magazine. Together Jeff and Shelley illustrated the Revolutionary War picture book Upon Secrecy, written by Selene Castrovilla. They are currently at work on a sequel to Little Lions called Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies: A History of Horse Breeds and Jeff is in the contract phase of his next solo book with Hyperion. Jeff and Shelley live in Castle Rock with their daughter and three dogs.

Sign up now! (CAI Members are FREE)

Spotlight on Cherish's Blog

2009-03-29T20:07:00.009-07:00

Interview with Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Vice President, Cherish Flieder by SCBWI writer Jennifer Bertman for Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators Rocky Mountain Chapter newsletter, Kite Tales.

Why did you decide to start a blog?
The more I learn and experience in life, the more I want to share my findings with others. I found myself retelling the same stories and sharing the resources repeatedly to other illustrators, writers, family, and friends. I began to think that keeping a blog would be a more effective way to share my messages and updates. I took a few classes on blogging and that helped spur me on to further action.

I first started blogging for the Colorado Alliance of Illustrators as their Secretary and Vice President (www.AllianceOfIllustrators.BlogSpot.com). This gave me the experience and confidence I needed to start my own blog about my art and related interests.

My blog at www.SomethingToCherish.com is woven into the structure of my website that promotes my illustration style. I use WordPress to easily manage and update my blog, but it actually started in www.Blogger.com which is very easy to use if you are new to blogging.

Why is blogging important to you?
Blogging is my way of connecting with others and chronicling events and resources that I don’t want to forget. I know that by sharing this information I can help and encourage others. Blogging also gives my work exposure to a world-wide audience that I would not get with a static website on its own. I have met so many incredible people through blogging and have found an audience for my art that I never knew existed before.

Advice or tips to share about blogging?
The most important thing about blogging is that you tie your blog post articles into who you are and what you do. Blogs have incredible power behind them to promote you and connect you with the search engines using RSS (Real Simple Syndication). For example, my blog is focused on illustration, publishing, and art licensing. So, when I decide what I want to post, I think of things that relate to all or any of the above.

There is also a very personal element to blogging and even more so for artists and authors that blog. People who read your blog want to know about your expertise, but also about who you are as an individual. It is highly recommended to have an actual picture of your face on the blog or at least on your website somewhere. Occasionally, you will see artists and writers post personal blog posts about the kids, the cat, the summer vacation etc. When you blog about personal events, you help readers to feel more connected to you on a personal level. However, it is important to balance out your posts. It probably isn’t a good idea to post much in any single area that might detract from the main purpose of your blog. If your goal is to share your expertise in writing or illustrating children’s books, you need to make most of your posts revolve around that purpose.

“What do I write about on my blog?”
This is the number one question any new blogger has hanging in front of them as they stare into that blank screen. It was overwhelming to me at first too, but now I have so many ideas on what I want to post there is no want of new material, just time to simply write it out.

Here are some ideas for blog posts:

New artwork or articles
Classes or teleseminars you are teaching
New videos, podcasts or e-books
New partnerships, volunteer efforts, organizations and charities with which you participate
Special events you are hosting, promoting, you attended or you are sponsoring
New book or product releases
New services you offer or new details on current services
Contests in which you are participating or want to organize and award
Polls or surveys you are conducting
Your stand on a controversial topic (i.e. Orphan Works)
Local angle to a national story
Current holidays and national day/week/month celebrations (See www.Chases.com for a complete list.)
Share helpful tips and resources
And the list goes on and on . . .

I keep a little notebook/folder with my ideas for future blogs before they even make it to the web. If you start brainstorming a list for yourself first before you even turn your computer on you will have much more focus and success with your blog.

“How often do I need to publish new posts?
This is another commonly asked question. However, the answer is really left up to you. Just remember that once you start a blog you need to add posts regularly. It does not positively promote you if your last blog post is several months or several years old! I try to post new material to my blog about one a week with the minimum being once a month. I just pick a day of the week, Wednesday in my case, to do all my online marketing updates and use it as a reminder to post something new on my blog.

My last piece of advice for all bloggers out there is to make sure that your contact information is easily accessible from any page of your blog. Also, don’t forget to add a link back to your main website, where people can learn more about you and your work. You are missing out on valuable correspondence if you don’t put it out there.

Favorite blogs?
I subscribe to over 100 blogs on many different subjects. Here are a few blogs that I can always count on to be full of ideas and inspiration:

When I meet a new artist I like or an organization with whom I want to keep in touch, I subscribe to their blog using my RSS reader. I use Google Reader, but there are many others out there for you to explore. Subscribing to an RSS is great. It doesn’t clog my inbox and I can pull it up all in one place to catch up on my reading. I also recommend subscribing to your own blog to make sure that the RSS is working properly. I like to use www.FeedBurner.com to publicize my feeds all over the internet.

About Cherish Flieder:

Cherish Flieder is not only a designer, but an artist in the truest sense of the word, that has skills to help any client with a wide array of graphic, illustrative, and marketing needs. Cherish has been sketching, painting, drawing, and creating little products ever since she was a small child.

Cherish pursues her passion for art and design at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado. Her design studio, (Cherished Solutions, llc, and brands Something to Cherish™ and Painting for Life™), works with publishers, manufacturers, and other niche businesses to achieve their goals in the marketplace by creating designs and illustrations and pairing them with thoughtful marketing objectives. Cherish works on the creation and production of conceptual and cohesive licensing collections, product development, books (especially children’s books), packaging, and other marketing materials.

Blog Excerpt:
My most popular post is an article called “Leveraging LinkedIn’s Networking Power” about how to use LinkedIn as a marketing tool. Below is an excerpt. Thank you for your interest in my blog. I hope to connect with you online soon. Happy blogging everyone!

“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

You may have been sent an email with this exact request on more than one occasion by a friend or colleague. If you have dismissed this invitation as just another one of those time wasting, friend collecting sites, then you may be at a considerable disadvantage.

So, if it’s that important, what exactly is LinkedIn you ask . . . and that’s a great question!

LinkedIn, found online at www.linkedin.com, is by far the largest and most professional, business-oriented, social media networking site on the World Wide Web. Although it has only been around since 2002, it has over 25 million participants worldwide and grows at the rate of over 130,000 members each week!

LinkedIn is easy to use and opens the doors of opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with key players of the human race, in a new and effective way. The basic concept of how it works beckons back to the theory of “six degrees of separation.” On LinkedIn it will only show you up to three degrees of separation, but that alone will connect you to millions of professionals once you start linking up with other users. Your network will consist of your connections (1st), your connections’ connections (2nd), and then the connections to which they are connected (3rd). This dynamic function will start to make more sense as you begin see it in action.

It’s a good idea to create and maintain a professional LinkedIn profile page if you want:

* a beneficial way to promote your art brand, products, and/or services online

* to meet key players in your areas of expertise

* to discover new business or job opportunities

* to learn about a new industry in which you hope to expand

* to reconnect with colleagues, classmates, and clients

5 Things I Love About LinkedIn

* LinkedIn helps me to “stay in touch” and “touch base” with people that are important to me. Often, we get so busy that we never follow up on important connections and we loose out in the long run. LinkedIn is a superior tool for keeping you cognizant of your important connections and gives you an easy way to contact with them when the time is right.

* LinkedIn gives you a visual reference of your network, helping you readily discover commonalities. You can find someone with a skill you desire. You can post jobs or even apply for them online. When you are looking to join or serve with a new company, you can use LinkedIn to conduct preparatory research. LinkedIn makes it easy to discover which connections you have working with that company or who is associated with it, even before you have your first interview.

* LinkedIn is a great way to learn about any industry. You can see what other people are up to, see how they are promoting themselves and view their notable accomplishments.

* LinkedIn manages my database of connections for me. I don’t have to go and look up an email for anyone that is connected to me or even open up my email composer to send out a message. It gives me an instant connection to their email inbox from their profile page.

* LinkedIn makes it simple for each member to keep their own information current for the benefit of the community. This feature helps users quickly access updated job summaries, aspirations, interests, status, website links, and more.

One last thing about social media sites . . . there are so many of them out there. If you are using them for your business you will need to carefully select the ones that help you best maintain professional connections and ultimately keep your brand in front of your clients. Professionally, I use Plaxo, Facebook, and Twitter, in addition to LinkedIn. MySpace can be good too, if you approach it with a professional touch. But, if you only choose one, I urge you to go with LinkedIn, as it will give you the most professional online presence and effective online networking available.

If you would like to read Cherish’s “10 Tips for Making the Most of Your LinkedIn Profile”, sign up for her e-zine at http://somethingtocherish.com/souvenirs.

Elizabeth Gilbert: A different way to think about creative genius

2009-03-12T17:53:00.001-07:00

About this talk

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

About Elizabeth Gilbert

The author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert has thought long and hard about some large topics. Her next fascination: genius, and how we ruin it. Full bio and more links

CAI Illustrator, Author and Educator - Patrick Loehr

2009-03-03T15:04:00.004-07:00

CAI is privileged to bring to you an interview by "The Visual Storytellers Studio" of Colorado Illustrator, Author and Educator, Patrick Loehr.

Patrick Loehr is a professional artist and educator living and working in the Denver area.

As author and illustrator, he has had two children's picture books published by Katherine Tegen Books, Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog, 2007 and Mucumber McGee and the Lunch Lady's Liver, 2008.

Patrick is currently the Chair of the Art Department at The Community College of Aurora in Denver, Colorado.

See more at www.patrickloehr.com and The Visual Storytellers Studio.

Be sure to read Jill Bergman's interview here with Illustrator, Author and Educator, Patrick Loehr.

All images are copyright by Patrick Loehr. Please do not use them without written permission of the artist.

Tips to license your art with Paul Brent

2009-03-03T15:00:00.003-07:00

Listen & Learn to license your art with Paul Brent

Do you know Paul Brent? He is an ever popular coastal artist that has his art work licensed on just about anything you can imagine, even movies like the "The Truman Show" starring Jim Carey. I could go on and on, but I would rather you see his work for yourself. Check it out at PaulBrent.com)

On Wednesday, March 25, 2009 (5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST), Paul will be answering your questions about art licensing. Seriously, you can ask him anything you want! I have sent in my question and I can't wait to listen in to see what he will say!

Ok. So here's the deal. If you are and artist trying to get your art work licensed on product, you would be CRAZY not to take advantage of this opportunity. So, take some time out of your busy schedule find out the truth about art licensing from this equally busy and very successful man!

What are you waiting for? Sign-up now!

The HIGH 5 Exhibit

2009-02-05T00:10:00.003-07:00

SAVE THE DATE: OPENING NIGHT - Friday, May 15th, 6 - 10 pm
The HIGH 5 Exhibit
Ink Lounge Gallery
445 S Saulsbury St (Block 07, Belmar, CO)

You are invited to come to the 19th Annual Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Exhibit. We will be doing something a little different this year. We are letting the attendees on opening night to vote for their top 5 favorite pieces. The voting will end around 9 pm and at 9:30, the top 5 pieces of the show will be announced. There will be food and drink. We are looking for illustrators to submit work and for volunteers to help with hanging the show and to help the night of the opening.

Please contact Steve Schader at steveschader@eagleyecreative.com or call 720.981.8655.

More info: http://www.allianceofillustrators.org/ or: http://www.inkloungegallery.com/pages/exhibits.html

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=445+S+Saulsbury+St,+Denver,+CO+80226,+USA&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1

Do you know what it takes to find, interact and work with manufacturers who license art?

2008-11-03T17:08:00.003-07:00

Tara Reed has a new e-book hot off the press that is a must read for any one serious about licensing their art to manufacturers.

"How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers who License Art"

These 75 pages of informational bliss had my idea cogs turning, challenging the way I approach and sell art to companies that are looking to license art.

You will chuckle your way this e-book as Tara lightheartedly unlocks the mysteries of the artist/manufacturer relationship. I especially enjoyed the 3 magic questions as well as the insightful interviews. Get ready for some hands on information that will establish the way you do business as an art licensor.

Get the eBook "How to Find, Interact and Work with Manufacturers who License Art"

I’m all a-twitter about Twitter!

2008-09-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

by Tara Reed

According to Twitter: Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

It can be anything from “about to brush my teeth”, “had a ham sandwich for lunch”, “discovered this great new website – here is a link”.

And here’s a catch– you only have 140 characters per ‘tweet’. (A “tweet” is what they call your update or post)

While trying to explain Twitter to a friend the other day, I came up with a great analogy. Twitter is like a virtual office – with the people you follow being the workers in nearby cubicles.

If I were in a real office, I could walk to a nearby cubicle and ask, “ Hey, anybody know what font this is?” Since I work at home, I’d be talking to the wall.

But now that I have twitter, I can talk to anyone who is following me.

I have found Twitter to be a great source of information. My font question was real. One day I needed to figure a font to use in a book. I found one I liked but didn’t know what it was.

I Twittered my question, put a link to a sample of the font, and waited.

Within 10 minutes, one person told me the exact name of the font.

Another Twitter friend gave me a link to a website, where I could enter samples of any font and the site would tell me the font. What a great resource for the future!

With more and more people working from home, there is a growing need for ways to feel ‘connected’ and less isolated. Twitter does just that and more.

The TOP 3 reasons I like Twitter:

Twitter is a great way to learn about what people are doing. Twitter helps you feel connected to others in your industry and life – regardless of physical location.

By reading what others are doing and discovering, I too, find interesting websites that can help me with my business.

By posting what I’m doing throughout the day, others can learn more about me personally and professionally. Twitter has led to joint venture opportunities, job opportunities and new customers.

Sounds pretty good, right?

But how does it work?

I will take you on a guided tour of Twitter, complete with lots of pictures!
(I’m an artist, I like to SEE what is going on!)

You will Learn the Six Steps to Becoming a Master Tweeter on Twitter

All you have to do is sign up for my Art Licensing Newsletter and the 17 page, image-packed eBook is yours. For free. Can’t beat free!

Click here, sign up, opt-in and unleash your inner social butterfly!

~ Tara

P.S. “Twitter”, the bird, and all screen shots are copyrights of Twitter and used to further the cause, not to harm or confuse it! I don’t know how I ever lived without you Twitter!

P.P.S. Do you already twitter? Let me know - follow me, I’ll follow you. artisttarareed

Collage Illustrator: Claudine Hellmuth

2008-09-02T21:43:00.002-07:00

Claudine Hellmuth is a nationally recognized collage artist, author and illustrator. She combines photos, paint, paper and pen into quirky, whimsical-retro collages that she calls Poppets®.

Her artworks have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine, on HGTV's "I Want That!" and on the DIY Network's program, "Craft Lab."

In addition to creating her artwork full-time, Claudine teaches collage workshops in the US & Canada, and she has written 2 books about her techniques, "Collage Discovery Workshop" and "Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected." She has also produced three instructional DVD workshops.

Claudine's studio and home are in Washington DC, where she lives with her husband, Paul and their very spoiled pets - Toby the wonder dog and Mable & Stanley the cats.

The Orphan Works Roundtable and Webcast

2008-08-13T15:55:00.009-07:00

Hosted by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration on 08/08/2008 in NY

How Will the Orphan Works Bill Economically Impact Small Entities?

View the Roundtable Video Now
http://videos.cmitnyc.com/asip.html

"A Seminal Event"
"Unprecedented"
"The most effective advocacy in opposition to these bills I have seen."
"The Gathering of the Tribes"

These are some of the comments we've received from last Friday's Roundtable on Orphan Works, conducted by the Small Business Administration. Artists, photographers, songwriters, musicians, writers and spokesmen for collateral businesses all made this the best attended Roundtable the SBA has conducted.

As one member of the audience said, perhaps the only good thing about the Orphan Works bill is that it's brought so many creative communities together. The full house is the best measure of the concern creators have about this effort to undermine copyright law.

Here are some of the key points to emerge from the discussion:

The high cost of digitizing and registering work with commercial databases will make compliance impossible for most artists.
This will cause billions of unregistered works to fall into the public domain.
To make money, commercial databases will have to promote and facilitate infringement.
Infringer-friendly databases will compete with artists for clients.

As one panelist summed up:
this bill "will socialize costs and privatize profits."

To learn more about who was here visit the IPA Blog

LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION
AGAINST THESE BILLS: www.owoh.org

Please forward this message and link to every copyright holder you know.

La Piazza dell'Arte - CAI's 3rd Annual

2008-08-12T13:18:00.004-07:00

Colorado Alliance of Illustrators: Patsi Pohle, John Francis & Che'
(artist Lonnie Allen not pictured) at 2008 La Piazza Dell'Arte
Original illustration design by John Francis: Urban submarine periscope breaking through concrete--which had to get the USS Larimer (art on Larimer Square) moniker, because passers by just didn't get it, even though they thought it was "really cool."

Reviews and pictures from previous years.

Tara Reed: How to Get Started in Art Licensing

2008-08-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Art Licensor and marketing maven, Tara Reed, has recently put her outstanding knowledge base of art licensing information in to this thoughtful and easy to understand e-book. Perfect for beginners, this 72 paged book will walk you through everything you need to know to get started putting your art on products.

Tara Reed has wonderfully jam packed this how to guide with information that you would normally pay several thousand dollars and years of trial and error to learn. Plus you get three insider interviews (artist, agent, manufacturer) that will illustrate clearly how the licensing process really works. If you are serious about learning how you can succeed in this very exciting industry, you would be crazy not to get a copy and give your art career the support it deserves.

Want to learn more? Click here!

Lead Heads at the Lounge

2008-05-06T15:51:00.005-07:00

May 2 - 30, 2008

18th Annual Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Members Show.

We had almost 90 pieces of illustrated art from over 40 Colorado illustrators and 200 people attending on opening night!

AIGA Colorado, Art Director's Club of Denver and the New Denver Ad Club partnered together this year to sponsor, promote and recognize Colorado illustrators.

Ink Lounge Gallery + Anam Cara Living Arts Studio and Gallery
Studios H & B on Block 7 in Belmar
445 South Saulsbury Street
Lakewood, CO 80226

*You can see more photos by Stu Alden from the show and artwork here.*

Just One More Book

2008-05-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

With SO much happening everyday in the children's publishing area, it can be very difficullt to stay on top of things. Andra from Just One More Book just sent me this cool children's book resource. I hope you find this as interesting and educational as I did. . .

www.JustOneMoreBook.com

"A podcast about the children's books we love and why we love them -- recorded in our favourite coffee shop"

"Just One More Book!" is a thrice-weekly podcast which promotes and celebrates literacy and great children's books. Each weekday morning, we take a few minutes out of our morning coffee ritual to discuss one of our many favourite children's books. We also feature weekly interviews with authors, illustrators and experts and enthusiasts in the areas of children's literature and literacy as well as listener-submitted book reviews.

Through this podcast and website, we are building a lively, interactive community linking children's book authors, illustrators, readers (parents, children, librarians, teachers and literacy activists) and publishers.

Guests have included celebrity authors such as Sheree Fitch, Rachna Gilmore, Jack Prelutsky, Daniel Pinkwater, Eve Bunting, Eva Ibbotson, Henry Winkler and Mary Ann Hoberman. They have also aimed the spotlight at interesting and lesser known and illustrators.

Episodes range in length from 5 to 25 minutes and can be played directly from our web page or downloaded to a portable mp3 player, such as an iPod, for listening on the go.

This podcast is powered by passion. They have no advertisers or sponsors. Their goals are to link children with great books and to help create happy memories for children and the adults that read to them…and to have fun!

The Just One More Book! Podcast has been recommended by the American Library Association as one of its 2007 American Library Association (ALA) - Great web sites for kids and has been featured in Canadian Living Magazine and such prestigious literary publications as School Library Journal, Books for Keeps and Publishers Weekly. We are also regular contributors to ChildsLife, The Edge of the Forest and Parent Source online newsletters.

How Licensing Works. Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work

2008-05-01T22:39:00.002-07:00

Here's a letter from Joanne Fink that explains how licensing works and
why the OW bills will be detrimental to artists that license their
work. It's like licensing 101 for congress ...

My name is Joanne Fink, and I am the President of Lakeside Design, a
Central Florida design studio which specializes in developing products
for the gift, craft, and stationery industries. Most of our clients
are manufacturers who sell their products to major retailers such as
Wal-Mart, Costco, Target and Michaels. These clients range in size
from small family businesses to huge international corporations, but
they all have one thing in common; they license art to put on their
products. Through my business, I have been involved in the art
licensing industry for many years, and often speak about art licensing
at major trade shows such as The Licensing Show and The Craft and
Hobby Association show. I don't know if you are aware of the
devastating consequences that two pending bills (H.R. 5889 - The
Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S. 2913- The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works
Act of 2008) will have on the entire art licensing industry, so I felt
compelled to share my concerns in hopes that the bill could be
reworked to address them.

While I oppose the Orphan Works amendment, I applaud the intention of
those who created it; there have been several occasions in the past
decade that I wanted to use a particular image as part of a design,
but because I was unable to determine where the image had originated
and/or who owned the copyright to it, I was unable to use it. While I
would welcome the ability to use images of this sort, I would NOT
welcome it at the expense of undermining the entire Art Licensing
world and current copyright protections, particularly as they relate
to visual artwork such as photography, painting, and illustration.
Unfortunately, as currently written, the Orphan Works amendments will
have a devastating economic impact on artists and manufacturers in
numerous industries; it will basically change American copyright and
intellectual property laws.

My belief, from having read the bills in detail, is that whoever
drafted them may not have fully considered their impact on the
licensing world. Since art licensing is one of my areas of expertise,
I thought it would helpful if I could share some information about how
licensing works, and why passing this bill in its current state will
be detrimental to the millions of people involved in the field.

LICENSING IS BIG BUSINESS

The following statistics have been provided by LIMA (the Licensing
International Merchandiser'

s Association). Licensing is big business;
it accounts for $175 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise
worldwide, and over $105 billion in the United States.

In 2006, the $3.3 billion in retail sales of products featuring a
licensed piece of art brought licensors—artists and designers— royalty
revenues of $182 million. These sales came from the following
categories, affecting a wide range of American manufacturers:

36% gifts and novelties
15% home décor
15% housewares
10% paper products
7% accessories
5% apparel
4% publishing
3% food and beverage
3% health and beauty
2% infant products

HOW THE ART LICENSING INDUSTRY WORKS

Whoever owns the rights to a 2-or 3-dimensional design or image
(usually the artist/creator of the design) is the LICENSOR, and
whoever wants to acquire the rights to reproduce that design or image
is the LICENSEE. Artists/LICENSORS make money by licensing
(essentially "renting") the right to reproduce their design or image
to different manufacturers (LICENSEES) to use on different sorts of
products. For example, a sailboat image can be licensed to company A
for a mug; company B for a coaster, and company C for an art print.
Licensing is an interesting and complex business, and it is a
successful and profitable business because our current copyright law
protects the creator's rights and safeguards their ability to profit
from their intellectual property. This $3+ billion art licensing
industry will no longer be able to function should the proposed
legislation be passed.

RAMIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION

When a manufacturer wants to feature an artist's work on one or more
of their products, it is important to them that they are the only
company who has the right to reproduce that design on that particular
product. If other manufacturers are able to put the same design on the
same product then it hurts the licensee, especially if the
manufacturer licensee has to factor the artist's royalty payment into
their price structure while the infringing manufacturer does not and
can therefore bring the product to market at a lower price point. In
fact, one of the great incentives NOT to infringe on an artist's
copyright, is that currently there is a stiff penalty—up to $150,000
for each instance that infringement is proven. The proposed Orphan
Works bills removes the penalty for infringement, which will make it
easy for unscrupulous companies to infringe on someone's copyright and
receive nothing more than a `hand-slap' as punishment.

Consider for a moment, that you are an artist, and imagine how you
would handle the following hypothetical situation:

In the 1990's, you licensed a series of pictures for one-time use in a
corporate annual report. As often happens in such cases, the copyright
notice and artist credit were left off of the printed piece. As a
business-savvy artist and studio owner, you naturally took the time
and trouble to register your copyright to the works. Because your
brand is important to you, you make it a practice never to license
your work for inexpensive or distasteful products, but over the course
of the next decade, you did decide to license some of these images for
exclusive use on upscale lines of dishes, wall décor, and jewelry
boxes—product lines which enhance your brand's image.

Fast forward to today; a t-shirt manufacturer is cleaning out his
mother's attic and finds the annual report featuring your pictures,
and decides that they would be hot sellers for his fall line. He calls
the company to try to find the artists name, but no one there knows.
So he begins to manufacture and sell cheap t-shirts bearing your art.
Thank goodness for our current copyright law, under which your
remedies would include statutory damages, attorney's fees, impoundment
and injunction for this flagrant infringement - because it's damaged
your ability to exclusively license your work only in high-end
markets. And once your work is seen on lower-end products, the brand
loses it caché resulting in many upper end manufacturers refusing to
license it. Since this adversely affects your income, you hire a
lawyer to take your case on a contingency basis, and with their
assistance are able to prove infringement.

But what would happen if this same scenario took place in 2014— under
the Orphan Works acts of 2008. Since, under the new (proposed)
legislation you would only be entitled to `reasonable compensation'
for the use of your designs, and even that would be limited to
whatever maximum the court might set and would be constructed not to
deprive the infringer of the profits he made "in reliance" on his
so-called failure to locate you, no attorney would take the case on a
contingency basis. As a small business owner, you could not possibly
afford the costs of hiring an Intellectual Property attorney and
taking the case to Federal court, and so you would be unable to
protect your design. In the meantime, the high-end companies which
were featuring your work on their products see the same images on
cheap t-shirts, decide to drop your work from their line, and sue you
for breach of contract, since the contract you signed guaranteed them
the exclusive right to use that design. They also sue you for damages
for the loss they take due to sharply reduced sales of products they
have produced with your no longer fashionable design. All in all it is
a very damaging situation—both from the visual artist's and the honest
manufacturer's standpoints.

Without the deterrent of statutory damages and attorneys fees - and
without a permanent injunction against repeat offenses by the same
t-shirt seller, this experience would now act as an incentive for the
infringer to exploit other uncredited (and therefore, effectively
orphaned) images by other artists. Worse, the t-shirt manufacturer
will discover that publishing `orphan works' is a rational, profitable
business decision, which could in turn inspire yet other infringers.
It is bad enough we have to deal with infringement issues from China
and other countries—we shouldn't have to deal with it from our own soil.

PRIMARY OBJECTONS TO THE PROPOSED "ORPHAN WORKS" AMENDMENTS FROM THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ART LICENSING INDUSTRY

1. It changes the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act (enacted in 1978), and makes
it virtually impossible for artists to protect their work. It
basically allows anyone to use a design without the copyright holder's
permission.

Under current law, you receive basic copyright protection even if you
don't register your work. Under Orphan Works law your work could be
declared an orphan even if you have registered it. Congress, in
enacting the Copyright Act of 1976, provided that copyright exists in
the creation of any work that is copyrightable subject matter,
regardless of whether or not the owner has performed any legal
formalities, such as registration, or copyright notices, or taken any
steps to protect or defend the copyright. Since 1978 (when it was
enacted) many creators have relied upon the Copyright Act of 1976, and
employed business practices based upon the protections it offered. The
proposed Orphan Works Acts of 2008 would have the effect of depriving
certain creators of the ability to enforce their copyrights because
they did not take steps that the Copyright Act of 1976 did not require
them to take. In essence, it will give infringers the legal means to
use a design without the copyright holder's permission.

2. It requires artists to attempt to protect their work by registering
it with a digital data base system (presumably for a fee, in addition
to the copyright filing fee)—when no such system exists!

The proposed legislation is predicated on the establishment of
private, profit making registries that would establish databases of
digital versions of artworks and provide a place for infringers to try
to locate the artist, BUT it will be enacted whether or not these data
bases ever come into existence. This will relieve the infringer of
liability if he simply attempts a search that cannot possibly be
performed successfully.

In addition, the legislation places no limit on the number of these
registries or the prices they would charge. The burden of paying for
digitization and depositing the digitized copy with the private
registry would presumably fall entirely on the artist, and even if an
image is contained in the registry, as long as the infringer "looks"
without finding it, the infringement is allowed. There is no liability
imposed for the failure of a database to find an image registered in
that database when it is searched, and no requirement that all
available databases be searched, thus potentially requiring multiple
registrations (and multiple registration fees). There are also no
safeguards to prevent any person or company from fraudulently
registering work they do not own.

3. It eliminates statutory damages wherever an infringer can
successfully claim an orphan works defense, thus eliminating the only
tool the law provides to prevent deliberate infringement.

Current law almost certainly deters rampant infringement because the
present remedies – damages of up to $150,000 per infringing article--
make infringement risky. By "limiting remedies," the Orphan Works
amendments will effectively create a no-fault license to infringe.

4. It allows for an infringer to create—and copyright—a derivative
work from the original design.

Under current law, the right to create a derivative work is one of an
artist's exclusive rights. Section103 (a) says a user can't copyright
a derivative image that he's infringed. "Protection for a work
employing preexisting material in which copyright subsists does not
extend to any part of the work in which such material has been used
unlawfully." Under the proposed new bills, since the entirety of an
infringed work can be included in a derivative use, then the copyright
of the derivative will amount to a copyright of the original. This
would be a de facto capture of new exclusive rights by the infringer.
In other words, these bills allow infringers to make and copyright
derivatives—even if the copyright holder to the original work objects.

If this legislation passes it would mean a return to pre-1976 U.S.
Copyright Act when many artists' works fell into the public domain
because they could not afford to comply with the formalities of
registration as a condition of copyright protection. This violates the
trust under which American artists have worked for the last 30 years,
and effectively nullifies our U.S. Copyright registrations. Further,
it leaves infringing works (and products incorporating them) subject
to seizure in other countries under the Berne Convention for the
Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (the international agreement
governing copyrights to which the United States is a signatory), and
invites sanctions from around the world under the World Trade
Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS), to which the Unites States is also a
signatory, because international artists' works would be just as
vulnerable to infringement within the U.S. under the terms of the
Orphan Works Amendment.

THE HEART OF THE ISSUE

One of the things that I do not understand about this legislation is
why it applies to commercial applications. I truly believe that few in
the art licensing community would have major issues with the
legislation if it only affected non-commercial uses. Rather, we are
extremely concerned about losing our ability to earn a living as small
businesspeople and entrepreneurs by licensing our work for commercial
use-- which is what we believe will happen if this legislation passes.

I began my career over 25 years ago as a greeting card designer, and I
am still extremely active in the greeting card industry; I am on the
Board of Directors of the Greeting Card Association, an organization
whose members (e.g., Hallmark and American Greetings) publish over 95%
of the greeting cards sold in the United States. I am also the Design
Editor for Greetings etc. magazine, the major trade publication for
the greeting card industry. While the impact of this legislation will
initially be felt by the visual arts communities, I would like to
point out that it will also impact American manufacturers who utilize
artwork in their product lines.

I strongly oppose this legislation, and respectfully request that you
do NOT pass it. If you would like any additional information regarding
the broad reaching implications this legislation has for our country,
the art licensing community and visual artists both here and abroad,
please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,
Joanne Fink, President
Lakeside Design
345 Eden Trail
Lake Mary, FL 32746
www.lakeside-design.com

Cartoonist Ché Rippinger: She finds humor in relationships and everyday life

2008-04-30T12:26:00.001-07:00

Our very own CAI president as seen in the Feb. 2008 edition of Denver Women.

Written by SHARON ALMIRALL
Photography by KIT WILLIAMS

She was a cartoonist with Playgirl magazine for six months, the first cartoonist the magazine worked with in its 20 years. “I made it through one and a half editors,” Ché Rippinger says with humor. “Every time a new editor comes in, they need to clear the decks and start over.”

The petite artist, who also writes, worked as a Sunday columnist with the Denver Post, doing both illustration and writing a column, Dating and Hand Grenades. She is now definitely on her own unique path, boldly claiming in one of her cartoons, “Been there, dated that.”

Ché is pronounced Shay, and she says for the record that she is not named after Che Guevara, though she is “her own comic revolutionary tour de force and she is not a guy.” Referring to her niche as “relationship humor,” Ché gleans her material from life and can understand a variety of perspectives. “A lot of people think I’m a single mom because I can write from that perspective, but I’m not,” she says. Working as she does, as both an observer and a participant, Ché says she is not out there simply to observe humor: “I just live, and usually things that annoy me annoy other people too.” She notes that all humor is truth with a twist. The twist part (the humor itself) makes it palatable to hear, “as no one likes to be preached to.”

She notes that people don’t usually “get that they’re the problem. They don’t recognize themselves.” One of her cartoons shows a person speaking to another and delivering a New Age pickup line, “I like you. You fit my demographic.” When asked what kind of relationships she addresses in her cartoons, Ché says, “I write about all kinds of relationships — romantic, co-worker, boss, parenting — they’re all relationships.” She’s packed a lot of living into her 41 years, having been born the year the song Wild Thing was a No. 1 hit. She studied communications radio, television and film in Illinois and migrated to Colorado more than 20 years ago.

Click here for the full article on Ché Rippinger.

Infamous Friday Creative Get-Together

2008-04-26T06:16:00.003-07:00

April 11th - Creative Hang Out
CAI member Steve Schader of Eagle Eye Creative hosted our April Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Social Gathering at the Candlelight Taverne Bar & Grille. See more pictures.

Orphan Works and YOUR FUTURE

2008-04-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Orphan Works:
Or, How You May Lose All the Rights to Every Piece of Art You Have Ever Created!

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS because you are about to lose your copyright protection. Every one of you needs to stand up and be heard in order to protect what we have all created.

A webcast interview with Brad Holland about this bill is now available at:
http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html

Please listen to it because this radical proposal, now pending before Congress, could cost you your past and future copyrights.

On Saturday April 5, 2008, artist and producer Mark Simon interviewed Hall of Fame illustrator Brad Holland on the subject of Orphan Works legislation. The warnings in this interview have now been confirmed by the advance drafts of the bill. Learn what artists groups are doing and how you can help oppose this radical departure from traditional copyright law and business practice.

If these proposals are enacted into law, all the work you have ever done or will do could be orphaned and exposed to commercial infringement from the moment you create it.

The Illustrators’ Partnership is currently working with our attorney - in concert with the other 12 groups in the American Society of Illustrators Partnership to have our voices – and yours - heard in Congress. We’ll keep you posted regarding how you can do your part.

For additional information about Orphan Works developments, go to the
IPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185

Click HERE to download the Senate version of the bill,
S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

Please forward this information to every creative person and group you know. Mr. Holland and Mr. Simon have given their permission for this audio file to be copied and transferred and replayed.

LISTEN NOW

Penelope Dullahan Interview

2008-04-18T01:40:00.005-07:00

Sheri Gaynor of feistyfemales.com interviews illustrator and entrepreneur Penelope Dullahan. You may also know Penelope Dullahan from Illustration Friday. If you are looking for a way to kick start your ideas, this is worthy of your creative input.

"Penny will share how she made the transition from art director at a successful ad agency, to successful illustrator, with an impressive client list. Penny has created illustration work for Target, United Airlines and Harper Collins, to name just a few."

Listen to the interview here.

Aaron McKissen Member Profile

2008-04-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

Name: Aaron McKissen

Illustration Website: www.mckissenillustrations.com

How did you get started in the illustration field?

I’ve always drawn since I was about 6 years old. I made the decision to make it a career when I went to college at Metro State College of Denver and Colorado Christian University.

How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?

I really have several styles, since I have so many things that interest me, from comic book-style to impressionistic painting. Some of my style was found early on in life, by imitating my favorite artists or cartoonists, like Calvin & Hobbes or Marvel comics.

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?

I will typically do 3 or so rough thumbnail sketches for the client, then when he or she picks the one they like the best, I will move on to color it, either in paint or on the computer in Photoshop. I will usually have my client sign an illustrator’s contract or invoice before beginning the rough sketches.

How do you market/promote your work?

I am still trying to figure marketing out. I have a plethora of work I’ve done for my portfolio, but marketing doesn’t come easy for me. I have been blessed to have a good friend who does web design, who helped me get my website up, and this has gotten me several illustration jobs. Any other work I’ve gotten has been word of mouth, or through friends & family. I would love to attend a CAI seminar on marketing for the artist or illustrator.

What was one of your favorite assignments?
Creating a series of Manga-style characters for an author in Denver. The book should be out soon, to be self-published by him, and is about customer service in the hospitality industry.

What is the best part about what you do?

I would say seeing an idea come to life - from just ideas in my head, or the client’s, to be fleshed out in reality.

Do you have side projects you work on?

I haven’t had the opportunity to work on a children’s book yet, so I am working on some ideas on the side that I think could be great children’s books.

How do you maintain balance in your life between work and play?

It is difficult, but when I’m working on an illustration project, I will make myself take a walk at some point, or get some exercise.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?

When I have a creative slump, I tend to contact the other artists I know, or look at their websites & be inspired by them. I also try to do what Julia Cameron recommends in “The Artist’s Way”, which is to take yourself out on an “Artist Date”, where you see something you haven’t seen before, be it a museum, gallery, craft store, zoo, or anywhere you haven’t been and let yourself be inspired by it.

What has been inspiring you lately?

I sometimes do storyboards for local films, so one of my recent inspirations is all the digital technology & special effects being done for movies these days. I have a lot of catching up to do in computer technology.

Any advice for others who are pursuing creative goals?

I am still relatively new at it myself, but maybe some advice is that in creativity (like other areas of life) it just needs to become a daily habit that you do. Keep at it on a regular schedule and you will find yourself improving your skills.

Hullabaloo Interviews Isabella Hunter of FRCH

2008-03-28T14:48:00.001-07:00

Scott Hull, Visual Ambassador, interviews Isabella Hunter, Lead Designer at FRCH Worldwide. They discuss the importance of heritage and diversity, and its impact on culture.

Handle With Care & Full Fathom Five

2008-03-25T11:55:00.010-07:00

Members of CAI gathered at the Plus Gallery (2350 Lawrence Street) on March 21st to absorbed presentations at the by talented artists Riva Sweetrocket and Peter Illig. Both use giant canvases to communicate the finer sensibilities of illustration human emotion, tension, with limited color palettes.

Riva Sweetrocket is a contemporary pastel artist based in Denver, Colorado. Her recent work consists
of large-scale soft pastel paintings on paper. She often portrays beautiful, fantastic or spirited elements encountering struggle, passion, hidden desires or challenge. Her work is about the beauty and the insanity within each of us that we too often conceal."
www.sweetrocket.com

Peter Illig's works are analogies for human emotions and experiences - American psychological landscapes - reflecting how we think of several things at once. He layers images borrowed from film, TV and cyberspace and his own experience like a coded language of symbols to express his ideas and feelings. His work can be seen in several Colorado galleries, and in private and corporate collections around the world. www.peterillig.com

More on the GalleryExhibit

The Power of Whimsy

2008-03-22T09:43:00.003-07:00

By PHYLLIS KORKKI

Published: February 17, 2008

"By one rough estimate, Sandra Boynton has sold around a half-billion cards, which may make her one of the best-selling card creators of all time."

Read Full Article

THE CLIENT’S NEEDS AND PRESENTATIONS

2008-03-18T10:37:00.001-07:00

Presentations should be prepared with the clients “needs” in mind. This sounds simple but it’s not as straight forward as it first appears. However, before you do anything you must understand the market sector you are aiming at. Read On…

Beatrice Trezevant Member Profile

2008-03-05T23:21:00.014-07:00

Name: Beatrice Trezevant

Illustration Website: www.beatricetrezevant.com

How did you get started in the illustration field?

My career started with obtaining a degree in textile design form Canterbury College of Art and spending two years as an in house artist at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City.

How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?

I have always worked in this simple, decorative and playful style, but over the years I have refined my technique and learned how to illustrate for specific products. In recent years manufacturers of baby and juvenile products have particularly enjoyed my work. I am happy with this development as I truly love designing for children.

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?

I usually start with a sketch, at this point I trust my instincts and go with the flow; my clients are generally content with a good drawing as they know that color in my strong point. They may also have given me some indication of the color direction. After approval the fun starts, when I put the final art together; as I often work with fabric illustration, this is the hands on part that is the most enjoyable to me. When the art is completed I have it packaged and shipped as most of the companies I do business with are out of state.

What is your creation process (start with sketches, etc.)?

Creating is a strange animal; sometimes I will have a brilliant idea while driving, sitting on a chair lift, meditating, and at other times I get cerebral about it, but I try in the end to come up with a fresh looking design.

How do you market/promote your work?

I market in several ways, by attending and exhibiting at trade shows, sending mailings and networking as much as possible. I have found that meeting prospective clients is the most successful way to get people to commit. Building and nurturing these relationships is really important.

What is the best part about what you do?

Living life on my terms is what keeps me going during the difficult times when deadlines are tight. I like being a business owner and having the freedom to ski during the week!

Describe your work setting.

My studio is in my Victorian cottage; as I live there also, I sometimes sneak out to do a little gardening in the summer.

How do you maintain balance in your life between work and play?

Although I work hard and am very dedicated to my craft I make sure that I find enough time to enjoy the great outdoors; this also helps me stay creative.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?

If I feel a little stale it means that I have lost my center, and I have used many ways to come back to my true nature.

What do you do for fun/when you're not working?

Thank goodness for sports! I get out on a regular basis to sail, ski, play tennis and hike... great way to clear ones head; I have recently discovered contra dancing...

What has been inspiring you lately?

People who give to others inspire me, this year I would like to paint a mural in a children's hospital.

Any advice for others who are pursuing creative goals?

In today's art world I would have fantastic digital skills come up with clever ways to market.

Jazz at Jacks: Hot Jazz on a Cool Night

2008-03-03T00:51:00.004-07:00

A fun, relaxing night for CAI at Jazz @ Jack's with members from other creative groups such as the ASIFA, ASMP, DPC, and SPJ. The Ultraphonic Jazz Orchestra was outstanding and played a tribute song to our fearless leader and CAI president, Ché Rippinger.

More event pictures by Stan Yan here!

Find out about future Jazz events at:
http://jazzatjacks.com/

Milton Glaser -- born 26. 6. 1929 in New York, USA -- graphic designer, illustrator, teacher

2008-02-21T11:58:00.002-07:00

"Milton Glaser is...well, words nearly don't do him justice...one of the most important, prolific and profound leaders in visual and graphic arts in your lifetime and his. He is personally responsible for the design and illustration of more than 300 posters for clients in the areas of publishing, music, theater, film, institutional and civic enterprise, as well as those for commercial products and services. The image above and the essay below are reproduced here with permission. Read on to discover his sage advice with words that ring as true today as when written in 2001. Peruse his bio and work on his Milton Glaser Web site for more essays and insights into this man's creative force, remarkable accomplishments and matchless oeuvre."-Barney Davey

Read Article: Ten Things I Have Learned (Part of AIGA Talk in London)

CAI Children's Illustrators team with SCBWI for Gallery Presentation

2008-02-18T22:56:00.006-07:00

Illustrated Books

~ a gallery show presenting the works
of 11 Illustrators of Children's Books ~

March 3, 2008 - April 25, 2008
Opening Reception Friday March 7 from 5 - 7 PM

Madison and Main Gallery
927 16th Street
Greeley, CO .351.6201

Meet award-winning Colorado Based Children's Book Illustrators

Opening Reception on March 7, 2008 from 5 - 7 pm
- Framed original artwork,
- Illustrated children's books (signed by the artist) -
- Limited edition fine art prints -
- Notecards and other merchandise -
will be available at the gallery throughout the duration of the show

Participating Illustrators of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI* include:

Roberta Collier-Morales
Danlyn Iantorno (CAI)
Gary Raham
Cherish Flieder (CAI)
Lori Kiplinger-Pandy
Sarah Tommer
Kristi Foster Hill (CAI)
Pamela McCarville
Joyce Mihran Turley
Benjamin Hummel (CAI)
Nancee Jean McClure

CAI = Current Colorado Alliance of Illustrator Members.
*SCBWI is the acronym for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators http://www.rmcscbwi.org/

CAI member Gwenda Kaczor - FRESH art in commarts

2008-02-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

Denver Illustrator Gwenda Kaczor and CAI member featured with Communication Arts Magazine & Website

Check out Gwenda's spread in the January '08 issue of Communication Arts.

http://www.commarts.com/fresh/gwenda-kaczor.html

Congratulations Gwenda! (www.gwenda.com)

FREE Audio Download - The Self Publishing Artist

2008-01-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Click here for Audio Link

Michael Woodward ran one of the first art licensing companies in the world, in Europe, where he licensed over $600 million in retail products over 22 years.

When Michael speaks, everyone listens. If you are wondering if your work is right to license or not, this is one presentation you just can’t miss.

Michael has represented artists, illustrators and photographers and worked with high profile manufactures and publishers, including Athena International (posters, prints, greetings cards); Hallmark (greetings cards); American Greetings; Nestle; Scandecor (posters); Verkerke (posters and cards) among dozens of other international companies.

As an artist advocate, Michael also organized and run major art exhibitions, including one at the Allerton “gothic” Castle in the UK (featured on BBC TV), and one attended by Elton John, who subsequently commissioned the artist. Michael’s book, Licensing Art 101, is regarded as “the handbook” on art licensing for artists entering this lucrative industry. He has a vast experience in many aspects of licensing from character merchandise and animation to fine art publishing in limited gallery editions as well as mass marketing via high street retailers.

Click here for Audio Link

This audio file is taken from a seminar recorded Oct 2003 at The Marketing Bootcamp in Santa Fe for over two hundred artists. This is the audio track from the video. I hope it gives you some insight into publishing your own work and some of the pitfalls you can avoid.

I had the privilege to pay around $300 to go down there to hear Michael Woodward, international licensing guru, speak at this event. We may not have to chance to have him in person at a CAI meeting, but I don't any of you to miss the opportunity to learn from the best!
- Cherish Flieder, VP of Colorado Alliance of Illustrators

COPYRIGHT AND THE NEED TO REGISTER

2008-01-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Understanding the basic rules regarding copyright and what it means is essential. The ownership of copyright is how intellectual property rights come into existence. These rights are the key to creating additional income for the creator. Read On…

What does censorship mean to your artistic freedoms?

2008-01-10T17:04:00.002-07:00

On January 8, 2007, an exciting, opinionated panel discussion of the censorship issue in the Arts took place with the members of the Colorado Alliance of Illustrators

How does censorship affect you and your art? Does the Patriot Act impede your First Amendment right of free speech or expression? If you choose to do art that is 'controversial' or 'political' in nature, how are you protected by law from censorship or harassment? These questions and more were passionately discussed at the first meeting of the Colorado Alliance of Illustrators for 2008.

Moderated by: Michael McGrath, the Denver/Front Range representative for the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCC)

Featuring: Gayla Lemke, Lakewood artist and Ed Ramey, Colorado Lawyers for the Arts.

Stan Yan Member Profile

2007-11-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Name: Stan Yan

Illustration Website: www.squidworks.com/Stan

How did you get started in the illustration field?

I've just always been drawing, since I was a small child. I first became interested in comic illustration when I took a comic art class through Colorado Free Univesity from Squid Works co-founder, T. Motley in 1987, who assigned the project to illustrate a comic short story, the first one I ever drew. I never considered drawing for a living, but continued to draw self-published comic stories until getting laid off from the financial industry twice in three years, at which time I decided to actively market myself as a freelance illustrator. Fortunately, my work has been warmly received and my thirteen years in a sales profession has helped me market myself immensely.

How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?

My style has always been cartoony due to need for immediate self-gratification -- it's just been faster. As I've begun freelancing, my art style has evolved and become adaptable. So, although my work is still very cartoony in nature, many of my portfolio items I feel have more appeal to publishers and industries that may not have considered hiring me before.

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?

Typically, I'll try to get a good feel for the client's needs. Once that is clear, I'll draft up a contract and require a retainer for no less than 25% of the complete contract value. Progress payments are made upon completion of studies which are delivered to the client via e-mail as low-res image files. Final payments are made upon completion and approval of final work and delivery of high-res image files via e-mail, ftp upload or via mail by CD. If the clients needs may go beyond the original project, I may offer to add exercisable options into the contract if I'm happy with our initial negotiated pay rate.

What is your creation process (start with sketches, etc.)?

I don't often show clients pencils, since I feel my pencils are too rough, so I like to show them inked linework prior to proceeding to greytone or color my work. I color and do revisions via lightbox and Photoshop to keep my process quick to fulfill deadlines and keep my clients happy.

How do you market/promote your work?

I use iFreelance.com, have my website, go to comic conventions around the country and locally, I visit comic job websites and messageboards, and certainly word-of-mouth helps as well.

What was one of your favorite assignments?

Illustrating a 4-issue comic book mini-series for Ape Entertainment called, "SubCulture" has definitely been a high point for me. It didn't pay a ton, but it was definitely great fun, as a slice-of-life story that was completely hilarious -- right up my alley!

What is the best part about what you do?

Doing what I love and making a living doing it -- what could be better?

Describe your work setting.

My killer morning commute takes me from my bedroom into my dining room each morning. That's where the magic happens. Well, I also do much of my work on the computer, so that's in one of our guest rooms.

Do you have side projects you work on?

More than I can count. As a comic creator, I figure if I hit it big, it'll need to be for something I own the property to, so I'm currently writing and coloring a post-apocalyptic car adventure called, REVVVelations. I'm also planning to launch an alternative weekly comic based on my self-published graphic novel series, The Wang.

How do you maintain balance in your life between work and play?

When work is so much like play, it IS difficult. I DO set aside time for date night each week with my wife, and I'm trying to keep in shape by working out several times a week at the Community Center, where I engage in pick-up basketball and lift weights.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?

I can't say that I ever have. I always have too much work going on, so if I'm having brain block on one project, I just move to another.

What do you do for fun/when you're not working?

Basketball, swing dance, movies.

What has been inspiring you lately?

A recent vacation to Hawaii has given me a lot of inspirational story material.

Any advice for others who are pursuing creative goals?

Your best road to success is to have a passion and love what you do. If you'd do it for free or pay to do it, then nothing will stop you from pursuing this as a career -- even your inability to make money at it ;)

Magazine Art Directors Meet, Greet & Peek with CAI Illustrators

2007-11-26T14:50:00.001-07:00

CAI's meeting with the magazines on Tuesday, November 13, was part panel discussion, part portfolio pitch. CAI members got a chance to hear what magazine people are seeking, and a 2 minute portfolio flip though with each. Everyone got a heads up on some great publications, while they get to see some of Denver area's best/hot illustrative talent.

Revews were held by 5280's art director Mike Leister, Denver Woman Magazine's editor Judy Taylor, Colorado Singles Resource Guide & Singlocity.com's publisher & editor Beth Anderson, and Advertising and Marketing Review's publisher/editor/multi-hatted media mogul Ken Custer.

See more of Stan Yan's event photo's here.

Danlyn Iantorno Member Profile

2007-11-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Name: Danlyn Iantorno

Illustration Website: www.Danlyn.info and www.PaintedOlive.com

How did you get started in the illustration field?

My move to illustration came after years of suppression in graphic arts. I knew I could draw but never believed I could make a living at it.

How did you find your style? Has it changed since you started?

I illustrate in several styles depending on the market I am selling to. With realism I struggle to include a bit of my soul in my work, resulting in constant change.

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?

I only work via email and try to always use my own contract. When possible I like to control the production schedule allowing double time for the proofing process – the client is always slower than they expect.

What is your creation process (start with sketches, etc.)?

Research is done almost 100% on-line with additional digital photos taken as needed. Sketches are done in Photoshop using a Wacom tablet and pen. Elements are all drawn on separate layers to facilitate easy edits to the layout. Digital proofs are emailed. Final art is drawn in colored pencil and finished in Photoshop by assembling elements, adjusting color intensity and adding lighting layers. Final art is a high resolution digital file, which is posted on my FTP site.

How do you market/promote your work?

I am very active in industry organizations and try to use industry certification to supplement my resume. I use three web sites, exhibit at trade shows and send regular mailings. Sharing knowledge on discussion boards and teaching seminars also circulates my name in various fields.

What was one of your favorite assignments?

Not sure I’ve had it yet.

What is the best part about what you do?

My dog gets to be my office assistant.

Describe your work setting.

Home studio with large windows, plenty of light, big tables, two computers, two printers, a scanner, drafting table, exercise bike and a big foot-stool for my canine office assistant.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art Salon (Hang Out and Draw Night)

2007-10-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

At Lannie's Clocktower Caberet at 16th & Arapahoe in Denver, Vivienne VaVoom presents a different model each month for you to sketch, ink, shoot photographs of, or just doodle with crayons. Drink specials and fun music accompany the arrival of your inner Picasso!

A small contingent of CAI members joined the October Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art Hang Out and Draw Night on October 15th. This month's event featured a talented and acrobatic burlesque dancer and a nice-sized group of very enthusiastic and talented illustrators, despite going up against the Rockies baseball game that night. See more photos by Stan Yan of this event.

See what others are saying about this event. . .

Birthday Celebrations are Better with Licensed Original Art by Patsi Pohle

2007-09-18T22:36:00.001-07:00

Birthday Celebrations are Better with Licensed Original Art by Patsi Pohle

Using gouache and acrylics to create lively and colorful hand-painted images, Patsi Designs' pieces capture and reflect the joy that goes into the creation of each work of fine art. Her birthday line offers a wide variety of designs, including boldly colored cakes, elegant florals and modern whimsical doodles (http://www.patsidesigns.com).

"Birthdays are milestones that deserve to be celebrated in a special way," said Patsi Pohle, owner of Patsi Designs. "Cards or gifts featuring my original art mark the occasion with a personal touch that shows the recipient you really care."

CAI Summer BBQ Bash

2007-08-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

Aug. 25, 2007 - what a blast! Around 40 people in attendance at the home of new/returning CAI president, Che' Rippinger. Hit of the party: Russian artist Ksenia and 2 fellow fun east German friends came as a walking and working slot machine to celebrate the "Vegas, Baby!" theme.

Cheryl Phelps Licensing Workshops

2007-08-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Participating CAI members got a very fun and informative look at the world of art liscensing on Sept 15&16 in Boulder, Colorado.

We learned about:
•How to Get Your Art, Illustrations, Photography and Designs onto Greeting Cards and Other Products
•Self Promotion- Getting A Rep or Doing Your Own PR
•Trade Shows and Marketing Your Artwork
•LICENSING your Art for Long Term Profits
•Copyright and Contracts-Protect Your Rights
•Trends, Ideas and Motivation
•Manufacturing Your Own Product Line or Freelance Licensing
•Crossover to New Markets of Revenue for Your Visual Images
If you missed it and want more info on this exciting field, contact Cheryl Phelps.

International Illustrator Etienne Delessert . . .

2007-08-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Etienne Delessert, recognized as one of the finest contemporary illustrators today, has over 80 children's books to his credit, many of them translated into 14 languages with more than four million copies sold around the world. We were thrilled to have him present sessions at the 2007 Rocky Mtn Fall Conference, Sept. 8-9 for both SCBWI members and participating CAI members.

Etienne's work has been featured in leading magazines, newspapers and animated films. His paintings, sculptures and posters are shown extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

Born in Switzerland in 1941, he's a self-taught artist whose career spans over three decades - he's been called the "father of modern children's picture books." His colorful creatures, fantastic landscapes and use of posing imaginary characters next to the familiar create a sense of wonder and sophistication that delight both children and adults.

The first book to win him acclaim in the 1960's - The Endless Party, was followed by countless others. Some additional titles of his books are: Story Number One, How the Mouse...., A Long Long Song, Ashes, Ashes, Dance!, The Seven Dwarfs, Who Killed Cock Robin, Hungry For Numbers, A Was An Apple Pie, Alphabet, and Humpty Dumpty

The American Society of Illustrators has awarded him thirteen gold and twelve silver medals. He won the 1996 Hamilton King Award, has had two one-man retrospectives - one hung at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs - in the Louvre, and another in 1991 in Rome which then traveled to Switzerland, France, Canada and America.

CAI's 2nd Annual - La Piazza Dell'Arte

2007-06-26T15:58:00.004-07:00

June 23 & 24, 2007 marked our 2nd Annual La Piazza Dell'Arte Street Painting.
CAI members got together on the streets of Larimer Square for this annual Italian festival. Artists from all over converge to cover the pavement with beautiful, yet temporary chalk drawings. Our "masterpiece" was a tribute to the father of American illustration, Howard Pyle. True to our pirate painting, several members came in costume and were a hit with the strolling art enthusiasts, and kids, too. CAI members Benjamin Hummel & Cherish Flieder recreated a classic Rockwell at the event, just a few squares over.

VP Cherish Flieder & Pirate Prez Ché at La Piazza Del'Arte on a boiling hot pavement day on Larimer Square's street painting festival--an ode to Howard Pyle (Colorado Alliance of Illustrators "square" for the event) June '07.

Benjamin Hummel & VP Cherish Flieder recreate Norman Rockwell's tribute to a first love.

CAI 17TH ANNUAL SHOW

2007-04-20T04:24:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Alliance of Illustrators Show was a rich and diverse expression of the best of contemporary illustration produced in the western region. This year the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graciously opened their gallery providing an excellent location for our 17th annual show.

Gwenda Kaczor on illustrationmundo.com

2007-02-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

Gwenda Kaczor & her beautiful work are in the LIMELIGHT at illustrationmundo.com.

You can see the page directly if you load this address into your browser:
http://www.illustrationmundo.com/audio/artist/112

Gwenda is a dedicated CAI Member a recent past. Vice Pres.and an amazing illustrator.

You can see more of her exciting work at www.gwenda.com

Congratulations Gwenda!

Do you do western/native American related art?

2007-02-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Possibly a couple of framed pieces?

My mom and I have the El Rancho Trading Post gift shop, in Evergreen, and I am looking forward to representing more local talent, since we serve a lot of locals and tourists. You are welcome to come in to see the flavor of what we carry. If you have ideas, I am open to trying them. We work well with consignment, unless you are able to give us a really good price break. Let's talk. I'm usually in on Wed, Thur, Friday and one of the weekend days-generally Sunday.

If we could make some kind of artist event, so we have a newsworthy item for press, that might be fun. Same goes for local authors. Relevancy to what we do is important. As past pres. of CAI, I am interested in seeing more Colorado illustration out and about. We get some pretty great exposure here all year round with skiers, sight seers and restaurant goers.

El Rancho Trading Post - Cam & Che's Southwestern gift shop 303-526-0098 http://www.elranchotrading.com/

We're proud to carry some illustration work by Cherish and Benjamin Hummel--two great longtime members of CAI. http://www.paintingforlife.com

-Ché Rippinger, Relationship Humorist
________________________________________________
TOUCHÉ Productions 303-980-6295 Che@ToucheToon.com
New humor daily..."TOUCHÉ!" Cartoons: http://www.touchetoon.com/ & Humor Writing: http://www.datingandhandgrenades.com/
~ Denver Press Club ~ Colorado Alliance of Illustrators http://www.allianceofillustrators.org/

Guild Hires Lobbyist to Oppose Orphan Works Bill

2007-02-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

News from the Graphic Artists Guild

From our friend David Veal at the Graphic Artist's Guild

The Graphic Artists Guild has hired intellectual property attorney Megan E.Gray of the Washington, D.C., firm, Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.L.P., to represent the Guild as its lobbyist on Capitol Hill to oppose the Orphan Works Bill. In this lobbying effort, Ms.Gray also will be representing the Greeting Card Association and George Little Management, L.L.C., the largest producer and marketer of consumer product tradeshows in North America (major gift shows, National Stationery Show, SURTEX, etc.). She will be working in close cooperation with Lisa Shaftel, the Guild's Advocacy Committee Chair, as well as Vic Perlman, General Counsel of the American Society of Media Photographers, and David Trust, CEO of Professional Photographers of America, to present a unified message from visual creators.

Ms. Gray and Mr. Perlman are working on drafting an alternative version of the Orphan Works Bill that will be acceptable to creators of visual art and, hopefully, to Congress as well. Both House and Senate Judiciary Committees have made it clear to the Guild that they will not drop the Orphan Works Bill altogether and that they intend to pass some form of an amendment to U.S. Copyright Law concerning orphan works.

Megan Gray has represented copyright holders in the fabric and textile, apparel, toy manufacturing, and jewelry industries. Read more about her extensive experience with licensing and infringement cases .

The Guild welcomes any other organizations and trade associations representing artists, artisans, and photographers to join in our lobbying effort against the current Orphan Works Bill. For more information or to express interest in joining the effort, contact the Guild's Administrative Director, Tricia McKiernan, at 212.791.3400, ext 106, or admin@gag.org.

La Piazza dell' Arte: Our summer street painting was a smashing hit.

2006-07-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Our first annual CAI street painting event was held on Larimer square and the surrounding areas. The Colorado Alliance of Illustrators two 8 foot by 8 foot squares on Larimer Street near 15th. We had a fabulous team of illustrators make it out to lend a creative hand. Thank you to all who participated and mark your calanders for next years chak festival.

For more info on the La Piazza dell' Arte

Hip Genres - Animation & Comic Book Art

2006-05-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

An ultra cool peek into the 7 creative lives of today's underground... and above ground graphic contemporary artists: Sam Fleming, Jon Holdredge, Felipe Echevarria, Stan Yan, Kristian Navant, Ozzy Longoria & Mike May.

Fab & Hip Speaking Panel:

SAM FLEMING: Producer/Animation Director Sam Fleming is a twenty year veteran of Classical 2D and 3D Character Animation. His credits include Unit Producer/Animation Director for the Texas Unit of the SPACE JAM crew, Director of Animation for the original "King of the Hill" test pilot that launched the series, and most recently, Character Animator on the 3D hit JIMMY NEUTRON, Boy Genius. Currently, he is a faculty member at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver, Colorado, where he teaches 2D and 3D Animation. Sam makes his permanent home in Lakewood, Colorado where he lives with his wife and fellow artist, Shari, and four of their children, Caleb, Rose, Poppy and Lillie. www.animatorsam.com sfleming@rmcad.edu

JON HOLDREDGE: A 15 year veteran inker of the comic book industry working on many titles including X-Men and Deadpool for Marvel, and Batman and The Justice League for DC. Jon is a Continuing Ed instructor at RMCAD along with fellow artist Felipe Echevarria.

FELIPE ECHEVARRIA: A professional artist working in both the sequential comic arts and fine arts. He is a Continuing Ed instructor at RMCAD for sequential comic arts classes. Visit Felipe's websites at www.felipe.tv and www.felipeechevarria.com.

STAN YAN: Stan Yan grew up in Denver, Colorado and went to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder where he got his bachelors degree in accounting. Due to the lack of sex-for-recruiting for accounting students, Yan's life took the tragic turn into sales for the securities industry, where he has wallowed in ethical poverty on-and-off for the last thirteen years. Yan takes his frustrations out by penning graphic novels such as The Wang as well as a daily financial webcomic called, The Tickle Tape. In addition to miscellaneous freelance work, current projects include illustrating SubCulture, a 4 book miniseries for Ape Entertainment and two webcomics in development, REVVVelations with Jolyon Yates and Mr. Flingpoo with Ethan Wenberg.
Squid Works Comics www.squidworks.com/Stan stan@squidworks.com

KRISTIAN NAVANT: An Illustrator working in Denver, Colorado specializing in independent, underground, self-published books.
Please visit www.kristian13.com for more information. knavant@rmcad.edu

OZZY LONGORIA: Ozzy has done countless illustrations for countless comic book projects, but is probably best known for his work on "Quantum: Rock of Ages." Ozzy's experience extends back to his upbringing in Mexico, where he studied under 2000 Eisner Award Winner, Oscar Gonzalez Loyo, and has unique perspective on how comic artists lives are across the border. He's currently working on 4 issues of "the Fallen" for Resurrection Comix and 3 issues of "the Suit" for GayShakespeare Comics.
www.longoria.itgo.com longoria77@yahoo.com

MIKE MAY: Fantasy illustrator for folks like D&D for the past 8 years, as well as a video game artist for the past decade...a full-time freelancer.
Mike May Mike's Pencil, LLC Media and Illustration Services www.mikespencil.com (303) 250-9338

ART FOR ART's SAKE SAKE - Annual Show

2006-04-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Our annual CAI Illustration Show was a success!
Click here for photos of the event.
Click here to see the CAI show winners.