Last weekend was my local SCBWI retreat at which there was also an Illustrator’s Intensive.  This was why I was creating a couple of pieces to bring with me (and give away here).  I thought I would share a little bit about the assignment, what I learned, and give some insight into my process as an illustrator BEFORE I announce the winners of my prints.

The assignment had 4 parts:

1. create something that you find easy to draw, using a medium you feel comfortable using
2. create something that you find easy to draw (the same as #1), using a medium you feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with
3. create something that you find difficult to draw, using a medium you feel comfortable using
4. create something that you find difficult to draw (the same as #3), using a medium you feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with

I am most comfortable drawing animals, so I knew that would be my #1 and #2.  I chose one of my pictures from last fall’s Inktober (the otters I drew).  I struggle drawing kids, despite practice (which is also why I’m now drawing kids at church every week) so I knew that would be my #3 and #4 (one of my favorite doodles from those Sunday sessions).  The medium I’m most comfortable working with is with traditional media (watercolor mostly, but more of a mixed media approach).  The medium I’m uncomfortable with but working on getting better at is digital (I’ve been experimenting with it for a while now and pushing my knowledge of Photoshop).

This is #1 (though I created it AFTER #2):

This is #2 (which I’m not as thrilled with):

This is #3 (which I was surprised to not like as much):

This is #4 (which I liked more than my usual traditional media approach):

I was divided in my preferences, but the decision was pretty universal at the intensive: my digital work was preferred in both versions.  Color me surprised!  I explained how I was trying to go for the texture of traditional media in my digital media.  I was told that this is starting to work and to keep pushing it.  YEAH for progress!  We had a great discussion on all the pieces and I felt like I was given some good insight and direction.  Another yeah!  It’s all a work in progress.  =)

And NOW FOR WINNERS!  I have three winners!

Lisa Koppelman-Roser, Jane Baskwill, and Charlotte Offsay congratulations!  Check your emails! =)