I was in extremely good company. Mark Fearing spoke just before me on Graphic Novels. He's an amazing illustrator and also an animator (animators RULE). He's got a graphic novel coming out in 2011, which sounds really promising - so look for it!

At the end of his talk, Mark said something really awesome. It was about rules and how he doesn't like them when it comes to talking about getting your work sold.

You know how I am about rules. There are so many ways to approach any endeavor. People can have success with completely opposite approaches.

My talk was about not creating art in the computer, based on this blog post. The title sounds very rules-ish, right?

In fact, before,during, and after my talk I learned that at least three artists in the room (including Mark Fearing) create their art directly in the computer.

It's a perfect example of not applying stuff people tell you (me included) about how to create your art. The rules are, there ain't no rules.

I can talk on the blog and in my digital illustration course about my approach to creating digital art. It works for me. It's a proven method and lots of people buy my stuff.

Regardless, if it goes against what works for you, then please do one of two things:

1. Ignore me. Move along, nothing to see here. Do your thing.
2. Tell me about it so I can share it with my people.

One of my grander plans for the digital illustration school is to bring in guest illustrators to demo their methods. There are as many methods as there are people and I think this would be a huge help to students - knowing that there isn't just one way.

So my talk went well. People seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say and I think they were entertained. Here's a sampling of some of the images I brought up to demonstrate my points...

My head floating out of a robot. At least they knew I would be weird right up front.

I used Jenni's bread to talk about illustration. Yep. Officially wacko.

I also used coffee to talk about illustration. Where was I going with this?

Believe me, I knew they were wondering.

It's a NASA flight control panel. If you weren't there, you wouldn't understand.

My first attempt at creating art in the computer. Hideous, scary, and really, really bad.

A recent illustration for Highlights Magazine. I eventually figured out a method.

The final pencil sketch for the Highlights High Five illo. It was "done" before I even went to the computer.

There was more to it than these slides show. I wish you had been there.

It was fun. People laughed at me (thank god).

I think the reason I felt good about it was that aside from the little slide show, I pretty much "winged" my talk. Sure, I knew where I was going, I rehearsed a few things. Mostly it was conversational and that made it much more relaxed for me and (I think) the audience.

I think I helped some people, which was the whole point of me standing in front of them and waving my arms around while talking about weird stuff like bread. 

If I gave even one person in the audience a seed of an idea about how to use their computer to create illustration, then I succeeded.

If I made them hungry, then my plan for total world domination kicked off nicely.

ADDENDUM

I am such a cotton-headed ninnymuggins.

I failed to acknowledge Robin Koontz and Judi Gardiner, organizers of the SCBWI Oregon Spring Conference.

Robin also gave an outstanding, very informative presentation about the illustrator's market in children's publishing. She's the reason I was able to speak to anyone about anything by allowing me time in the Illustrators Master class to do my thing.

Mucho thanks to Robin and Judi. You both did an incredible job with this event.

When I woke up this morning, guess who was in the room waiting for me?

Grandma K: Good morning, sweetie.

Grandma D: David. Well, Good Morning. Would you like some cold cereal?

Grandma K: Can you handle anything in your tummy? You've probably got a flock of butterflies in there, don't you, dear?

Grandma D: Well, David, you'll do just fine.

Grandma K: You know, sweetie, if you're feeling sick you can just stay here and watch the Six Million Dollar Man. I have 7-Up and crackers.

Grandpa K: Oh no he won't. If he's staying here he can help me trim those trees in the yard. You have it so easy, Kid.

Okay, when the hell did you get here, Grandpa?

Damn. I'm actually gonna have to do this thing, aren't I?

Okay, I'm going now. Grandma K, Grandma D, are you coming?

Why is Grandpa in the car?

I suspect that every person has voices in their head that constantly throw out their opinion on everything. When you think you're the one deciding what to wear, it's actually the voices of conflict that live just under the level of your consciousness:

"Really? That shirt? The one with the spot you think nobody sees?"

"You look so awesome in that shirt, that spot ain't gettin' the attention, if you know what I mean."

In my case, I have my two grandmas who have passed on but continue to advise me on all matters from shoe choice to freeway exits.

Grandma Dolores is the "Everything you do is art" voice.

Grandma Kernik is the "Are you sure you won't get trampled by elephants?" voice.

They are pleased to meet you, I'm sure. In fact, rather than dialing down the volume on their voices, I've decided they should weigh in regularly on the blog. Okay, maybe it was they who decided to go public.

Get used to it. I've had to.

Some Stuff Happening in May

For me, May is shaping up to be massively busy and simply awesome.

One thing that's keeping my beehive mind occupied lately is a guest speaking engagement. Here's the announcement I posted in the May member newsletter I sent out last week:

SCWBI Oregon Spring Conference: May 17-19

I'll be appearing as a Special Guest Speaker for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Oregon chapter Spring conference.

Wow. Say that five times fast. Or once. Slow.

I'm so excited to start sharing my digital illustration secrets with a live audience. I'm also giving every member of the audience a gift. I'm actually giving away the best digital illustration tool that technology has ever provided to every single person in attendance. Nope, no kidding.

If you'll be in Portland May 17-19 and have an interest in children's publishing, you can register for the conference here: http://scbwior.com

Am I crazy? I mean, seriously.

First, I'm presenting to a large audience of illustrators. It will either be twenty minutes of madcap fun where I educate talented artists on digital technique...

... or it will totally suck and I'll be escorted out by security.

Okay, so I've done this before with my digital animation techniques in Los Angeles and Chicago. It went over well, no hissing or tomato tossing. So why am I worried now? This should be old hat, right?

Truth is, it's never old and the Big Fear never ceases to lock my bowels in a tight-fisted grip as I wait in the wings. Is there a toilet off stage?

Second, I'm giving away stuff.

I've never given anything away before on this level. Yet here I go. One marvelous piece of technological gadgetry to every person in attendance.

The Grandmas weigh in:

Grandma K: Do you want some 7-Up? That will keep you from vomiting on the front row. You don't want to do that, do you?

Grandma D: I'm sure you'll be wonderful. You know, I remember when you gave that presentation a while back. You were so entertaining.

Me: Grandma, that was Thanksgiving 1974. I was putting tupperware on my head and pretending to be an astronaut.

Grandma K: I've heard that plastic absorbed through the scalp causes premature baldness. Do you think that's what happened?

Grandma D: Well, I think you look very distinguished with that shaved head. Like a teacher.

Grandma K: Are you really just giving away those things to all those people? That sounds expensive. Can you afford it?

Like it or not, the grandmas will be at the conference. I hope they don't embarrass me.

At last summer's SCBWI conference, there was speculation that the universe of children's publishing was crumbling. Those fears were laid to rest by the speakers (editors, art directors, SCBWI staff), but it's sure to come up again. Like now.

According to this article at mediabistro.com, news of this kind is actually great for writers and artists. It's a slightly new game, but still winnable.

"[T]his is really an opportunity to grow and be challenged." - Jean Fewiell, Senior Vice President

Also, you have to love a Senior VP who references Star Wars.

How will you use this information? I'm curious.