III Jornadas Profesionales Para Ilustradores

Went to this year's illustrator/designer conference at the Feria del Libro here in Buenos Aires. I thought I might as well just to see if there would be any work possibilities for an artist from the U.S like me. Though I felt somewhat strange about it, as if other illustrators there must be wondering why is she looking for work here--work which should rightly go to an Argentinian? But whenever that thought would pop up I would simply remind myself how they would only be too happy to work with U.S. publishers if they could. No barriers, no borders no more. 

Except, maybe, for the barrier of language. My Spanish is still at the most basic level and I had to fully listen and concentrate, during the lectures, to grasp what the speaker was saying.  Even so, exchanging notes later with my friend, Andrea, it was frustrating to see how much I had missed. 

So when we all got the chance to sit down and share our portfolios with industry veterans (in my case, the owner of an animation studio) I was really nervous. What if he/she spoke no english? What if they asked me something that went beyond what my meagre Spanish skills could answer?  

(Talk by Brazilian author and illustrator Ziraldo)

Luckily, the person I sat down with not only spoke excellent English but seemed to really like my work. She asked about my animation, as well, but at this point in my career (though I still dream up ideas for animated shorts) I would rather do concepts or paint backgrounds. 

One huge drawback about living here, by the way, is the cost of books. I got one paperback, at the feria, for a whopping $225AR (about $21 US). And all the gorgeous art books on this table averaged at $750AR. But, I suppose, at least this inhibits impulse buying.    

The cult of Evita.

One of the best things about attending the conference was getting to browse the entire feria without the crowds. 

Overall, I was really glad to meet and see the work of so many up and coming illustrators. They strike me as completely dedicated and hungry to succeed. I'm sure some future superstars are among them.

Artist Field Trip

Some artist friends and I (Andrea Toledo, Jesica Cichero, David Pugliese) visited with animation BG painter and illustrator Nestor Taylor in his studio in Bernal, Buenos Aires.

Jesica Cichero - http://swingingcreature.blogspot.com.ar/

David Pugliese - http://www.davidpugliese.com

Andrea Toledo - http://andi-caricaturas.blogspot.com.ar

Hernan Flores - http://www.hernanfloresilustraciones.com/galeria-de-imagenes

Nestor Taylor - http://fondosdeanimacion.blogspot.com.ar/

Some works in progress from my current book project.

From the third, and alas, final DemiChat mystery -

New work, new series

I'm working on a new set of character designs inspired by remarkable women from U.S. history.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/Remember-the-Ladies/13991925

The idea for it was sparked by an upcoming group show I will be participating in here in Buenos Aires, at the Alliance Francaise in which the theme is women. 

https://www.behance.net/gallery/Remember-the-Ladies/13991925

That being such a big, broad theme, I began to wonder, hmm, what do I want to say about women?

https://www.behance.net/gallery/Remember-the-Ladies/13991925

For a start, what has been happening to women's rights around the world really bothers me. And, if nothing else, I would like to remind as many people as I can how bravely women have worked to advance women's rights. And it can be terrifying and infuriating to see how some people will do anything to squeeze us back into their confining little boxes in order to feel safe in what religion, politicians and mainstream media keep telling us is an unsafe world.

And, though we've been taught to always expect a progressive march forward. If you look through history, for example the rise of the merchant class and the increase in women's rights that accompanied it (following the Black Death around 1348 - 1350) during middle ages, and then the depressing slide backwards when the powers that be said, Hey, this is all wrong! one sees how it is quite possible for a powerful minority to force society back to what they consider a more comfortable status quo.

I don't know what will happen. And, the pessimistic side of me thinks, I'm just one artist. Also, what's the point of signing petitions, or protesting, or voting, for that matter?  What difference does any of it make?

But, consider when our collective No Way To War in Syria actually prevented us from going into yet another useless war? Contrast that to 2001 right before we invaded Iraq. When the majority of us still believed mainstream media.

It does make a difference though it's effectiveness can be hard to gage. Alone, my artwork, my viewpoints have no impact. But in reaching out and sharing, who knows? Skies the limit.

Some digital practice

Here's my latest digital sketch, something to keep my skills fresh while I await my next project. It was just a few years ago, by the way, when all I needed to update regularly was my online portfolio and this blog. Now there's CGTalk, CGHub, LinkedIn, Behance, Deviantart and others I can't recall right now--so many that I find myself tackling them all at once every five, six months or so. So, apologies for that. 

Also, apologies for the lack of any written content. I used to write here all the time. It was like online therapy, stuff I'd discuss with friends over coffee, and for the last few years I've been way too busy to devote much thought into any post. Now, if I write anything at all, it's on Facebook.

Well, I listened to this great lecture last night on how to make more than a subsistence living as an artist, especially as a freelancer, and I came away feeling angry and frustrated with myself.

Take the job because you need to pay rent, you have to eat---even though you know this client is underpaying you. They are outright taking advantage of you. And they don't care. In fact they act as if they are doing you a favor.

Or refuse the job, work on your own stuff, update your portfolio, keep searching for work, hope you sell some originals. And if all else fails ask your elderly mother for help.

That is a maddening conundrum to find yourself in month after month. After a while you begin to wonder, why bother? Why?

Don't get me wrong. I have worked for some wonderful clients who have not only paid me well but I have enjoyed working for. But I have basically had the philosophy of take whatever comes my way no matter what they offer.

And that has led to a lot of frustration and self kicking. And brought me to where I am now, two years after taking one of the biggest gambles of my life, that of uprooting myself to a new country where I didn't even speak the language, where (in my darkest moments) I feel like I have nothing to show for my gamble.

On the other hand, I can also say this is day one, this is my starting point. And I have one kick ass portfolio, a lot of great people in my life, and I am worth the money. 

Local dudes hanging out

One of my latest sketches -

Saw these guys while taking a break in downtown Microcentro cafe called Picnic. I loved the way the figures overlapped. And I loved that one guy who looks like he's an extra from some 70's television cop drama. 

DemiChat and the Kent Street Mystery is now available!

Yay! My second children's book is now out and available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and soon on Apple Ipad.

Demichat, the main character, is a Parisian cat living in London with her humans, the Jaspers, and she dreams of having a life full of mystery and adventure, just like her idol, Sherlock Holmes. She gets that chance when Lord Flannery, a retired police beagle, come to join the Jasper household.

You can find out more about Demichat and her amazing creator, Toni Brisland, here - http://www.demichat.com/home

I worked on this project during my first South American winter, short, freezing cold days in the middle of July---weird!!!! And besides the cold, I must admit, I had to battle a lot of self doubt, and all those lovely things that can get in the way, but I got through them. And the end result is a project I'm really proud of. Here are some of my favorite illustrations from the book -