Welcome!

This is the blog home of #kidlitart, a live Twitter chat Thursdays at 9:00 pm Eastern, for children's book illustrators, picture book authors, author/illustrators and friends. Check back weekly to read transcripts, comment on previous chats and suggest topics for upcoming chats.


Friday, April 30, 2010

Transcript: 4/29/10; plus takeaways!

TOPIC: What have you done to promote your illustration beyond mailings and web sites?

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas for promos
Online: coloring pages; newsletters; holiday-themed downloads
In person: booths at conventions, art festivals, etc.; form group with other illustrators and invite AD; attend conferences; take part in portfolio displays, contests (SCBWI-LA came out ahead of SCBWI-NY as best bet for illustrators, although possibility of portfolio drop-offs a plus at NY con); a plug for SCBWI regional cons (more face time with presenters)
Creative packaging/format for mailings: vellum envelopes for packets; tri-fold "story" postcards; hand-made books; dummies; bookmarks
Links:
http://www.katgirlstudio.com/category/portfolio/print-portfolio/
http://blog.jackywinter.com/2008/10/06/six-months-of-promo-in-pictures/
http://www.designrelated.com/inspiration/view/Karen/entry/3879/snail-mail-tad-carpenter-illustration-promo

Buzz
Much talk (and friendly arm-twisting) about Zero 2 Illo's current 12-week marketing challenge for illustrators (#12WC): http://zero2illo.com/category/12-week-challenge/

Tweet of the night
@DiandraMae, commenting on the difficulty of finding time to create promo materials: ". . . another thing on the to-do list. I call my list "Kudzu."

Please feel free to add to or correct takeaways if necessary—and let us know if this is a useful feature!

Full transcript, as always, in the reader below:

#kidlitart 4-29-10

Friday, April 23, 2010

Transcript: 4/22/10

TOPIC: What are your tips for matching art to the tempo of a pb text: layout, perspective, camera angles?


#kidlitart 4-22-10

Friday, April 16, 2010

Transcript: 4/15/10

TOPIC: Besides outfitting a studio, what expenses are essential to your work as an illustrator?

#kidlitart 4-15-10

Friday, April 9, 2010

Friday, April 2, 2010