my favorite 3 minute gesture from last night’s figure drawing session
charcoal on newsprint
[A colorful] descriptiveness should be present in your drawings. Not just a lot of frozen lines that form an outline of something, but active, living lines that describe your character as doing things, and doing them in a descriptive way.
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| — | Walt Stanchfield |
Today is the release day of the second book I illustrated: Betsy’s Day at the Game, written by Greg Bancroft, published by Scarletta Kids.
Illustrating this story was fast and furious; it had already been started by another artist who had to leave the project. I was brought on later, closer to the deadline - with not much wiggle room.
The compositions I created for this book surprised me. Some of them I fought; some just seemed to draw themselves. This sketch (Betsy filling in her score card with Grandpa looking on) is one of my favorites - perhaps because it embodies the essence of the story - this is the story telling drawing for the book.
THE NEXT BIG THING/blog tour/2013
My heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary, Kelly Light, for tagging me to continue this international tour of artist awareness and promotion.
1) What is the title of your next book?
2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
I illustrated this story; I’m assuming the idea for the Author, Greg Bancroft, came from his love of the game and sharing it with family. There is such a warmth of sharing traditions in his writing.
3) What genre does your book fall under?
Early Reader
4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Betsy reminds me of a modern day “Punky Brewster”, and Steve Martin would play Grandpa very well.
5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Betsy loves hanging out with her grandfather, especially at the ballpark, and today she is ready to show him all she’s learned about keeping score.
6) Who is publishing your book?
7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I was on a tight schedule to get first sketches for character design and the cover art to the Art Director. I had just about a week turn around time, because of certain circumstances that brought me onto this project a little late.
8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
The Fenway Foul-Up by David A. Kelly; Baseball in April by Gary Soto
9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
For the illustrations, I was inspired by my own experience playing softball and going to the ball park with friends. Also, my Dad’s love of sports has always inspired my interest in team sports. He was very supportive of all us kids playing ball - in the front yard or on a team.
10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
Betsy’s Day at the Game teaches kids about the game of baseball and how to keep score. A full scorecard is included.
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Please check out these 3 fabulous and talented artists and their “next big thing”
Dancing Cranes
Inspired by a passage from “The Yearling” by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
This illustration is a part of my submission to an annual competition - which I didn’t win, which is just fine. This drawing is a milestone for me - it was created in perfect calm, with perfect confidence. For once, I made something just for me, as an experiment, and I didn’t care one jot if anyone else liked it. No one else’s opinion mattered; it only mattered that I was (and am) in love with drawing. I loved making this.
Drawing is not easy. It requires a lot of thought. So keep your mind agile. Flex it constantly so that it doesn’t atrophy. Give it the reins and let it soar at times. Other times subdue it and utilize its fantastic range of possibilities.
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| — | Walt Stanchfield |
This drawing was done in charcoal - at first. After I scanned and printed it out - it seemed too anemic: it needed more oomph. So, with brush in hand - I worked on top of the print out. Ink flows so smoothly on ink jet photo paper! Love that feeling of flowing lines - like the oomph it gave this drawing.
I’ve been drawing a lot lately, but nothing that I can share - yet. It’s fun (and necessary) to take a break and do a drawing for myself. This sketch is done in charcoal pencil - one of my fave mediums, and as a test. I’m testing out techniques and mediums for a “black/white style” ~ and for a new project. Unfortunately, the finished illustration doesn’t want to be drawn in charcoal; it wants to be drawn in something else, less rough. So, working in charcoal will be just for me; it remains mine all mine - for now.
