"Healing Newtown" update with the Smiles for Sandy Hook art

It is with great happiness that we let you know that the art that was created from the "Smiles for Sandy Hook" event that CBIG held this past December will continue to be exhibited in a special exhibit.  Here is the information that was received recently about the artwork!  Thanks everyone for making this such an amazing experience for everyone involved!

     I am pleased to tell you that your art has been chosen by the Connecticut Commission on Children located at our state Capital in Hartford to be in a show which will take place at the Capital.  The format of the show is based on "a tribute to Newtown", it also will include other art from Connecticut as well as national and international works have been selected as well.  The Show will be up in the State Capital from June 5th to July 5th.  There will be a presentation/public forum held at the state legislative building on June 5th from 9:30 am to 12:30 which artists are invited to attend.  You will be hearing from the representatives of this show shortly.  Thank you so much for your contributions this show is an honor to your pieces and if you are unable to attend we will have pictures posted on our website healingnewtown.org .  Congratulations on being chosen for the show .

Sincerely 

Jackie DeFlumeri

Nancy Depuy

Healing Newtown Art Center

MN CBIG member Alicia Schwab blog interview!

If you get a chance, step on over to Kathleen Temean's blog interview with MN CBIG member Alicia Schwab!  Lots of great information.  Congrats Alicia!  Keep up the amazing work

Link to the interview Here

CBIG EVENT: AN EVENING WITH DAVID GEISTER

Hello CBIG'ers

We have an amazing workshop/presentation coming up Thursday June 13th at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts.  CBIG is proud to present


DAVID GEISTER

"Historically Speaking"  Capturing a Bygone Era

Thursday June 13th

6:30-8:30pm
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts
6666 East River Road
Fridley, MN 55432

COST:  CBIG MEMBERS FREE

             $10 general public

***There is limited seating so please RSVP to Shawn McCann at shawn.arts@yahoo.com



The Children’s Book Illustrators Guild of Minnesota
is pleased to present Historical Artist and Illustrator
David Geister for this intimate evening of retrospection
and insight into the many facets of children’s book
illustration.  As an aritst who has many works to his
credit, David’s love of history has led him to have works
included in The Saturday Evening Post, The History
Channel Magazine, and is often called upon by historical
organizations throughout the country.  His newest
children’s book released is “Alan and his Perfectly
Pointy, Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky” written by
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and his
Daughter Kamie Page (Book Bridge Press 2013)

Member Post of the Month: Franklin Haws talks about creating Digital Art with a Traditional Charm

As a student in a local art college, I learned how to draw and paint using the same media as the legends: Michelangelo, Picasso, and the guys from Mad Magazine; all the greats. Eventually, I got pretty good with most of them, especially pencils and acrylics. However one day in 1989 or so, I bought my first (of many) Mac computers and soon became a digital illustrator.

The drawing program I use is Corel Painter. While it does have some flaws (it crashes more then it should), it's the most popular and widely used program on the market that allows an artist to create pieces which have the look of "traditional" artwork while being created using digital media. 

I work 100% digital, meaning I never sketch the first drawing then scan it into my Mac. My illustrations start and end in Painter. And instead of using a sketch book and pencil, I use a Wacom digital tablet. 

Painter is widely used by illustrators in the entertainment industry for creating concept art for movies and video games. To see some great concept art samples, check out www.conceptartworld.com. In an industry where speed is important, digital illustration is the standard and Corel Painter along with 3D software are the tools of choice.

In the past few years, I've had the honor of giving demonstrations in Corel Painter and nearly every time I get the same question: Will digital illustration force out the artists who work in traditional media such as oils, pencil and charcoal? 

In my opinion, the answer is NO. 

A great illustrator is a great illustrator, regardless of what medium (digital or traditional) the artist is using. A drawing program is simply a tool. In the entertainment industry, as I mentioned, speed of creation is vital. Almost equally important is the speed in which corrections/changes can be made. The rhythm of illustrating a children's book is much different then creating a number of quick and unique concepts for a spaceship or movie set. 

If you've used Photoshop before, Painter uses the same layer concept. Below is my illustration River of Life with three layers made invisible showing how the art was constructed. There's a total of 25 separate layers that make up River of Life. 

"River of Life", by Franklin Haws

See more work from Franklin Haws by visiting his Website at www.franklinsartwork.com

Congrats to CBIG member Lou Wallis

Congrats to Lou Wallis on the book version of her new book "A Day at the Animal Fair".  The book originally started as a digital book and now has a print version as well!  Check it out at amazon!!!

Order the book or kindle version here:

Member post of the month: Working outside with Johnathan Kuehl

The snow is melting! With warm weather on its way I can't help but get excited. Sure I'm excited about grilling burgers at the beach. But there is something else I have been waiting for since the snow first fell last year; I cannot wait for the warm weather so I can paint outdoors again! 

I am primarily a digital artist. Everything I create ends up on the computer. Designs, illustrations and animations may all start out on paper, but eventually they end up on the computer. The digital medium is an incredible advancement and has allowed artists to share their work like never before. I illustrate and animate a variety of subjects; animals, people, inanimate objects and more; mostly for entertainment and commercial projects. Creating a story around an inanimate object and giving that object human characteristics and emotions is a challenge I love!

When I paint, there are no people. There are no things. There are no animals, no places, no trees or sky's or anything except color! It allows me a break away from the recognizable things that I normally draw and allows me to focus on the design, mood and color of the piece. It is a unique outlet for my creativity to take form. I like to keep things very loose when I paint. At times my paintings may contain tangible subjects, but the technique or application tends to be loose. I guess it makes sense because it is the opposite when I am drawing people or commercial items; these images tend to be very tight and exact. 

Last year, before the snow began to fall, I began working on a very large painting for myself. The canvas is about 6 feet wide & 6 feet tall. I live in an apartment so there is no room to paint something so large indoors. The canvas is so large that I have to take it outside in order to paint it. I created the perfect little set up outside last year where I could hang it up and work on it. Unfortunately, I did not get as far as I would have liked to, so I have been patiently waiting for the cold and snow to leave so I can finish my painting during the warmer months this year.

There is something to be said for creating artwork outdoors. It gives you freedom and a greater sense of "infiniteness." Everywhere you look in the summer you can see people outside creating artwork. I believe summer is when all the creative juices are at their peak! Just look around and you can see murals being painted on building walls, people painting landscapes, caricature artists at the park and much more. 

I can remember painting all sorts of things outside when I was a child. I found myself painting on forts, giant pieces of paper and even sidewalks with giant sticks of chalk. It's not a problem if you make a big mess while you work outside. If anything, it's more fun. If you look around, you can find artwork created by "little hands" all over the neighborhood. 

Now, while I work on my computer I lack this freedom. I tend to be confined to my computer & drawing space, and especially during the cold dark winter months you can feel this freedom slip away. At times, in an effort to overcome this, I bring my sketchbook outside and capture various subjects. You cannot beat the feeling a warm summer day can have on your creativity. The snow can't melt fast enough for me. 

I know many other C.B.I.G. members love working outside. Is there any thing you are looking forward to creating outside this summer?

To see more work from Johnathan Kuehl, visit his Website at www.bloovoodoostudio.com

Upcoming exhibit by CBIG member Tessie Bundick

Hello everyone.  Wanted to let you know that CBIG member Tessie Bundick has an upcoming show opening in Minneapolis.  Her information is below.  Hope you can make it there!!!!

Date: April 6 at 6 p.m.,

Where:  reception at the Hennepin History Museum, one half block from the

Institute of Arts, 2303 3rd Ave S in an lovely old mansion.  

This exhibit is a part of a series on working in Hennepin County, so my

career in theatre, film and the visual arts will be featured.  There

will be wine and catering with a jazz trio.  Please bring lots of

people.  thanks, Tessie