Guarrara, de Paola, and Sabuda (page under construction, photos are props)
Resource persons for the breakout sessions included Penguin Group USA art director Rosanne Guarrara, illustrator and author Tomie de Paola, and illustrator and pop-up book designer Robert Sabuda. Here are some of the things that they said:
Rosanne Guarrara
"Totally digital art, that is lovely in our world," says Guarrara. "If you do 100% digital art, we love that."
Another thing: it used to be that aspiring writers and illustrators were encouraged to submit either a manuscript or art samples, but not together. "Now," Guarrara said, "there are more and more author-illustrators getting in at the gate."
"Do mail us your postcards," Guarrara also said. Some of the illustration styles that they pick come from a wall in their office that is completely covered with illustrators' postcards.
Tomie de Paola
"Ask yourself why you want to be a published children's book illustrator," advises Tomie de Paola. "The answer 'I want to become famous' is not a good answer. There are many other ways to become famous."
De Paola says that in his day, if you didn't live in New York City you didn't get any work. Now it is no longer the case. "Today the world is your oyster," he says. "You can draw on the sidewalk, work in concrete, use candy wrappers - any medium can be used."
Robert Sabuda
"I am a firm believer in self promotion materials," says Robert Sabuda. "You've got to have a fire in your belly. Regardless of what is required or what they are looking for, your chances are better if you go the other way - your style. You will stand out. The vision, the voice, should be yours. It has to be you."
Sabuda says that now, he creates mainly in 3D using scissors and paper, and he uses computers to make the die cuts. But it was not that way at the start. "My first books were coloring books," he says. "It was Work For Hire, a Catch 22. A successful path is based on a track record - mine started with black and white books."
For the full report
Check out the SCBWI website and the Bulletin for a full report on Guarrara, de Paola, Sabuda, and all the other speakers who were there at the conference
More photos and stories
Attendees from the Philippines
The New York Showcase
RAs and others who were there
To know more about
Tomie de Paola
To know more about
Robert Sabuda
To see a book that
Rosanne Guarrara
worked on and cited
as an example
