Octo-Puss in Boots Catch up!

Octo-Puss in Boots still lives on. I have only gotten a few in the past couple of years.

At DesignerCon 2015 I was able to ask Leslie Levings of Beastlies and Shing Yin Kor of Sawdust Bear to each create one. They are such inspiring ladies. They have even created a inspirational away workshop, Wayward Ladies, for creative, full-time artist, women to participate in. They have already passed their time frame for accepting submissions for attendees; look for it next year.

lesliel shingyinkor

In earlier fall of 2015 my husband and I were able to sneak away to a Ben Hatke night in conversation with Gene Luen Yang about Ben’s book Little Robot. They were incredibly inspiring and kind in their discussion about their process and creativity. At the signing we were able to ask them to create Octo—Puss in Boots for us. I don’t think they planned on making almost the same face. (So sorry the Gene photo is so blurry! we were rushing to return to the sitter.)

benhaatke geneluenyang

Then just last week I went to see Kwame Alexander at Kepler’s my teacher from Storyteller Academy, Arree Chung joined me for the event. We were able to chat afterwards and he contributed an Octo-Puss in Boots.

arreechung

I am always awed at the creativity and uniqueness of each individual Octo-puss in Boots. Thank you all for being willing to contribute.

Octo-Puss in Boots from APE 2014

Yep, I sat on these for a long while. I was very winded from our visit to APE last October. My daughter had just learned how to run and rather than get to view all the artists’ tables I was stuck chasing her down the aisles and outside to the dock’s edge trying to keep her from jumping into the bay. We learned at this event we can’t take her with us when we go to cons. Unlike our oldest who enjoys them almost as much as we do.

We did have a moment when she shut her eyes while one of us was carrying her. During that moment we were able to meet Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera. It was wonderful to meet them and talk monsters. We compared a few notes about what monster shows we watch and my son got one of Bobby’s monster flip books. They also were kind enough to add to our Octo-Puss in Boots book.

Our baby woke and a new crowd came to see Bobby and Kei. However, we got wise started visiting tables separately so, we could enjoy the art. My son loves BumperBoy so, he and his Dad visited Debbie Huey. They were able to convince her to draw us an Octo-Puss in Boots too.

Our visit was sadly brief. We tried to pause at a few more tables but, were completely exhausted from the effort. We might try to go back this year, I’m debating about getting a table. APE 2015 is in new hands. It will be back in San Jose. At my current pace of making work, I think I may have stick with only Designer Con. Maybe next year I can be involved in more shows.

Thank you for contributing to our Octo-Puss in Boots Book! We loves your additions.

APE 2013 Recap & Octo-Puss in Boots!

After my second year participating in APE I feel I am settling in to the Art Community of San Francisco. I was lucky enough to have a table right next to my friend Emma SanCartier with OddFauna. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our tables and supported us. It was wonderful reconnecting with friends and fans alike. I also appreciate the patience whenever my table helper, Candice Lucado, or I were attending to the one of the two little ones that joined us behind the booth. We were the baby table and the specimen babies on the table made that even more odd.

The time between last year’s APE and this year’s was chock full of family stuff. It was great to pull my art life back together and dive back in. This was my first con having a whole table to myself. I feel I connected with more fans than ever before but, now fueled by that support, I need move into my next stage of growth. Over the weekend my table went through some edits, fan art went away and what was left was the Animals in Alphabet and the Specimens. Hopefully there is a way for these two branches of myself to work together on one table. However, whether or not that can happen is the biggest question I have to answer. With the show behind me I’m going to hunker down at my desk and see what solutions present themselves.

Now for the newest editions to the Octo-Puss in Boots book!

Thank you for all of these wonderful new additions!

See you all next year at APE 2014.

APE Recap

Finally coming to you with my recap on Alternative Press Expo, San Francisco.

What a phenomenal show. I was amazed at the level of talent at this show. I left feeling totally energized and wanting to make art. That is how I want to leave every con. Matt, Lucien and I had a wonderful time and met a lot of new friends. (Lucien decided he wanted to come dressed a Leonardo for day two.) The support and friendly attitudes of the exhibitors was infectious. Even though it was my first time participating I felt welcomed. Emma SanCartier was gracious and helped me with my tabling duties so I could get lunch and short breaks.

My table neighbors were wonderful. Justin Thompson with Mythtickle, Brian Klom with Atomic Bear Press and just a table over was Bill Robinson. Bill and I both attended RIT and were Art House members. It has been a few years since we were in touch; we had a great time catching up. He was kind enough to make us an Octo-Puss in Boots.

Bill Robinson

And of course we have even more new Octo-Puss in Boots! Thank you all for contributing we love these new additions.

Alina Chau with Immedium

Michael Manomivibul

Erica Sirotich – Cuddlefish Press

It truly was an honor and pleasure to meet all of you and chat as you created these beautiful sketches for us! I look forward to seeing you at future shows.

Finally a big thank you to Cody Williams for his Yeti! Yeti watches me while I work and keeps me on task. We have been partying since he arrived though; we only decided I should do work today. Hence my delay in posting my APE recap.

Cody Williams – Yetis & Friends

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On a different topic I have contributed art to Elana K. Arnold for her new book Sacred. There will be an art show celebrating the launch of the book. See her blog post about my piece!

Miggi’s Octo-Puss In Boots

A couple of weekends ago now–moving in caused some major disruptions in my schedule–I got to hang out with my friend Miguel Angel Cardona. We met in college and have reconnected this summer since we are both in the Bay Area. It has been great to hang out and sketch together.

The last time we visited he was kind enough to add an Octo-Puss In Boots to our book!

Miggi doesn’t consider himself an illustrator but, I think that is clearly a part of him. We are so happy to have his work as part of the Octo-Puss in Boots book.

It was great to get to sit, sketch, have coffee, and chat with a friend. I enjoyed the working together element, as we sketched we almost challenged each other to get more and more creative. I hope we can continue our sketch meet ups! Check out his recent coffee cups project.

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On another note, we have moved into our permanent place in San Jose. We are almost all set up and a day to day schedule for time to draw should be falling into place soon. Hopefully this also means my regularly scheduled blogging will begin again. I’m clearly not as organized as some bloggers. Since, I didn’t set up automatic posting during the time I couldn’t ensure a weekly update. Maybe that will be a future goal! Pictures of the new studio to come, it’s not completely decorated yet, probably by next week. Until then.

MeCAF Octo-Pus in Boots!

MeCAF is such a nice convention. It was low key and pleasant and offered great meet-up opportunities for all the creatives involved. A huge thank you to Rick Lowell for all that he did and for bringing together such a fabulous show! And big thank you to my table mate Michael Rapa! It was good sharing space with you.

Rock on for Casablanca Comics!

Here are the Octo-Pus in Boots collected throughout the day, and one from MICE.

Loren Lee

(actually done at MICE! but I hadn’t started taking pictures yet)

Stephanie Yue

It has also happened again, I got a submission from Dave Roman as well but, no picture! I will have to find him at another convention.

It was a great weekend and it continues as we read through the haul we brought home:

I want to give a shout out to Elenore Toczynski loving her books!

MoCCA ReCap – Octo-Pus in Boots!

Sorry for my delay in writing up what happened at MoCCA. I have just been so busy reading all of the comics I got while there!

I had a great time at MoCCA. My table mates Ellen T. Crenshaw, Shanon Weltman and Ray Jones, were phenomenal and we made great friends with our neighbor Jonathan Baylis.

The list of incredible artists we made connections with is mind boggling. MoCCAFest and Drink and Draw Like a Lady created wonderful atmospheres for us to be able to share and chat about our art and get it in front of our fans. A couple of folks that I didn’t get Octo-Pus in Boots from this year but, was very happy to see again were Laura Lee, Jannie Ho, Doreen Marts, Becky Munich, Gareth Hinds, Stephanie Yue, Colleen AF Venable and Emma SanCartier.

And then the artists that I chatted with featured with their contributions of Octo-Pus in Boots!

Thank you all of contributing! I love every entry.

Conference Re-Cap through Octo-Pus in Boots!

This weekend at NESCBWI Conference ’12 was incredible. I had a wonderful time visiting with everyone. Reconnecting with old friends and getting to meet a few folks face to face for the first time after being long time twitter friends.

Some of these wonderful people kindly gave me their interpretations of Octo-Pus in Boots check out the contributions received at this conference!

Ruth Sanderson

Sean Bixby

Andy J. Smith

Dan Yaccarino

Ernie D’Elia

Jane Yolen decided she needed to show the illustrators how it’s done. She broke in with a poem about Octo-Pus in Boots.

Nina Crittenden

Kristin Sorra

Jennifer E. Morris

Hazel Mitchell

Harry Bliss

Russ Cox

Greg Matusic

Brian Lies

Dan Moynihan

Thank you everyone who drew and Octo-Pus in Boots for me! I love them all. You rock!

Next time I will be sure to bring a better camera than my phone.

Jarrett’s Choice

The community of kid lit illustrators in New England has always impressed me and warmed my heart. Everyone is so helpful to each other with fantastic support.

This past weekend I was very happy to be able to help with The River’s Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash! near Northampton.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the main force behind bringing in Children’s Book folks for the Meltdown 2012. This year he called in illustrators to help the event through a Sketch-a-Thon. For each sketch, a donation was given to a local library in need.

Here is me working on a caricature of a family.

I took the hot seat after Eric Wight, whom I requested an Octo-Pus in Boots from:

And what a treat Lisa Yee was in town! I grabbed one of her cards because it is just so cool to have a photo of Peep!

In between bands, authors and illustrators took the stage to read their books, including, Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, John Bemelmans Marciano and everyone above mentioned! It was the perfect event for families. We had a great day at the Meltdown.

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Also just a little over 1 day more of my sale going on at Fab.com Get them while the sale lasts!

NYC SCBWI 2012

What a weekend!

My trip to NYC started Wednesday and ended Sunday night. I was able to visit friends, have a portfolio review in a publishing house and spend intensive time at the National SCBWI Conference. Every day was packed from early morning until late or even early morning, every night. I seem to have survived on mash potatoes served up in a glass and jamba juice smoothies, with perhaps 23 hours of sleep in total. My body is telling me how it feels today about my weekend choices. However, I am telling my body to suck it up because this Monday does not bring me relief from projects due. That is another story, lets get to the good stuff from the weekend.

Wednesday: I visited with friends, Alison Morris and Gareth Hinds. I got to see the inked pages of Gareth’s latest graphic novel, Romeo & Juliet. They are stunning! He goes all out for every project. I can’t believe the task he has put himself to. For the evening we stayed up watching Jim Gaffigan, talking about the books we love, and postage stamps.

Thursday: I had a portfolio appointment at a publishing house in the afternoon. So, I took my time in the morning making one stop at the Society of Illustrators to see the Illustrators 54: Book & Editorial Show. It was great to see illustrations from Sophie Blackall who I would hear speak over the weekend. During the evening I was able to meet many of the SCBWI Illustrator Coordinators and Regional Advisors. Everyone was extremely welcoming. I am very happy to be a part of the SCBWI family. It is wonderful to be able give back through my position as Illustrator Coordinator of New England.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were the conference. It was more than incredible as always. As I look back at the faculty there was such great representation for illustrators. The topic I want to showcase is the Book Maker’s Dozen Panel on Sunday. Moderated by Laurent Linn the answers given by the illustrators provided helpful tips about their work, their process, and how they get it done while still having a family. It was inspiring and encouraging to know it is possible to get everything done; you really do just have to give up sleep.

After the panel and wonderful final keynote by Kathryn Erskine it was autograph party time. My search for more Octo-Puss in Boots continued. I failed to bring my book with me but, after a smart suggestion from a friend I realized I should use my current sketchbook. I could secure the pages into the real book with photo corners. They are now safe and sound in the tome.

I love the new entires! With one that is a totally new concept on the idea. Octopus tentacles for whiskers from Roxie Munro. Check out the incredibly creative entries from the illustrators themselves.

Thank you to all the illustrators that gave my a sketch!

My weekend ended in calm. I made sure to give myself a few hours between the conference end and my train ride home. I was able to get dinner with friends AJ and Lumi. We discussed what happened over the weekend and talked about the plans for their wedding in Romania.

I had hoped to work on my train ride home but, with so much having happened over the weekend I needed time to reflect. Four hours of quiet to myself was a perfect end to an amazing weekend.

These are my personal views and do not reflect the views or opinions of the SCBWI.

Illustration and Musings

by Casey Girard

Category Archives: Octo-Puss in Boots