Long Awaited Update...

Finally, a few minutes to update everything going on...
After an exciting and busy summer, I completed a painting for the Marist College faculty Exhibit and illustrations for a book, " Can The Sad Come Out?"  I'll be back at the drawing board, computer and easel in a couple of days after taking part in a plein air painting event in Millbrook, NY.  Here are some pics of my recent art...

New Illustrations!

I've just completed illustrations for a book that is being self-published.  The author, Arthur Tomie, was great to work with and allowed me to use my experience as an illustrator to make effective art for his project.  Here are a few of the digital paintings...

Creating Art For A Book Project

Here are a few stages in  my process  of illustrating "The Tail of the Raccoon".  The art is created digitally using Adobe Photoshop.  My goal is to keep my traditional illustration look, using current tools. Digital painting takes almost as much time as traditional painting because I work in transparent layers to get a watercolor look to the work.  As you can see the amount of detail in setting, clothing and characters is a factor too.  The client chose me for this project because of the accuracy in my natural science and biographic books, which requires research before and during the painting process.

"Advice for a kid fresh out of art school."

I'm a member of Picture Book Artists Association, a group of talented writers and artists working in the children's publishing industry.  A recent post requested advice for a young illustrator and my response can be read below.

Tell your cousin's daughter to pursue her career with passion and dedication. 
Don't listen to negative remarks about the industry but be realistic about market conditions and financial expectations.
  
Be aware of the history of this profession and look forward to see where it might be going.  Look for opportunities and get experience where possible but don't undervalue or underprice your work and don't give it away because someone is "letting" you be an artist. 

Budget your time, run your career as any good business person would.  Initially, without the burden of deadlines, get out there and network with other illustrators and artists locally and nationally by joining a local art organization and SCBWI. 

Create art everyday...paint, draw, doodle, build...whatever it takes, stay in artistic shape, Don't let your portfolio, your work, become stale and dated. Keep up with technological advances in the industry.  

Make phone calls ( that doesn't mean send a text message, instagram, tweet or email...pick up the phone) make a personal connection with editors and ADs, arrange a meeting if possible or go to conferences and meet them. 

Market your work...website, facebook business page, twitter account, etc...who has the time?  Welcome to marketing in the modern business world. You need to have an internet presence and update your work periodically. 

Be aware that publishing has changed from the time you started school and some information you were given may be outdated already so stay up to date.  Read the monthly update on children'sillustrators.com, the SCBWI newsletter, PW Children's Bookshelf
  
Don't hesitate to write and illustrate your own book and e-publish it and look for other web 
publishing businesses to get illustration work from.
  
Look for work in other markets where your style of making art fits such as the licensing, 
toy or gaming industry, research it and approach it as required.

You haven't even gotten your first book project yet look how much there is to be done 
on a daily basis.  Get up in the morning and get to work. Don't just post your work and wait for publishers to come knocking. This is your work, your business, your artistic career.  Not the easiest of career paths but every time you reach a destination along the way you'll find great satisfaction.  This isn't about luck, it's about you.  Your success will be determined by you.  Also, don't forget to acknowledge those who have helped you get where you are.  If you get work due to another illustrator, teacher or publisher...thank them on your blog and put a link to their website in the copy.  Share your experience and help others who will, one 
day, be where you are right now.

-Steven James Petruccio 

Rube Goldberg

I saw an interesting post on the NPR website about a new book featuring the art of Rube Goldberg and it reminded me of going to the National Cartoonists Society Ruben Awards dinners at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. My family was invited by the cartoonistBill Kresse (Super Duper) and we went for a few years. I got to see and meet many of the great cartoonists whose work I read and admired. Burne Hogarth (Tarzan), Al Kilgore (Bullwinkle),Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Dil Browne ( Hagar the Horrible) and more! There were celebs there too...Margaret Hamilton ( the Wicked Witch of the West) and Jack Dempsey! They were good times and led to Burne Hogarth writing my letter of recommendation to the School of Visual Arts.

  
You might want to check out the NPR article and interview...

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/04/259402565/lovebirds-string-watering-can-dog-rube-goldberg-magichttp://www.npr.org/2014/01/04/259402565/lovebirds-string-watering-can-dog-rube-goldberg-magic