@jthomas For me it begins with making the art you want to make - it has to. You will only be enthusiastic when you're creating your best work - the work that you can't wait to get into or back to. Your audience will find you when you share that work. Then you need to keep making the work that made you and your audience happy. Think of the art you consume be it movies, music, comics, books, whatever. The creators didn't define you - they made their _________ and you found it...and now you want more. I hope this helps...

Hi Gang,

I love you guys. I got the book yesterday and it took my breath away. I won't be able to describe the feelings I had when I realized what I was looking at. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at each page. I felt unworthy of this much love and attention - I felt in some ways it was too much...but then I realized that this is what we do for each other. We show our ultimate love and appreciation and compassion and concern by giving of ourselves - giving our time.

Your work was beautiful - each one reminding me of the love I had and have for an amazing woman named Lori. I will cherish this gift for the rest of my life. I will remember to lift others as you have lifted me in my time of need. I will try to place myself in the shoes of others to be continually worthy of your efforts.

I'm humbled and moved to my core.

Thank you doesn't quite say it but whatever is 5 notches above thank you - that's what I'm feeling.

And thank you Shannon for all your hard work and willingness to be a leader...wow!

@ShannonBiondi Oh my, I just saw this thread - I can't believe you all. This is so wonderful. What a bright spot in weeks of sorrow... I'm speechless. Thank you.

Hi guys,

I just wanted to let you know that your kind words are so comforting... I know I haven’t met most of you but I feel I know many of you too. My tears and sorrow will fade over time but I’ll never forget your kindness.

@MissMushy It doesn't matter where you've been as much as where you're going! If you or anyone else has ideas for more badges let us know!

@Chip-Valecek Love it!

@lmrush It just needs to be tightened up a little... You are trying to balance the loose with the tight and I would assume you are afraid of getting too tight. That's a good thing in some ways because when you get too tight you take away the viewers imagination. There does need to be a good balance and that's the hard part.

@MichaelaH Thank you - I'll put it on our meeting agenda!

Just wanted to poke my head in and let you guys know that we do listen and we are committed to making SVS the best place online to learn the art of making children's books. I can see that some of you are disappointed in the new changes while others are excited about them.

As an artist first and a businessman at a distant second I wanted to let you all know that it has been a huge shock to Jake, Lee and I how much money it takes to make SVS a legit company making constant improvements. We have a list of 20 ideas we'd like to implement to our site but can't afford to do right now because we just don't have the money.

These changes will greatly affect the way you guys learn, the speed at which you learn, the community where you make connections with each other, and the way you find client work. Our vision for what SVS can and should be is something that doesn't currently exist but will if we make the right moves we will be able to pull it off.

We struggle over the decisions to implement these changes and realize that we will disappoint some of you with our decisions and it weighs heavily on our minds. BUT - we are a team and we think that as we roll out these changes and more scheduled later this year it will make many of you very happy.

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to pop in to let you know that Lee, Jake and I are working on a big project. I can't give you all the details but it's going to be a multi module children's book class that will go into great detail on every topic of illustrating children's books. This project is probably going to take us a few years to finish but it won't take that long for you guys to start seeing some of it. That's about all I can share right now but we've begun production! Yay.

REQUEST:

One of the hardest aspects of teaching is showing good examples of bad or beginning artwork to demonstrate the concept of correcting the mistakes. A lot of people are sensitive about having their work shown as an example of what NOT to do. However this is what I need to teach the "Drawing Children" section of the class. I need to be able to draw over work to teach the concepts and principles of drawing cute appealing children.

SO - I'm asking you guys to dig through your old work and give me permission to use your bad art drawings of kids. When I first began as an illustrator back in 1992 I was often told that my illustrated kids look like old people. I will try to find some of my own art to use but unfortunately due to my insecurities during that time - I tossed most of that early work. It kills me that I don't have it and I would caution you guys to at least keep a jpeg of your bad work because you'll never know if you might want to see it someday.

If you're willing to let me use your work please upload it on this thread and I'll download it to a folder for the class.

Thank you!