Trena's Creative Space

Becoming a Children's Book Illustrator

Hello Beautiful

I think it's not always clear when you make a decision vs. when a decision is made in the context of a series of events. For example, as long as I can remember, I have wanted to illustrate a children's book. Along with my other illustration and design goals, I added children's book illustrator to my list of goals. I took beginner online classes and followed a bajillion children's book illustrators on Instagram. I also joined the free membership for The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

My dream came true in 2021 when I connected with Hilda to illustrate Snow & Zoey's Big Life Lesson.  You can read about that beautiful connection in an interview I did with Claire Make's Things.  Since then, Hilda and I have completed another book project together, "OH, My ODDyssey," which is coming soon! I have also been contacted by two people I know who wrote children's books and needed an illustrator. They chose me. I am excited to work with them! In a moment, my illustrator dance card filled up, and it became clear to me that the vision that I had of becoming a children's book illustrator was smaller than I could have imagined. The books that I have worked on (and am working on) are thoughtful and meaningful. The authors I get to work with are beautiful people that I love working with! 

In January, I decided to officially join SCBWI. I'm all in now!  Over the past few months, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the most supportive and generous people through the Michigan Chapter. I attended the Chapter conference in May - it was outstanding, with excellent workshops, networking, and portfolios! I had the opportunity to meet and chat with John Hendrix.  I also had the opportunity to receive a critique from Mina Chung, art director at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. I took so many notes from both of their workshops. 

My takeaway from this experience is to continue doing what brings me joy and remain open to what may come.  I thought I was open. 😆 Since I became a full-time illustrator and designer, this is the first year I've had to change my goals in mid-year completely.  The project management part of my mind had a mini-meltdown. Luckily, that section has recovered. 

#trenabrannonart #illustrator #childrensbookillustrator  #kidsbooks

Take Care and Stay Positive!

New Book - An Adventure Story!

Hello Beautiful!

Today, I'm sharing some exciting news! I have collaborated with Hilda Youssef Gholmieh again! She wrote a sweet, fun adventure set on the Greek seas. I had so much fun working with her again and creating illustrations for her vision! Coming soon …

#trenabrannonart #childrensbookillustration #childrensbooks  #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Take Care and Stay Positive!

I'm a Children's Book Illustrator!!

Hello Beautiful!

I have been working on an illustration project for the last 2.5 months - I’ve been illustrating a children’s book!! It is surreal! This is a dream I’ve had for years.

I thought it would not happen until I gained more experience and exposure as an illustrator. Well, God had a different plan for me! Cliff Notes: Through a Facebook group connection, I learned of an independent author who was looking for an illustrator. I decided to take a chance and reach out to the author. We used email to chat. I learned she lived halfway across the world. She looked at my IG page and agreed to meet on Zoom. I instantly felt a connection with her. She described her next book, which resonated with me. We continued to chat through email. I sent her a couple sketches. And then it happened! Hilda said she would love to work with me on the project! I have been smiling inside ever since! This project, this journey, this partnership that we’ve shared over the past few months has blossomed into a friendship across the world.  For you - your dream may come sooner than you think in the form of an opportunity that you initiate. I encourage you to go for it! Even if you think you’re not ready. You get ready along the way!

In addition to all the joy I experienced working on this book project with Hilda, I learned so much! I learned: how to understand another person’s vision well enough to draw it out;  what independent book publishing looks/feels like; more ways to use Adobe Photoshop and how to use InDesign [sending a big shout out and a bug hug to Helena, the illustrator of Hilda‘s first book Snowy and Zoey In a Whole New World, who gave me some great tips. 

It was so much more than just drawing and coloring!! Snowy and Zoey go to school in this story. For some of the pages I actually had to do research. 🙂 It’s been a minute since I’ve been in a grade school classroom. 😄

Hoping you are having a wonderful weekend!

 Shout Out: to all the people (in person/on line) who have encouraged me!! Peace and Love to you!! XXOO

#trenabrannonart #snowy_and_zoey #illustration #illustrator #takeachance #drawing  #artistsofinstagram

Take Care and Stay Positive!

Inconceivable Seasons

Inconceivable Seasons by Theresa Dear is an absolutely wonderful book!  It is a book of hope, inspiration, and overcoming challenges.  I highly recommend i!!  I participated in a book discussion last night lead by the author, Rev. Dear. It was outstanding!!  We presented her with This thank you card.  All the participants signed it.  What a lovely evening!! 

The flower on the cover of the book is a crocus. It is not only lovely, it is resilient.  Rev. Dear talks about it in the book.

1. Cut card stock to match book cover layout
2. Stamp the flower images with gold ink. Add leaves with VersaMark marker.
3. Sprinkle gold embossing power and heat set. 
4. Ink up 'thank you' image with VersaMark, then magenta and stamp onto light green card stock.
5. Sprinkle clear embossing power and heat set.
6. Add color to flowers with markers by coloring in a small area and spreading color with water brush.
7. Adhere the layers
   

Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Paper: Stampin' Up! gable green, always artichoke, Club Scrap, Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb hot press, Papertrey Ink
Inks:  Memento lilac posies ink pad, Encore Ultimate Metallic gold ink pad, VersaMark watermark ink pad
Accessories: VersaMark watermark marker, Stampin' Up! clear & gold detail emboss powder, heat tool, Tombow markers 027, 725, waterbrush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Dee's Alaskan Cruise - Sandi's Flower Pop-Up & Star Cards

Today I'm sharing Sandi's Class Projects.  We Started with the Star Studded Greetings Accordion card.  What I really enjoyed about this project is that each person created her own design on the stars - no two  cards were alike!  In our kit we received star templates, a base card, a variety of colors of CS for our stars, and the important T strip to bring everything together. Some people cut patterns from the colored paper and glued it onto their stars. I decided to use one of the black artist pens we got in our goodie bags to draw patterns on the stars. I liked the black contrast against the various colors - plus I'm a doodler.  I doodle a lot. If you look in my work notebook, you'll see lots of doodles - trees, flowers, swirls in the margins. Some pages have more doodles than notes. :o)

The assembly was pretty straight forward. The only tricky part is making sure you attach your large stars  so they are not lower than the bottom of your card.  Also be sure to attach your stars on the flat part of the T strip - not the in the fold!! That happened to a couple ladies.  We live, we glue, we learn how to fix. 

The next project was the Flower Pop-Up card. Again, each one was unique. We each created our own "flower garden" - colors, sizes, and shapes.  I like to outline in black (outlining goes with doodling), so I drew my flowers, stems, and leaves first and then cut around them. Others cut freehand, and even tore their flowers for a really different look! In our packet we had a nice selection of Thank You rub on stickers.  

The outside of the card was a cut out flower and leaves. I added highlights on the black border with a silver glitter pen .  All the directions for these two cards are in Sandi's new book, Pop-Up Cards. It is a different type of card making book, one that allows your own creativity to flow. The book has big pictures, a patterns section, drawings and tips boxes.