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20 Resources for Illustrators

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20 Resources for Illustrators Copyright 2015 Joan Y. Edwards
20 Resources for Illustrators Copyright © 2015 Joan Y. Edwards

“20 Resources for Illustrators” by Joan Y. Edwards

I found a few blogs, websites, and YouTube links that might help inspire you as an illustrator and help you improve your skills. 

  1. Caldecott Award – http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal
  2. Creative Blog. “9 Top Illustrator Resources.” http://www.creativebloq.com/illustrator/resources-113968
  3. Diane Cricket Phillips. “The Difference Between Illustration and Art – Cricket Diane C Phillips – Cricket House Studios – 2008:” https://cricketdiane.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/the-difference-between-illustration-and-art-cricket-diane-c-phillips-cricket-house-studios-2008/
  4. Harold Underdown. “Picture Book Manuscripts and Illustrations:” http://www.underdown.org/picture-books-illustrations.htm
  5. Jodie Rodriguez. “Exploring Illustrating Techniques in Picture Books:” http://growingbookbybook.com/2013/08/10/exploring-illustrating-techniques-in-picture-books-10-for-10/
  6. Lynne Chapman. “An Illustrator’s Life for Me:” http://lynnechapman.blogspot.com/
  7. Nate Williams. “How to Start Your Illustrator Career http://www.n8w.com/wp/552
  8. Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. “Frequently Asked Questions:” http://www.scbwi.org/frequently-asked-
  9. Marketsplash.com. “Illustration Tools:” https://marketsplash.com/illustration-tools/
  10. 11 Stunning Illustrator Websites That Will Inspire You (wix.com)

YouTube videos to help illustrators

  1. Jazza. “How to Create Characters (the Design Process):” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpj2J4tn4YI
  2. Leonardo Pereznieto. “5 Tips to Be a Successful Artist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fefYsWHHc0I
  3. Lynne Chapman. “How to Illustrate a Picture Book: Creating the Drawings:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5DQXg86luA
  4. Mark Crilley. “Creating Characters – 6 Tips to Help You:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7-q9GOMR0
  5. Michael. How to Draw and Paint Channel on YouTube. “Drawing Lesson: River Bed Exercise:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohcSwOKumGE
  6. Virtual Instructor: “Drawing Exercises:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1sW99idvak
  7. Patti Stewart”How to Illustrate a Book:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MScZchvX97E
  8. Will Terry. “Drawing Characters: – One of 7 videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWxdLNLKJvk
  9. Will Terry. “How to Illustrate a Children’s Book:”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpVZF7FbQww
  10. Will Terry. “How to Improve Your Drawing Skills Quicker” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbb_ctVMTeA

Please share links of resources that in the comments area  links that help you in your illustrating journey.

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Copyright © 2015 Joan Y. Edwards
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Writing

Captivate Readers by Adding Words to Images

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“Captivate Readers by Adding Words to Images” by Joan Y. Edwards

Colorful images with enticing words are great ways to attract the interest of your readers or potential buyers. You’ve seen them on Facebook, websites, and blogs. It’s the same type of thing advertisers might use on a big poster, billboard, or flyer.

Here are a few terms that might help you.

  • Logo – A symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products.
  • Slogan – a short and striking or memorable phrase used in advertising. Add these to your colorful image to captivate readers.
  • Meme – an image, video, etc. that travels electronically from one Internet user to another. These images usually have words with them.

How can you create images with words to captivate people who visit your blog or website? This will take me a while. I’ll try to simplify it.

  1. Use software to draw and paint your own images or change other images.
  • Corel’s Painter 12– Desktop. I use this to create my own drawings, paintings, and illustrations. If I have to change the resolution of images, I use this software. If I need to combine pictures into one, I use this software.
  • Paint – This software is usually found on almost every Microsoft Desktop or Laptop computer in the Accessories. To find it, hit the Start button. Click All programs. Look for folder named Accessories. Inside this folder is a program called Paint. I use Paint to resize my jpeg, gif, and png images quickly and easily. Just click resize, then pixels,. Choose pixel size. For internet blogs and websites, images of 400  pixels works well. When you change the width to 400 pixels, it automatically fixes the length correctly in proportion to match the original picture.
  • Paint Net If you don’t have Microsoft Paint or can’t find it on your computer. You can try this one. It’s free.  It’ll do more. It will change the image size and resolution, too.
  1. Use software that can combine images, words, and other effects:
  • Use websites that provide free images, you must give credit to artist or place selling it or in some cases, you don’t have to give credit at all. Check their terms and usage. Here are two I’ve used.
  1. www.morguefile.com Newspaper offices used to call their file cabinets with pictures from past stories the morgue file. These are all high resolution pictures you are free to use.

  2. www.pixabay.com – different sizes free to use on commercial sites.

  3. Public Domain Vectors https://publicdomainvectors.org/en/clipart-for-commercial-use-free

  4. Creazilla. https://creazilla.com/ clip art, vectors, 3 D

Take photos with your camera. When I first started to blog in 2009, I didn’t have any idea of where to get pictures to add except those I took myself. This is a really good plan. I created a series of blogs with pictures of props I thought would inspire writers.

References:
Here are links to my whole series on Image Props for Stories using pictures I took with my camera:

  1. Joan Y. Edwards. “Props for Characters: Toys, Games, and Other Items:” http://joanyedwards.com/props-for-characters-toys-games-and-other-items/
  2. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #1:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-1-all-that-was-left-a-stapler-a-money-bag-and-a-bird-ornament/
  3. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #2:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-2-bananas-scissors-a-vacuum-cleaner-and-a-ferris-wheel/
  4. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #3:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-3-a-basketball-a-pillow-and-a-pair-of-boots/
  5. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #4:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-4-a-remote-control-a-basket-of-flowers-and-a-bandage/
  6. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #5:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-5-love-bug-dogcat-and-love-letter/
  7. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #6:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-6-coffee-maker-earphones-and-a-lamp/
  8. Joan Y. Edwards. “Image Props for Stories #7:” http://joanyedwards.com/image-props-for-stories-7-pay-phone-blue-wildflowers-and-fast-moving-river/

Other References:

Related articles
  1. The most commonly used Meme Font and a Tutorial how to create a Meme with Photoshop (diaryofdennis.com)
  2. Paint.NET 3.5.10 (gratisfreeware.wordpress.com)
  3. Using Paint.NET? Make It Even Better With These Great Plugins (makeuseof.com)

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Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards