Whoopeee! Yahooo!
I’m excited!
Can you tell I’m excited?
It’s because I’m about to launch a new hare-brained scheme and you guys are all going to get to be part of it!
(And no, just because it’s April 1st and we just had a contest, this is NOT an April Fool. I just couldn’t add this to yesterday’s Winner Celebration Post or tomorrow’s WYRI!)
I’ve been thinking for a while that children’s authors get all the fun. Contests and prizes and being able to claim top finishes in Pretty Much World Famous Writing Contests. . .
It isn’t entirely fair.
In the world of picture books, authors are only half the story.
We couldn’t do what we do without our illustrators!
I think it’s high time to let the illustrators have some fun and a contest and prizes and be able to claim top finishes in a Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest!
So that’s what we’re going to do!
Are you ready?
Announcing
The First Ever Pretty–Much–World–Famous Illustration Contest!!!
 |
the fact that this particular illustrator resembles a female
is in no way meant to deter any male illustrators! 🙂 |
The Contest: Draw/Paint a children’s picture book cover illustration (no text required – art only) for one of the following stories (which you will recognize as the top finishers in the March Madness Fractured Fairy Tale Writing Contest – a little extra surprise for those authors :)):
– The Three Wiggly Worms Bluff by Wendy Greenley
– Goldilockup by Mike Allegra
– Goldibawks And The Three Pairs by Dawn Young
– The Sweetie Witch by Pen Avey
– The Princess And The Stinky Cheese by Lauri Meyers
– Mongoose’s Holi Party by Darshana Khiani
– The “Princess” And The Pete by Jennifer Caritas
– The Jackrabbit Who Cried Gila Monster by Elliah Terry
Illustrations should be 8×10, horizontal or vertical, any medium, posted in jpg at least 72 px
All stories can be read on the March Madness Finalist Post HERE so you will know what to illustrate 🙂
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Thursday April 24 at 5 AM EDT and Monday April 28 at 9 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on my Thursday April 24 post which will remain up through Tuesday April 29 so that people can come visit and enjoy your gorgeous artwork! (No PPBF on Friday April 25, no new post on Monday April 28, but there will be a brief interruption for WYRI on Wednesday April 30 because I forgot to leave it open for the contest :)). If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments of my April 24 post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, you may email me and I’ll post your entry for you! Also, since this is the first time we’ve done an illustration contest, I’m not sure if you actually CAN paste your entry into the comments. If this turns out to be the case, email them to me and I’ll add them directly to my April 24 post.)
Judging: entries will be judged by multi-talented, award-winning author/illustrators Iza Trapani, author and illustrator of over 20 gorgeous picture books, and Lisa Thiesing, author and illustrator of at least 16 beautiful and fun picture books and early readers! Judging criteria to include:
– is the picture readable to a young audience,
– how well does it show the character(s) and
– is the character(s) appealing (character development),
– does it make you want to read the story,
– originality
– skill.
They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Thursday May 1 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Sunday May 4 and the winner will be announced on Monday May 5. (No PPBF on Friday May 2.)
The Prizes!: There will definitely be a 1st prize. Whether we give prizes for 1st only, 1st-3rd, or 1st-6th will depend on how many entries we get.
First Prize is absolutely amazing! A portfolio critique by celebrated author/illustrator Michael Garland, who has over 20 picture books to his credit!!!
– Third, Fourth & Fifth Prize will be winner’s choice of one of the following books:
– Sixth Prize – sketch pads/pencils
Illustrators, we can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us!
Everyone else (authors, parents, teachers, librarians, farm equipment retailers, etc. :)) think how much fun it’s going to be so see what the illustrators come up with!
You’ve got three weeks, illustrators!
On your mark, get set, GO!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
An illustrators contest? Let me be the judge of that 🙂 Oh wait- I am one of the judges! Have fun and good luck, all you wonderful artists!
Is this for real?!!! YIPEEEE! I am super excited! I'm definitely participating in this contest. Thanks for giving us illustrators a chance to shine.
This will be so much fun! I'm looking forward to seeing all the entries!
Oh what fun!
LOL, Iza!!
oh I am soooooo going to do this 🙂
chuckle
Oh, wow! Awesomesauce!
*raises hand and waves it frantically to get the illustrators' attention*
Ooh! ooh! Pick my story. Pick me! I'll be your best friend!
I'm just hoping we GET some illustrators to think this is a good idea! Maybe why I think is fun isn't what everyone else thinks is fun! But you draw, Mike…. (hint hint) 🙂
Yay! That makes potentially 3 contestants! Woo-hoo!
Gee whiz, Teresa! I don't want you to feel coerced! It's supposed to be fun! (And I haven't even taken the ECP out of the closet!) 🙂
I hope some illustrators will think so! 🙂
Me too – if we can just get some illustrators interested…!
You're the best, Iza! And Lisa too! Couldn't do it without you! So far it looks like you may have as many as 2 entries to judge! 🙂
I live in deep fear of your ECP! But mostly, I love to tease you. ;D
Oh, no you don't! I'm out on this one!
But Mike! The Jackrabbit Who Cried Gila Monster has your name written all over it! 🙂
🙂
Oh YAY! I'm so excited, Heather! I think you make potentially 3 contestants!!! Woo hoo! 🙂
But I could just phone it in with my Goldie doodle!
You could… but you have too much professional pride for that 🙂
Fabulous fun! Thanks Susanna
I'll be expecting an entry from you, Catherine! No pressure… 🙂
This will be fun! Can't wait to see what people come up with!
This will be fun to watch. I can't draw anything and am always in awe of people who can.
What fun! And two of my favorite illustrators as judges! Too bad stick figures (crookedly drawn) don't count:-) I'll stick to writing, but will look forward to seeing all those creative submissions.
I know! Me too! I just hope we get some entries! Thanks again so much for judging 🙂
You and me both, Rosi! 🙂
I know! We have the world's best judges 🙂 And I'm with you in crooked stick figure land 🙂 I hope we get lots of great entries!
Yayyy! What a great contest! 😀
So glad you like it, Stacey! 🙂 Will you be joining us? (hint hint :))
If you post it, they will come!
I've sent word to my other crit group…two of them are illustrators and might not see your post. I'll be cheering and commenting…but not creating…maybe one day.:) Sounds like a fantastic opportunity and a fun chance for illustrators!
I'll tell Josie! 😀 YAYYYYYYYYYY!!! (Kermit the Frog style)
How fun is this???? Why, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys…which is a LOT of fun! I can't wait to see the entries! I'll spread the news!
I hope it will be fun! I hope illustrators will want to do it! Thanks for spreading the word, Penny 🙂
Thanks, Jarm 🙂
Great! I hope she'll want to do one!
Eek! Really excited to see if anyone picks Sweetie Witch 🙂
Haha! I will let some of my illustrator friends from the Midsouth SCBWI group to know about this. You are offering such wonderful prizes I'm sure there will be more takers.
Very excited can't wait to get started
Ah, the talented Iza will be a judge. And the prizes, hoot! I love your enthusiasm, Susanna. 🙂
I'm especially enthusiastic because this time I don't have to judge 🙂 I hope you're going to enter, Tracy!!!
Yay! I'm so excited someone wants to enter! Go for it, Mary! 🙂
Wouldn't that me SO MUCH FUN?! I hope someone does 🙂
Oh cool cool cool! Susanna, you must have been bubbling like a pot trying to hold in your plans for this contest! Can't wait to see what Julie R-Z draws:)
I'm glad you think so! 🙂
I know! She already did a beautiful illustration for her story! I hope she joins the contest – although I think she's already had a portfolio critique from Michael, so she might not want that…
Haha, Lisa!
I'm in! I've come back to this post 10 or more times and finally decided to take the plunge! Played around with a few ideas this weekend and have one I'm going with. I love a lil' competition, just hope I don't embarrass myself. ; ) Cheers to trying!