Saturday, September 11, 2010

Original Members

While cleaning up the blog today, I discovered that Watercolor Wednesdays actually began July 9, 2008!! I can’t imagine where I got the idea that it started in August, but we had a wonderful banner last month and many great responses, so no damage done. The following illustrators (in order as they first posted) are the original members of Watercolor Wednesdays (marked with ** in the membership list):

Linda Snider Ward
Krisztina Maros
Linda Sarah
Michelle Henninger
Monica Carnesi
Bella Sabbagh
Roberta Baird
Leeza Hernandez
Lisa M. Griffin
The Enigma
Sumegha
Theresa Bayer
Wendy Martin (Lyon)
Jess (Jessica Stride
Vanessa Brantley Newton
Kristin Seelands
Heather Hamlin
Laura Taylor Mark
Angelic Pursuits (Angela Hawkins)
Mitchowl (Linda Mitchell)
Sarah Ackerley
Amy
Courtney Pippen-Mathur

Many on this list are still active, especially our favorite lady Vanessa—thanks!

If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know. I couldn’t find any info on the following original members: Sumegha, Theresa Bayer, Jessica Stride, Kristin Seelands, Amy. The blog addresses or websites that I have for them are no longer in existence. I’ll be sending out an email asking the original members to let us know what they’re up to. Thanks everyone for being a very important part of keeping Watercolor Wednesdays going!

7 comments:

Sandy K. said...

What a great celebration of talent. Keep it coming! Loving it!

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Yup it's been that long! Wow!! I remember when I first came to Watercolor Wednesday. I got most of my work for my portfolio from doing the prompts. Watercolor Wednesdays has helped me grow as person and a illustrator. This is why I feel it's so important to follow the prompts. So many people ask me how to get work if the don't have any assignments? You have to build a portfolio of work first. It doesn't have to be paid or work for hire things, but your personal work and being a part of WAWE will give you the prompt that will sketch your imagination and sketch you as an illustrator. It also helps with meeting deadlines which are a big part of creating children's magazines and books. If you can't meet the deadline chances are you are not going to get asked to do work and there are some really crazy deadline. They wanted yesterday you know??? I would encourage those who are really very serious about making a move into children's books or the likes, to really try some of the prompts. Post them and get some feed back and don't be afraid to take some healthy criticism. You could build something that you could be really proud of. Just me.
V

Anonymous said...

Oh thank you! I was beginning to think you all had forgotten me. I am very busy with the start of the book signing tour for my newest picture book, 'Smoky and the Feast of Mabon' written by Catherynne M Valente. (She won a Nebula for her YA novel this year!!!!)

I also am a coihost of a Twitter chat for #kidlitart If you are on Twitter please stop by and join us as we discuss all aspects of illustrating for children. The chats are every Thursday 9PM Eastern.

In addition to that, I also and a founding member of the group blog 'From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors.' We launched in June and have been noticed by some of the big names in the kid lit industry. It's very scary and exciting all at the same time.

On top of all this, I am also revamping my entire web site, trawling for paying illustration work and trying to declutter my studio.

I do pop in every once in awhile and look at the prompts and hope I have enough time to do one or two!

I am amazed at some of the new talent that's joined WaWe in the last several months and enjoy viewing all the wonderful art!

Sorry I've been too busy to participate more fully. Maybe once this book tour is over things will calm down for me a bit.

Anonymous said...

PS. The URL for the blog is http://fromthemixedupfiles.com Please visit an leave a comment. We have give-aways for MG books all the time. And there are some really cool pages for the kiddos which just launched last week. (I did the art for the blog masthead banner.)

Michelle Henninger said...

Watercolor Wednesdays has been such an important part of my growth as an artist.

With the support and encouragement from my online family, I have built my portfolio, won assignments in children's magazines, and more importantly became more confident to go out and give it a shot!

I thank you WaWe, and you my friends who've been there for me along this amazing journey!

All the best!!

Carrie Anne Culp said...

I'm not sure where to post my comment but I would like to join! You can view my work at this address: http://carrieanneculp.blogspot.com/

Thanks

Laura said...

Just popped in by chance and wanted to say thank you for listing me as one of the original members of WaWe. I've been dabbling in mixed media & painting the last 2 years but decided a few months ago to go back to my illustration/drawing roots. Would love to be sharing & learning with all of you talented souls here again real soon so keep me in the loop please :)