Posts by Eliza Wheeler
SCBWI Bulletin (Sept/Oct 2012) Cover Piece
I was invited by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) to do cover artwork for their magazine’s 2012 Sept/Oct issue. This is a huge honor, as it only comes out 4 times a year and the illustrators they usually ask to contribute are total rock-stars! The theme always involves a…
Read MoreDrawing Happy Fun Time with Jen Rofé
I feel lucky to be living in the same city as my agent, Jen Rofé, and we were recently able to take advantage of our proximity with a face-to-face meeting. Jen came over for a little “studio” visit, to discuss some work in progress, reflect on this summer’s SCBWI conference (which Jen was highly…
Read MoreHow I Met My Agent: Jen Rofé
Have I told you yet that I have an agent? No?? You guys, I have an agent! She’s Jen Rofé. And, she’s awesome. Here’s the story: Getting into the business of illustrating and writing for children, I knew early on that I would benefit from a literary agent. Some people are comfortable negotiating their own…
Read MoreA Sad Goodbye: Patricia Cantor
I met Pat Cantor at my very first Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Summer Conference in 2009, where she was among many of the wonderful illustration comrades I’ve made. Ever since meeting her I have looked up to her as an illustrator and person, feeling like she’s been something of a…
Read MoreThinking of Maurice Sendak
“I have nothing now but praise for my life. I’m not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can’t stop them. They leave me and I love them more. … What I dread is the isolation. … There are so many beautiful things in the world which…
Read MoreSigh of Relief Due Upon Completion
It’s been months of intense work here on my picture book project, and the interior artwork is all sent off to New York. Though I have yet to do the cover and endpaper artwork, there’s a big sense of accomplishment and relief knowing that the bulk of the work is finished. I can’t…
Read MorePlugging Away . . .
I’m here plugging away diligently and watching the big deadline approach on my current book project, The Maple Tree Orphanage. I can’t wait to share more details about the story, and share the process of working on my first story with editor, Nancy Paulsen and art director, Cecilia Yung. But, for now I…
Read MoreThe Big New York Trip
I just returned from a week in New York City; three days spent at the SCBWI conference and three days visiting publishing houses. It was an epic trip! SCBWI conferences are always a blur of information, inspiration, new friends, old friends, and just non-stop fun. I was so happy to be able to…
Read MoreFootball Illustration: The ABCs of Northern Ghana book project
I’ve just finished a new illustration for the project 9 Degrees North: The ABCs of Northern Ghana, which is a charity picture book by the Tools for Schools Africa Foundation. The book will be a compilation of illustrations from varying artists, each creating an image for one letter of the alphabet. My letter was: F…
Read MorePortfolio Comparison, Part 2: Book Design
I recently posted a Before and After look at my portfolio, showing changes that I made from last year to this year. One aspect that I did not include were changes that I made to the actual book design of my portfolio, which I’ll share here. I have a particular love of bookmaking,…
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