Tony DiTerlizzi's Blog, page 12

“Wonders of the Future” WondLa Giveaway!

As many of you know, the second installment of The Search for WondLa trilogy is about to hit shelves in May, but here is your chance to read the book and see the art before everybody else – announcing the “Wonders of the Future” Wondla Giveaway Contest!

The contest is simple: What is your vision of the future?

My vision of Eva Nine’s futuristic world contains many artifacts that are still daydreams in our real world – Hovercars, robots and holography are an integral part of her day-to-day life. So what do you think our future holds?

Here is what I am looking for:

1. A full color image of your vision of the future rendered in any medium you like (including sculptures or even animation). This vision of yours can be an item that has yet to be invented, an undiscovered creature, a new form of transportation…if you think it will (or should) exist tomorrow, then I want to see it!

2. A quick (4-5 lines) description of what your vision is and how it may impact our lives.

What I really want you to do is USE YOUR IMAGINATION.

“Wah! I’m not a good artist!” you say. That doesn’t matter.

I will be judging on originality, innovation, and creativity. It doesn’t matter if you are a good drawer or not. It doesn’t matter if you are a two-year old kid, or an eighty two-year old kid…all entries will be accepted.

And those entries have to be in front of my bespectacled eyes by APRIL 20th, 2012

You can send them to me at: studio@diterlizzi.com

*Please title your email “Wonders of the Future Contest Entry” and include your name, age and jpeg file of your entry.

Once you enter, you’ll receive a link and password that will allow you to sneak a peek at a secret online gallery displaying the art for A Hero for Wondla! Yes, you read that right. It’s right here on this very site! Hidden away from prying eyes except for those who enter…

The winning entry will be sent a signed Advanced Reader’s Copy of A Hero for WondLa, a signed copy of the limited “Hunger Games Edition” of The Search for WondLa (given away at select theaters at the opening of The Hunger Games film), a signed limited edition sketchbook as well as a signed and numbered limited edition print!

Winners will be chosen by myself, my loverly wife Angela, and my trusty assistant Ashley. We will announce and post the winning entry on my site April 23, 2012 and I will FedEx your winning package to you that day!

…sound cool? Then get drawing and GOOD LUCK!

PS – with apologies to all my international fans, this contest is for US residents only.

 

"Wonders of the Future" WondLa Giveaway!

As many of you know, the second installment of The Search for WondLa trilogy is about to hit shelves in May, but here is your chance to read the book and see the art before everybody else – announcing the "Wonders of the Future" Wondla Giveaway Contest!

The contest is simple: What is your vision of the future?

My vision of Eva Nine's futuristic world contains many artifacts that are still daydreams in our real world – Hovercars, robots and holography are an integral part of her day-to-day life. So what do you think our future holds?

Here is what I am looking for:

1. A full color image of your vision of the future rendered in any medium you like (including sculptures or even animation). This vision of yours can be an item that has yet to be invented, an undiscovered creature, a new form of transportation…if you think it will (or should) exist tomorrow, then I want to see it!

2. A quick (4-5 lines) description of what your vision is and how it may impact our lives.

What I really want you to do is USE YOUR IMAGINATION.

"Wah! I'm not a good artist!" you say. That doesn't matter.

I will be judging on originality, innovation, and creativity. It doesn't matter if you are a good drawer or not. It doesn't matter if you are a two-year old kid, or an eighty two-year old kid…all entries will be accepted.

And those entries have to be in front of my bespectacled eyes by APRIL 20th, 2012

You can send them to me at: studio@diterlizzi.com

*Please title your email "Wonders of the Future Contest Entry" and include your name, age and jpeg file of your entry.

Once you enter, you'll receive a link and password that will allow you to sneak a peek at a secret online gallery displaying the art for A Hero for Wondla! Yes, you read that right. It's right here on this very site! Hidden away from prying eyes except for those who enter…

The winning entry will be sent a signed Advanced Reader's Copy of A Hero for WondLa, a signed copy of the limited "Hunger Games Edition" of The Search for WondLa (given away at select theaters at the opening of The Hunger Games film), a signed limited edition sketchbook as well as a signed and numbered limited edition print!

Winners will be chosen by myself, my loverly wife Angela, and my trusty assistant Ashley. We will announce and post the winning entry on my site April 23, 2012 and I will FedEx your winning package to you that day!

…sound cool? Then get drawing and GOOD LUCK!

PS – with apologies to all my international fans, this contest is for US residents only.

 

"Hero" in Stores May 8th!

Mark your calendars, Orbonians, in just a couple of months, the sequel to The Search for WondLa will be released in bookstores everywhere.

I'm excited to share with you my latest effort in words and pictures. In fact, there will be over 50 illustrations detailing Eva's adventures with her friend, Rovender Kitt, as well as showcasing new human (and alien) characters.

Just as was done with the first book, I've created a companion limited edition sketchbook that will be available for FREE at signings on my May book tour and at other events throughout the year. I'll post details about that as soon as I receive them.

I can also tell you that Teri Hatcher has returned as the narrator for the audiobook version of Hero. As I had mentioned back in 2010, I am delighted to have Teri on board for the WondLa trilogy.

…and Teri said (back in 2010), "As a mom and huge fan of the author, I was honored to lend my voice to bring this magnificent story to life. It's an exciting adventure for any child to hear, with heartfelt lessons about love and relationships, friends, trust and courage.  The Muthr/daughter one is especially beautiful. Tony has created powerful and colorful characters, you can't help but love or love to hate. It was a pleasure to be a part of this audiobook production."

How awesome is she?

What about the Augmented Reality feature, you ask. Will there be more? You bet! Along with the team at Simon & Schuster, I've been working closely with the folks at Total Immersion to create a new interactive flying experience for those who want to explore the book world one step further…but more on that next time…

Jean Giraud, "Moebius"

It is a sad day in DiTerlizziland as I mourn an artistic visionary, Jean Giraud (known as "Moebius") who lost his battle with cancer this morning at age 73.

Moebius blew my mind when I first discovered his comic, Arzach, in a Heavy Metal magazine back in high school. His distinct drawing style, matched with his otherworldly sense of imagination, placed Moebius light years ahead of many comic book artists. I still boggle at the unending fountain of bizarre imagery that seem to flow effortlessly from his pen and his work has always had an influence on mine since my humble beginnings as an illustrator for Dungeons & Dragons. In recent years, I referenced his art in preparation of the illustrations for The Search for WondLa, as can be seen in this image of Eva navigating a hovercar over a barren Arzach-ish wasteland.

I never knew Moebius personally. I only met him once at the San Diego Comic Convention back in 1997. I was brought out by Wizards of the Coast to sign Magic the Gathering cards along with fellow artists, Rebecca Guay and Terese Nielsen. Moebius sat down at a booth just across the aisle from us and began signing.

Having no idea that he was attending, and therefore not having a single book of his in hand to get signed, I grabbed my satchel and hopped in line. I simply wanted to shake the hand of a person that had become a legend in my eyes. As I stood in line pondering what I would say, I realized I had only one burning question that needed answering, "Who is your inspiration?"

I knew Hergé (Creator of Tintin) was in his DNA, but there had to be more. Where did the swirly, embroidered costumes come from? Or those distinctive mushroom caps (which Thimbletack also wears). What about the rusting, dinged up vehicles zooming over the desert landscapes? The organic aliens forms? It was all so original, so fresh and vibrant, I couldn't fathom that it was all created by one person. It was enough to drive this struggling artist mad with envy. WHERE DID MOEBIUS GET HIS RICH IMAGINATION FROM???

I introduced myself and shook his hand. I sputtered out what a fan I was and that I, too, was an artist, then I asked my question. He sat back and studied me. "You are an artist, eh? Do you have any of your work with you?"

All I had was my sketchbook. It was 1997, so it was full of Magic card sketches, but also drawings of Jimmy Zangwow and even the beginnings of Wondla. He flipped through it carefully, pausing from time to time to pore over my scribbles. He arrived at the last few blank pages of my sketchbook, uncapped his pen and answered my question: "I get my inspiration from everything and everywhere. Now, you, your work has inspired me." And he drew himself leafing my sketchbook on the last page of my sketchbook.

Thank you, Jean Giraud. Your legacy has impacted (and will continue to inspire) so many, especially this dreamer. I hope you are flying high with Arzach into the mists of a new world.

A Decade of Web-Weaving

Dear sweet creatures, while Hero for WondLa is off to the printer and binder, I have turned my attention to preparations for a very special birthday to be held later this year. 2012 marks the 10-year anniversary of my debut as a New York Times best seller, as well as receiving a Caldecott honor, for my adaptation of Mary Howitt's 1829 poem, The Spider & The Fly.

I have pulled the original artwork from my files and begun a special dust jacket (featuring new art), and which will also have a vintage 1930′s movie poster-inspired image on the flip side. After the 50+ digitally colored images for Hero, I am thoroughly enjoying the use of Holbein's "Jet Black" and "Titanium White" acryla gouache – the same two colors I used to paint the original book.

Above, from left to right: the original image of Ms. Fly from the finished book, the first character study I did for her (back in August of 2001), photos of 1920′s silent-film star Clara Bow, and the new image for the jacket and poster.

All eight legs are crossed for more exciting news about Spider & Fly which I will reveal as the fall approaches. In the meantime, I'll keep sharing images from the studio as well as old sketches and memories of the book's creation. If you've any questions or requests, leave a comment.

Okay, I am off to paint a certain devilish spider…

Fantastic WondLa Review

On this fantastic February Friday we are featuring a video book review from the very talented Sarah Laties.  Sarah is the Special Projects Assistant at the Children's Book Council (known as the CBC). This book review is one of many that CBC features for Children's and Young Adult titles they love in a segment titled "Book Stop".  In this video Sarah is both the featured reviewer and film editor for her review of The Search for WondLa!  Check it out and let me know what you think…

 

Question: Um…when are you getting your own TV segment, Sarah? Seriously, I hope you continue to produce more sophisticated and fun book reviews.  You did a phenomenal job and thank you for your compliments (I can't wait to hear what you think of A Hero for WondLa).

Keep reading, keep creating…

Doodle for Google Reminder…

Time is running out to submit artwork to Doodle 4 Google 2012! I'm helping Google choose which lucky artist will see their work on Google.com, win a $30k college grant, and earn $50k for their school so be sure entries are in by March 23rd! Get doodling today: www.doodle4google.com

A WondLaful Friday Fan Art

I have always been so touched and impressed by the fan art I have received over the years. For this week the same holds true.  All these images were inspired by The Search for WondLa.  These young talented fans did a fabulous job creating their own versions of some of my favorite characters and scenes. Check it out and tell me what you think!

These beautiful drawings of Eva Nine were created by a fan named Neil from Buxton, Maine.  Neil is both a budding author and illustrator who is currently cooking up an adventurous tale called The Chronicles of Mavrik.  The story focuses on a troop of Minotaurs who live underground and are plotting to take over the world (awesome!).  Neil did a great job here capturing Eva's upturned nose and her wild hair style.  Best of luck with your book, Neil and thanks for these perfect portraits of Eva!

Twelve year old Noah from Elk Grove, California rendered this awesome drawing of Eva Nine riding in one of Orbona's weird wandering trees.  I love that he added roosting turnfins, too.  Nice work!

Last but not least, we have a beautiful portrait of good ol' Rovender Kitt.  This drawing was created by Maddie, the daughter of an alumni from my old high school, South Fork high.  I met Maddie at the Decatur Book Festival last fall where she gave me the drawing in person. As I said, I am touched when I see that my stories and pictures inspire. Thank you all for these fantastic renditions, you all have inspired me.

Keep drawing, keep dreaming everyone.

 

For Teachers and Librarians

Since it will be available paperback come April, Simon and Schuster has created a new discussion guide for The Search for WondLa combined with Kenny and the Dragon (which was just released in paperback).

The discussions questions are thoughtful and true to the thinking I used in writing the story. For WondLa, you get questions like this:

What elements make up a family? Does color, size, or shape make a difference in these elements? Is it possible for a robot to be a family member?

and:

Lewis and Clark, John Audubon, and Charles Darwin are all greatly admired people who captured "new" creatures, observed them, killed them, and dissected them all in an attempt to understand them. Are Zin, Besteel, Queen Ojo, and the taxidermist any different from these men?

For Kenny, you also get discussion questions as well as cool activities like:

You can download the pdf file by clicking here.

Also, I'll add it to the WondLa Book Page, where the other book-related activities reside. In particular, the Spiderwick Activity Pages are fun. Where else are you gonna find the recipe for Faerie Porridge?

Also, I've added a blog category "For Teachers" and have tagged a few older posts that I thought would be relevant to activities and book study on the class and library. Enjoy!

You Know You're Getting Old When…

I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of amazing experiences come to pass in my life as a result of my career in illustration. One that I suppose I wasn't expecting until much later was a book about me. However, I was pleasantly surprised last year when Abdo Publishing Company, an educational publisher, added me to their ongoing Children's Illustrator series which includes the likes of Chris Van Allsburg, Garth Williams and Brian Selznick.

This book is aimed for elementary school libraries. The reading is fairly easy (suggested levels are grades 3-6) with the main focus being on how I came to be an illustrator, along with some career highlights.

I never thought myself worthy of having a book written about my life, which is why I've yet to do an "Art of Tony D" book. Besides, I am always looking forward to my next project, with that feeling that I am on the verge of the next big artistic breakthrough…though looking back, I realize I have accomplished a few things here and there. You don't really realize it as you are experiencing it, only in hindsight does it become a bit more clear.

I like this series of books. Not because I am the subject for one, but because they focus on illustrators (both past and present) who have had an impact on children's publishing. 10 year-old Tony would have LOVED this series.