Elizabeth Sayles's Blog, page 2

Malala: A Hero for All

It's always a little scary when the book I've worked on for several months arrives in a box from UPS.
I never know if I'll like it or not.  But I was very happy to open my carton of complimentary copies of Malala: A Hero for All.  And as of Jan. 12, they are available everywhere!  Her story is so inspiring and this book was really wonderful to work on.  She is a hero, and not just for one day.

NASA and the Supermoon Eclipse...

From "Moon Child" (Random House/Tricycle Books)Late on Sept. 27, 2015, in the U.S. and much of the world, a total lunar eclipse will mask the moon’s larger-than-life face for more than an hour.

"Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit," said Noah Petro, deputy project scientist for the Lunar.  A lunar eclipse typically puts on an even greater show. For more than an hour, Earth’s shadow swallows up the moon as the planet comes between the sun and the moon. Lunar eclipses typically occur at least twice a year, and 228 will occur in the 21st century alone. While people such as the Incans and Mesopotamians historically viewed lunar eclipses as random and frightening occurrences, they’re actually quite predictable.

Scientists at Goddard have predicted eclipses a thousand years into the future. Petro said it’s just a matter of knowing where Earth, the sun and the moon are at a given point in time.

See more at:
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nasa-scientist-sheds-light-on-rare-sept-27-supermoon-eclipse

Illustration Portfolio at SVA this Spring

Illustration Portfolio  School of Visual Arts, NYC Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm  |   begins Jan. 27 (12 wks)

See samples of student work

Brush up your portfolio. 
Add to what you already have or stretch out and try something new.
Or .. work on that children's book you have hidden in your sock drawer. 

This class is centered on the individual student's  unique talent, ability and interests   The course course is designed to develop and solidify personal style, learn how to conceive strong concepts and clear execution of ideas. 

Assignments will touch on various sectors of the illustration market, including publishing, editorial, licensing and corporate. Students will be encouraged to broadly interpret the assignments: an assignment about time can become a science-fiction piece, a conceptual illustration, or a wonderful children's book. Color, value, concept, execution and medium will be covered. Assignments vary each semester. 

Learn how to approach an illustration job with an understanding of the type of work you want to create.  All aspects of the business side of Illustration will be discussed, such as finding illustration markets, contracts, negotiations, subsidiary rights and reps, copyrights, promotion and self-marketing. 

Details of Student work Summer Session '15 left to right: Shawn Ferreya, Sarah Whicker, Sachika Iwata







Final Critique, Summer Session '15

Illustration Portfolio at SVA this Fall

Illustration Portfolio  School of Visual Arts, NYC Tuesdays 6:30-9:30pm  |   begins Sept. 29  (12 wks)

See samples of student work

Brush up your portfolio. 
Add to what you already have or stretch out and try something new.
Or .. work on that children's book you have hidden in your sock drawer. 

This class is centered on the individual student's  unique talent, ability and interests   The course course is designed to develop and solidify personal style, learn how to conceive strong concepts and clear execution of ideas. 

Assignments will touch on various sectors of the illustration market, including publishing, editorial, licensing and corporate. Students will be encouraged to broadly interpret the assignments: an assignment about time can become a science-fiction piece, a conceptual illustration, or a wonderful children's book. Color, value, concept, execution and medium will be covered. Assignments vary each semester. 

Learn how to approach an illustration job with an understanding of the type of work you want to create.  All aspects of the business side of Illustration will be discussed, such as finding illustration markets, contracts, negotiations, subsidiary rights and reps, copyrights, promotion and self-marketing. 

Details of Student work Summer Session '15 left to right: Shawn Ferreya, Sarah Whicker, Sachika Iwata







Final Critique, Summer Session '15

Contact me with any questions,
or come to SVA's Illustration & Cartooning Dept Free Info Session:
Aug 26 at 6:30 pm
209 East 23rd Street, room 311, 3rd floor.
Seating is given on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Ghost Army of WWII

This is a project I have been involved with for a few years which has nothing to do with my illustration, but instead is about an Army unit my Dad was in during WWII.  I have just co-authored (or curated as my co-author calls it) a book with Rick Beyer called "The Ghost Army of WWII: How One Top Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects and Other Audacious Fakery"  It is now being developed as a motion picture by the team that brought us "American Sniper"–– Bradley Cooper, Andrew Lazar and Todd Phillips!


Watch the TRAILER for the Book.
Three Comic book artists who joined this deception unit: Ray Harford, Bob Boyajian and Victor Dowd. Bill Blass was part of the unit, as was Ellsworth Kelly

an inflatable tank
One of my Dad's (Bill Sayles) pieces, painted in Wittlich Germany towards the end of the war.
By Arthur Singer, Master watercolorist.  This of the convoy going to Europe in 1944. See the Exhibit of their Art work, June 14–25 at the Salmagundi Club, NYC

ABFE Gala at BEA

Here is another piece from "Malala" (Random House, Jan. 2016).  I donated a print of this to the ABFE  (American Booksellers for Free Expression) which held their annual gala and auction Tuesday night in conjunction with BEA.  It was a fun night at the Grand Hyatt, very crowded, and LOTS of great artwork!  I went with my friend, Sue Truesdell, who is herself a terrific illustrator. She was excited to meet this year's honoree,  Judy Blume, since she had illustrated a bookjacket for "Fudge-a-Mania" many moons ago. This is one of my favorite pieces in the book.  I loved working on the architecture, costumes and mountains.

Malala

 
Sneak peek at one of the illustrations for "Malala", written by Shana Corey, to be published by Random House, January 2016.  I was amazed at the beauty of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, were Malala is from; such a beautiful place, afflicted by such conflict.  Malala is now the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize and she continues to inspire with her courage to speak out for the rights for girls to be educated.  It was an honor to illustrate her story.

Summer Illustration Portfolio at SVA

 
Illustration Portfolio  School of Visual Arts, NYC Wednesdays 6:00-9:30pm  |   June 3 - Aug 5  (10 wks)

See samples of student work

Brush up your portfolio. 
Add to what you already have or stretch out and try something new.
Or .. work on that children's book you have hidden in your sock drawer. 

This class is centered on the individual student's  unique talent, ability and interests   The course course is designed to develop and solidify personal style, learn how to conceive strong concepts and clear execution of ideas. 

Assignments will touch on various sectors of the illustration market, including publishing, editorial, licensing and corporate. Students will be encouraged to broadly interpret the assignments: an assignment about time can become a science-fiction piece, a conceptual illustration, or a wonderful children's book. Color, value, concept, execution and medium will be covered. Assignments vary each semester. 

Learn how to approach an illustration job with an understanding of the type of work you want to create.  All aspects of the business side of Illustration will be discussed, such as finding illustration markets, contracts, negotiations, subsidiary rights and reps, copyrights, promotion and self-marketing. 







Contact me with any questions, or come to SVA's Illustration & Cartooning Dept Free Info Session:
May 13 at 6:30 pm
209 East 23rd Street, room 311, 3rd floor.
Seating is given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spring?

Winter and Spring may be battling it out today, but winter can't hold on forever.  This is a piece I donated to the American Booksellers for Children's Auction at BEA a couple of years ago.  It's from The Very Little Princess (part 1) from Random House.

Millions of Snowflakes

Now I know why the Inuit have so many names for snow.  My favorite so far this winter is the powdery stuff that can be shoveled easily, but when I was a kid it was the heavy snow that snowballs are made of, and were essential for snow forts. I  illustrated Millions of Snowflakes in the summer, which was a little confusing.  My model, Charlotte, was dressed in a snowsuit in the 90 degree heat but didn't seem to mind a bit.  We blew soap bubbles to get her attention.  Now, in this snowiest of winters I am doing a book about sunny Pakistan.  I'm frequently surprised when I look out the window and instead of blinding sunshine I see my snow-buried yard.  OK going to find my mukluks and clean off the car... again.