Suggested Books - Greg Newbold

Most of my favorite books are listed on my Blog and they also can click right through to Amazon from there and buy them. If they are planning on buying anyway, I do get a slight kickback if they click through from my site, which would be appreciated.

http://astore.amazon.com/gregnewboldco-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4

If I had a limited budget, I would prioritize as follows:

Imaginative Realism by James Gurney
Color and Light By James Gurney
Creative Illustration by Andrew Loomis (reprinted)
Bridgeman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life- George Bridgeman
Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting- John F Carlson
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way- Stan Lee, John Buscema

On Business and Creativity:

Art and Fear by David Bayles
How to Be an Illustrator by Darrel Rees
The Art Spirit by Robert Henri

Graphic Artist’s Guild- Handbook, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.
Get whatever most recent edition is available. I take this with a grain of salt and a “guide” only. The pricing  survey they base things on is voluntary, so the info is only as good as people were willing to divulge.

None of these books are the end authority on things, but there is good info in each and worth the purchase. Some can be had very affordably as used if you can't find them new.

Illustration Annuals- these will give an idea of what is currently being hailed as the best in the industry

Communication Arts Illustration Annual (every year in June)
Society of Illustrators (NY) Annual of American Illustration
Spectrum- Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art
3x3 Illustration Annual

Favorite online store for art and comic related books:
Buds Art Books
http://budplant.blogspot.com/

I am a strong believer in building a home based art library and it started for me in High School and grows every year. I had a minor purge last year, but most of my books are going nowhere while I am still alive and working. I have never counted or catalogued my books probably have close to 400 art volumes in my library.

Illustrator Presentation

Write and produce a 5 minute digital presentation on a professional illustrator (living or dead) of your choice.

Content you MUST try to include in your presentation includes:

• Illustrator’s Name

• Illustrator’s Education/Apprenticeship

• Illustrator’s Style/Expertise

• Where and When they Practiced

• Illustrator’s Clients/Patrons

• Samples of Illustrator’s Work

If Possible...

• Illustrator’s Particular Methodology and/or Creative Approach

Schedule:

Project Launch, Tuesday, November 22th.

Illustrator Chosen, Tuesday, November 29th.

Presentations, Tuesday, December 6th.

Project #4 - Illustrated Story

Your last illustration project will be to illustrate a story. The content may be as varied as a Graphic Novel, a Nursery Rhyme, an Information Graphic, a Children’s Story, or an Editorial Comment. You will be responsible for the Story Content.

The format can be print or digital—from a saddle-stitched book, an accordion fold flyer, or an animated GIF. Each format has to be a minimal equivalent of 6 pages or three 2-page spreads.
The project will emphasize Illustrative Narration and Story Syntax.

All books are to be printed on the EPSON 100000 in the DOVAD Print Lab. The total 8-panel book (front cover, 6-pages inside, and back cover) flat size will be 42" wide, making the individual pages 5.25 wide and whatever height you prefer.

The GIF will need to be at least 3x5" at 72 dpi. A good example of an illustrated GIF can be found at:
www.simonenoronha.com/Gifs-1 or www.craigfrazier.com/laboratory/.

You are required to write an Illustration Brief for the project, conduct appropriate visual and content research, and write or secure your final text.

Illustration Project Schedule

Project Launch                                                        Thursday, November 17

Creative Brief, Content Written                                Tuesday, November 22nd
- Due on Blog / Work in Class      

Research, Concept Thumbnails                               Thursday, November 24th
- Due on Blog                                                           Thanksgiving - No Class

Illustrated Book Block-in /                                        Tuesday, November 29th
Individual Illustration Roughs
- Due on Blog / Work in Class

Illustration Spread Roughs                                      Thursday, December 1st
- Due on Blog 
Visiting Illustrator, Greg Newbold
 
Individual Illustration Comps                                   Tuesday, December 6th
- Due on Blog 
Individual Illustration Presentations
 
Illustration Spread Comps /                                     Thursday, December 8th
Illustrated Book Dummy
- Due on Blog / Work in Class

Final Illustrated Book Due                                        Tuesday, December 13th
- Printed Book Due / Due on Blog 

Business of Illustration

Business of Illustration / Artist & Freelance Graphic Designer
________________________________________________________________________

Bringing a PRODUCT & SERVICE to the marketplace.

• Creative Skills
• Intellectual Skills
• Artistic Skills
• Business Skills
  - Organization
  - Interpersonal Communication
  - Negotiation
  - Accounting
  - Marketing

Freelancer - Sole Responsibility

Operacy
Getting work done
Getting ywork out into the marketplace
Gaining recognition from peers & public
Procure financial reward and sustain a livelihood

1 Prospect for Work
2 Present to Potential Client
3 Commission Offer = RFP
4 Proposal/Contract - Price, Legal Rights, Delivery Dates
5 Commission Receipt - Purchase Order, Commencement Check
6 Research, Concepts, Roughs
7 Presentation / Changes / Approval
8 Final Art
9 Approval / Delivery
10 Final Invoice
11 Tracking Payment / Final Payment
12 Samples

Time Management
• Creative/Productive Time
  - Sketchbooks
  - Research, Concepts
  - Illustration
• Marketing & Sales Time
  - Research Competitors, Clients
  - Social Media: Website, E-mail (Constant Contact)
    Portfolio (Instagram, Behance, Twitter),
    Blog Case Studies
  - Directed Promotion: Mail, E-mail
  - Exhibitions
  - Physical Portfolio
  - Illustration Annuals & Publications
  - Sales: Gallery & Online
• Business Management Time
  - Work Environment
  - Accounting: Checkbook (Quickbooks)
  - Time Sheets
  - Job Tracking: Time & Expenses
  - Invoicing & Collections
  - Expenses & Payment
  - License, Taxes
  - Insurance

Illustration Process/Methodology
  - Illustration Brief
  - Research, Brainstorm
  - Conceptual Development: Review/Critique
  - Illustration Roughs: Review/Critique
  - Illustration Comps: Review/Critique
  - Final Illustration Preparation/Delivery


Business Plan (Templates on Internet)
• Executive Summary (Write Last)
• Your Business
  - Overview: Who are you?, What do you do?, Who you do it for?
  - Copyright (Ownership)
  - Usage Right (License)
• Your Product & Services
  - Products to Sell / Commissions to Fulfill
  - What Differentiates You from Competition?
  - What areYour Benefits?
  - Your product provides visual solutions to client-led problems
  - Products to Sell / Commissions to Fuilfill
• Marketing Strategy - Research
  - Your Market(s)
  - Your Target Customer(s)
  - Your Competitor(s)
  - Your Pricing Structure
• Sales Strategy - Implementation
  - Cold Calls
  - E-mail (Constant Contact)
  - Direct Mail
  - Social Media: Website, Facebook Page
  - Digital Portfolio: (Instagram, Behance, Twitter),
  - Blog: Case Studies, Editorial
  - Physical Portfolio
  - Illustration Annuals & Publications
  - Gallery Sales
  - Online Sales (Big Cartel)
  - Agent
• Operations
  - Work Environment (Home, Shared Studio, Collective)
  - Time Sheets
  - Job Tracking: Time & Expenses
  - Invoicing & Collections
  - Expenses & Payment
  - License, Taxes
  - Insurance
• Accounting
  - Checkbook (Quickbooks)
  - Financial Forecasts: Receipts / Payments
  - Financial Statements: Income / Expenses
  - Cash Flow Projections
  - Profit & Loss Forecasting
  - Sales Forcasting

Taxes
• Sales Tax
  - Product vs Service
• Income Taxes
  - Income Tax                (15% - $18-75K)
  - Social Security Tax    (6% Employer, 6% Employee =12%)
  - Medicare Tax             (1.5% Employer, 1.5% Employee =3%)
  - State Tax                    (5% - Declared Personal Exemptions - You & Dependents)

Insurance
• Rental/Home Insurance w/ Business Rider
• Medical Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance

Reading #4 - 11/17

Text Book - ILLUSTRATION

Chapter Nine:
Working as an Illustrator

Outline and/or Paragraph Summary

Due on Blog, Thursday, November 17

Final 5 Week Class Schedule

ILLUSTRATION

•  Reading(s)
•  Business Workshop
•  Story Project - Multiple Page / Motion Graphic (GIF)
•  Visiting Illustrator
•  Illustrator Report

Tues                                          Thurs
_____________________________________________
Final Portrait                             Business Workshop                       5 / 17
Reading- Bus Chapter              Story Project Launch
_____________________________________________
Story - WIC                               NO CLASS                                   22 / 24
_____________________________________________
Story - WIC                               Visiting Illustrator                          29 / 1
_____________________________________________
Illustrator Report                       Story - WIC                                     6 / 8
_____________________________________________
Final Story  Due                                                                                    13

Project #3 - Signified Portrait

This project is an illustrated portrait of a well-known person, alive or deceased. The objective is to not only create a recognizable likeness of the person, but also signify the likeness with what makes this person well-known.

_____________________________________________________________________________

The project schedule is:

Tuesday, 10/25 -             Signified Portrait 
                                      - Project #3 Launch

Thursday, 10/27 -         Illustration Brief, Word & Visual Research Due
                                      Post half a dozen concept thumbnails on blog with the above items,
                                      along with a budget estimate and schedule.
                                      - Group Presentation, Work in Class

Tuesday, 11/1 -             Tight Rough Illustration
                                      - Group Critique, Work in Class

Thursday, 11/3 -           Comprehensive Illustration
                                      - Print & Post on Crit Wall
                                      - Group Critique, Work in Class

Tuesday, 11/8 -             Visiting Artist – Chris Bodily (HatRobot)
                                      - Presentation, Discussion, Selected Critique

Thursday, 11/10 -         Finished Illustration Alterations & Finish
                                      - Individual Critique, Work in Class

Tuesday, 11/15 -           Final Illustration Due
                                      Printed & Posted on Blog
                                      - Group Critique

All items must be posted on blog by the beginning of class on the day they are due.