PICTURE PROMPTS: Cassandra Federman

 

Welcome to PICTURE PROMPTS! This is my way of 'paying it forward' for all the beautiful illustrations found in picture books all around the world. For the next year you will see me visit with guest illustrators, spotlighting their beautiful artwork and sharing their answers to a few questions I thought my readers might want to know about these illustrators. On the Friday when an illustrator hasn't stopped by for a visit and a hot cup of green tea, I will put up a random PICTURE PROMPT that has inspired me to write a little flash fiction to share with you!


If you are an illustrator, established or just starting out, and would like to participate in my PICTURE PROMPT series, just shoot me an email over to donasdays (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the information on how to join the fun!


Please welcome talented illustrator, Cassandra Federman and check out her answers to my interview questions...

1. Why did you decide to become an illustrator?

I was obsessed with Disney fairy tales and with any and all gruesome artwork as a child.  As I got older I discovered comic books, which contained artwork that was both beautiful and gruesome! It was perfect! So I wanted to be a comic book artist for a long time. I gave up that idea around age 13, thinking it was a pipe dream. I decided to become an actor instead. Hey, I didn’t say I was logical!

2.  Where do you get your inspiration?

I’m constantly analyzing my artwork for areas that are weakest. Then I try to draw something that will force me to strengthen that area. And I try to be creative about it.

3. Do you have a favorite illustration of yours? Why is it your favorite?

I seem to fall in love with whichever one I’ve just finished. This can be dangerous because I get so excited that I show it off to the world through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Then a few months later, (hopefully) I’ve gotten better as an artist and I look back and think, “Ugh, why did I show anyone that terrible picture!” And I show off some new one that I’ll come to hate 6 months later. It’s a vicious cycle.

4. If you could invite five other illustrators (alive or deceased) to dinner, who would you invite and why?

Michael Turner (deceased) and J. Scott Campbell. Their comic book styles are stunning to me. Also Brian Froud, because he’s a man who marries the beautiful, the creepy, and the fantasy world together like no one else. I’ll leave the other couple seats open for a Disney/Pixar animator and an impressionist painter. First come first serve.

 5. What are you currently working on?

I’m working on writing and illustrating my own children’s books right now. I finished my first book called Creatures of Habit and I’ve just started looking for a Literary Agent.  I’ve also got several manuscripts I’ve been revising with the goal of drawing up a dummy for one of them soon. The problem is, I always like whichever manuscript I’ve revised last... I’m very much looking forward to getting an agent so they can help me with my decision-making issues.

6. Do you work in different mediums? If so, which style is the most challenging?

I usually sketch something out the old fashioned way and then paint it in Photoshop. Reproducing different styles is challenging and is always a learning process. Watercolor style in Photoshop is new to me and most difficult right now. 

7. What advice would you give to someone thinking about trying to become an illustrator?

Be critical enough that you know where you need to improve, but not so critical you depress yourself. Also, don’t be afraid to pursue other creative endeavors. It all feeds you. Lastly, follow other artists on Instagram. It’s inspiring!

8. Do you have another job in addition to being an illustrator?

Yes, I write and act. I’m also a Hand Model.

Author Bio:

Cassandra grew up on the East Coast. She spent her childhood daydreaming, reading comic books, and playing with action figures until—well, she still does all of those things, but she lives on the West Coast now.

Social Media Links:

Personal Website: www.cassandrafederman.com

Twitter: @CassFederman

Instagram: cassfederman

IT'S TIME FOR THE CATCH A PRIZE CONTEST!

All right, boys and girls! Here is the contest you have all been waiting for! To help celebrate the release of my debut picture book, THE STORY CATCHER, by Anaiah Press yesterday, I'm going to have a contest where a number of prizes will be given away.

First...the rules:

1. Select a way to 'follow me' by either signing up for my blog posts by entering your email address in the subscribe link on the top right side of this screen, liking my Facebook Author page at www.facebook.com/donasdays, or joining me on Twitter @donasdays.

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me which prize you would like your name to be entered in the drawing for.

3. Sharing the good news of this contest with your friends and followers is always welcome!

The contest will run from today until 12:59 p.m. on Saturday, January 31st. There will be two more ways to enter my CATCH A PRIZE contest that I will reveal on Wednesday, January 22nd, and Saturday, January 24th so be sure and come back for those reveals!

Now for the good stuff...the prizes:

The first prize I'm giving away is a cool butterfly sticker album with with 50 butterfly stickers. The logo for THE STORY CATCHER is butterflies so I thought these would be cool to decorate with!

Next is a large butterfly journal for storing great story ideas you've caught. It's about 5 1/2" by 7 1/2" and the cover says 'Let Your Dreams Take Flight'.

Here is a cute book I found at the bookstore entitled THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF IMMATURITY: HOW TO NEVER GROW UP. It's full of really cool things to do and if you are a kid or write for kids, this would be a great reference book!

 

There will be three winners of these beautiful hand crafted butterfly wall hangings. They are lightweight, are probably about 8"-10" across, and delicate. If I had the room on my walls to hang them, I would keep them for myself...lol...

 

I'm also going to be giving away a signed copy of my picture book to one lucky winner! 

You can order my book, THE STORY CATCHER, through the following buy links. It is available in both ebook and print copies. Here is the book blurb and book trailer.

 

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00PHJRVG0

Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.com/0990908542

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-catcher-donna-l-martin/1120753878?ean=9780990908548

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/492614

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23584993-the-story-catcher

Blurb:

Addie comes from a long line of readers, or "story catchers," as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own, though, the words play tricks on her. Addie tries everything she can think of to corral those wiggly letters, but it will take a little faith to become the next STORY CATCHER.
 

Trailer:

A to Z: Babushka

When I was in middle school, my mother would make me wear scarves to school on cold winter days.  I didn't like it because it made me feel old.  When it comes to writing, it shouldn't matter how old you may be...it's how old the "child" is inside you.  Why not be like Maria Leibrock Epsztein?  In 2006, at 92 years young, she decided to finally write a story of her life during the Holocaust.  It was called "Motherhood Behind Barbed Wire" and published by the Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada.  Pretty good for a first time author, don't you think?

Begin at the Beginning

Written by: Amy Schwartz

Illustrated by: Amy Schwarts

ISBN: 10-0060001119

Ages: 3-8

Teaser:  When Sara is told to make a painting for a school art show, she decides to paint the best painting ever.  But Sara soon learns that trying to be the biggest isn't always the best way to go.    Will Sara finish her painting in time for the show?