I’ll be participating in a panel discussion on illustration at SPGA, the Seattle Chapter of the Graphic Artist’s Guild (GAG) later this month.  If you are in the Seattle area, come and check it out.  Here’s the info, or click my link above to go the web page.

Graphic Artists Guild Workshop Wednesday, October 30, 2013,  12-1:30 pm  Illustration: What Does It Take…Besides Talent? A Panel Discussion moderated by Sara Chapman REGISTER What is the state of illustration today? Can you find jobs and make money? What skills do you need? Join us for a stellar panel of working illustrators as we discuss what it takes to be a successful professional illustrator. We’ll be asking our panelists about: The Market Can you make money, and how do you do it? Which specialties are in demand? Where is the market headed? Getting Noticed Which portfolio sites are best? Is social media effective? Do you need an agent? Is paper promotion dead? Work Process Which techniques and media do you use? What are your steps in creating an illustration? Seattle Design Center Plaza Building Suite 292 5701 6th Avenue S. Seattle 98108 Preregister for discount tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/487513 THE PANEL Henk Dawson has over 20 years illustration and animation experience, creating visual assets for large corporations, ad agencies, design firms, and startups. His goal is to continue to stay small and focused on creating quality 3D illustration and animation.  Nina Laden, award-winning, best-selling children’s book author and illustrator, lives in Seattle and on Lummi Island, WA, but mostly she lives in her imagination. She has over a dozen books in print including “The Night I Followed the Dog,” “When Pigasso Met Mootisse,” and “Roberto the Insect Architect.” She also visits schools and inspires students to be creative.  Diana Fairbanks has a background in biology, fine arts and medical illustration. She has taught at various schools including Bellevue Communicty College and University of Washington. Currently, she is a full-time visual artist who fulfills commissions and teaches through her studio, OlyImages.  Originally from Peru, Blanca Santander’sheritage and energy resonate in her use of color and magical themes. She has been selected multiple times as the Barnes and Noble Featured artist during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Ms. Santander illustrates children’s books and paints in acrylics.  After an early start winning poster contests as a child, Sandy Haight has had a successful and varied career using her spirited colors and expressive line on book jackets, packaging, posters, logos, and web pages.  She also finds time to teach at Bellevue Community College and create fine art paintings

I Love Learning - Home Care Institute

Lu Post came to the right place when she contacted me to illustrate a header for her institute’s web site which trains home health caregivers. Its an e-learning/computer training course for the home health and hospice industries whose main icon is an apple. She was looking for something colorful and happy. ”I want to convey the following emotions from the image – engagement, happiness, enthusiasm. That’s why we love your illustrations. They all convey these emotions to us.” She referred to several images on my searchable stock page for color schemes that she liked.

With that encouragement, these required elements to fit into the long skinny banner proportions fell right into place:

1. End-users are female nurses (30-40 years old).
2. a warm, happy and colorful home setting.
3. female working on a laptop at a dining room table (instead of a desk) that’s in front of a sunny window with flowers. Preferred flowers: star lilies.
4. an engaged expression.
5. a coffee cup that says “I (heart) Learning”.
6. a hint of medical reference without the subject wearing scrubs or a lab coat.
7. with an apple as their icon/theme, include one or more apples in the image.
8. with an office is full of dog lovers (especially Yorkies), incorporate a dog.

Once a sketch was approved, I executed the final image that you see above as a vector drawing to read best on the web. I got all elements squeezed into the designated space and it was received with enthusiasm.  With great direction, such as Lu provided, its much easier to deliver great results. Here’s the link as seen on the web with the logo connected to the artwork.  http://hcilogin.com.

Giving Heart Illustration by Sandy Haight

During this week of hearts and flowers, love and chocolate, romance and delight, I have a valentine image for you. This illustration was created for a book published by Peter Pauper Press and titled “Friends Make the Best Presents”. It’s a miniature hardbound book with a dangling red ribbon bookmark and charm attached. The book actually shows more Christmas present images than Valentine’s, but this picture has a heart so is fitting for this week. The text accompanying this full (tiny) page illustration is:  “Accept affection with open arms, and give it with an open heart” written by Holly Stevens.  I wish I could offer you chocolate affection with my open heart. I hope this eye candy will suffice.  Happy Valentine’s week!

Love, Sandy