I am back!

I had such a wonderful time in NY! The people, the energy, the places, Broadway, the shops, and the food make NY one of my favorite places to visit. It can’t get any more cosmopolitan than that!
I first want to thank everyone that left comments wishing me a good trip. I really enjoyed reading them when I checked my email in NY. Thanks for not forgetting about me while I was gone. I really appreciate all of you and all of the connections and friendships I have made through this blog!
I will only mention some of the highlights of my trip that relate to art (really everything was fabulous!). I may dedicate another post to highlighting some of the other places I visited, some of them recommended by you.

First I visited the Society of Illustrators Museum and was delighted with the ‘Original Art’ exhibit featuring children’s book art. It was a great display of talented artists. As someone that is trying to get in the business, I was very inspired by the quality of the art and the fact that most pieces were mixed media. It made me realize that the end justifies the means… in other words, you can start digital and end up with pencils, or vice versa. There are no limits or rules as long as the end product is great! I could not leave without a book about the history of illustration (not too many of these out there) and another great find, Show and Tell, a book about children book illustration.

My next stop was the MOMA. The only thing that I can say is that if you are visiting NY City, you must definitely make a stop at the MOMA and expect to be there a while. You need a minimum of 2 hours. To see so much original artwork by so many masters is invigorating! We went on a Saturday and there were soooooo many people! It was truly amazing!

The picture below is next to a Gaughin. He is one of my favorite artists!

We then went to SOHO, which is known for artists displaying their art on the sidewalk. I bought this small original for my daughter who loves horses. The picture below is with the artist (I'll have to get the name later as it escapes me now).

The last part of my trip was really special. I got to meet one of my blog friends and inspiration, Jannie Ho from Chicken Girl Design . When I found out I was going to NY, I thought of meeting with a professional illustrator or an editor to have an informal review of my portfolio. Other than the feedback I have received here (which I always appreciate) I wanted a more in-depth review. I wanted to find out if my style was suitable for picture books or if I have just been wasting my time. I also wanted to find out more about the industry. When Jannie agreed to meet me I was so excited for the opportunity and I must say that she is so nice in person and so down to earth!

I took her book with me ‘The Penguins Perfect Picnic’ and she was kind enough to sign it.

We had a great conversation about illustration as a career, how the economy is affecting the business. Self-promotion and a few other things...and yes she did look at my portfolio and had some really great suggestions! I am glad I ended my trip with Jannie. She is such a warm and nice individual. I felt really blessed to be able to meet up with her.

Well that was my trip in a nutshell!