Youth Art Month young artist interview with Joely Casavant

March is Youth Art Month and, to celebrate, I will be interviewing four very talented young artists. These four young artists have one thing in common: They have all had their work published by GMTA Publishing. This is one of the things I love about GMTA; they are very open to working with young writers and illustrators. GMTA is a very big supporter of young writers and artists and I am thrilled they have published the work of four very special young ladies. (Don’t feel left out, guys; I hope by the same time next year I will be able to feature some young male artists for Youth Art Month 2014!).

The fourth and final young artist I am featuring in this series is Joely Casavant. Her aunt, Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson, is the author of the Queen Emily’s Enchanted Kingdom series, published by GMTA Publishing, and I was introduced to Joely’s work when I read the second book in the series, Litterbug. I am thrilled to include this talented young artist in my series for Youth Art Month.

Welcome, Joely!

How old are you?

15

How long have you been creating art?

I've always been drawing and such, but when I was 13, I took an art class in school and began using other mediums which really broadened my abilities. I would consider this when I began creating art, 2 years ago.

What kind of art do you do?

I love to paint and draw portraits for the most part.

Who has inspired you as an artist?

Too many people to count! Lots I have known personally though, and have looked up to them for their great skills.

Where do you get your ideas for your work?

I like to look for something inspiring, usually in music, and picture something I could make. I also just have ideas pop into my head when looking at photos of people about a nice portrait I could make.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I'd have to say my favorite artists are Emily Carr and Andy Warhol.

What type of art do you like to do the most and why?

Really, I love trying new things as I'm still learning all of what there is out there.

How long did you practice your art before you decided to go pro?

I hadn't been working very long on my art before being asked to illustrate Litterbug (Queen Emily's Enchanted Kingdom), only maybe a year. But I've always been rather good at drawing, and loved the idea!

A sample picture Joely created for the book, Queen Emily's Enchanted Kingdom: Litterbug, authored by Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson. Illustration copyright 2012 by Joely Casavant.

What kind of advice or tips do you have for other young artists?

Just keep trying! The more you practice, the better it gets.

What do you do when you are blocked and can't create any art?

I usually just take a break, and I wait for it to come to me. Forcing myself to make something never ends up turning out good!

What kind of art are you working on right now?

I just finished a portrait of Twiggy in my school art class, and I'm beginning a project where I'll be making a piece of art from pieces of garbage.

Do you have anything coming out we can look forward to seeing? Where and when?

Not at the moment, unfortunately.

What are some of your goals for your art?

I'd like to paint a nice realistic landscape scene, which is quite hard for me! Hopefully I'll conquer that soon.
 

Youth Art Month young artist interview with Emily Ann Vinson

March is Youth Art Month and, to celebrate, I will be interviewing four very talented young artists. These four young artists have one thing in common: They have all had their work published by GMTA Publishing. This is one of the things I love about GMTA; they are very open to working with young writers and illustrators. GMTA is a very big supporter of young writers and artists and I am thrilled they have published the work of four very special young ladies. (Don’t feel left out, guys; I hope by the same time next year I will be able to feature some young male artists for Youth Art Month 2014!).

The third young artist I am featuring is Emily Ann Vinson. Her mother, author Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson, started promoting her new children’s book, Queen Emily’s Enchanted Kingdom: Sugarland, published by GMTA Publishing, and that’s when I found out her young daughter, Emily, had illustrated the book. Not only this, but Emily has also done some cover art, as well. Kudos, Emily! I am thrilled to include this talented young artist in my series for Youth Art Month.

Welcome, Emily!

How old are you?

8 1/2

How long have you been creating art?

For as long as I can remember. I remember my interest in drawing being in kindergarten. I loved to draw shapes of all kinds and turning them into pictures of houses, cars or even caterpillars.

What kind of art do you do?

I like drawing self-portraits and pictures of things I see. I also like creating my own journals out of used paper and giving them a colourful cover with construction paper. I write plays and make-believe stories. I create all kinds of art out of paper as well as find a use for empty tissue boxes and toilet paper rolls (I make them into airplanes and guitars for my Barbies).

Who has inspired you as an artist?

I love Garfield comic books. I wish I could draw like Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield.

Where do you get your ideas for your work?

I think of special events or places I’ve been which are really pretty and then draw the things I liked the most about them. My favourite is when we go camping with my friends or traveling to different places in the summer.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Cartoonists – especially of Archie comics and Garfield.

What type of art do you like to do the most and why?

I like to draw self-portraits. It is fun to try to see if I can draw the person exactly as they look from using only my memory.

How long did you practice your art before you decided to go pro?

I have been drawing since I was five-years-old. I was seven when my mom and I came up with the Queen Emily series. I knew I wanted to draw the pictures for the stories we created.

A sample of Emily's artwork in Queen Emily's Enchanted Kingdom: Sugarland.

Copyright 2012 by Emily Ann Vinson.

The cover Emily created for Litterbug. 
Copyright 2012 by Emily Ann Vinson.

What kind of advice or tips do you have for other young artists?

Pay close attention to details of what you want to draw. For example, if you want to draw self-portraits, make sure you have all the details of facial features and what the person wears and looks like. If you make some notes with the details, you will be sure not to forget anything.

What do you do when you are blocked and can't create any art?

Sometimes I get frustrated creating the pictures for Queen Emily, but my mom can usually help me figure out what we should draw.

What kind of art are you working on right now?

I have a LeapPad. Right now I’m using an App that I can go to and pick photos I have taken to be stretched out and mirrored. I twirl the pictures around and create them into hallway looking images which can be highlighted and detailed.

Do you have anything coming out we can look forward to seeing? Where and when?

I will be drawing some of the pictures for the next Queen Emily’s Enchanted Kingdom series. The new book is called Dreamland and hopefully will be out in April.

What are some of your goals for your art?

I would like to draw pictures that people can look at on the internet. Maybe when I get a bit older, I can start a blog for my art.

Youth Art Month young artist interview with Rhianna J. Bullard

March is Youth Art Month and, to celebrate, I will be interviewing four very talented young artists. These four young artists have one thing in common: They have all had their work published by GMTA Publishing. This is one of the things I love about GMTA; they are very open to working with young writers and illustrators. GMTA is a very big supporter of young writers and artists and I am thrilled they have published the work of four very special young ladies. (Don’t feel left out, guys; I hope by the same time next year I will be able to feature some young male artists for Youth Art Month 2014!).

The second young artist I am featuring is Rhianna J. Bullard. I was first introduced to the work of this young artist when I saw the cover for the children's book, Alfred, A Timber Wolf's Tale. Her mother Kitty Bullard, co-founder of GMTA Publishing, has shared some other art her daughter has done with the group. I am thrilled to include this talented young artist in my series for Youth Art Month.

Welcome, Rhianna!

How old are you?

12

How long have you been creating art? 

Since I was in Pre-K. I started drawing and never stopped. It’s become one of my most favorite things to do.

What kind of art do you do? 

Drawing and painting. I love to draw dragons and horses, those are my favorites. I’ve never been good at drawing people I guess because I just like animals so much!

Who has inspired you as an artist? 

Cornelia Funke, I love her illustrations. But I mostly like to draw my own stuff. I can’t think of anyone that actually inspires me.

Where do you get your ideas for your work?

Dreams. I always have really cool dreams of dragons and other mythical creatures. I love legendary animals.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Cornelia Funke, and other fantasy artists. Brian Froud is another favorite of mine. My mom told me he did a lot of the art for movies I like, like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

What type of art do you like to do the most and why?

I love drawing mythical creatures the most but also horses.  I think I just like them more because they are different and I usually end up making my own creatures as well.

How long did you practice your art before you decided to go pro?

I practiced a long time. I still do. I didn’t do a professional piece until I was 11, that was the cover for an author of my mom’s named Randall L. Emery for his book Alfred, a Timber Wolf’s Tale. I’m much better at drawing now though than I was even then.

Cover art Rhianna created for Alfred, A Timber Wolf's Tale

Copyright © Rhianna J. Bullard

Copyright © Rhianna J. Bullard

Copyright © Rhianna J. Bullard

Copyright © Rhianna J. Billard

What kind of advice or tips do you have for other young artists?

I would tell them to always keep drawing and practice a lot. It’s not only fun and a good hobby but you never know what it may lead to someday. You could be drawing for a huge company.

What do you do when you are blocked and can't create any art?

I read, and watch movies. I usually get ideas from that as well and it helps me if I can’t think of things to draw. Sometimes I just ask my mom to tell me something to draw.

What kind of art are you working on right now? 

Right now I’m working on my very first acrylic painting of a dragon. When I get it done I’ll have my mom put it on my blog.

Do you have anything coming out we can look forward to seeing? Where and when? 

I am working on my first novel. I plan to try and do illustrations for it as well as the cover. I can’t wait, of course it will be a dragons!

What are some of your goals for your art?

I would like to be a professional drawer one day. I love doing covers and illustrations so maybe that’s what I’ll do!

Rhianna’s Site Link: http://theworldofrhianna.blogspot.com/
(Coming Soon)

Youth Art Month young artist interview with Jennifer Wilson

March is Youth Art Month and, to celebrate, I will be interviewing four very talented young artists. These four young artists have one thing in common: They have all had their work published by GMTA Publishing. This is one of the things I love about GMTA; they are very open to working with young writers and illustrators. GMTA is a very big supporter of young writers and artists and I am thrilled they have published the work of four very special young ladies. (Don’t feel left out, guys; I hope by the same time next year I will be able to feature some young male artists for Youth Art Month 2014!).

The first young artist I am featuring is my daughter, Jennifer Wilson. Jennifer has been drawing since she was very young and her art first appeared in the book she co-wrote with me, Dogs Forever! Poems for the Dog Person. 

Welcome, Jennifer!


How old are you?

I'm 11 years old.

How long have you been creating art?

I'm not sure, maybe when I could hold a pencil? My mom says when I first made a picture when I was 2 so about 9 years?

What kind of art do you do?

I like to do many different kinds of art; abstract, animal art, cartoons, and Manga. I try my best to draw actual people but I never can. OH! I sometimes also do still life or painting and crafts too.

Who has inspired you as an artist?

Vincent Van Gogh, of course!

Where do you get your ideas for your work?

Sometimes from things people say, or from games I play or my brain just comes up with something all of a sudden.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci

What type of art do you like to do the most and why?

I like drawing animals best because I love animals and I just have a passion for it.

An illustration in the book Jennifer wrote and illustrated, Sarah's Special Angel

How long did you practice your art before you decided to go pro?

About 8 years.

What kind of advice or tips do you have for other young artists?

Never give up and don't doubt yourself. If you give up, how will you ever embrace your dream of being an artist? And if you doubt yourself, you'll never reach your full potential.

What do you do when you are blocked and can't create any art?

I take it easy for a while and just forget about it. And when I'm ready to get back in, I just jump right in.

What kind of art are you working on right now?

Animal art. I have to work on drawing wolves for my mom's book.

Do you have anything coming out we can look forward to seeing? Where and when?

A poem book Mom and I wrote together. It's called Satyrs Are Cool, and it’s coming out on July 24th, I think.

What are some of your goals for your art?

To get my art in a museum and to have everyone know my name because of my art!