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PSI CONFIRMED EVENTS FOR 2023 (updated 3/4/2023)
(others to be added as they are confirmed)

 

"Illustrators in Visual Development and Animation" potluck meetup.

at Carlson Studio 6pm Saturday evening March 4, 2023
118 Monticello Drive Monroeville PA 15146
All Full and Affiliate members invited.
Bring a potluck dish to share.
For more information and to rsvp contact Tara Zalewski at art@tarazalewsky.com or 505-350-6281.
Sat evening March 4th at 6:00
PSI invites any Full and Affiliate Members for an "Illustrators in Visual Development and Animation" potluck meetup.
Fred Carlson offers his home in Monroeville for this first one!
This is informal and everyone will share what people are invested in... feedback/ critiques, classes, movie screenings, animation events etc...
For those working in the field, interested in breaking in, or anyone who wants to hang out and talk art and design! The plan is to have people just talk about what they have experienced and where they would like to be. It'd be a way for all of us in or interested in animation or vis dev could discuss potential ideas for portfolio pieces, where the work is, and what not. Basically, we are gathering a community of practice of anyone who has worked in, or has interest in Animation or Visual Development for Animation (backgrounds, characters etc).

 

PSI plans to hold our second To The Point! critique evening on Thursday March 23rd at 7:30pm

To The Point critique
PSI plans to hold our second "To The Point!" critique night on Thursday March 23rd at 7:30 at John Blumen home/studio at 25 Sceneridge Ave. Pgh 15227.  Please bring up to ten examples of your work on disk, if you do digital, or if you work traditionally, bring your originals or hard copies.  After the individual critiques we have a general conversation about the illustration business, so feel free to ask any questions you may have about your work, our work, or anything else about the illustration field you may be interested in.

All PSI members are welcome to attend including those who may have attended in a previous critique.
E-mail John at john@johnblumenillustration.com if you’re interested in participating.

PSI looks forward to seeing you on the 23rd!--John Blumen

 

"Ashley Belote: the Road to Success in Children's Books" presentation.

at The Hub in West View (North Hills) 6:30pm Thursday evening May 18, 2023
435 Perry Highway (US 19), West View, PA 15229
All Full and Affiliate members invited. An Inside Look at Children's Publishing:

Author/Illustrator and PSI member Ashley Belote will be joining us to discuss her experiences in the picture book business on Thursday, May 18th. Ashley Belote is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME and VALENSLIME by Joy Keller (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, 2021). She is the author-illustrator of THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021), LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022), and A PARTRIDGE IN THE WE TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2022). Her forthcoming picture books include WITCH & WOMBAT (Random House Children's Books, 7/4/23), DON'T WASH WINSTON (Feiwel & Friends, 2024), and SHEEPWRECKED (Random House Children's Books, 2024).

Ashley is a West Virginia native, and earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University. She earned her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and she studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.

The session will cover a wide range of topics pertinent to the picture book industry including creating ideas that will sell, an overview of the market, and an inside look at the children's publishing business. She will discuss strategies that have worked for her, and go into detail about working with and getting an agent, working with editors/art directors, and how to best present yourself as a professional in this business. We will discuss key factors for illustrators' success from social media presence to networking and everything in between. The session will have a follow up Q&A, and Ashley's books will be available for purchase following the session.

Note from the PSI Board: We have a lot of successful children's book illustrators and illustrators creating proposals for this market. Ashley is red hot right now and this is a unique chance to learn about the most effective way to go about YOUR own path in the current market.
Come support this PSI member who has stayed in touch with US over the years despite moving to North Carolina!
 
For more information:
Ashley Belote
Illustrator of FRANKENSLIME by Joy Keller (Feiwel & Friends, 7/13/2021)
VALENSLIME by Joy Keller (Feiwel & Friends, 11/16/2021)
THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021)
LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 6/21/2022)
Ashley@AshleyBelote.com
AshleyBelote.com
304-290-7906
 

J. Gough's Tavern

Please come on out to J. Gough's Tavern in Squirrel Hill next week and share your current work, have a drink, enjoy some PSI complimentary snacks from the delicious J. Gough's menu, or just hang out and visit with other members. Give us some of your thoughts on what PSI should plan for 2023. Bring a friend if you don't want to come out alone. We'd love to see everyone. Members usually start arriving around 6:30 PM. Plenty of on street parking or you can use the Giant Eagle lot across the street.


Meetings

Social Meetings held almost every month on a weekday at 7pm
Think Happy Hour! Since 1996, PSI has hosted socials to relieve freelance isolation and expose everyone to the work of other members. Join us for informal shop talk along with great food and drink at different centrally located restaurants or at member home/studios. Appetizers supplied by PSI. All members and prospective members welcome!

The “Business of Illustration” Meetings
This fast-paced program series cycles through member's home/studios and various studio spots around Pittsburgh. The night typically includes a presentation by a member or outside speaker, speed reviews (bring your portfolio), and networking. Attendees should bring a beverage and/or a snack to share. Locations and featured artists are posted on the PSI website and distributed via Basecamp announcements. One annual event to circle is the “PSI Goes to the Chapel” program event at The Chapel pavilion in Riverview Park on a Saturday in September TBA. Speakers, catered picnic, social time, etc. 

Event Calendar