University of Texas BFA grad Marsha Riti worked at her first creative love, ceramics before she saw an opportunity to make some extra money with her studio art craft — illustrating books for children.
She did some additional study (including taking my class at the AMOA Art School), joined the Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and built up her portfolio.
Eventually she landed the assignment from Pelican Press to illustrate the picture book The Picky Little Witch by Elizabeth Brokamp.
In these excerpts from a video interview she did for students of the Make Your Splashes – Make Your Marks! online course, Marsha shares her process for illustrating a picture book.
Her technique of patching together and occasionally manipulating her watercolor illustrations in Photoshop has served her well.
Her blog that she fills with her images and interviews with her illustrator and artists friends caught the attention of an agent, which led to a contract to illustrate a series of chapter books for the Little Simon imprint of Simon & Schuster.
In the slideshow below you can see Marsha garbed as her witch-in-training heroine at last month’s book launch party.
She’s joined by friends from her Austin SCBWI illustrators’ critique group, the Girlustrators who came out to support, babes and broomsticks in tow.
Marsha Riti signs at BookPeople, surrounded by her Girlustrator pals.
InteractBook contest winners announced
Our judging team has named the winners for the create your own iPad
book app contest by InteractBooks.
The first place winner in the contest for creating an interactive book using the InteractBuilder software received an iPad2 and a publishing contract.
Other contestants received prizes, too.
First Place – It’s Time for Carrots by Dan Byrne
Second Place – Put the Ow in Meow by Adreienne Jervis
Third Place – The Magic of Lizzie Boo by Leslie Dennis
Coming in fourth and neck in neck with third place – CAE Club gets Ready for a Great and Scary Halloween by Ann Kesselman.
Congratulations to all contenders!
Stand by for some videos about the entries, an interview with the winner and news about the next InteractBooks contest.
* * * * *
Read a fun post by South African artist and new student Helga Pearson about the Marsha Riti interview and her experience of her first lessons of the Marks and Splashes course.
Find out more about the Make Your Splashes – Make Your Marks! online course on illustrating children’s books in a changing publishing world.
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- Karien’s Creative Cache (howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.wordpress.com)
- Stripes for Illustration Friday (elenacaravela.wordpress.com)
- “Little toddler feet and hands all over my wall…” (howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.wordpress.com)
How To Be A Children's Book Illustrator 
The Picky Little Witch looks adorable- thanks for sharing your process. I will definitely be looking out for this lovely book.
Thank you, Constance! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and I’ll pass your kind words on to Marsha!
This is cute .. I’m an kids book illustrator
here is my artwork:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AimanStudio/110873408953726
Mark:
Great site… I’ve been following you for several months now and have thoroughly enjoyed the videos you’ve posted. I love getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse whenever possible…
As for Marsha: Can you tell me how she’s bringing her images into the computer? Is she scanning or photographing?
Thanks!
John
Thank you for the comments, John — glad you’re enjoying the videos.
I like your writing blog, too! Marsha scans her work in.
Thank you, Mark, for the compliment and the info. I look forward to more interviews!