Illustrator Saturday – Karen Romagna

This week I would like to introduce you to Karen Romagna; winner of this year’s NJSCBWI Logo Contest.  In warm weather, Karen uses her front porch as an outdoor studio. She says, “The lighting remains consistent all day. It’s perfect.” What a lovely place Karen has to use for her illustrating.  It is very interesting to see how her logo evolved.

Karen says, “My logo design has a history that began a few years ago. I stumbled across a photo of my mom when she was 3 years old on vacation with her family at Lake George. It seemed to me to be a sweet moment in time. Someone, possibly my grandfather, captured an instant when she stooped to pick a flower. The sun shined in her hair and her sundress billowed out behind her.

I wanted to capture it on canvas so I painted a miniature oil sketch. I always intended to do more. It still sits on a bookshelf with our family photos. I can’t help but smile when I see it.

This past Christmas season when it was time to paint my annual card I went to the old photo again. There is something about it that pulled me back. Was it the sundress, the flower, or witnessing a magical moment from my mother’s childhood? This time my mother wouldnʼt be in a sundress or picking a daisy… Instead she would be in a snowsuit… doing… what? I knew she had to be giving someone a present. Hmm… Of course. It could be a candy cane and, well who likes a candy cane more than a rabbit?

So I made a sketch and then painted a watercolor. I then followed up with an oil painting. As often happens I ran out of time completing other deadlines and on December 23 decided that I would finish it up for NEXT year’s card!

Then earlier this year I decided to try my hand at this year’s logo contest. It would need to be simple and it should be charming. The old photo was still sitting on my drawing table… I changed the hair, kept the rabbit and added a book. There it was! I love how the simplicity of the line drawing is all this old photo needed to bring it back to life.

Finishing this logo reminded me that sometimes in life we try too hard and may miss the freshness of our original inspiration. I hope that as we close in on this year conference every one of us experiences that feeling of excitement we had as a “beginner”!

Since the logo is printed on a black background the image had to be reversed and tweaked for the bag.

The Sailboat

Flying Frog

Moonlit Frogs

Watercolor sketch for my picture book “the Yellow Ribbon”.

Bedtime

Santa and Lamb

Santa’s Surprise

This is Karen’s inside Studio.  Well, sometimes the weather just does not cooperate. 

Karen is an illustrator and writer. Her studio is in Hunterdon County, New Jersey where she lives with her husband and two sons. Coming from a well established art career, Karen is now branching out into children’s illustration and picture books. Her many years painting portraits of children in the surroundings they love has provided much inspiration for her lively and colorful illustrations. Karen paints primarily in oil and watercolor.

You can meet Karen at this year’s conference and see her accept her award. 

Stop by Karen’s website to see more of her work.  http://www.karenromagna.com/

Yesterday I said, “I have something up my sleeve.”  Here is what it is:  Carlie Webber Agent at Jane Rotrosen Literary Agency is joining us at the conference.  She will be doing one-on-one critiques.  You will be able to see her picture and bio on tomorrow’s blog.  I hate to pass up an opportunity when it comes along and Carlie is busy building her list of writers (YA, MG), so I smelled opportunity.  Anyone who wants to reserve a spot with Carlie can e-mail Laurie Wallmark Laurie@newjerseyscbwi.com  the first 15 pages and synopsis, then mail your check for $55 to NJSCBWI  PO BOX 660  Ringoes, NJ  08551.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy