5 Rad Things to do with Sakura's Pigma Professional Brushes

Everyone's got their own simple pleasure. Mine just happens to be a super inky, versatile and smooth brush. When it comes to brushes that are fun to use, Sakura's Pigma Professional Brushes just really hit the spot! With the ability to create an amazing variety of lines, the drawing possibilities are endless— that's why I created my top five favorite things to do with these super fun brushes. 

1. Blind Contours of Your Friends & Family 

Drawing blind contours of your friends and family is the perfect, most hilarious way to fend off boredom. All you have to do is grab a pen and draw someone for a minute without looking (or two to three minutes if you really want a challenge). The results are always guaranteed to make you cry laughing. I love using Sakura's Pigma Professional brushes for this because of the variety of lines I can create without even trying. 

2. List Making 

Since I can remember, I've been obsessed with list making. I find it can be a really cathartic and sometimes really interesting way to organize my thoughts. As I write this blogpost, I'm in my childhood home in Los Angeles for the holidays. Inspired by many other artists that love list making, including Nigel Peake and Lisa Hanawalt I decided to make a doodled list of all the odd-ball things that decorate my parent's house (otherwise known as tchotchkes). I love how the finished list came out, it reminds me of the work of the amazingly talented illustrator (and former contributor to Illustoria) Nina Chakrabarti.

Hello Nature by Nina Chakrabarti, published by Laurence King 

Making your own random list is easy as can be! Just try observing your surroundings for similarities, for instance five strangely trimmed hedges in your backyard, or all the bald men you've ever met. Or, catalogue your own favorite collection of objects! 

3. Draw a Comic! 

Of course, you can draw a comic with any kind of pen or pencil but illustrating with Sakura's Pigma Professional brushes is just so much fun! Since Thanksgiving is just a day away, pie was definitely on my mind when I was coming up with this short story. Try writing a comic about your own wacky invention! 

4. Practice Calligraphy 

In hindsight, it was a questionable decision.  

Because Sakura's Pigma brushes respond so instantly to changes in pressure and have such a lovely continuous ink flow, they are arguably the perfect brush for letter-making, specifically calligraphy. I am by no means a calligraphy professional, but this little drawing was great practice and I highly recommend giving it a shot if you consider yourself a novice (or highly experienced!) letter-maker.  

5. Draw on the Walls! 

Didn't see that one coming did you? I'm definitely not suggesting you give your kid a brush and let them go willy-nilly on the lovely clean walls of your home! BUT, if you happen to have a wall you're about to paint or space designated for a mural I highly recommend trying out the pigma brushes. They're archival and can draw on pretty much any flat surface with ease. Just as a clarification, this wall as drawn by my sister (and super talented doodler) Lilly Astrow many years ago in Sharpie, not Sakura's Pigma Professional Brushes. But Sakura's brushes would work equally, if not even better on a similar project. 

Well, these are all the tips I have for you this time. No matter what project you're working on with Sakura's Pigma Professional Brushes though, you're certain not to go wrong. And even more certain is what a great time you'll have using these super satisfying drawing tools!

We're so delighted to have Sakura sponsor ILLUSTORIA's issue #5: The Motion Issue, which is on shelves and available now. Hope you enjoyed my top 5 projects, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Holiday Promo!

Give the gift that keeps on giving! Get a subscription, gift subscription, or subscription renewal to your favorite indie mag for creative kids & their grownups at 10% off now through December 20th. Enter promo code GIFT at checkout. Don't miss out on this special holiday promo. Your creative little ones will thank you all year long! 

Happy holidays from Illustoria! 

Playlist: Issue #5 Motion

Our playlist for issue #5: The Motion Issue, is the perfect mix for an impromptu dance party! Do the twist, shake your hips, and boogie down to sweet tunes and funky grooves of ESG, Lemon Jelly, and Little Richard. Caution: this mix may bring on a dance off, so have your judges ready. 

Artwork by © Claire Astrow for ILLUSTORIA #5: The Motion Issue

The Making of a Mural

I visit the Artist and Craftsman in Berkeley (on 2573 Shattuck Ave, to be specific) more than any other store in the whole world. I kid you not, I'm there running errands for my various art related jobs at least once a week. If you've never been, I implore you to hop on your moped, bike, scooter, or heck even Boeing 747 and check it out. Never have been to an art store with cooler vibes, nicer people or more expansive color selection of gouache paints. After a solid year of hard crushin' on A&C (visiting every week, sometimes twice in the same day, and lingering too long in the paint brush section, where I would philosophize on the benefits of the filbert brush) they finally popped the big Q: Would I be interested in painting their Fall window mural? "I'm so down!!" I most likely said, after mopping up the puddle of profound honor and excitement my body melted into. 

After proposing a couple sketches, we landed on the one I made of two best friends talking on the phone while making art in their rooms, which is by no coincidence how I spend the majority of my time.

After making a sketch, I scanned it onto my computer and played around with the color in Photoshop. 

The initial inspiration for the mural, titled No You Hang Up, was the playfulness and kitschy nostalgia of early 2000s TV friendships like Lindsay Mcguire, as well as my gratitude for my creative group of friends. As I finalized my sketches, I realized I also wanted the mural to be a celebration of the brilliant, loving, and inclusive Bay Area art community that I feel lucky to be apart of. For me, celebrating this community meant paying homage to the vital artists and organizers who dedicated their lives to supporting and building it. 

No You Hang Up references Ara Jo, a radiant human being who supported, welcomed and befriended countless artists in the Bay Area and beyond. The mural also makes reference to Aaron Curry, commonly known as ORFN, a prolific and raw creative who influenced generations of street artists. Both artists passed away a year ago, in December 2016. This mural is dedicated to them, as well as artist Jeffery Chung, founder of Unity Press who continues to build and grow community for queer and POC folks in the East Bay. 

Painting the mural was such a blast and tremendous privilege to paint, and I couldn't have done without the help of my friends and the awesome crew at A&C. If you're in the area, come stop by! It will be up until the end of December. And if you're an East Bay resident, stay tuned for a zine workshop I'll be teaching there on December 10th! 

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! THE BLACK & WHITE ISSUE

Art by Elizabeth Haidle

Are you an artist or writer who would love to contribute to ILLUSTORIA? Well, we'd love to hear from you!

We have a few slots left in our upcoming issue, themed "BLACK & WHITE." In particular, we're looking for:

- a couple of 2- to 3-page comics or illustrated stories

-spot art or standalone illustrations + minimal text or poetry

-1–3 panel comic strips

Pssst...! We  may be a wee bit biased toward work that celebrates diversity, silent films, and b&w photography...but also totally open and excited to see your original ideas! 

Submissions due by October 12th, 2017. Find out more about our submissions guidelines here, then email your submission to: submissions@illustoria.com.

Good luck!

Why Making Cards Makes us Happy

Eunice and Sabrina Moyle, founders of Hello!Lukcy. Photo by Zoe Larkin Photography

Sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle are founders of Hello!Lucky, a San Francisco-based, award-winning purveyor of letterpress greeting cards and other doodled objects. They’re also authors of several books including their latest, Happy Mail and the forthcoming Be the Change.

This week, Eunice and Sabrina join Illustoria to share some insight into their art style and why they love to doodle, hand-letter and send snail mail!

Happy Mail just launched! Enter to win a copy, details at the end of this post. Photo by Zoe Larkin Photography

There are lots of reasons why doodling and writing snail mail cards makes us happy. For one thing, Eunice loves to draw and Sabrina loves to write, so cards are a perfect way to team up!

We also love cards because they’re fun and social.  Since cards have a clear purpose -- to say hi, thank you, happy birthday, etc. -- they can be less daunting than drawing for no reason on a blank piece of paper.   Kind of like bowling with bumpers!

When we make a card, we usually start with the occasion and person in mind. Then, we brainstorm concepts -- the combination of words and images that we think will create a good vibe, a smile, or a laugh. We love to look on Pinterest for inspiration. Sometimes a cool pattern or illustration gives us a great idea that we can apply in a new way. There’s nothing wrong with looking for artists you like and trying to learn their styles, just as long as you make it your own!

Doodling cards is simple. They don’t take a lot of time to draw.  Since they’re small, you can easily try different ideas or start over. Sometimes the simplest cards are the best!

We love cards because they combine words and pictures. We like to think of these as two different languages.  Many of us are more comfortable with words than pictures (ahem, Sabrina!), so cards give us a way to use both -- it’s not so scary to draw when you also have words to fall back on. We’ve seen great cards that are only hand-lettering or hilarious one-liners, and we’ve also seen great cards that are all picture with no words. Our favorite? A pun paired with fun illustration!  Cat puns, especially!

Our rule of thumb for card-writing is keep it short, light, and sincere. We love the fill up the page with hand-lettering and add doodle flare, like rainbows, stars, and hearts.  Writing short messages lets us try different styles without worrying too much about messing up or rambling!  That said, we also love hunkering down to write a multi-page letter to a pen pal -- it’s an amazing way to catch up when you have a lot to say, and way better than a multi-part IM! :D

You might think that in today’s tech-enabled world, handmade cards and handwritten letters aren’t important.  In our personal experience, that’s not true.  Handmade cards and letters are another form of communicating, just like texting, calling, or sending an email. Each one has its place, and a handmade card makes a great impression.  

We like to think of snail mail cards like slow food or home-cooking. They take a while to prepare, but they’re satisfying and unique to the cook or sender.  Social media has its place, too, just like fast food. Sometimes you’re in a hurry and you just need to get a message sent (we love french fries but try not to eat them for every meal ;))

Nothing beats getting a handwritten card in the mail, personally addressed to you.  These days, it’s a memorable experience. It’s something you can hold, read, re-read, and keep forever.  (Sabrina still has letters she exchanged with her BFF in high school! Amazing time capsules!).

Making cards makes us feel more connected.  We like to make cards for friends, family, and even strangers because it allows us focus our attention on relationships.  To us, relationships matter most in life, more than material things. Cards remind us of what really counts!

Sending cards or letters can be like a meditation or gratitude practice. When we sit down to draw a card or write a letter, it immediately puts us in a happy place. Why? Because we’re focusing all our imagination and energy on how we can make people happy. What hilarious idea would make them snort with laughter? What would make them feel warm fuzzies?  Thinking about these things gives us a real high, like planning a surprise party!

You can almost always find a good reason to send a card.  Birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, holidays, and or any time you receive a kind action, gift or letter.  We especially love sending cards to grandparents and people who might not be as tech-savvy. You might even keep a calendar of card-sending occasions, or a list of people you want to write to along with their snail mail addresses.

Most importantly, though, making and sending cards is just good fun.  We crack ourselves up coming up with funny, punny card ideas and we have even more fun sending them to our friends.  So the next opportunity that comes up, grab a pen and some paper, and start doodling!  Pop your creation in the mail and see what happens!

You can pick up lots of card and hand-lettering ideas and inspiration, letter-writing prompts, and even ready-to-write tear-out cards and self-mailing letters in our new book, Happy Mail.  So have fun making your own cards!  We know they’ll be totally paw-some! :D

Sabrina holding a copy of Happy Mail! Photo by Zoe Larkin Photography

To celebrate the official Happy Mail launch, we’d like to offer one of you your own copy! Follow @illustoria_mag and @helloluckycards on Instagram and tag a friend you would send handmade happy mail to and we’ll pick a winner at random!

Call for Interns!

illustration by Paul du Coudray 

As ILLUSTORIA continues to grow and flourish, we are on the look out for some helping hands! If you are a student living in the Bay Area, and have a love of (slash more like an obsession with) children's publishing, illustration and DIY culture, this might just be your dream internship. 

We are now currently looking to fill two positions:  
-Sales and Marketing Internship
-Editorial and Publicity Internship

Details:
-unpaid internship, school credit available
-part-time with flexible hours, approximately 4–6 hours/week
-6-month minimum duration

Our deadline for applications is October 3, 2017. Please see below for job descriptions and further details. Questions? Email them to hello@illustoria.com 

Illustration by Elizabeth Haidle. 

Sales and Marketing Internship
We are looking for a part-time intern to support sales outreach and order fulfillment. The ideal candidate is meticulously organized and detail-oriented, with a passion for children’s literature, illustration and DIY culture. Strong communication and writing skills, ability to multi-task and meet deadlines is essential. 

Qualifications & Skills:
-College student or recent graduate
-2+ years of experience in administrative work
-Strong communication skills
-Detail oriented, strong ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
-In-depth knowledge of Excel, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ (esp. Sheets)
-Basic knowledge of Squarespace and MailChimp

Responsibilities & Duties:
-Outreach to and cultivation of relationships with media, bloggers, potential stockists and partners
-Manage order fulfillment:
          ~Track & record magazine store orders + subscriptions in database
          ~Package for shipment
-Basic website & database maintenance

Please submit your resume, cover letter and 3 references to hello@illustoria.com.

Illustration by Elizabeth Haidle. 

Editorial & Publicity Internship
We are looking for a part-time intern to support editorial content and social media outreach. The ideal candidate is passionate about children’s literature, illustration and DIY culture. Strong communication and writing skills, illustration and graphic design background, and ability to multi-task and meet deadlines is essential.

Qualifications & Skills:
-College student or recent graduate
-2+ years of experience in marketing + editorial work
-Strong communication skills
-Detail oriented, strong ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
-Strong background in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign
-Excellent writing skills
-In-depth knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+

Responsibilities & Duties:
-Write and coordinate weekly to bi-weekly engaging blog posts
-Social media outreach:
        -support and create engaging social media content  
        -create engaging MailChimp newsletter
        -monitor analytics on facebook + twitter
-Marketing + event support:
        -assist in event planning
        -promote events on social media + outreach to local media sources
        -represent ILLUSTORIA at various promotional events
-Create and oversee marketing collateral such as posters, postcards, swag, etc.
-Potential to contribute editorial illustrations + stories  
-Collaborate with team on growing media and partner relationships

Please submit your resume, cover letter, illustration/graphic design examples, website, and 3 references to hello@illustoria.com.

Creator Crush: Mike Lowery

Sneak peek from Issue 5: Motion: Mike Lowery doodles his answers to our Q & Artist interview.

Who cannot absolutely adore Mike Lowery for his amazing doodles, hand-lettering, books, and inspiring-hilarious-addicting-to-watch #randomillustratedfacts?

From Mike Lowery's Instagram feed, where he regularly shares videos of his sketchbook drawings featuring engaging and adorable random illustrated facts. 

Mike is a prolific children's book writer and illustrator who infuses his work with a sense of humor and child-like simplicity that never fails to amuse and delight us. His latest series with Workman Publishing, Doodle Adventures, invites kids to draw their own characters into the story and, page by page, the interactive book continues along via prompts for more illustrations by the reader. It's an ingenious format that combines drawing and doodling with the silly escapades of a wonky cast of characters that will keep everyone anticipating the next funny episode. By the end of the book, the reader will have helped to co-write a totally unique story that can be read over and over again with family and friends for a riotous good time. 

Doodle Adventures Series

Thankfully with three books out (The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs!, The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate!, The Rise of the Rusty Robo-Cat!) and counting in this series, your little doodlers will have enough to keep them creatively satisfied for some time. We are thrilled to share Mike's book trailer for this series, a series which has been described as "a visual Mad Libs: part game, part graphic novel, and a thrilling, interactive experience in which the reader draws him- or herself into the story and becomes the star." So much good!

And a few more glances at Mike's Q & Artist for Illustoria, issue 5: Motion:

Yes! Roald Dahl books...we couldn't agree more. 

Art by Mike Lowery. See The Motion Issue for the full Q & Artist feature!

Don't miss out on Mike's awesome books and make sure to get a copy of The Motion Issue to learn more about what inspires Mike, what he's currently up to, and when he feels his most creative.

And be sure to enter our GIVEAWAY in partnership with Workman Publishing between now and Friday, 9/15/17, for a chance to win a set of Mike's Doodle Adventures books. Head to our Instagram feed for contest details.

Announcing #5: THE MOTION ISSUE

Cover art by Yuliya Gwilym

We are thrilled to present issue #5 of ILLUSTORIA, The Motion Issue. This issue is currently at the printer and will be delivered in the coming weeks so be on the lookout! 

Color proofs of The Motion Issue

The Motion issue is bursting with invigorating stories and comics that will get your brain humming and your feet gearing up for action. We asked writers, artists, and makers to explore motion in all different forms, and the result is a meditation in movement in the form of sea creatures at the aquarium, the gallop of horses, journeys into space and fantastical worlds, the capturing of motion through art and photography, and even the progressive, forward-movement of trailblazers and activists. 

Start off the school year inspired and energized through interviews with writer/activist Kate Schatz and visionary artist Miriam Klein Stahl of the bestseller Rad Women Wordwide.

A spread from our interview with rad women Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl of Rad Women Worldwide and Rad American Women A-Z

Learn how to make your own Victorian-era animated thaumatrope with a DIY activity by our creative director, Elizabeth Haidle.

DIY Victorian-era thaumatrope activity

Become a color detective when you read a brief history of vermilion by pigment and watercolor expert Alexis Joseph of Case for Making and master watercolorist Lindsay Stripling.

A Brief History of Vermilion by Alexis Joseph and Lindsay Victoria Lee, for issue #5: Motion

Fall in love with heroes of art history through eye-opening comics on Eadweard Muybridge, Madeline L'Engle, and Henri Matisse, and enjoy so much more in the form of comics, illustrated stories, book recommendations, a playlist and recipe, coloring pages, and activities.

Photographing Motion: Eadweard Muybridge, by Marlowe Dobbe for issue #5: Motion

 Spread from Literary Giants as Kids: Madeleine L'Engle, by Elizabeth Haidle for issue #5: Motion

So get moving and pre-order your copy of The Motion Issue on our shop page or at your local favorite shop, newsstand, or bookstore! 

DIY: Paper Maché Succulent Garden

Does the wilting monstera plant in the corner of your living room keep you up at night? Is photosynthesis your least favorite word in the dictionary? Has your green thumb been ignoring your calls for the past year and a half? If the answer is yes, don't despair, your days of dying plants are over! With a beautiful, super easy to make DIY paper maché succulent garden, you may never have to touch a watering can again. (That is unless you're recycling into a cool found object sculpture...for instance as a pot for your new paper plants!) We featured this in issue #4: The Grow Issue. Just for you, we've expanded the steps in full, glorious, step-by-step photographic detail. Enjoy!

Paper Maché Succulent Garden

Here's everything you need: 
-stack of old newspapers
-scissors
-mod podge (or your own paper maché glue recipe!) 
-a large bowl
-masking tape
-aluminum foil
-colorful paper
-paint brushes
-acrylic or tempera paint
-terra cotta pots, or any kind of small container for your plants
-tissue paper
-a tablecloth or more newspapers to keep your table clean, this project is messy! 
-optional: blow dryer, for faster drying time!

Step 1 - Mold the aluminum foil into plant like shapes. The masking tape can be helpful for keeping your sculpture in place. 

Step 2 - Cut your newspaper into 1 - 2 inch strips. You're going to need a lot of it, so don't be afraid to cut up a whole stack! (Just make sure everyone is done reading it first!) 

Step 3 - Dip a newspaper strip into the mod podge. Use two fingers to squeeze off the extra glue. Pro tip: You just want to cover your entire strip in a thin layer of 'podge. If you're strips are too wet, you're sculpture will be very soggy and won't hold up. Too little, and it won't stick to the aluminum. 

Step 4 - Tightly wrap the newspaper strips around your aluminum shapes. The tighter you wrap around, the more your sculpture will stay true to it's original form and not get too lumpy. Cover your shapes completely three times around.

Step 5 - Lay out your wet, wrapped shapes on a piece of newspaper to dry overnight or simply blow dry!

Step 6 - Once dry, paint your succulents and pots to your heart's content! You can also glue on bits of paper for embellishments. I used Sakura's Pen Touch Markers to add on details, they're so much fun to use. 

Step 7- Put your plants in your pots with some tissue paper as "dirt" to keep them in place. And voilà, it's your own paper maché garden! At long last, your green thumb can come out of hiding. 

This DIY activity is featured in Illustoria's Issue 4 — The Grow Issue! This issue is chalk full of amazing projects, stories, and comics and it's available at your local bookstore or our online store! 

Why You Ought to Doodle Every Day

Jon Burgerman is a Brooklyn-based, award-winning purveyor of doodles and author of several books including his latest, Jon Burgerman’s Daily Doodle. You might recognize Jon’s art from his popular social media channels, paintings hanging in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, highly-designed airline barf bags, and even a custom line of Crocs™.  

This week, Jon joins Illustoria to share some insight into his quirky art style and why he doodles constantly. 

-----------

There are several reasons why I think drawing is so vital. By the way, drawing and doodling are pretty much the same. I like to use the word doodling because it sounds more causal, goofy, and easy-going—a bit like me!

Photo © Bas Berkhout

I like to doodle every day because it helps me hone my drawing skills. The more I draw, I gain a better understanding of the materials and my own hands. It’s not so much about becoming ‘better’ but gaining more insight into how everything works together.

Photo © Bas Berkhout

Doodling helps me think. I find when I doodle I come up with ideas that I couldn't come with if I didn't have a pen in my hand at the same time. For me drawing and doodling is a discipline of thinking.

Drawing and mark-making in general is just a different means of thinking and articulating visually. Being able to share ideas visually is very important, especially in our overloaded-with-visual-information-modern world. Almost everything we interact with was once originally devised as a drawing. Doodling helps us learn how to speak visually. It’s a global language.

From Jon Burgerman's Daily Doodles. Published by Laurence King Publishing. 

Super accessible and silly prompts for all ages. 

Learn to draw from combining simple shapes. 

Doodle first, then color in!

Our favorite: Tofu gorilla.

From Jon Burgerman's Daily Doodles. Published by Laurence King Publishing. 

We adore this cover and all the ridiculously fun and engaging doodling prompts in this book, which comes with cool doodle stickers to complete and stick anywhere!

Doodling can be meditative and relaxing. It often helps me focus and order my thoughts. Seeing my ideas scribbled down on a page helps me understand them a lot better than juggling them in my head.

But overall, doodling is simple just good fun. Absolutely anyone can do it and get a great kick of it. Creating is fun and it makes us happy. So grab a pen and get doodling. It doesn’t matter what you draw—just have fun, and see what happens!

Now it’s your turn to get doodling. Be sure to enter the #DailyDoodleBook drawing competition from Laurence King Publishing! 

 To see more of Jon’s work, follow him online at @jonburgerman. 

Playlist: Issue #4 Grow

Our playlist for The Grow Issue is all about things growing, changing and transforming. It's not always easy to grow, but with help from these songs we hope you can have the courage to metamorphosize and evolve. Perhaps this music will also let you slow down and watch the rest of the world grow too.

Artwork by © Sofie Louise Dam for ILLUSTORIA #4: The Grow Issue

Playlist: Issue #3 Outside-In

Our playlist for The Outside-In Issue is filled with songs you can carry with you wherever you go, whether it's out in the rain or camped out in a tent pirched in your living room. We hope this music inspires you to go outdoors, look within, and think about what it means to be "outside-in".

Art by © Rachel Garrison for #3: The Outside-In Issue

Playlist: Issue #2 Canvas

Our playlist for The Canvas issue is inspired by all things that come to mind when we hear this word: from the material to a blank slate to endless possibilities. These songs make the perfect soundtrack for getting in the groove of art makin' and creative day dreaming. We hope this playlist sparks the idea for your next genius creation.

Art by © Julia Breckenreid for #2: The Canvas Issue

Playlist: Issue #1 Beginnings

Our playlist for The Beginnings Issue is about all sorts of different beginnings. May these songs inspire you to leap into something new, whether it's planting a seed in your garden, starting a painting, or moving across the world to an exciting new city.

Art by © Aaron Becker for #1: The Beginnings Issue

Cray-Pas Oil Pastels

The first time I picked up an oil pastel was in the fourth grade, when I fell head-over-heels in love with the notoriously shorty of Post-Impressionist fame, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. If I recall, it all started with an assignment to create a class report on a famous artist that I took far too seriously. When the project was assigned, there was no doubt in my mind that I would report on Toulouse-Lautrec. Just the weekend before my grandma and I had visited the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, where I became hypnotized by the artist's boisterous cabaret ladies drawn fanatically in day-glo colors I never knew we were allowed to use. That a lady's face could be colored absinthe green and her legs neon purple simply blew my mind.

Seated Dancer in the Pink Tights, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1890. 

At the Moulin Rouge, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1895. 

I came away from the museum knowing two things:

1. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was my new favorite artist of all time. 
2. Oil pastels, Toulouse-Lautrec's art material of choice, were the coolest thing ever. 

Fast-forward thirteen years later, and I still feel the same way. If you ask me, oil pastels, specifically Sakura of America's Cray-Pas Junior Artist Oil Pastels, are an essential in any art class or creative home. Why, you ask? Well if Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings aren't proof enough, get this: oil pastels are so incredibly waxy and smooth that when you drag a stick across the page it feels like drawing with butter. It's insanely satisfying! 

Also, Cray-Pas are filled to the brim with delicious pigment, and are exceedingly more rich and vibrant than your run-of-the-mill oil pastels. The smooth quality of the sticks allows Cray-Pas colors to be super easy to mix and blend. There's many different styles and techniques for drawing and blending, and it's fun to experiment with oil pastels to see what works.  

Some helpful tips and tricks for using Cray-Pas oil pastels that I've learned over the years:

1. Mixing colors with your fingers (like you easily can with chalk pastels) is fun, but pretty messy. Try using a palette knife to mix, or experiment with the amount of pressure you use when you press down your pastel. 

2. Experiment with different drawing surfaces. Grey and dark beige heavy weight paper amplify the vibrance of the pastels. Pastels also look ultra-cool on cardboard!

3. There are many different stroke methods you can use to create interesting effects with oil pastels. You can layer colors to create unique color combinations, or try sgraffito, a method of scratching lines through thick layers of colors to reveal the color underneath. 

You can also try stippling, a method where you use short, quick strokes or dots of color to create an optical effect when seen from far away, as in Georges Seurat's Pointillism paintings. To create a soft, defused effect like Claude Monet, try scumbling by creating controlled scribbled marks. 

Close-Up of Circus Slideshow,  George Seurat, 1888

Impression, Sunrise, Claude Monet, 1872

4. For inspiration, make sure to check out Toulouse-Lautrec's gorgeous oil pastel sketches of everyday life. 

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

We're so excited to have Sakura sponsor Issue #4 of Illustoria, which is on shelves and available now. We hope you enjoy our Cray-Pas oil pastel tips, now get out there and start sketching! 

Illustoria in East Bay Express

We are so honored to be reviewed in East Bay Express! Read the full review here or in the image below. Thanks, Oakland, Berkeley, and East Bay for all your support of our indie publication. Without the support of our local community--from librarians and parents to booksellers and shop owners--we couldn't do what we do.

This indie mag is rooted in the diverse community here in the Bay Area, and we thrive on working with local artists, writers, and makers. Local contributors include chef Rayneil DeGuzman of Ramen Shop; sculptor Ruth Kneass; issue 4 cover artist Lindsay Stripling; celebrated kid-lit author Lemony Snicket; writer, artist, and teacher Lisa Brown; writer Kate Schatz and artist Mariam Klein Stahl (Rad American Women A-Z); Matt Dick of Small Trade Co; pastry chef Kiri Mah of Pizzaiolo; Alexis Joseph of Case for Making; illustrators Mike Dutton, Rachel Garrison, Micah Player, Willie Real, and so so so many more.

Thanks again to everyone who have supported Illustoria through our first year, and to all those of you who are just discovering us: please support us with a subscription or by picking up a copy at your local library, bookstore, or shop!

Review by Ruth Gebreyesus for East Bay Express, who notes that "As a grown up, I particularly enjoyed the magazine's book recommendations section, which featured a diversity of children's books from Rita Williams-Garcia's Oakland Black Panther tale One Crazy Summer to Yuko Higuchi's fantastical Magical Coloring Museum."

Renew Now! (10% off + free bookmarks)

Wow—already four issues of Illustoria out in the world! Renew your subscription today and get 10% off your subscription of issues 5–8 + a set of three Illustoria bookmarks! Enter promo code RENEW at checkout. Offer good thru July 31, 2017 (or while supplies last) for early-bird re-subscribers only. Continue to support our indie mag for creative kids & their grownups. Subscribers are *so essential* to Illustoria. We can’t emphasize enough how important each and every one of you are in helping us to realize our vision and to make possible the collection of talent we present in every issue.

Image courtesy of Miranda Rosbach of the popular literary blog My Bookbloom

Renew now to receive a year’s worth of inspiring stories, art, comics, interviews, recipes, DIY activities, crafts, coloring, book and music recs, and many more interactive ways for kids and grownups to engage creatively throughout the year. Each renewal supports our indie publication--we don't rely on ads or mass distribution--so every subscriber counts and is deeply appreciated. Thank you in advance for your support!

xox 

The Illustoria Team

Heath Newsstand Launch Party

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

Get out your party hats and come celebrate with us on June 3rd, 2017 for the launch of Heath Newsstand, a new gorgeously curated space of printed publications at Heath Ceramics!  From 10 AM–1 PM, we'll be hosting a craft table where kiddos & grownups alike can color, write, and make their very own books and zines. While you create, there will be delicious pastries provided by Tartine Manufactory and free juice samples from the Juice Shop truck. But wait there's more—we'll be giving away adorable limited-edition pins, stickers, temporary tattoos and postcards. What could be more delightful?

In addition to crafts, we'll be showing off our newly released Issue 4: The Grow Issue along with our past issues 1–3. 

After you've crafted to your heart's content, stick around to meet contributors from other local publications:

2–4 PM: Meet the team behind the National Magazine Award-winning publication The California Sunday Magazine. Full of ambitious true features and cinematic photography from across California, the West, Asia, and Latin America. Chat with Leo Jung, Creative Director, and Jacqueline Bates, Photography Director. And, don’t miss the free samples from San Francisco-based Original Grahams, graham crackers with quite the underground following in the city.

5–7 PM: Franchise will be presenting their newest issue and limited-edition print giveaways. It’s a global basketball print-only magazine full of vibrant photography, illustrations, interviews with designers and players, and covers locations from LA to Ghana. We’ll have beer from our friends at Fort Point Brewery along with bread and cheese from Tartine.

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

Heath Newsstand is a democratic space for the local community and visitors alike, with a wide range of topics to explore: international design publications, hard-to-find printed matter from far-off cultures, food and lifestyle magazines, and your favorite daily newspapers. There’s also a sweet selection of classic candy, snacks, cold drinks, cards from our favorite printers, and flowers from La Fleuriste. Plus, bags and accessories from Heath Sews, perfect for work and travel. 

For more information about the event, check out: http://mailchi.mp/heathceramics/youre-invited-heath-newsstand-grand-opening?e=94d3664172
 

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

What: Heath Newsstand Launch Party -- ILLUSTORIA DIY bookmaking & crafts

When: June 3rd, 2017

Time: We'll be there 10–1 PM, but the festivities continue until 7 PM!

Where: Heath Ceramics, 2900 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

RSVP here.

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

See you there! 

Bay Area Book Festival 2017

We can barely contain our excitement for the literary extravaganza that is the Bay Area Book Festival coming up this Saturday and Sunday, June 3rd + 4th, 2017, from 10 AM–6 PM in Downtown Berkeley! ILLUSTORIA will be holding a Book Arts Craft Table for kids and grownups to make their very own zines and books. And that's not all! We'll be giving away tons of ILLUSTORIA swag, including cute bookmarks, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos and postcards! 

In addition to crafts, we'll be selling the newly released Issue 4: The Grow Issue along with past issues 1–3, and our super durable, extra stylish, limited-addition tote bags! 

You won't want to miss the incredible lineup of speakers and events at this year's Bay Area Book Festival, including critically acclaimed children book authors Jon Agee, William Joyce, and the amazing illustrator Ana Aranda. Check out the stacked lineup on their website at https://www.baybookfest.org/2017-schedule/. 

FREE admission to the outdoor street fair. A $15 pass gets you into all indoor sessions. More info here. 

What: Bay Area Book Festival

Where: Downtown Berkeley

When: June 3 + 4, 2017

Time: 10 AM – 6 PM

Can't wait to see you there!