Free Activities from the ILLUSTORIA Archives
FREE & DOWNLOADABLE! Pages from Illustoria’s printable activity pack, “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE.”
With kids and parents sheltered at home during these extremely difficult times, I’ve been reflecting on what Illustoria has to offer and how we can contribute to families in a small way. Since we launched the magazine in 2016, a guiding ethos has been to inspire creativity across generations; to get grownups and kids to slow down together to read, write, make, draw, play, and get into the mood for creative experiences together off screen. Now as we find ourselves in our homes, finding brilliant new ways to stay connected virtually, it seems technology has never been more appreciated and needed. And yet—the tactile act of making, baking, crafting; the joy of snuggling together with a book (or kids’ mag); the pleasure of dancing to music and the beat of our own drums…many, who are fortunate to, are finding more time and space for these simple, timeless activities.
Whether you are needing a break from the kids (these pages can keep them occupied for hours!) or looking for more inspiration for activities to engage in together, I hope families will find some fun distraction and joyful art-making here. This 42-page collection represents some of our favorite activities from Issues 1–5—all out-of-print issues that we’re so thrilled to revisit and bring back to life in this way—and represent contributions by amazingly talented writers, artists, and staff through the years.
Feel free to print out a copy of this activity collection, staple it together, and have your kids customize the cover with their own colorful drawings. If you don’t have a printer, many of the activities can still be referenced and enjoyed off your device. For those with a home printer, please consider printing an extra copy or two for a neighbor or kids you know who might enjoy these activities.
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for your support through the years and for being a part of our community.
******DOWNLOAD BELOW*******
PRINTABLE EDITION (single pages; PLEASE PRINT DOUBLE-SIDED + STAPLE TOGETHER)
DIGITAL EDITION (double pages; BEST FOR VIEWING ON SCREEN—not for print)
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.
Heath Make Good Market 2019
Come join ILLUSTORIA at Heath SF’s annual Make Good Market—an extraordinary event with over 30 talented vendors—artisan-makers and designers who will be on hand to share their craft, process, and goods with you. We are happy to be back at Heath, selling magazines (including discounted back issue bundles!) and hosting a DIY collage art activity that easily doubles as wrapping paper for your favorite gifts.
Find out more about Heath’s Make Good Market here.
It will be an amazing time to learn about the process and inspiration behind some of the makers whose work we most admire. Come celebrate creativity, select timeless, quality gifts of all price ranges, and make art with us. Then head to Tartine for a delicious bite to eat and to Playmountain East and Aesthetic Union for more goodness!
We hope to see you there!
Watercolor-Resist Cards for Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is just around the corner… do you have your card ready? Not to fear, we’ve got you covered! Using Sakura’s awesomely vibrant Koi Water Colors and some oil pastels, you can whip up a beautiful and unique card that will make your mom, grandma, or the motherly friend in your life swoon. Better yet, it will make the fridge where it will likely be magnet-ed shine with beauty.
Watercolor-resist techniques involve putting a layer of oily pigment or tape onto your surface first, so when you apply the watercolor, it resists, or avoids, the oil or tape. It’s an awesome trick to try when you want to reveal a hidden message with color, or when you’re hitting an art-block and want to experiment with materials to spark a new idea.
Materials:
Koi Water Colors
Watercolor paper
oil pastel (Sakura’s Cray-Pas pastels work great!) or china marker
Step 1: Draw your Mother’s Day message on your watercolor paper with an oil pastel or china marker. Be sure to make your letters nice and thick with lots of layer of pigment.
Your message will start off invisible… just wait ‘til we add color!
Step 2: Reveal your invisible message by painting on top of it with Sakura’s Koi Watercolors! We love the day-glo colors of this watercolor set. It even comes with a little mixing tray and refillable watercolor brush, making it portable and perfect for travel. Just fill up the bottom half of the brush with water and screw on the top. Squeeze the brush for water to fill the brush tip, and then mix it with your watercolors to create your shade!
Sakura’s Koi Watercolor set even has two side sponges for you to clean your brush. So compact!
Step 3: Once you’ve painted to your heart’s content, leave out the cards to dry. Your unique Mother’s Day card is complete! Now all it needs is a sweet message on the back. :-)
If you loved this DIY, you won’t want to miss our special Mother’s Day giveaway of a copy of ILLUSTORIA’s Issue #8: Home and your very own Sakura Koi Watercolor set! It’s the perfect gift to self or the creative mom in your life. Check out our instagram post for entry.
Huge thanks to Sakura of America for their continued support and sponsorship of our publication. They help to bring artfulness into our magazine and into your home with every issue.
Issue #8: The Home Issue
Cover Art by Carson Ellis
This very dear issue, which features uber talented kid-lit superstars Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy, children’s book pros Nikki McClure and Melissa Sweet, fave musician Andrew Bird and talented designer Katherine Tsina Bird, is all about the subject most dear to our hearts: Home. This issue is also the last one curated by our founding editor, Joanne Chan, as she passes the torch to McSweeney’s (!!!), so you’ll find plenty of extra special love and care pored into it.
The Home Issue showcases all your favorite series like Literary Giants by DocuComix and A Brief History of Color (starring Prussian Blue) by Alexis Joseph and Lindsay Stripling, as well as some timeless original illustrated stories like the non-fiction piece “Beyond the Blueprint: Artists Who Reinvented Home” by Claire Astrow and the first in Lindsay Stripling’s Lore, Myth, Legend series.
If you’re already familiar with Illustoria, you’ll know that we find homes in stories and pictures that sometimes leave us feeling warm and cozy and familiar, and other times take us to extraordinary places beyond our wildest imaginations. Some of our favorite artists and writers contribute to this issue in the form of interviews, original stories, art, and activities to share their unique and extraordinary interpretations on what “home” means to them. You’ll find that there are many ways to define and conjure up the feelings of home, and you’ll also find plenty of opportunities within these pages to partake in sharing what home means to you.
We hope you will consider bringing The Home Issue into your very own home!
“Shelter,” by Jamie Bennett
Excerpt from our interview with New York Times bestselling artists and writers Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy
“Fairytale Homes,” by Docu-Comix, whose Literary Giants and Their Pets is also found in this issue
“How Do You Say Home?,” by Rosie Brand
Excerpt from our interview with award-winning picture book artist and writer Melissa Sweet
“A Brief History of Prussian Blue,” one of our readers’-favorite series by Alexis Joseph (Case for Making) and Lindsay Stripling
“Beyond the Blueprint: Artists Who Reinvented the Possibilites of Home,” by Claire Astrow
Our “Q & Artist” series features beloved artist and textile designer Hillery Sproatt
Excerpt from our interview with quirky and hyper-talented cut paper artist Nikki McClure
A million thanks to our sponsor Sakura of America for their continued support of Illustoria, and for the partnership support of Case for Making!
Issue 8 Home Contributors include:
Cover Art by Carson Ellis
Carson Ellis & Colin Meloy
Nikki McClure
Melissa Sweet
Andrew Bird & Katherine Tsina Bird
A Brief History of Prussian Blue by Alexis Joseph and Lindsay Stripling
Beyond the Blueprint by Claire Astrow
Literary Giants and Their Pets by Docu-Comix
Q & Artist with Hillery Sproatt
DIY Basket Weaving
Fairytale Homes
DIY Peg Dolls
Legends, Myths, Lore by Lindsay Stripling
DIY Cardboard Furniture
Art & comics by….
Shelley Couvillion
Jesse Zhang
Diana Schoenbrun
Anne Pomel
Jamie Bennett
Rosie Brand
Nigel Sussman
Chelsea Larsson
Eline Veldhuisen
Nelleke Verhoeff
Drew Lytle
Jenna Lechner
Vaughn Parish
Illustoria at Heath SF's Make Good Market
Need some holiday cheer, thoughtful gifts, and custom wrapping? Look no further! Join us at Heath SF’s second annual Make Good Market!
Illustoria will be hosting a *FREE* design-your-own gift wrap station with stamps, art supplies, and paper just waiting for your unique creative output. Shop locally made goods for yourself or holiday gifting, then come by our table to DIY giftwrap. We’ll also be selling the coolest creative mag for kids, of course!
The Make Good Market is a celebration of people, place, process, and product. Check out over 30 different designers and makers demonstrating their craft and offering up their gorgeous goods. Spend the day learning about vase throwing, wreath making, and more. Some of Illustoria’s fave local vendors include Dandelion Chocolate, Jacob May, Silvia Song, and Aesthetic Union.
See the full list of vendors here. And check out this interview with Cathy Bailey on the meaning behind the Make Good Market.
WHEN:
Saturday, December 8, 10–5pm
&
Sunday, December 9, 10–3pm
WHERE:
San Francisco Factory & Showroom
2900 18th Street, CA 94110
Thanks to Heath for hosting us and to our sponsor Sakura of America for supplying us with plenty of art supplies so we all can design and doodle our hearts out!
DIY Custom Kicks
Activity featured in ILLUSTORIA Issue 2: Canvas, Art by Elizabeth Haidle.
Have you always dreamed of customizing your own pair of sneakers? It’s way easier than you ever thought. In honor of #Inktober, we thought we’d share a favorite DIY activity from ILLUSTORIA Issue #2: Canvas. Check it out!
Materials:
-pair of canvas sneakers (or a piece of fabric if you don’t want to draw on your shoes)
-sharpie, fabric paint, or stamps with an ink pad
-brush, if you’re using fabric paint
-scrap piece of paper and pencil
Ask for your parent’s permission before decking out a design on a fresh pair of shoes!
Sketch out your shoe design on a piece of paper. Challenge yourself to come up with your very own logo or catch phrase!
Once you’ve settled on a design, grab a sharpie, fabric paint + brush, or stamps and ink and doodle to your heart’s content.
All done? Now it’s time to show em’ off! Head outside and display your awesome new kicks to the world.
Activity featured in ILLUSTORIA Issue 2: Canvas, Art by Elizabeth Haidle.
Loved this DIY activity? ILLUSTORIA #1—7 are filled with even more rad do-it-yourself art projects, recipes and story telling activities from fabric painting to delicious cherry almond bars. Take a look here, and happy drawing.
DIT (Do-It-Together) Collaborative Paint Chip Banner
Looking for a fun and simple art project to do with your kiddos or friends? Look no further! With just a few simple materials you can make upcycled paint chip banners (or individual bookmarks) and fill an afternoon with art-making, collaboration, and silly antics around the table. Here at Illustoria we believe in inspiring creativity every day with the simplest of materials and the best of friends and loved ones. Enjoy!
MATERIALS
Paint chip cards
Collage paper (old magazines, tissue paper, construction paper, etc.)
Pens or Crayons
Scissors
Glue
STEPS
For 3 or more people
1. Each person is given a paint chip, box of collages papers, pen, scissors, glue.
2. Set time for 2 minutes! Personalize the paint chip as much as you can, snip it/ glue stuff on it, doodle!
3. When the timer goes off, pass it left for your partner to continue for another 2 mins.
4. Keep going ‘round and add paint chips when you feel like one is complete.
5. Hole punch your paint chips at the top and use twine to string through.
Ta da! A collaborative paint chip banner made by you and your friends :-)
White on Black: Sakura Gelly Roll White Pens
Art made with Gelly Roll White Pens from Sakura of America by our art director, Elizabeth Haidle
Today our art director, Elizabeth Haidle, shares a few tips on how to spark a certain magic with a simple tool which has quickly become our current best-ever, favorite doodle pen: Sakura's Gelly Roll White!
On the days when I put pencil to paper and nothing is coming to mind...or that point in a project where I've worked myself into a corner and none of the results are satisfying...I find that switching things up can work a certain magic.
Just reversing the light and darks—starting with black paper and drawing with white lines—usually leads to something refreshing, new and unexpected.
Elizabeth's son Eli made this luminescent drawing of a feather using a White Gelly Roll Pen on black Strathmore paper.
My son Eli and I tried out a thin black Strathmore paper and also their thick and luscious 'blackboard' paper, more like a cardstock.
(Which we both prefer, as more effects are possible....like smearing the paint before it dries and even layering more lines on top of that.)
Art by Elizabeth Haidle
We churned out a few as unusual birthday cards, with notes on the back—so much more interesting than buying something at the store.
Create your own original art. With these white pens you'll be guaranteed to get some stunning and impressive results.
Thanks to Sakura of America--our longtime sponsors--who will be giving away free Gelly Roll and Pigma Micron pens at the Illustoria pop-up shop at Morningtide next weekend, Sunday, Sept 9th.
DIY: Drawing in Reverse
© Elizabeth Haidle 2018.
For days when you feel like you're in an art rut, simply out of ideas or just plain bored, here's a rad, instantly inspiring DIY drawing project to keep in your back pocket. Have you ever tried drawing.... in reverse? Sounds strange and even a little intimidating, but it's actually a fantastic way to spark your imagination without breaking a sweat. By using an eraser to draw instead of a pencil or pen, your page suddenly becomes a playground for zany, totally original ideas, doodles, and experimental drawings. Grab your eraser and get ready to look at the world in a whole new way!
What you need:
- Graphite Powder (get at an art supply store or online)
- Erasers - large, small, all shapes
- Paper - cardstock, watercolor or multi-media…anything thicker than printer paper
- Larger placemat, newspaper, or something under your project…it can be a tad messy!
© Elizabeth Haidle 2018.
STEPS:
1. Using a crumpled up paper towel or tissue, dip into the jar of graphite powder and coat one side, then rub in circular motions across your page until an even tone of grey appears. (Don’t be afraid to press down quite a bit!)
2. Lightly brush any excess powder away by whisking another tissue across the surface. The graphite should be kind of ‘scrubbed into’ the paper, like a stain.
3. With a pencil, sketch in a few lines to show which shapes you intend to make lighter (might be the area around a shape, as in this case!) Erase with a giant eraser or kneaded eraser (my fav)
4. When you have the shape you’d like, fill in details with a finer eraser, the end of a pencil, or one of those refillable cartridge erasers (these can apply a decent amount of pressure)
5. Now add finishing details in pencil or pen. You can even overlay thin watercolor washes on top of the erased spaces or the graphite-tone parts, just be aware that the moment you put water down, it’ll fix your image on the page in a permanent way—no longer erasable.
Here are other images made using this method:
© Elizabeth Haidle 2018.
And a process vid, to see it in action:
© Elizabeth Haidle 2018.
Love this DIY project? Check out our Instagram Giveaway to win Elizabeth Haidle's completed piece from the DIY video (pictured above) ! More details on the giveaway can be found here. And stay tuned for more black-and-white themed DIY projects in our next ILLUSTORIA Issue #8: Black and White, coming oh-so-soon.
Announcing #5: THE MOTION ISSUE
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!
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!
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!
Oakland Book Festival 2017
Don't miss the Oakland Book Festival this Sunday, May 21st, 2017, from 11am–6pm! ILLUSTORIA will be there with plenty of magazines--including the just-out issue 4: The Grow Issue -- and lotsa swag including temp tattoos, stickers, coloring pages, and pins. We'll be at booth 22 in the kids' activity area, where you and your creative little ones can color, craft, make zines and create your own custom bookmarks with us. Meet Joanne and Mark, the publisher and co-founders of Illustoria and craft and chat kids' lit with our team. We would love to meet you!
Check out the impressive list of authors at this not-to-be-missed annual event for literary lovers in the heart of downtown Oakland:
There are events and talks galore so check out all the happenings here.
What: Oakland Book Festival
When: Sunday, May 21st, 2017
Time: 11am–6pm
Where: Oakland City Hall, Downtown Oakland
See you there!
Indie Bookstore Day w/ ILLUSTORIA + DIESEL Oakland
Mark your calendars! April 29th is Independent Bookstore Day (2017) and you'll find Illustoria at one of our absolute fave local bookshops, Diesel in Oakland! The day will be full of events and activities catered to your literary (and little one's) heart's delight. Grownups with creative kids, come drop in from 1-2 pm for a craft session with Illustoria. We'll make easy-peasy and totally original bound books and zines with kids, and there will be stamps and coloring for all. Take home bookmarks, pins, and other cool swag. We'll even have a temp tattoo station!
WHEN: Saturday, April 29th, 2017 / 1-2pm
WHAT: Indie Bookstores Day
Kids' Craft Time w/ ILLUSTORIA
WHERE: Diesel, A Bookstore
5433 College Ave
Oakland, CA 94618
Also check out these happenings at Diesel Oakland throughout the day:
10am - noon: Big Kid / Little Kid Juice Stand. Mimosas for the adults, and OJ for the kiddies. Books for everybody.
1-2pm: Kids' Craft Time with Illustoria.
4-5pm: Literary Happy Hour. Our featured item this year is the IBD limited-edition, A Literary Cocktail Party. Pouring their signature cocktails from the book will be, Edan Lepucki -- Tequila Negroni; Novella Carpenter -- Beet Kvass Shots; and Jacqueline Luckett -- Dirty Martini. Cheers!
We couldn't agree more with this testimony to the relevance of indie bookstores today, from the staff at Diesel:
"Bookstores are unique places in the chaos and hubbub of our modern times. They are places where you can come to disconnect, relax, and enjoy a moment of silence, yet simultaneously they are also places where you can feel more engaged with and informed about the world around you. Bookstores embody dichotomy: antiquated yet ever-more-relevant, sanctuaries of knowledge but purveyors of distraction, nerdy yet sophisticated, esoteric and yet always welcoming. Cities across the nation have seen the resurgence of these oh-so-vital centers of conscience and community, and we want to celebrate with you! So come out and enjoy a day of browsing, reading, and reveling in all things book-related."
Come surround yourself with great books and let's celebrate ideas, crafts, and curiosity together. Here's to our thriving literary community. Yay, Oakland! Yay, Indie Bookstores Day!
THE CANVAS ISSUE is IN
Cover art by Herve Tullet, from his book Mix It Up!, published by Chronicle Books; Cover design by Elizabeth Haidle
We are so thrilled to announce that Issue 2 has arrived and is getting ready to ship to our dear readers! (Stockists: Please contact us to place your order!) The Canvas Issue is overflowing with vibrant, gorgeous art by some of our favorite artists and writers. From the awesome cover art and interview feature with Press Here author Hervé Tullet to a Q&A with Tony DiTerlizzi of The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Search for WondLa series, a biographical story on Martha Graham by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Marlowe Dobbe, a comic on Georgia O'Keeffe by Todd Webb, a non-fiction piece, "Beyond the Canvas," by our very own Elizabeth Haidle of Docu-Comix featuring artists Lee Bontecou, Frank Stella, Diego Rivera, Louise Bourgeois, and Christo & Jeanne-Claude and so so much more.... It's an embarrassment of riches to be sure!
Here are a few pages from the packed 64-page issue.... Please enjoy! : )
Excerpt from "Beyond the Canvas: Artists Who Reinvented the Rectangle" by Elizabeth Haidle
Excerpt from "Mix, Splash, Muddle" by Julia Breckenreid
DIY twig mobile by our very own Claire Astrow!
Excerpt from our interview with Tony DiTerlizzi
Excerpt from "Georgia In the Desert" by Todd Webb, a comic that draws from O'Keeffe's own writing.
Purchase your copy here or ask for issue 2 at your fave local bookstore. xox
The ILLUSTORIA Story
Hello and welcome to Illustoria, a place for visual storytelling and DIY culture. Two years ago when I was a children’s book editor at Lucasfilm working among some of the most amazing storytellers in film, television, comics and books, I had a vision for a new type of magazine for kids—one that would celebrate stories, art and creativity. A magazine that, like any good book for children, could be equally enjoyed by grownups.
Handmade book by Marcas, age 6
Welcome to ILLUSTORIA, a place for visual storytelling and DIY culture. We commission and celebrate the works of established and up-and-coming artists, writers and makers. Our commitment is to providing a high-quality print magazine that inspires and delights creative kids & their grownups through original stories, art, interviews and activities. This is the origins of our story:
Two years ago when I was a children’s book editor at Lucasfilm, I had a vision for a new type of magazine for kids—one that would showcase stories and art while giving readers insight into the creative process. A magazine that, like any good book or entertainment for children, could be equally enjoyed by grownups.
Why a children’s magazine at such a precarious time for print? For one, for the love of print. But also because I really wanted to see this vision out in the world. As a mother of two working in the field of children's book publishing, I felt fortunate everyday to be collaborating with amazingly talented illustrators, comic artists and storytellers. At Lucasfilm I was surrounded by passionate people who shared a love of storytelling in all forms--through writing, illustration, animation, film, television, performance and music. It was around all this creative energy that I felt compelled to express something unique and true to myself. I was ready to create something meaningful that I could not only bring home to my kids, but share with them.
I wanted an experience where kids and grownups could enjoy comics and stories together, be exposed to contemporary artists and makers working their crafts out in the world, discover the next best song to put on repeat, find a fun new recipe to cook up for dinner, feed their imaginations and get inspired to make, journal, draw, craft and express something unique and true to themselves.
I was also witnessing the incredible renaissance taking place in the realm of children's books. Like wildflowers spreading on the High Line, new ideas and styles and voices were thriving. For all the agonizing over the decline of print publishing, there came a surge of high-quality picture books, graphic novels, chapter book series and early readers. Artists and writers declared a new playing field with the picture book manifesto. New indie presses and established houses dared to go against the tried and true and readers began to find books without pictures, graphic retellings of classics, oversized books that don't fit spine-out on bookshelves, books that enchanted big people as much as they did little people, books without happy endings and books that said something brand new and made us wonder.
Also all around me I saw a proliferation of quality print magazines that put content, design, and artistry above ads and mass production. These were magazines that I couldn't get enough of, that I wanted to pore over, collect, share and keep on my coffee table forever. They were founded by fellow staunch lovers of print who captured an audience eager to slow down and take in well-curated, beautiful, intelligent stories and pictures.
I was sure that a well-designed, thoughtful, contemporary children's magazine--one that celebrated visual storytelling and artists as much as it did a DIY ethos--was not only missing but would be welcomed by a new generation of parents and young readers. Where was the publication, like all those wonderful children's books, that I'd want to read and feel inspired by as much as my own two kids would? I couldn't wait to shepherd the idea to life.
Now, here we are in 2016 and that vision, the magazine, is taking shape. I have an awesome group of folks realizing and creating ILLUSTORIA along with me, whose smart ideas and playful perspectives have made it something bigger and better than I could have imagined. With backgrounds in design, comics, illustration, writing and publishing, they share a belief in the power of stories, art and creative expression. We are hard at work on our first issue, all about beginnings. In it we learn from Cece Bell about the making of her graphic novel El Deafo, discover how Andrew Bird prototyped a make-shift violin at age 4, glimpse into Aaron Becker's process illustrating Journey. On top of that we have original contributions from dozens of new and familiar artists and writers in the form of illustrated stories, comics, DIY activities and more.
I hope you follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and make sure to sign up for our newsletter so you get the latest ILLUSTORIA news in your inbox. If you like what you see, please consider a subscription or a gift subscription for a loved one to our magazine. I would be thrilled to have your company as we see this vision through and embark on this new adventure.
Happy Reading!
Joanne