WINTER 2019
the journal LevinLand’s
DREW BARDANA
Character by Design
BOB MACMAHON
"Bobtoons"
EMMA CHADWICK Warm & Cuddly
Illustrators
JULIE MELLAN
Delightfully French
ROXY MUNRO
"Mazescapes"
Illustration by Rhonda Voo
VISIONARY ARTIST
RHONDA VOO
Front Cover Art : Rhonda Voo
Co-Publisher/Editor Gregg Masters
The Illustrators Journal/Winter 2019
Publisher/Creative Director Lon Levin Contributing Writer Leslie Cober-Gentry Contributing Writer Heather Leary "Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
All the work depicted in this magazine are the property of the artists who created the work and cannot be used in any way without the expressed written permission of the publisher and artists.
— John Wooden
DREW BARDANA Imaginative artist Drew just wants to be a famous illustrator! We think he's on his way. RHONDA VOO Visionary artist & accomplish designer, illustrator and sculptress "Voos" us with her brilliance KSENIA KOPALOVA One of Russia's top young illustrators shows us her style. EMMA CHADWICK A modern version of Beatrix Potter who once was planning to follow a career in Clinical Psychology.
BOB MACMAHON Bob's kidlit artwork is traditional, warm, humorous and extremely appealing to children and adults alike. ROXY MUNRO The master of the "mazescape" and other kidlit delights gives us some insight into her brilliance. DIGITAL PAINTING Illustrators/Publisher Lon Levin talks about his extensive digital painting experience. JULIE MELLAN French illustrator Julie admits she's a Disney-lover. Her artwork reflects that influence and takes it a step further.
Just My Opinion
you can’t do it
ALONE a·lone
by Lon Levin
adjective
I became an art director figuring it was better for me to direct artists than to fight with art directors who didn't "get me".
“The hardest part of being alone, is being alone.”
I got a position at 20th Century Fox as an art director for feature films. I was forced into interaction with dozens of people from all parts of the entertainment business. My job could not be done alone, I needed help, support and co-operation from other workers. I learned then that to accomplish great things you have to be part of a team.
having no one else present. -Anthony T.Hincks
There are people who believe that “alone time” is a good thing. It gives you time to think and reflect on what you’re doing. Some people prefer to work alone and find themselves more productive when they do. This is not the “alone” I am talking about. I once thought my illustration work was so good that I could do the piece, send it out and wait for job offers to come in. I attribute part of that thinking to going to an elite Art College and hearing how special anyone who graduated those hallowed halls was. After a lot of alone time I realized that I wasn’t going to be a success by myself. I needed to interact with other creative and non-creatives to get their feedback.
I spent 23 years in the entertainment business and at every stop I made it my business to stay humble and always look to be as helpful as I could to my fellow workers, no matter what level they were on. My last position at Warner Bros was as senior director of the art department for worldwide marketing. I worked with a dozen or so people who very talented and fun to be with. But, for some reason I felt alone. I felt like I needed to do something different. Oddly, I needed to be alone.
“Sometimes you need to take a break from everyone and spend time alone, to experience, appreciate and love yourself.” ― Robert Tew
I spent the next few years finding out what would make me happy, fulfilled and something that could benefit others. I illustrated children’s books, I did a daily cartoon for an on-line company, I bought, renovated and sold homes. I became a real estate agent. Finally I decided to combine all of my goals into a magazine that celebrates Illustration. A vehicle that allows me to meet and interview tremendously talented and fascinating people. More than creating an interesting publication that gets intimate with it’s subjects I’ve created a community of people who want to learn from each because as I stated no one does anything of value without the help of others, because that’s what life and progress is all about. So I am grateful to have met so many artists and I am happy that they are part of this venture we call The Illustrators Journal. Illustration by Lon Levin
RHON
DA V OO
KSENIA K O PA L O VA by Lon Levin
What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?
There's a common stereotype about artists in childhood and kids in general, that all of them are so naturally creative and ingenious that the only task of an art teacher and parents is not to stifle this creativity. I was a complete opposite to this.
When did you first think about art as something you wanted to do? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors? Even though I have been drawing a lot ever since I remember, it wasn't until the last years of my first university that I have started thinking about it as professional practice. Back then I was studying sociology, but was still drawing quite a lot. I started taking commissions to earn some money and gain experience in freelancing as an illustrator. Doing this, I soon realized it's not sociology that I want to do for a living. At the same time, I really lacked a lot of skills and that's why decided to continue my education and enroll in an illustration program at British Higher School of Art and Design. Even though at that time the profession of an illustrator wasn't considered a way to gain stable income, my family was really supportive of my decision, which I am really grateful for.
Looking at my childhood drawings I can't help but think: How could I be so boring?.. I loved copying images from encyclopedias, meticulously - as much as a 5 year old child possibly can - redrawing birds and trees from biology books. My notepad scribbles were very typical princesses and flowers. Looking at them today I would never think the person who drew that would become an artist. This boring and meticulous diligence, though, might have become the reason why I was pretty successful in studies - including the studies in an art school for kids, which was one of the few places to get prepared for the art university in a small town where I grew up. That school was very conservative in its approach, giving classes where 10 year olds had to draw Aristotle plaster heads and home ware still life. Nowadays it seems ridiculous to me to teach art to kids like this.
A
Interview answers Bob McMahon Humorist&Kidlit book artist The art of Bob McMahon is funny, endearing and adorable.
Bobtoons Interview with Bob McMahon by Lon Levin
Interview answers Bob McMahon
Your style is so distinctive, how did that come about? Or did it just happen? Who are your art heroes? Mine are all the artists of Mad magazine, Charles Bragg, Tenniel and Daumier among others. I think we have most of the same influences! To add to that list I would put political cartoonists Jeff McNelly, Pat Oliphant, Paul Conrad. You’ve work in many areas of the commercial world, any you like best? Back when I was doing advertising work I liked doing movie posters and I also did art for a number of corporate publications too. Met some great people there. The posters I did were for some really, really small straight to video type movies but it was fun anyway. I remember the deadlines for advertising work were just insane! They would have you do a full color artwork from sketch to finish in like three days but they did pay good money back then. finally responded.
Mixologists Holiday Drinks “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” E. Sitwell
BUTTER BEER WWW.Delish.com
...And good holiday drinks that warm the body and soul. Her’s some of our recommendations HOT APPLE TODDY PORTA VIA/BEVERLY HILLS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
6 cups water 2 (12 oz) cans cream soda 1 cup brown sugar 1stick (1/2 cup)unsalted butter 1/2 cup butterscotch syrup, divided 3 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups spiced rum Whipped cream,for serving gold sanding sugar, for serving
Three oz Apple Puree 4 oz Hot Water 2 oz Oola Waitsburgh Bourbon Whiskey Garnish with thinly cut apple slices
DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS
1. |
1. | Make a puree by sautéing Mackintosh Apples with
water, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ¼ cap of vanilla extract and a little lemon juice. Cook down the apples…takes about 10 minutes Throughly blend the cooked apples and syrup. Run through fine mesh strainer. Build the cocktail in a coffee cup
In a Crock-Pot, combine water, cream soda, sugar, butter, 1/4 cup butterscotch, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and salt. Cover and cook low for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, until warm and butter is melted. Remove lid and stir in rum.
2. | Pour remaining butterscotch syrup onto a shallow plate.
Dip rims of mugs in syrup before filling with butter beer. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle sanding sugar and serve.