going nuts

alice fatcat is WIPing

hatching faces is actually much more easier than painting them - at least for me

lol this is kriemhild

Talking about Venice with Yuko Shimizu

my workshop outcome

hellothar

This post is not really with pictures or sketches, its more a rant about my vacation to Venice and the workshop with Yuko Shimizu. Important to notice: i dont mean the creator of HelloKitty but THIS NY based Illustrator. Im sure you know her works when you see it.

I went to the workshop after a suggestion of steffi schütze ( missmatzenbatzen) and we both decided quickly to book the workshop and travel together. the workshop cost 400€, has been 6 days from 10am-6pm and taught the topic of narrative illustration. it was located in the old venice about 10 minutes away from piazza san marco (by foot). staying in venice cost about another 350€ (but for 2 ppl) and i lost about extra 400€ for food and waterbus tickets and one dress...
so its not for every weekend...

i have expected to learn a lot about layouting, chronology of information in a picture and how to underline a story or a meaning with colors and arrangement. What happened was that Yuko let us do our own stuff and helped to find the key to solve these problems by ourself. I learned a lot from my colleagues too and the whole surrounding including museums and visiting other illustrators was highly inspiring. In fact what I learned in Venice was to find my way back to the place inside of me where all my pictures are waiting to be drawn. What i got from yuko was the allowance to do whatever i want and whatever feels right for me.

So i think for people that are illustrators or drawers and are in search for a carthasis this money and time is well spent. everyone who was actually searching left this workshop highly inspired and full of enthusiasm.and  for people who are already professional illustrators this workshop gives you an additional candy: it opens the door for the american market and yuko ghives you lots of insight knowledge and examples.

but you wont get taught basics, noone will teach you how to draw and noone will explain you how to copy other ones work. this time should be spent finding our own style and way of drawing, your own language or grammar. so i think this workshop works best if you have already found your vocabulary and have difficulties in puzzling the words together into sentences - to stay in this weak metaphor.

the workshop takes place in venice, in the cante alghieri institute and is organized by the teatrio.
im pretty sure you'll be updated for next year when you follow yuko shimizu's site on facebook.