2021 Illustrator Day

Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/15/2021 - 09/20/2021
12:00 am

Join us for the highly anticipated – 2021 Illustrator Day: Graphic Novels!

We are pleased to welcome pioneers of the US children’s graphic novel market, our Keynote speakers:

Raina Telgemeier (author/illustrator)

‘Keynote and Studio Tour with Raina Telgemeier’
Join graphic novel memoir creator Raina Telgemeier for a conversation about inspiration, telling your own story, and making the personal feel universal. Raina will share process, insight and inspiration into her bestselling graphic novels, and conclude with a tour of her east bay home studio (perhaps with a pet cameo or two?).

and David Saylor (VP + creative director)

‘Keynote with David Saylor on art direction and the founding of a comics imprint’
Join Graphix publisher David Saylor for a conversation about his journey as an art director for picture books, novels, and graphic novels, and how that led to the founding of the Graphix imprint at Scholastic.

We are also excited to host presentations by the following esteemed faculty:

Author/illustrators Lisa Brown and Mai Nguyen

Literary agents Andrea Morrison and Britt Siess

Our program includes presentations, an optional graphic novel assignment, critiques, and a portfolio showcase. All presentations and panels will be recorded and available for 30 days after the event. Read below for more information.

Important Links

            Schedule      |      Meet our faculty    |      Portfolio Showcase     |      Graphic Novel Assignment

Key Dates and Deadlines 

6/15 – Early bird registration begins

8/3 – Early bird registration ends

9/3 – Deadline for the graphic novel assignment and portfolio showcase submissions

9/17 – Social 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm (PST)

9/18 – Illustrator Day main event 10 am – 4 pm (PST)

9/19 – Illustrator Day main event 12 pm – 1:45 pm (PST) & one-on-one portfolio reviews 

Graphic Novel Assignment (CLOSED)

This is an optional autobiographical graphic novel assignment. Five participating submissions will be selected by five faculty members and critiqued live on a panel on Sunday 9/19/21.

Prompt: Select a moment from your childhood or a memory that says something about who you are.

Specifications: Prepare your assignment in a 6” x 9” format (single page) or 12″ x 9″ (spread), using as many panels as you like. 

Submission deadline: Submit your assignment by 11:59 pm, 9/3/21.

Please email your submission to sfsouth-ic@scbwi.org as a JPEG file, 72 dpi, longest side 1500 pixels and name your file according to the following specifications: “last name_ first name_title”

The winner of the Graphic Novel Assignment will receive a $100 gift card usable at either Blick Art Supply or Bookshop.org.

Portfolio Showcase (CLOSED)

Guidelines for submitting to the Portfolio Showcase will be sent on 8/3/21 or within 48 hours after registration. Deadline to submit is 9/3/21.

Make sure to check the Portfolio Showcase box add-on when purchasing your ticket online. The entry fee is included in registration.

The Golden Gate Portfolio Award is presented annually at the SF/South Illustrator Day. Portfolios will be viewed privately by art directors, editors, agents, and award-winning illustrators who will select this year’s recipient. Winners of the award receive complimentary registration to either the 2022 Golden Gate Conference at Asilomar or the 2022 SF/South Illustrator Day.  The Golden Gate Portfolio Award winner will receive a paid commission to illustrate the program cover art for the 2022 Golden Gate Conference.

Check out our current Portfolio Showcase! LINK

Portfolio Reviews – September 19th

Receive a one-on-one, individual critique of your work from this year’s faculty. Space is limited to 5 spots per faculty member. Note: there are only 2 spots for Lisa Brown. so please sign up early to secure your spot.  To sign up for a portfolio review, select the faculty member of your choice from the workshop list when you purchase your Illustrator Day ticket online.  

Individual, 15 minute consultation: $65

If the portfolio review for your preferred faculty member is sold out, you can email sfsouth-ic@scbwi.org to be included on the waitlist.