Comments on: FIVE ON FRIDAY with Layne Johnson http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/2009/02/five-on-friday-with-layne-johnson/ Fulminations and Observations Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:08:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Magaly Guerrero http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/2009/02/five-on-friday-with-layne-johnson/comment-page-1/#comment-194 Magaly Guerrero Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:33:56 +0000 http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/?p=141#comment-194 Sweet! Sweet!

]]> By: Layne Johnson http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/2009/02/five-on-friday-with-layne-johnson/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Layne Johnson Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:21:17 +0000 http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/?p=141#comment-190 Magaly, One of my favorite quotes is from the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales. The actor Chief Dan George says, "Endeavor to persevere." You definitely have to have a passion to "make it" in children's publishing. When I illustrated before in the advertising and medical professions, I produced art that paid well but was ultimately not satisfying personally and wondered what good was it in the end. It was published, then gone. I'd have to say I had not found my style, either. I questioned how I was spending my time. My skills have improved markedly since I started illustrating picture books. The main reason? You are physically producing a lot of art! And picture books can be around a long time, if you're lucky. The best thing is that it can make a difference to a child. You just can't assign a dollar amount when a group of 1st graders swarms you at a school visit and hugs you around the legs. It doesn't get any better than that! Layne Magaly,
One of my favorite quotes is from the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales. The actor Chief Dan George says, “Endeavor to persevere.” You definitely have to have a passion to “make it” in children’s publishing. When I illustrated before in the advertising and medical professions, I produced art that paid well but was ultimately not satisfying personally and wondered what good was it in the end. It was published, then gone. I’d have to say I had not found my style, either. I questioned how I was spending my time. My skills have improved markedly since I started illustrating picture books. The main reason? You are physically producing a lot of art! And picture books can be around a long time, if you’re lucky. The best thing is that it can make a difference to a child. You just can’t assign a dollar amount when a group of 1st graders swarms you at a school visit and hugs you around the legs. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Layne

]]> By: Magaly Guerrero http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/2009/02/five-on-friday-with-layne-johnson/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Magaly Guerrero Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:22:31 +0000 http://michaelspradlin.com/blog/?p=141#comment-189 I love reading this type of interviews, especially when I’m having a case of what-if-I-am-just-wasting-my-time-and-I-never-get-published! It is empowering to know that most artists and writers started at the very bottom and struggled quite a bit before “making it”. It feels those of us who are trying to get there with hope. Thanks for your advice Mr. Johnson. I’m doing my best to follow it and “Tear Up the Road!” I love reading this type of interviews, especially when I’m having a case of what-if-I-am-just-wasting-my-time-and-I-never-get-published! It is empowering to know that most artists and writers started at the very bottom and struggled quite a bit before “making it”. It feels those of us who are trying to get there with hope. Thanks for your advice Mr. Johnson. I’m doing my best to follow it and “Tear Up the Road!”

]]>