2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Pat Cummings

I'm sure you know that SCBWI offers so many incredible panels, keynotes, sessions throughout the conference and this year, I want to shine the spotlight on one particular offering, the Illustrators' Intensive. Here to help me do so is the incomparable, Pat Cummings! Always a warm smile, and an encouraging word, Pat has been a wonderful presence in the children's publishing world, and I feel honored to have her here on the blog!


1. Thank you so much for joining us here on the Official SCBWI blog! A prolific creator, mentor and children's publishing icon, in your own word, would you tell us about yourself and your role within SCBWI.

Hi Justin,

I’ve been on SCBWI’s Illustrators’ Committee for about 360 years, ever since Cecilia Yung and Tomie DePaola invited me to join them. 

I got my first children’s book to illustrate shortly after graduating. I had NO idea what I was doing but I did know someone who knew someone who had once dated Tom Feelings. So, I called him up cold and he walked me step by step through illustrating a book. When I thanked him for his generous guidance, Tom said that he hoped I would help others when they needed it.

At SCBWI, I found people who shared that attitude. Members tend to be generous with advice and support. As a member of the Illustrators’ Committee on the Advisory Council, I help plan the Intensives and help with our Mentorship and Narrative Art Award programs.

2. What makes the SCBWI Illustrators' Intensive different/ unique compared to other intensives and workshops?

The Intensives always focus on one critical aspect of illustrating picture books. The faculty is chosen to include masters of the chosen topic who know how to break down their techniques into teachable lessons. Hands-on exercises at the Intensives hone in on the topics so specifically that participants will be exposed to techniques and concepts that can take their work to a new level.

3. What advice would you give an illustrator on how they can make the most of the Illustrators' Intensive?

Come with an open mind. Be open to experimenting, to playing, to surprising yourself. Be rested. And definitely take note of what materials to bring so that you’ll have everything you need.

4. How do you hope the attendees will grow creatively, as well as technically?

The wonderful thing about SCBWI is that everyone seems to learn from everyone else. I have yet to meet anyone at a conference, beginner or pro, who doesn’t want to further develop their skills. Hopefully, attendees will find that the techniques and concepts they learn will enhance what they already love doing when creating illustrations.


5. What message would you give to an artist’s who maybe unsure about attending the Illustrators' Intensive?

Attending is an investment in yourself. Not only can you expect to discover new techniques but you’re sure to leave brimming with ideas for new projects. What’s really cool is that I’ve seen people find new friends who are on a similar path, friends who continue to inspire and support them.

Pat Cummings

Author, Illustrator

About
Pat Cummings is the author/illustrator of over forty books for young readers. She also edited the award-winning series, Talking With Artists, which profiles prominent children's book illustrators. She teaches at Parsons and Pratt, and her children's book illustration class has a growing number of notable illustrator/authors among its graduates. Pat serves on the SCBWI Board of Advisors as well as on the boards of the Authors Guild, the Authors League Fund, The Authors Guild Foundation and The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America, East. Her annual Children’s Book Boot Camp brings writers and illustrators together with agents and top editors and art directors from major publishing houses.

ACTION! Harnessing the Visual Energy of Movement

An Intensive for Illustrators, Friday, January 16th

Movement is the key that unlocks the themes, narratives, and emotions of an illustrated book. Visual stories rely on movement to bring characters to life, introduce change in static scenes, drive the engine of the narrative, and propel the reader to the visual climax. In individual scenes, motion can reveal characters’ personalities, articulate body language, and fuel the energy of the moment. But how do we achieve that in a two-dimensional medium like a book? Four noted illustrators will show us their unique ways of harnessing motion effectively and dramatically without the benefit of animation, sound, or dimension. Join us to learn how they bring their stories to life and make it look effortless.

Sticks and Stones and the Stories We Tell: Ten BIPOC Creators Discuss Turning Racism Into Art

In this free-to-all panel from SCBWI, sparked from an idea from renowned illustrator, author, and teacher Pat Cummings, ten also renowned children's book creators share their experience with racism and how they've aimed to transform those experiences into art.

In the opening minutes, Lin Oliver also introduces SCBWI's brand new Chief Equity and Inclusion Office, April Powers.

Lin Oliver (top left) introduces April Powers (center), SCBWI's Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, while sign language interpreter 

In her introduction, Pam Cummings said,

“Talking about the problem is one thing, but how do you use it? How do we get constructive with this? How does this turn up in our work?”

Answers and stories and so much more are shared by Crystal Allen, Floyd Cooper, Lamar Giles, Rafael Lopez, Meg Medina, Linda Sue Park, Christian Robinson, Shadra Strickland, and Lisa Yee.

It's well-worth watching.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

The Art of Diversity: A CBC Panel, Reported in Publishers Weekly

"The world is your palette, but do it in a respectful, educated way." -Award-Winning Author/Illustrator Pat Cummings

As reported by Matia Burnett at Publishers Weekly, on June 13, 2017 at Random House's New York offices, the Art of Diversity panel took place. Moderated by Martha Rago, executive creative director at Random House, the panelists were Phoebe Yeh, v-p and publisher at Crown Books for Young Readers; author/illustrator Pat Cummings; and author/illustrator Selina Alko.

It's well-worth reading.

Illustrate and Write On!
Lee

The Diversity Social At #LA17SCBWI

The Diversity Social -- a partnership between We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI -- is another great reason to attend SCBWI's 2017 Summer Conference in Los Angeles, CA, this July 7-10.

Here's Linda Sue Park, Miranda Paul, and Alex Gino, all of whom will attend, with some thoughts to share:

Lee: Why is this so important to you?

Linda Sue: I am on the Board of Advisors for both SCBWI and WNDB. They are the two organizations nearest and dearest to my heart. I firmly believe that together, we're an unstoppable force for helping young readers grow up to save the world.

Alex: Children are learning what's in the world and what to think of it. Kids who are marginalized for their gender, race, religion, disability, language, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and/or family structure deserve to see themselves represented well in literature. And kids with privilege in any of those areas who read diversely are more likely become adults with compassion, which we as humans sorely need more of. I appreciate WNDB's broad vision of diversity, and our approach of addressing the need for increased diversity at every level of the publishing industry, from writers to publishers to booksellers and librarians to readers. And the more good diverse literature is available, the more those readers will turn into writers and publishers and booksellers and librarians.

Miranda: The diversity social is important to me because diversity is an important issue, period. Representation in books is a matter of social justice. Event after event from diversity campaigns lead to connections, and opportunities, and ultimately books that build empathy in our citizens. As a child, I grew up with characters who looked like me, but what about creators who are still overcoming a lack of childhood representation? The creators who will attend this event are making books for my children, who unfortunately don't have the same random chance to see themselves represented as I did. Every event WNDB and SCBWI does can help turn the tide, even if it's only a small amount. The audiences we write for are young and forming their identities. Our literature needs to honor and reflect the lives, stories, and experiences of all young people. Every event that helps to support diverse book creators ultimately helps children be more able to find books that speak to them or open their minds to others' experiences.

Lee: Why it should be important (or should it?) for every creator of content for kids and teens attending the conference?

Linda Sue: The goal is for children's books to accurately include and reflect the glorious diversity of children in this country. Until then, creating, publishing, bookselling, and sharing books will always be fraught with questions of representation and fairness. Only when we reach the point of true inclusion will we ALL be able to create and publish with total freedom. The long game: Creating a diverse landscape in children's literature BENEFITS EVERYONE.

Miranda: I don't think it's important for every creator of content for kids and teens to attend this event. I do think that diverse writers and illustrators, outspoken and considerate allies, and publishing professionals who are looking to acquire more #ownvoices material should definitely come. You're not alone!

Lee: What are your hopes for the social?

Linda Sue: It's my fervent hope that the 'Diversity Social' will be THE gathering to attend at the conference! I hope all such gatherings will grow and grow until they're so inclusive that we won't need them any longer. Every facet of children's literature--creators, readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, SCBWI members!--should be as diverse as the world we live in. It's the first step toward the ultimate dream of 'liberty and justice FOR ALL.'

I also hope it will be REALLY REALLY FUN. ;-D

Alex: My hope is that the social will connect burgeoning and unpublished diverse writers and illustrators with information about WNDB and our programs, including our grant and mentorship programs, as well as with authors and illustrators working in the field. I also hope that writers and illustrators interested in learning more about WNDB and possibly getting more involved with what we do will take this opportunity to drop in, meet us, and ask questions about what it's like working with WNDB.

Miranda: I hope the diversity social at SCBWI's Summer conference helps attendees to kickstart new relationships or bolster previous acquaintances. Writing or illustrating books and navigating the publishing industry are not easy feats, but especially so if you're someone who is consistently in the minority at writer's events. Most creators work in isolation, and have questions about craft or business that are best answered or explored through relationships with experienced professionals. But how does one gain access to professionals who might have been through similar experiences or be writing from a similar viewpoint? The idea of gathering like-minded individuals in one room will allow some of those relationships to naturally begin through shared experience, heritage, or identity. SCBWI and WNDB, among many organizations, have been working to change the dismal diversity statistics in children's publishing. We've moved beyond hosting panels stating that we need diversity—we all know and agree. Our initiatives have shifted to taking action. I have no doubt that POCs, writers with disabilities, or those from or focused on underrepresented populations in children's literature will benefit from making connections in this casual setting.

We hope to see you there!

Get all the information about #LA17SCBWI here, and learn more about We Need Diverse Books at their website, here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Pre-Conference Interviews: Pat Cummings, Marla Frazee and Katie Davis. Plus Early Bird Registration Ends Friday

SCBWI TEAM BLOG continues to offer exclusive interviews with the faculty of the upcoming 40th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference.

BLOGger Jaime Temairik has posted some goodies for all the illustrators out there. First she offers some scoop from Pat Cummings on the amazing Post-Conference Intensive for Illustrators. There are still a few spots--you can register by clicking here.

Here's a bit from Jaime's post. Click here to read it in full.

One thing I love about the SCBWI Int'l Illustrator Committee is that they are always having a ball. Always mixing it up—the Intensive this year is a new format. I asked Pat Cummings about the committee's decision to have seven of the world's best illustrators do live demos for attendees. And here's what the committee said:

Jaime also interviewed the awesome Martha Frazee. Below is a snippet from her post. Click here to read the full interview.

Marla Frazee's class at Portland State's Haystack Conference changed my illustrating life. And I know I'm one of a bunch that can say that about her and her classes. Whether at Haystack, Art Center College of Design, or SCBWI shindigs, if you are lucky enough to get a critique from Marla, you should know you are going to get some terrifically good advice. Advice that will stick with you forever, and most likely move your career to a new level.

BLOGger Lee Wind continues with his terrific video interviews, too. He talked with author/illustrators Katie Davis who's offering a conference Pro-Track session on podcasting. Click here to watch the interview and learn about Katie's session.


And if you haven't registered for the Annual Summer Conference, now is a great time because...EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY, JUNE 17th. After that, the conference tuition rate goes up, so do yourself and your career a favor and click here to register. 

SCBWI Awards $12,500 in Work-in-Progress Grants

SCBWI received more than 500 entries for this year’s Work-in-Progress Grants (which are underwritten by Amazon.com). The judges, who found the batch of entries to be the strongest they'd seen, included SCBWI Board Members Pat Cummings, Jim Giblin, QL Pearce and Linda Sue Park; editor Louise May; and authors Robin Benway, Kathleen Duey, Bruce Hale, Pat Mora, and Susan Rubin. First Readers were Virginia Frances Schwartz, Vicki Berger Erwin, Kim L. Siegelson, and Nancy Antle. SCBWI's Kim Turrisi coordinated.

Winners in five categories received $2000 grants; runners-up received $500. Here are the 2010 WIP Grant recipients:

Multicultural:

• Winner: Rilla Jaggia for SANDALWOOD AND STONE
• Runner Up: Frances Lee Hall for PAPER SUN

General:

• Winner: Kerry McGee for STAND, BOY
• Runner Up: Kathleen Fox for THE DOG

Non-fiction:

• Winner: Alexandra Siy for EPIC TREES: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME WITH THE BRISTLECONE PINE
• Runner Up: Laurie Wallmark for ADA BYRON LOVELACE: NOT A PROPER LADY

Contemporary: 

• Winner: Kristen Lippert-Martin for THE MIRACLE CONSPIRACY
• Runner Up: Ingrid Sundberg for VIRGIN

Unpublished:

• Winner: Elizabeth Gittens for THE BIOGRAPHY OF SUFFRAGIST AND ABOLITIONIST LUCY STONE (Nonfiction)
• 
Runner Up: Kara Bietz for UNDISCLOSED (Contemporary)

Congratulations to all the winners!

Applications for 2011 WIP Grants are available on scbwi.org. All SCBWI members, with the exception of past winners, may apply.

Coming Soon! The SCBWI Board Illustrator Committee Blog

The SCBWI Board of Advisors has a terrific Illustrator Committee whose mission "is to be a source of challenge, encouragement and inspiration for our illustrator membership," says Priscilla Burris, U.S. Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI.

To move forward with that mission, the committee, which, in addition to Priscilla, includes Cecilia Yung, Pat Cummings, David Diaz, Bridget Srevens-Marzo and John Shelley, is starting a blog especially for SCBWI member illustrators.

The SCBWI Board Illustrator Committee Blog will offer an outlet on the SCBWI website for the committee members to share, educate, and communicate with illustrator members. "Along with our ongoing responsibilities strategically planning events nationally and internationally for our illustrator membership, this blog serves as an extension of what the SCBWI Board of Advisors Illustrator Committee strives to provide--a place to share and communicate, challenge, inspire and instruct our illustrator and author/illustrator members," says Priscilla.

"We look forward to sharing insights, technique talks, portfolio suggestions, and an array of issues and topics of specific interest for illustrators and author/illustrators."

The blog will kick off soon in the Illustrators Corner area of the SCBWI site. I'll post and tweet a link as soon as it gets going.