Stephanie's Drawings

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.” ~  Neil Gaiman

http://www.amazon.com/Kiki-Koko-Friends-Musical-Adventures/dp/0988215713/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418696764&sr=1-3 I was hired to illustrate the second in a series of this wonderful kids book teaching piano earlier this year. I love her approach as a teacher and her books.

Dawn Trundle is selling MY ARTWORK in the UK. She says that since she googled the image it's perfectly legal to use it. This is the second time someone has stolen this exact image. She is also using artwork from Kim Niles/Kini Art. She is posting all over FB selling my work.  She has blocked me so I can't report her to FB or send my lawyers after her.  Her painted wine glass is the top image and my drawing from 2013 is below.  PLEASE spread the word and do NOT buy from her. 

http://www.kidlit411.com/2014/08/Kidlit411-author-illustrator-Stephanie-Olivieri.html?spref=fb I am pasting my interview, but go to the site, they have so many illustrator and author interviews, news, articles and more! If you are interested in kid lit, this is the place to be.  Also there is a giveaway of one of my prints. :) Today we welcome author-illustrator  STEPHANIE OLIVIERI .  She posts her fun and whimsical sketches at her blog,  WWW. STEPHOLIVIERI.COM      Be sure to enter her giveaway for a signed print. Tell us about your background and how you came to write and illustrate for children. I was a theatre major at the University of Arizona and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in soaps actually, but after landing a part in New York City on a show, I moved across country. I lost that part just as fast as I got it, character's age changes, so I finished school at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  One day I went to an audition for the singing voice in a Dis

Usually I don't write a lot here, I save that for my op ed blog-"I'm Just Sayin'" but I have to say something when I share these two paintings I did this week. First of all, I am an artist. I make 100% of my living right now as an artist-usually it's childrens book illustrations and sometimes I still get to work in animation. The style I work in is cartoony-I am a cartoonist and I love it. What people don't realize is that to be great or even good at cartoons we artists must learn the basics first, we are real artists. I took anatomy and life drawing after Disney had offered me a job-I could pass the animation test, but I needed to learn the basics. I admit I didn't spend years at art school and have been public about admitting that so people feel like they can tell me that I don't deserve my career and what I hear all the time "you aren't a real artist." I am not sure what they mean by that since again 100% of my living is from art

I have my first order for Christmas card design! I can't believe it's 4 months away, if you would like one of your doggies, please send me a private message or email me here stephanie@stepholivieri.com, I would love to do your design.   Here are some examples from last year!

Yay I worked on this book at the beginning of the year. When I met the author at our local Starbucks I knew immediately that we would work well together. She is very funny and I loved her stories. Here is a link to buy the book and here are some of the illustrations that I created. http://www.datingthewrongmen.com/

Omg it's the last day of July! Things are getting really busy for me and I am very excited about all of them. The first thing happening starting tomorrow is the SCBWI summer conference in Los Angeles, which is SOLD OUT! If you don't know, the SCBWI is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I do both, professionally. I have illustrated about 18 books now and written a few picture books for a mobile app company I worked for in 2012/2013 called FarFaria. I am currently pitching my early chapter book series entitled Uli Driscoll in Trouble, and will have a dummy at the conference attached to my portfolio. I am currently taking a revision workshop to finally get Ryuan - my then YA, now MG series into better shape. After a few rejections I took a closer look.  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/reviseyournovelinamonth At the conference I am splitting my time between writing workshops and illustrator workshops, I am also in the portfolio showcase-and even t

I have always loved BATMAN!! I did this illustration today to mark the occasion. Who is YOUR favorite Batman? http://www.dccomics.com/characters/batman

As you may know I spent the spring getting my EARLY chapter book finished and illustrated, all 70 pages, yup SEVENTY but before that I started roughing out my picture book. I am working on developing the style guide and character study for it. Today I did these two illustrations that probably won't be in the book, but rather just getting to know my two youngest characters in the book-Valerie, her friend Tommy and her Scottie-Tavish. I hope you like them!

Yesterday I created a couple new illustrations from previous drawings I had, just in a different style. I also added them to my Society6 shop and made two sales! Yay!! Here is the link  http://society6.com/stephanieolivieriart