Patricia Kreiser Illustration

A dream come true!

February 05, 2024

Ever since I first stepped into Society of Illustrators as a student at Pratt, I dreamed that I would someday be accepted as a member. Well, that day is today! I was approved as an associate member and look forward to continuing to grow my career as a professional illustrator! This is a milestone for me and I am truly feeling blessed to be part of such an incredible organization! https://societyillustrators.org

Off to New York!

January 29, 2024

So excited to be jumping on the train for the annual winter scbwi conference in NYC! There’s nothing like the energy of being surrounded by like-minded creatives, getting pumped about children’s publishing! Hope to see some old friends and make some new ones. I’m looking forward to gleaning knowledge from the pros and challenging myself in the new year and beyond.

Remember to Play

October 29, 2023

I’ve been working with this manuscript for some time, but how to approach the imagery has escaped me for a while. I was playing with pastels for another project and I started a mash of watercolor (my go to) and pastels to suggest the city scape where a boy and his grandma are spending the day. This is only a beginning sketch and I realize the proportion isn’t even close, but I’m excited about what is starting to happen on the page. I like the very loose and soft suggestion of city with the pop of pastel on the figures. Sometimes when I’m just trying to get ‘er done, it’s hard to let myself to explore and have fun on the page. I’m really looking forward to developing this idea further!

Picture Book Dummy

November 03, 2016

I recently completed a picture book dummy workshop conducted by Annie Ericsson, through SCBWI Eastern PA.  All I’ve got to say is Wow!  What a treat it was to have her insight and thoughtful critique!  I am so grateful to have had the opportunity, and so excited to have finished with a fun story in dummy form.   It’s an admittedly silly story, with a lot of heart, the I can’t wait to illustrate!  Here’s a little post card teaser!

My critique group was essential in the process too!  I LOVE you all!

Thank you, everyone for helping to move my project along!

Looking forward to a great weekend at Highlights Foundation!

April 27, 2016

I am so excited to dive into the workshops at the Highlights Foundation for the annual SCBWI Eastern PA Poconos retreat.  The faculty for the weekend..Ame Dyckman, Zachariah O’Hora, Meg Medina, Erzsi Deak, Sean McCarthy, Leila Sales, and Lauren Rille.  I hope to get some great feedback on my portfolio and First Pages/First Looks submissions.  There’s always more to learn and room to grow!

This is not my first time at Highlights, and I am looking forward to the yummy nibbles, the beautiful setting, and truly, all of the great people.  Author/illustrators are a pretty nice group of people to hang with on a weekend!  SCBWI folks are always enthusiastic and encouraging, and honest.  We all can use a dose of that, right?

See you on the other side of what looks to be an awesome weekend!

SCBWI Winter Conference 2016

February 05, 2016

Post cards are printed, portfolio prepped, reservations are made.  I’m so excited to once again join the crowd of talented, generous, and enthusiastic children’s publishing professionals and eager pre-published writers and illustrators at this SCBWI winter conference.  There are so many people, so much to take in, that it can be a bit overwhelming.  I almost didn’t attend this year.  It’s a holiday weekend, and my kids are home from school, so I considered skipping it.  But, no.

What draws me back?  It’s the energy.  It’s a kid lit pep rally.  Even the most tentative creatives get caught up in the welcoming crowd of artists and writers that fill the Grand Hyatt, cheering on the value of children’s publishing.  It’s the validation.  It is the, “wow, this is a real profession and this is a place where people take it SERIOUSLY,” feeling.  It is the understanding.  We’ve all been there…where you are… we know.  It is the challenge.  Work hard, don’t give up, keep at it, be persistent, be open to criticism.  Did I say, work hard?  It’s the reminders that there are no guarantees, but you can put your feet in the right direction and arm yourself with knowledge and skills so when you get a chance, you are prepared.  It is the opportunity.  It is the opportunity to exit my creative bubble and meet other artists traveling the path to children’s publishing.  It is the opportunity to view my portfolio with openness and raw comparison to the masses of talent that fill the portfolio showcase.  It is the generosity.  Don’t all of these professionals have better things to do with their time than stand up before a bunch of starry eyed, hopeful  wannabes anxiously gleaning any tips, wisdom, encouragement?  Yes.  But they love this.  They are rock stars.  In general, I have found the professionals in this industry, (at least the ones at SCBWI and RUCCL events)  the editors, art directors, authors, and illustrators, to be exceptionally passionate about their work, and generous with newcomers.  I have encountered patience, kindness, and most importantly, honesty.

Although the winter conference at times feels like a giant pep rally for the children’s publishing industry, it is so much more.  SCBWI is committed to it’s members, and it shows.  I have never left an SCBWI event without a new challenge, a new contact, new insight, positive or negative, about my work, and sometimes a new friend.  I appreciate that I am able to attend the winter conference and look forward to what may come.

RUCCL 2015

November 06, 2015

This is a little late, but what an amazing day!  I am so grateful to have been part of this fabulous mentor/mentee experience in New Brunswick.  The One-on-One Plus conference is a great opportunity for kid lit wannabes like me!  It is a selection process in which over 100 authors and illustrators are paired with a mentor from children’s publishing.  It is run by generous volunteers that are fueled by their love of creating children’s literature and art.  Check them out and apply for next year if you are looking for a valuable experience and honest critique.

I received excellent feedback, and encouraging words from my mentor, Julie Bliven of Charlesbridge Publishing.  (Thanks, Julie!)  I am looking forward to revising my story, BROKEN BEAUTY, keeping her comments in mind.  Her praise regarding my artwork and page design left me elated and inspired.   I remain excited and interested in complimenting any manuscript with my illustrations, not just my own stories.  So nice to catch up with old friends at this event and make some new ones!

Truly, kid lit folks are generally the nicest people on the planet!