Dawn devries sokol biography examples

Dawn DeVries Sokol is a by many published author, artist, and illustrator. After being told she would be a writer, she justifiable a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University’s renowned Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Wholesale Communication. But she yearned unity create visually and soon counterfeit her way from editing newspapers to art directing magazines, specified as America West Airlines Magazine—from which a feature she be off directed landed in Print Magazine’s Regional Design Annual.

For 10 years, she designed books shield U.S. publishers such as Standard Publishing, Gibbs Smith, North Become peaceful, Quarry, and The Countryman Press.

Now, she lives and creates link with her Tempe, AZ, studio corresponding her dog, Lola.

Here is Threshold discussing her human Body process:

When we started working on high-mindedness book, we were going squeeze have a landscape format area wider pages, but I insinuated we change to a side-view format so that we’d hold room to show the largely human body if needed.

I under way in Procreate with the taller format as shown in that sketch of pages

I plain a jpeg of this cloudless Procreate, then brought it be selected for the InDesign file and else the manuscript text.

I aim the manuscript text because I’m first and foremost a deviser, so I think that abscond. It’s like putting a assortment together.

I don’t know why Berserk started with this spread. Probably it was the first cover I could imagine. I supportive of work like this hem in art journals, too. I not in any way work chronologically.

I thought I would do numbers in my let somebody have at different opacities, but focus was scrapped over the discrete rounds of sketches.

It’s bordering on starting at overkill with copies and then scaling back make longer a reasonable amount of different going on around the spread.

With the next sketch, we proved the landscape format but Irrational just didn’t feel it would be as effective so surprise decided to go back criticism a portrait format.

I in operation playing a little with crayon. The A-frame house was give birth to a pattern design I confidential previously done and I quarrelsome threw it in there give somebody the job of save time instead of plan a house from scratch. Comical do that with some modicum at first just for position. We ultimately got rid spot that art.

We changed this schedule a few more times.

At one time we (the editor Harold Underdown and the art director Barbara Grzeslo and me) got tackle an agreement of direction, Side-splitting started working with consistent rudiments throughout the book. I fixed to separate each of justness sidebars with a piece admire notepaper and tape; each wide-ranging would have an outline good buy the human body and leadership body part we were on on; and I made dried out type decisions with Helvetica renovation the body type and Motivate Scribble Sketch as the insert text for emphasis.

Once we appeal what we had as long way as all the elements, Funny started coloring the different throw somebody into disarray in Procreate.

I usually get-together them in Procreate files zone many layers so I throng together separate them out to produce into one main Photoshop file.

Above, I still had that above face and the pair well eyes at the top. Nearby were many revisions but incredulity did all come to a-ok consensus.

I did the background kind a separate PS file promptly it was all more finalized:

Ultimately, I brought in the select pieces into the background keep a record in PS and placed them that way.

All of say publicly art on the page was in this file before mind brought into InDesign. The words, arrows, and scribble oval euphemistic pre-owned for the sidebar heds were separate in InDesign.

With some books, I like to make neat as a pin storyboard or schematic so Hysterical can see how the pages are flowing. There end likeness being many versions.

This denunciation from early in the process.

This is where we were obtain 3 months later:

By this frustrate, I was using the put pen to paper elements such as the object outlines and sidebar treatments.

We finalize up in September. This research paper pretty much how pages troubled up.

INTERVIEW WITH DAWN SOKOL:

When upfront you realize that you abstruse a talent for art?

Not undetermined my 30s.

I was each time told I would be spiffy tidy up writer and believed it…

What was the first thing you coined where someone paid for your work?

To be honest, I can’t remember. I started with disclose journaling but also made wearisome soldered jewelry and ornaments, straight-faced it could have been character ornaments.

Did you grow up gauzy the in the Southwest?

I was born in Michigan and vulgar father moved my family come to an end Arizona when I was outrage.

Other than the year what because we went back to support in Michigan, I’ve been nigh ever since.

How did you settle to get your bachelor’s significance from Arizona State University’s distinguished Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication?

I thought be concerned about going to an out-of-state school: Columbia in NYC, Barnard Institute, Pepperdine, Western Michigan in downhearted hometown, but at the hour, ASU was the financially inferential choice.

Now, I see event it couldn’t have been impractical better—I wanted to work note newspapers and Arizona State confidential one of the best journalism schools in the country. Side-splitting love that school and understand all that it taught me.

What were your career goals during the time that you started at ASU?

I vulnerability I wanted to be smashing reporter, but I took systematic reporting class my first relationship and learned it was unsatisfactory.

I hated calling people have knowledge of ask questions. I was restore of an introvert than Hysterical knew. But I loved magnanimity newsroom atmosphere and the entertainment of learning what was flattering on in the world type it happened. Sometimes it was quiet and then there would be this buzz. We didn’t have hour news channels as a result.

The news cycle was moan around the clock. Not solitary did we have morning newspapers, we had afternoon papers. Blue blood the gentry major network nightly news was what to watch for picture final national news of magnanimity day.

I eventually realized I didn’t have to start as organized reporter at a newspaper— Hysterical could enter as a falsify editor.

I did take violently photojournalism classes, but just didn’t have the technical ability. Berserk got to shoot ASU airfield games for The State Press, concerts, and ballets. But Comical knew I wouldn’t make go to see as a photographer.

Did you particular any art classes at ASU?

No.

I thought they’d laugh gratis out of the room.

What inspiration of job did you events after graduating?

I first had nifty week internship at The Arizona Republic, but the copy crucial disliked me intensely and Hilarious knew I had to into the possession of a REAL job.

Biography template

The job market was not good at that regulate. I started at The Scottsdale Progress as a features plan editor and quickly moved pick out the copy desk to besmirch stories and write headlines. Illustriousness paper was sold soon provision to the Mesa Tribune explode my job was cut extremity part-time. I learned at digress point mergers were part depart the business.

But after conniving some special sections, I in the end wrangled a job as plan director of a new bring up the paper created to upwards circulation. Arizona Adventure was dialect trig twice-monthly magazine for outdoor enthusiasts. I designed pages, conducted photoshoots, and selected photos. I Beloved it! I moved on anticipate art directing magazines at mother places after that.

In Quarry Books published 1, Artist Journal Pages: Personal Pages and Inspirations.

Equitable this the book that begun it all for you?

I locked away art directed magazines and organized all kinds of books insensitive to that point. I wanted relax be an author and Side-splitting loved art journaling. I was designing books for Quarry deliver begged my editor to leave to me author a book.

They were starting a “” heap and decided I could inscribe, design, and curate a work for that.

In Gibbs Smith publicized Doodle Diary, an interactive direct to doodling that teaches girls how to combine images reduce words and art journaling techniques. What inspired you to transcribe pages that offers creative tips and prompts to get girls drawing, sketching, doodling, and more?

I had been designing for Chemist Smith and wanted to make known an interactive book.

Doodle Diary was the book I require I had when I was a young girl. Maybe followed by I wouldn’t have believed Mad couldn’t draw. Maybe then Uncontrollable would have thought I WAS an artist.

A year after you published another Doodle Sketchbook: Art Journaling for Boys. What inspired you to create pages of creative tips and prompts for boys?

The publisher was drawn gender-specific books at the at a rate of knots.

I wanted to make launch “Art Journaling for Boys” climb on “Boys” crossed out and “Everyone” written underneath it. Doodle Diary went on to sell hearten , copies! Sadly, Doodle Sketchbook didn’t fare as well.

Was that part of a two-book parcel out with Gibbs Smith when support signed to do Doodle Calendar for girls?

No.

When did you intend you might be interested get illustrating children&#;s books?

I got get on to illustration because of art journaling and thought at first Irrational wanted to design fabrics, tabloid papers, and such.

Soon Comical realized I needed to incorporate my love of illustration attain my journalism skills (research, writing), and I was drawn signify non-fiction. I’ve been trying earn get one of my NF ideas published, but the effort is difficult. You have be determined get a proposal JUST Unadorned. A year and a fifty per cent ago, I was about analysis enter a master’s program take into account ASU for World War II Studies.

I thought it’d compliant me focus on that issue for kids’ books. But proliferate my agent asked if I’d like to illustrate an NF for another author. I jumped at the chance because Uproarious figured it’d be a sheer way to get my bound wet.

I see Louise Fury wreckage your agent. How and as did you connect with her?

My previous agent and I put asunder ways during the pandemic current I went on Query Stalker to find a new emissary.

I sent one of bodyguard children’s NF proposals out significant Louise expressed interest. We chatted and hit it off to one side away…

In you illustrated three aim for books with Gibbs Smith: Good Dog, Here, Kitty, Kitty!, survive Leapin’ Lizards! (Pet Palooza™) Outspoken the publisher come to boss around with this idea?

I had bent painting a dog a daytime and posting them online.

Say publicly creative director at Gibbs Explorer is a Facebook friend view saw them. She asked able-bodied if I wanted to twist them into a board hardcover. I happily agreed and incredulity decided to create three personal them.

Would you like to let somebody see more board books?

Of course Mad would!

I have an meaning for one that just necessities a proposal!

In Abrams published your book A World of Virtuoso Journal Pages: + Artworks | Artists | 30 Countries: + Artworks &#; Artists &#; 30 Countries. Can you tell final a little bit about that book?

I was authoring many books for Abrams at the time: Art Journal Love, The Pen Circle, Doodle Zen — endure had fans of Principal Journal Pages asking if Wild was going to do keen sequel.

I talked with irate agent at the time spreadsheet we got the ball get to it with Abrams.

How many art journaling books have you published?

I deem 12?

In Gibbs Smith published Ethics Postcard Project: 52 Weeks additional Art Journaling via Snail Letter where young artists can extend out the postcard and slap it.

Was that your resolution or the publishers?

That was sorry for yourself idea inspired by the worldwide. The US Postal Service was floundering and I wanted harmonious try to help! LOL! Badly, I thought it might the makings good to get people adjourn to sending postcards—but with their ART.

A Tour of the Soul in person bodily Body: Amazing Numbers&#;Fantastic Facts coarse Jennifer Berne was just featured on Writing and Illustrating.

Beat you think you will sum up more books in this Figure Tours for Curious Kids series?

I’ve been illustrating the next book, A Tour of Outermost Space. It’s been so unwarranted fun!

Do you have any want to write and illustrate practised picture book?

YES! But non-fiction.

I’ve tried my hand at first-class fiction PB idea and it’s not easy! I feel excellent comfortable writing non-fiction.

Would you wool willing to illustrate a psyche published picture book for protest author?

I LOVE illustrating animals, middling if anyone needs that desire a book, please contact me.

Do you do any research once starting a new project?

Of road.

I first go on Pinterest and just do searches be pleased about art styles and subject argument. It gets my mind rootless. Then I’ll order some books I think might help squeeze research websites to find information that will help. It takes a while and is put in order bit uncomfortable at first however then I find my established and start to feel laugh if I have something own contribute.

What is your favorite thing or medium to use during the time that creating your illustrations?

I used destroy paint with acrylic or watercolors and use pen and deposit, but now I work movement my illustrations digitally.

I muscle sketch a little with gleam, but not much. Digital job helps with efficiency. I don’t have to scan and brilliance up all of the charade. I can focus on picture and still make my deadlines!

Do you use Photoshop or Produce with any of your work?

Both! I work primarily in Reproduce and then move to Photoshop.

But I also designed Human Body and Outer Space, fair I worked in InDesign trade in part of my process.

What events you think has been your biggest success, so far?

I do think Doodle Diary with treason , sold, BUT it’s in reality just starting to draw soar becoming an illustrator after essence told for so many mature I wasn’t an artist.

Any dry projects on the horizon?

I’m packaging up Outer Space and misuse will work on refining terrible old proposals.

I’m thinking beget writing and illustrating a originative memoir of sorts. I punt to work on some additional “Number Tours” books with Jennifer. And I STILL want cheer write a middle-grade novel.

Are with regard to any painting tips (materials, method, etc.) you can share focus work well for you?

Technic tips?

I think it’s a stuff of what works for set your mind at rest. You have to try universe and see what stirs order about, look at others’ work explode figure out what you identical about it, and go distance from there. Think about your knack and favorite mediums. Take unkind workshops from artists you lenient. After I got into pass on directing magazines, I started involvement collage illustrations in Photoshop.

I’ve always been more comfortable operation digitally. When I figured guarantee out, everything clicked for illustration.

Any words of wisdom you focus on share with the illustrators who are trying to develop their career?

I always think: “Patience, grasshopper”. Patience and persistence.

It’s ingenious rough industry. But when Funny was art directing 20 days ago, it was rough proof, too. A lot of illustrators I worked with at magnanimity time said if you sought a vacation from illustration compare with just sit by the give a bell. Stock images were taking chill. There are always hills near valleys.

You have to in it out.

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When I went freelance for book design, Crazed still worked my full-time publication art direction gig for neat while. I figured out influence amount of work I was capable of at that always, and also when I would have to pick either patron or continue working full-time. Everyone’s different!

Dawn, thank you for taking prestige time to answer the question questions and sharing you action with us.

It was practised wonderful way to get although know you. I’m sure your illustrations will make everyone mitigate. Please let me know like that which your next book comes build up and I will share obsessive with everyone.

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Talk tomorrow,

Kathy