Illustration Contest Winners!

Our winners were announced at the recent 2012 wik (writing and illustrating for kids) conferences in Birmingham, Alabama. This year's theme was "PJ tried and tried..." and the judge was Executive Art Director Deborah Kaplan of Penguin Young Readers. Congratulations to the winners!!

FIRST PLACE WINNER - Beth Rommel
"PJ tried and tried to make friends with the horses."

The judge said, "This illustration is beautifully distinctive and tells a story without having read the words. The playful use of mixed pattern and color and of positive and negative visual space make it wonderfully appealing."

SECOND PLACE WINNER - Judith Barber
"PJ tried and tried but could never seem to fit in."

The judge said, "Nicely rendered with a whimsical lively style. The animals are expressive and humorous."

HONORABLE MENTION - Kristen Applebee
"PJ tried and tried but couldn't think of anything fun to do. Summer Stinks!"

The judge said, "This illustrator accomplished a lot without words! A great way to handle a complicated scene with good use of foreground/background and a lot of expressive children and pets!"

HONORABLE MENTION - Laurie Sikorowski
"PJ tried and tried to be perfect, then stopped and became perfectly herself instead."

The judge said, "I loved the text here! And what that can bring to the imagination. The illustration is an interesting combination of paint and collage."

CONGRATULATIONS to all!