A couple weeks ago I entered the Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

I found out last week that I didn't make the top 50.  My heart totally sank but then at the same time.... I wasn't surprised. I still have a long way to go with character development. I am pretty much self taught... I do count the fashion illustration classes I had in school and the collections we designed weekly as contributors to my level of illustration.. but still, I struggle with showing expression, action, storytelling etc. 

BUT, you just have to keep drawing and painting right?!? Looking back to where I was 5..10 years ago...there's huge improvement. So you just focus on that and keep making work. I love all the illustrators work who did make the cut! One of my friends and whose work I really admire is Denise Holmes...she's in the top 50 and her Journal cover is so darling! Good luck to you Denise, I hope you win this thing lady!! :-[)

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Participants were asked to illustrate a journal cover with the theme being "Playground" - this was a good exercise for me that pushed me in directions I probably wouldn't have taken myself. :)

Here are a couple of my thumbnail sketches and then my cover design: