Ballinger accepted into illustrator association
FOR RELEASE: Sunday, October 23, 2005
Huntington, Ind. " Bryan Ballinger, visiting professor of digital media arts for Huntington University, has been accepted into the Picture Book Artists Association, an independent organization of professional children's book illustrators from around the world. The membership means a lot. They only accept published, established picture book illustrators, which makes it fairly exclusive. It means that I am now interacting with a whole bunch of very talented professional illustrators who are involved in the exact same kinds of projects I am and are dealing with the same kinds of issues I am. I can get feedback and support from them, as well as offer it back to the organization. I can show my work to an established group of peers, as well as get it in front of more publishers who are looking for established children's book illustrators. It's very exciting, Ballinger said.
The application process consisted of Ballinger sending the PBAA a list of children's picture books he illustrated, which included The Great Cheese Squeeze, published by Zondervan; God Loves You Very Much, published by Zondervan and Big Idea Books as well as Hot Chocolate For Sale, published by McGraw Hill. Additionally, Ballinger had to submit a letter explaining what he had done as an illustrator, why he wanted to be a member of the PBAA, and how he would contribute to the organization.
As for current projects, Ballinger recently finished illustrating a book for John Deere called Barny Backhoe Loves to Build. To view the cover, log on to http://www.bryanballinger.com/portfolios/3d/characters/pages/jd01.htm. He also has been working on illustrations for a new T-shirt company called Pantelope.com.
