POST UPDATED 6/1 -- Claire Wendling highlights from Big Wow and Academy of Art University

This is a post in progress about Claire Wendling's  1st US convention appearance at recent Big Wow convention .. and also her lecture at Academy of Art University in SF. http://www.academyart.edu/
BLUE TEXT in the post is updated material.

Claire Wendling's table was adjacent to the Stuart Ng Books booth at Big Wow....

We were delighted to introduce Claire (seated below left) to another long-time SNB artist pal, accomplished animal artist and creature designer Terryl Whitlatch (r)

 Here's Terryl catching up with Stuart...

Fans and colleagues eagerly awaiting their moment to see Claire Wendling in person...

So many artists ... from students to peers in the film and animation industries .. kindly shared with Claire how her work has inspired them..

In addition to greeting attendees and colleagues, Claire signed copies of her books and did a limited amount of sketching...

Claire is always drawing .. and always learning ... she kindly allowed two different film crews to document her sketching .... (LINKS TO THESE VIDEOS WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIDEO BY JOHN FLESKES IS ON LINE NOW AND CAN BE VIEW VIA THIS LINK:  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/claire-wendling-sketching-video-from.html    )

Following the convention, Claire was the guest of professor Chuck Pyle (Director of Academy of Art University's School of Illustration in San Francisco... and himself the recent recipient of the Society of Illustrators Distinguished Educator in the Arts Award). http://www.academyart.edu/content/aau/en/about-us/news-events/news/2015/april/society-of-illustrators-honors-chuck-pyle.html
This beloved instructor and highly regarding artist is also a long-time Wendling fan. He was delighted to welcome her as a guest speaker for a crowd of over 300 students and faculty...

 Hours before the lecture began.. the crowd of students began to fill the lobby...

By the time the doors opened, the lobby was packed...

Chuck Pyle introduced Wendling...

She entertained the audience, speaking confidently and directly from the heart, without notes, as she showed images of her art from the last several years to today. Her talk included some insights to her own sources of inspiration and her working process. Her delivery sparkled with her self-depreciating humor along with her passion for drawing and learning. During the Q and A, she encouraged young artists to enjoy the time they have to draw whatever they want .. and to be sure to learn the fundamentals of drawing, as a good background in these skills will help them later in their careers. She also shared how her own learning process continues to this day: she is still always observing anatomy, shapes and shadows, even during routine activities like watching TV or observing people in a cafe. The sketches in her sketchbooks are her doodles of "graphic notes" for reference for later works. Sometimes the sketch itself might inspire a drawing, but usually the sketches and doodles are exercises for her.. trying out different ways to render a gesture or  part of an animal or human figure. This way, if she has an assignment later to draw that same challenge, then she has the experience with drawing it before. She uses reference all the time, but she never draws directly from a photograph. Instead, she observes and absorbs the visual image... often collecting many of these sorts of image/memories for what she is seeking to draw. Then.. after time (sometimes hours, sometimes days or weeks) she can draw what she needs. In  a way, she sees it on the page as she is drawing it, but it is not a reproduction of a specific image, but a physical expression through the drawing of the shapes and gestures combined from her memory.

 The lecture was live-streamed for students who could not attend in person....

For nearly a decade, Chuck Pyle has tried to arrange this event for the school. He kindly credited Stuart Ng with helping facilitate this connection between the elusive Wendling and the community of peers, fans and faculty she attracted. The crowd inside the auditorium .. and the over 100 people who Wendling signed books for after the event... demonstrated the level of appreciation for this experience...

After such a warm reception at both Big Wow and the Academy of Art University ... as well as Wendling's recent appearance at the Schoolism event in Toronto ... perhaps we can all hope to see more Wendling personal appearances in the coming years.....