ICON10, The Illustration Conference, to be held in Detroit, is just a couple of weeks away. The 10^thanniversary edition of this biennial event is SOLD OUT, but there is a wait list you can sign up for—and watch for updates in your inbox. 

ICON brings together top illustrators, designers, educators, representatives, and art buyers to explore the future of illustration. Committed to providing a diverse forum for an ongoing dialogue that serves the illustration, design, publishing, advertising and academic communities, ICON offers an outstanding program of talks, demonstrations, tours, its own marketplace and bookstore. And this year, the Closing Night Party will be held in Detroit’s historic Michigan Theater. You won’t want to miss spending a few days in Motor City, home of outstanding Makers and Music.

Among the highlights of ICON10 are the Workshops, which are sold a la carte to registered attendees only. Workshops run on Wednesday and Thursday, held at the College for Creative Studies / CCS, and cover subjects both analog and digital in the realm of art-making and professional practice.

There is a stellar roster of illustrators, educators and creative pros ready to get you into Zines and handmade artist books; relief printing, Risograph printing and classic wood type; fashion sketching and drawing on location, and more.

There are also lectures on professional practice, industry niches, new digital apps—to name just a few. But you must register to avoid disappointment. You have until July 2 to make any changes to your Workshop registration online; after that, adjustments can be made at the check in table at the Westin Hotel starting Tuesday, July 10^, and then ongoing at CCS. Info

Here’s a sampling of some of the workshops still open to attendees of ICON10:

THOMAS ALLEN – Making, THUR 9-12pm, $45
Pulp Fiction - Reimagining Paperback Covers
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to carefully cut out and remove the characters found on the covers of vintage paperbacks. Once free, you will make good use of anything but state-of-the-art materials (pins, tape, wooden blocks) to fold and create spicy, pop-up visual narratives!

GAIL MAROWITZ – Lecture, THUR 9-10:20am, $25I
llustration Makes Music Sound Better
Gail Marowitz will talk about what it is to create art from what you “HEAR”, the process of finding illustrators for projects, other avenues of illustration for music such as gig posters and merchandise, and the tricky challenges of working with a product/brand with a heart, mind and voice.

Meet Lily Smith-Kirkley, Workshop Chair: "You can totally nerd out amongst your peers and possibly see your heroes and who knows…perhaps you are a hero to someone else."

ROBERT BEATTY – Lecture, THUR 9-10:20am, $25
Digital Airbrush: Adapting classic techniques to Photoshop and Illustrator
Known for a prolific body of work in the field of album cover artwork, Illustrator Robert Beatty has developed an idiosyncratic take on classic airbrush artwork. Approaching the digital world using the classic techniques of airbrush artists, learn how to adapt pre-digital techniques to the world of Illustrator and Photoshop.

KIMBERLY HALL - Lecture WED 9:00-10:20am, $25
Ideas on the Wall
Getting drawings into people’s homes is Nottene’s, Kimberly Hall’s studio, favorite thing to do-so she makes wallpaper! In this talk, Hall will discuss pattern and imagery on the wall and how it works, plus the different ways to make it real, whether manufacturing the product or selling designs at trade shows.

ALISSA LEVIN – Lecture, THUR 10:40-12pm, $25
Small Mags, Big Ideas
Illustration thrives in independent and academic publications, where artists contribute to ambitious, award-wining projects. Alissa Levin shares insights on creating editorial art from initial assignment to final publication, focusing on the powerful collaboration between art directors and illustrators.

GRACE DANICO – Lecture, WED 10:40-12pm, $25
Be Your Own Archivist: A How-To Guide
Grace Danico, professional archivist and freelance illustrator, will teach the ins and outs of creating a personal archive. Topics include basic care of paper and digital materials, file structure organization and metadata

In addition, there are a few events that are free to registered attendees, including:

MOTION COMMOTION – Event, WED 6-8pm
Screening of animated projects by attendees and beyond, held after the Education Symposium cocktail party at CCS.

LYNDA WEINMAN and LAURIE BURRUSS – Making, THUR 2:40-4pm, 
Reinventing School 
Can we as educators create a blueprint for the classroom of the future? Lynda Weinman and Laurie Burruss lead a 3-pronged workshop delving first into the problems facing students, faculty, and the school followed by a design thinking/problem-solving approach to reinventing the educational experience.

SYD WEILER – Making, THUR 9-12pm, 
Handcraft Magical Brushes
In this hands-on-workshop Syd Weiler, freelance Illustrator & former Adobe Resident, demystifies the Photoshop brush engine. Learn to craft magical brushes and use them across desktop & mobile. Deep-dive into customization of Photoshop brushes on desktop. Tweak and finesse tools for desired effects, apply brushes to existing work, and think tactically by making brushes to speed up your workflow. Syd will use Adobe Capture to grab textures from real life, & explain the advantages of CC Libraries. Walk away knowing how to create perfect brushes, & finesse old favorites. This Workshop is sponsored by Adobe

Learn more about the Workshops here. Check out the Schedule here. Watch a video of workshops, programs and events at ICON9/Austin TX, here.
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