Friday morning typically finds Tom Kidd walking from his home, through the city cemetery, and on into downtown. The quiet of the 1
-mile trek puts him into a contemplative mood, he said, perfect for when he arrives at Olympic Pizza.

He’s not there, though, just for a couple of eggs or a cup of coffee. He’s there for art.

Kidd is an award-winning illustrator primarily working in the fantasy and science fiction genre. Each Friday morning he meets with other artists and illustrators from New Milford and the surrounding area to critique work, talk about the "nuts and bolts” of illustrating and share experiences.

"It’s nice to walk into town, be exposed to nature and meet with a group of other hardworking illustrators to talk about the week’s frustrations and or triumphs,” Kidd said.

The weekly get-togethers started years ago after Kidd met Abe Echevarria at a gathering of illustrators in New York. After discovering that they both lived in New Milford, Kidd and Echevarria, chairman of Western Connecticut State University’s art department, began meeting to discuss their craft. They were soon joined by Joel Spector, now an adjunct professor at WestConn.

"The best part of our Friday soirees is to get out of our studios,” said Spector, whose resume includes poster and childrens’ book cover illustrations among countless projects. "Illustrators,” he said, "tend to be isolated from the rest of the world. We sit in our little spaces cranking out this art and sometimes we don’t speak to too many people.”

That core group has since expanded to include Nancy White-Cassidy, Vicki Vebell and husband and wife Charlie Gehm and Judy York, all successful artists in their genres.

It is that combination of genres that the members appreciate.

"The members’ works are in different areas of illustration, but we share the commonality of being artists and illustrators. Our work often crosses over from one type of illustration into another, and in listening to each other, we stay abreast as to what is happening in different parts of this ever-changing industry,” said White-Cassidy, who has illustrated childrens’ books, Christian romance book covers and is a faculty member at Brookfield Craft Center.

For Spector, the exposure to genres outside his normal area of expertise has proven beneficial in another way. Kidd introduced him to the world of science fiction and fantasy art and Spector has since gone on to work in those areas. Some of that work has been included in publications such as "Spectrum,” a publication which chooses the best of science fiction and fantasy art in the country.

The group meets every Friday at 9 a.m. at Olympic Pizza on Railroad Street. Visitors are always welcome.

2003-09-17

Artists’ weekly meetings offer food for thought
By Ryan Foust
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-TIMES

 

Ryan Foust Artists and illustrators from New Milford meet at Olympic Pizza Friday mornings to critique each other’s work, talk about illustrating and share their experiences. From left are Abe Echevarria, Vicki Vebell, Joel Spector, Tom Kidd and Nancy White-Cassidy.