Developing Children’s Picture Books

Pre-requisites for enrolment

Some drawing or illustration experience is desirable.

Special Information

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• A4-sized sketchbook

• 2B, 4B and 6B pencils

• Dipping pen and a drawing nib

• Selection of cheap watercolour brushes

• A few sheets of A2 or A1 heavy or light-weight cartridge paper and coloured paper according to student preference

• Selection of recycled newspapers and other materials according to student preference

• Selection of drawing materials such as fine-liners, watercolours, acrylics or colour pencils depending on individual projects

Content of Course

Over the class sessions the course will cover:

1. Research and sketchbooks. Developing concepts and visual vocabulary for picture book projects.

2. Character development exercises and storytelling interview techniques.

3. Learning basic plot and exploring the knot in the narrative through creative writing exercises.

4. Sequential imagery and storyboarding.

5. Writing the story and exploring the language – rhythm, sound, assonance, alliteration, repetition.

6. Exploring process and techniques in order to develop a visual language for the book.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will suggest follow up reading, research and practice to support their studies. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one-to-one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Display experience and confidence in both the narrative and visual creative journey of developing a children’s picture book;

• Research and explore concepts and visual ideas to successfully inform a narrative and sequential imagery project;

• Explore the process of creating an effective visual narrative;

• Through a series of briefs and creative writing exercises develop skills and practical knowledge of writing and illustrating a picture book.

Sources

Core Readings

• Salisbury, M., 2006. Illustrating Children’s Books: Creating Pictures for Publication. London: A&C Black.

• Hellige, H., Klanten, R., 2011. Little big books. Illustrations for children’s picture books. Berlin: Gestalten.

• Blake, Q., 2013. Words and Pictures. London: Tate Publishing

• Bologna Illustrators of Children’s Books, Annuals. Bologna: Bologna FiereWeb S.r.l.

• Athens and London: University of Georgia Press.

• Salisbury, M., Styles, M., 2012. Children’s Picturebooks. The Art of Visual Storytelling. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Web Sources

http://www.childrensillustrators.com

http://illustrationfriday.com

http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.