Workshop: The Art of Illustration

"The Art of Illustration" is a 6-week workshop designed to introduce students to techniques that artists use to illustrate storybooks. For the first 4 weeks, students will study a particular book and illustrator and learn how to use the same techniques that these artists used for their illustrations. These techniques include, watercolors, painting, printmaking and collage. Some of the illustrators we will study will be Barbara Cooney, Dr. Suess, Mary Azarian and Eric Carle. For weeks 5 and 6, students will bring in a story of their own (students can bring in something they wrote at home or use a story written in the “Storybook” writing workshop) and they will use one of the art techniques studied to illustrate their own story. They will leave this workshop with their very own picture book!

Course Description and Syllabus

DAY ONE: WATERCOLORS: "Miss Rumphius" By Barbara Cooney
Students will view the illustrations in the book “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney, paying special attention to her beautiful watercolor landscapes. Students will use her as inspiration for their own watercolor paintings based on a landscape that is special to them (for example, a park by their house, or a lake where they vacation)

DAY TWO: TEMPERA PAINTING: "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" by Dr. Suess
Students will view the illustrations in the Dr. Suess book "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" and notice his bright, simple cartoon illustrations. Inspired by the book, the students will come up with a rhyme about a made-up “Suessian” character, such as "There's a Smowl in my bowl" or "There's a Gurt in my shirt". They will write their rhyme at the bottom of their page and do a sharpie and tempera illustration of their "Suessian" character in their chosen object.

DAY THREE: PRINTMAKING: "The Farmer’s Alphabet" Illustrated by Mary Azarian
Students will view the book "The Farmer’s Alphabet" illustrated by Mary Azarian and notice her beautiful block prints. Students will use either styrofoam or rubber to create a relief carving. Using ink, students will learn printmaking techniques to create a print of their image.

DAY FOUR: COLLAGE: “Animals, Animals” By Eric Carle and other Eric Carle books
Students will view the illustrations in the book, “Animals, Animals” by Eric Carle, as well as other Eric Carle books. Students will notice his distinctive style of collage and use these techniques to create their own collage of an animal of their choosing.

DAY FIVE: Illustrate Your Own Story!
Students with use a story of their own to illustrate in a blank book. Students will either use a story they wrote at home (please make sure to show to your tutor before this week!) or a story they wrote during the “Picture Book” workshop. Student will think about their theme and decide which medium and technique would match their story best.

DAY SIX: Illustrate Your Own Story! (Continued)
Students will finish illustrating their story and share it with the group.