Introduction to Children's Book Illustration (short course)

The current children’s book illustration market is highly vibrant and dynamic, and the art of visual storytelling is an ever-evolving tradition that is constantly being added to and redefined. During this short course at London Met, you'll explore the relationship between illustration and text, delve into research strategies and begin to develop a personal visual language. We'll also discuss and explore current publishing demands and global markets.

The course will be structured as follows:

• Week one: drawing, materials and mark making exercises
• Week two: creating characters – an introduction to methods of creating a character (you'll research and create several animal characters in different shapes)
• Week three: creating characters – explore facial expressions, simple methods of drawing children and character consistency
• Week four: materials one – create characters using watercolour and coloured pencil and pen and ink
• Week five: materials two – create characters using oil pastel and collage
• Week six: narrative – break down a simple story into eight images then, using a story you want to work with for the rest of the course, you break the story down into a 32-page story board
• Week seven: layout and composition – select a page or double page spread from the story board and sketch out and plan a final illustration
• Week eight: you'll work individually on your final illustrations
• Week nine: overview and discussion of contemporary children's book illustration market, with you continuing your illustrations
• Week ten: group critique of final illustrations and final questions of the course

Please note course structure is subject to slight change.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

• understand the relationship between illustration and text
• explore and develop character, narrative and research strategies
• generate ideas in response to a given brief
• use a range of relevant media
• understand some of the varying demands of publishers in relation to age range, gender and markets

This course is taught by Alice Stevenson.