ILLUS-3612 & LAS-E416

PICTURE AND WORD

Faculty: Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges, April Jones Prince

Course Level: Junior, Senior, 5th Year

6 CREDITS

3 credits each for ILLUS-3612 & LAS-E416

In this class, we will explore the children’s picture book as a medium of artistic expression. During the first half of the semester, we will experiment with a number of storytelling techniques and principles while also focusing on different approaches to the format, illustration, and design of picture books. The second half of the semester will be dedicated to the the creation of the final project: each student will complete a book dummy for an orginal children’s book accompanied by several finished illustrations.

This is a team-taught course which begins with an overview of the children’s book genre and will focus on the 32-page trade picture book. Using a reading list of recommended picture books, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with classic as well as current titles.

This course introduces the components of a picture book via in-class and at-home writing and illustrating projects, which are presented in class and critiqued by faculty and fellow students. Students will then be developing story ideas that will provide the basis for the final project: a complete original story, tight sketch dummy, and 2-4 finished illustrations. Each student is encouraged to keep an ongoing “writer’s notebook,” which is intended to help the student find his/her own storytelling voice and should provide the beginnings of story ideas to draw upon for the final project. In addition, students are encouraged to keep a sketchbook to develop their artistic style. Class discussion and individual critiques with the faculty will provide guidance in finalizing text and art. Students will present their final projects to a group of outside professionals during the last class.