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- "How Ten Timid Ghosts Came To Be"
In this lively presentation, I discuss the creation of the Ten Timid Ghosts counting books from the first spark of an idea to selling the idea to a publisher and working with the editor and art director to produce the final text and art. I discuss the key elements that are found in good picture books and show my beginning sketches, dummy books, revisions, final sketches and paintings. I also explain the color separation process used in printing by showing a set of one color transparencies that, when held one on top of the other, magically form a full color picture. Toward the end of the talk, the children direct me as I draw and together we create our own humorous but scary creature and setting. We then have a quick, fun brainstorming session to create a story about our new character. The drawing is left with the school and the children are often inspired to finish the story later or create new ones about our character!
- "A Garden of Whales —An Adventure in Illustration"
In this fun filled interactive talk, I show how A Garden of Whales was created by a whole team of people working together. I discuss the role of the author, publisher, editor, art director and printer, concentrating on my job as the illustrator. I share sketches (including some that were rejected), dummy books, and final illustrations as well as a set of transparencies that explain the color separation and printing process.
While playing a CD of the music that inspired me when producing the paintings, I create a large pastel drawing of several different whales (which stays with the class). I share some fascinating facts about whales and ask the children how big they think a newborn baby blue whale is. It's 23 feet long but don't tell! I unfurl a life size canvas painting of this animal. The program is followed by a question and answer session.
- Workshop: "Let's Create A Picture Book!"
I begin this exciting workshop by briefly showing my books and explaining my process of creating and illustrating stories and characters. I also discuss the key elements that are found in good picture books. Then each child is encouraged to think up a character and draw it on the cover of his or her own book. We all have fun brainstorming together with my "idea grab bags" and in no time everyone is writing and illustrating their own books!
All children work differently. They can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable doing. Everyone will put together their books with brass fasteners and hole punched blank pages. Then the work in progress can be finished in class or at home.
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