Children’s Book Illustration
Dive into the World of Children's Book Illustration
Teacher Artwork by Tim Mack
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Children's Book Illustration
Embark on a creative journey where students will explore the enchanting realm of creating illustrations for kids' books. This course is designed to hone both conceptual and technical skills, guiding participants through the diverse steps and stages essential for crafting captivating visuals tailored for young readers.
Discover the intricacies of various types of children's books and delve into topics such as character development, storyboards, composition, stylization, color palettes, spot illustrations, 2-page spreads, page variety, and the delicate balance between images and text. Through practical exercises, learn to apply these techniques to bring your own illustrations to life, inspired by a compelling story. This class offers hands-on experience, featuring technical demonstrations and class discussions and you are welcome to work in your choice of traditional or digital mediums.
By the end of this course, you will uncover the secrets of digitizing your artwork using tools like Photoshop, and culminate your work with final submissions that seamlessly blend artistic expression with the magical world of children's literature. Join us on this artistic adventure and unlock the skills needed to craft illustrations that captivate the hearts and imaginations of young readers.
- Course Type Inactive Classes
- Duration 10 weeks
-
Skill Level
Level 2 Level 2
Second level classes are for students who have a good foundation in the basics of realistic drawing (such as perspective, proportion, shading and colour theory) and already know how to use Photoshop, but need more in-depth knowledge to create professional and complex artwork.
This level is about expanding knowledge, strengthening skills, and transitioning to the world of concept art and illustration.
- Language English
Schedule
Note: This class will be offered online only
Term: TBD
Class Timings: TBD
Date of first class: TBD
Duration: 10 weeks
Please note that our classes times are listed as EDT (GMT-4) but that starting on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, all class times will go into EST (GMT-5).
If you are unable to attend the class during the times listed above, you will still have access to video recordings of the class lectures and will still receive personalized feedback from your instructor.
It should be noted that students should set aside a minimum of 3 hours per week to complete assignments for this class. Students may even require a bit more time (4-5 hours per week) depending on how quickly they can work through assignments.
*Please note that this class' duration is subject to change (to either 1.5 hours or 2 hours) depending on the number of enrolled students.
These shorter class formats are conducted with more of a personalized mentorship style, allowing students to have more time devoted to their assignments' critiques and the ability to ask more questions in class, while still maintaining all of the theory and planned curriculum for the regular class length.
Prerequisites
Skill requirements
To enroll in this course you should have:
- Some intermediate drawing and basic digital painting skills (use of proper perspective, proportions, shading and colour).
- Proficiency in all basic Photoshop tools.
- Ideally completed our Intro to Digital Painting and Analytical sketching, classes or have equivalent practice/experience.
If you are unsure of your skill level, please contact [email protected] for additional guidance.
Language and age requirements
You should have at least intermediate level English to take this class. Please be advised that there could be artistic nudity in our classes. Students should be 14 years old to enroll.
Required Materials
Digital Material List:
- A desktop computer or laptop with Photoshop installed*
- A graphic tablet with pressure sensitivity (from brands such as Wacom, Huion, or Xencelabs), OR a tablet-laptop hybrid (also with Photoshop installed) with pressure sensitivity (such as the Wacom Cintiq Companion or Microsoft Surface Pro).
Optional Traditional Material List:
Traditional Materials of your preference such as gouache, acrylic, pencil crayon, ink etc.*
*Please note that this class will not cover how to use specific traditional mediums.
Important note:
Please note that the vast majority of our digital classes are taught using Adobe Photoshop and that this is also the recommended program for students to use. You may consult our FAQ for more information on other software which may be potentially used for class, however, please note that no technical assistance will be provided by instructors on the use of alternative painting software as they may not be familiar with the program.
Please ensure that all of your hardware and software are functioning properly before the start of the term; there will not be any time to resolve technical issues in class.
*Please consult our Tech Requirements below for more precise computer specifications.
Tech Requirements for Attending Syn Studio Online Classes
Minimum Requirements
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 600kbps bandwidth (up/down).
- A Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a single core processor (at least 1 GHZ processing speed) or a smartphone/tablet with equivalent processing capabilities
- Good speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser - IE7+, Safari 5+, Firefox, Chrome
- Operating System - Windows XP, Mac OS 10.6, Linux distro based on 3.0 kernel, Android 5.0, iOS 10
Syn Studio Recommendations
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 1.5Mbps bandwidth (up/down). You can also connect to the internet directly using your ethernet cable to improve your experience.
- Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a dual core processor with at least 2 GHZ processing speed and a 4 GB RAM
- High Quality speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser & Operating System - We recommend using the latest version of the browser and operating system for an optimal online classroom experience.
Course Outline
*Please note that the following outline is subject to change slightly at the teacher's discretion.
During this 10 week course, the instructor will use a variety of in class exercises, assignments, and demonstrations aimed at boosting your observation, composition and analytical skills and enhancing your visual memory so you can quickly sketch environment concepts from reference and imagination.
Class Highlights:
- Character Development: Delve into the intricacies of creating memorable and relatable characters that drive your visual narrative.
- Storyboards and Composition: Learn the essential skills of storyboarding and composition to effectively structure and convey your visual story.
- Stylization: Explore various artistic styles to give your work a unique and captivating visual identity.
- Color Palettes: Understand the psychology of colors and how to use them to evoke emotions and enhance your storytelling.
- Spot Illustrations: Master the art of creating impactful standalone illustrations that contribute to the overall narrative.
- 2 Page Spreads: Dive into the challenges and opportunities presented by two-page spreads, creating a seamless flow in your storytelling.
- Page Variety: Discover techniques for maintaining visual interest and variety throughout your narrative.
- Image Text Relationships: Explore the dynamic interplay between images and text to enhance the storytelling experience.
Questions and Assistance
Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 514-998-7625
Please consult our FAQ; most of the commonly asked questions are answered in detail there. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please feel free to fill out the form below, or, send an email to [email protected]