Illustration Intensive 2019

What You’ll Learn

You’ll create:

• Learn new illustration techniques.
• Find and advance ideas through play, doodling, book dummies, character development, and more.
• Hands-on activities will challenge you to sharpen your illustration skills.
• Learn about dummy preparation, storyboarding and continuity.

You’ll be mentored:

• Practice new techniques with support and guidance from faculty.
• Receive personal attention through one-to-one critiques from your mentors.
• Participate in group critiques and portfolio reviews with peers and publishing professionals.
• Get feedback from special industry guests at our portfolio showcase.

You’ll learn about publishing:

• Faculty demonstrations and lectures to demystify the publishing process.
• Study art directors’ portfolio expectations.
• Explore how to find a market for your work.
• Making a living as an illustrator
• Discover ways to promote yourself and your art.

Who Should Attend

This course is open to beginner, intermediate and advanced illustrators or author/illustrators.

If you have taken one of these other workshops, you may find this course of special interest: Picture Book Illustration: From Conception to Birth; Illustration Intensive; Crafting a Picture Book Dummy; Color, Light, Line & Texture; Getting to Know Your Picture Book; Carving Out Your Picture Book for Submission; Creating Picture Books; Super Children’s Book Boot Camp.

Agenda

Day 1
Afternoon
Arrival and check in

Evening
Appetizers and dinner
After dinner: Faculty introductions and mentor assignments, Merrill Rainey
Opening keynote, Kelly Light

Day 2
Morning
Breakfast
Sketch and Digital Demo with Mike Curato
One-to-one sessions (all faculty)

Afternoon
Lunch
Remaining One-to-ones and revision time
Q & A with Jen Keenan
(Optional) Portfolio Showcase set up

Evening
Appetizers and Portfolio Showcase
Dinner
After dinner: Informal patio night and optional art in the Barn

Day 3
Morning
Breakfast
Watercolors Demonstration, Kathryn Otoshi
Mentor roundtable groups (all faculty)

Afternoon
Lunch
Print-making demo with Steve Light
One-to-ones with Jen Keenan

Evening
Appetizers and dinner
After dinner:
FUN: Chalk Painting with Merrill Rainey
One-to-ones with Jen Keenan continue

Day 4
Morning
Breakfast
Faculty Demonstration, Kelly Light
One-to-ones with Jen Keenan continue
Final remarks and Q/A facilitated by Merrill Rainey

Afternoon
Lunch and departures

Resources

True Confessions of a Picture Book Illustrator
In two blog posts, Elizabeth Rose Stanton comes to some peace with her issues, including her “colored pencil problem” and her realization that “my supply of watercolors will probably outlive me.” Read Part 1, and then read Part 2. Be ready to laugh!

Steve Light: Creative Spaces
In this video from All the Wonders, you will get an insight into Steve’s illustration process, learn about the tools he used as a child, and hear wonderful advice for any aspiring artist. Watch the video.

Author-Illustrator Spotlight: Kathryn Otoshi
Great interview on Kidlit411 with Kathryn Otoshi about process and publication. Read it here.

Illustrator Spotlight: Kelly Light
Another great Kidlit411 interview, this time with Kelly Light about her journey to publication, her advice to others and what her favorite books are. Read it here.

Crafting Your Picture Book Dummy
Lisa Cinelli gives you step-by-step instructions for how to create a picture book dummy, ready for submission. Find out how!

Let the Book Come to You
Robert Blake shares his best practices for using journals and sketchbooks. Can you believe he has 25,000 pages in his personal sketchbook library? Read about them here.

Graphic Novelists Need to Write in Pictures
Matt Phelan shares his particular method for creating comics. Find out what it is

Get It Right With Research
Don Tate shares the process he went through to get the details right for his nonfictionpicture book biography about the creator of the Super Soaker water gun. Glimpse his process here.

Making Readers Say “I Love This Book!”
Lindsay Barrett George wants you to make a connection with a reader that makes them say “I LOVE this book.” Plus, she can make readers turn the page. Watch the video.

Testimonials

“The experience I had at the Illustrators Intensive was absolutely invaluable! The highlight (ha) for me was meeting my mentor (Mike Curato). He provided really focused feedback on my dummy and helped me push it to be so much better. Seeing his demos were magical, as was getting to hang out with him as a fellow artist and human. I appreciate how supportive and kind he was, in spite of being a kidlit world rock star. Thank you for providing a place where you foster these creative connections, and helping us inch closer to making our dreams come true!”–Saki Tanaka

“I highly recommend the Highlights Illustration Intensive to anyone who is just beginning or wants to hone their skills as an illustrator. I found the program to be very well organized and the days moved smoothly from mentorships to delicious meals to workshops and free time. The faculty was a well-rounded group of talent that were extremely welcoming and shared much guidance in the field of children’s books. I enjoyed the variety of techniques that were taught and the opportunity to play with mediums and methods I don’t often use. The grounds and environment provided seclusion in nature or in your cabin if you preferred to work in solitude, and the barn hosted a more social atmosphere. I will never forget my time there and the new friendships formed that have been continuing to inspire and motivate. Thank you Highlights Foundation for all that you do to nurture those who want to create books for children!”–Gael Abary