18) Imagine your Picture Book Character

About this class

You have your children’s story––in full or just the start of an idea…now let’s bring it to life! This imaginative, yet structured class will guide you to develop a strong character.

The group will first develop characters in a monochromatic colour scheme to solidify unique characters. Time will be allotted for technical considerations, such as page layout, book structure, and text organizing to highlight pinnacles in the character’s journey. Strong colour schemes and knowledge of design principles will be emphasized. Words and experiences from contemporary illustrators will inform each session. * To make full use of the group’s time together, participants will be asked to gather photo images and other children’s books to inspire their characters and
environment beforehand.

You might also be interested in 16) Writing for Children

Class Outline

1. Share: Story & Character ideas and inspiration (which may be entirely visual)
    Speed brainstorming: Character, Emotion, & its World
2. Technical decisions: Consider Text Transitions and Page Layout
    Techniques: Masking with Fluid and Tape
3. Composition: Guiding the eye through dynamic Contrast & Repetition . 
    Colour: Sensitivity in Mixing and Relativity
4. Bring it together: Contrasting techniques
    Review work & Establish a goal to develop your illustrations further 

Materials needed

Please note: VCUQatar reserves the right to cancel classes for which not enough participants are registered. Already paid fees will be refunded.

Please do not purchase materials until VCUQatar has sent final course confirmation.

Items to buy for this class

Participants are required to buy their own materials beforehand and bring them to every class
– Designers Gouache tubes (Winsor & Newton: Magenta, Cyan, Yellow, White & any other)
– Paper (smooth, heavy weight)
– Pencil crayons
– Range of brushes (small flat tip, small round tip, medium round, medium flat brush)
– Palette (or flat plastic lid)
– Masking tape (wide)
– Container for water
– Art smock or apron
– Solid board, A3 size to fix work onto
– Participants are asked to bring children’s books that inspire them
– Optional: Watercolours

On occasions, there may be some more materials to be bought and brought in if and when advised by the instructor.

Where to buy your materials

Most of the materials are available from any art supply shop, for example:

• Cass Art (Fire station): Community Classes students get a 15% discount upon presenting the registration ticket
• Jarir Bookstore: on Rayyan Road or Salwa Road
• Color Note: on Al Nasser Street
• Ibn Al Qayyim: at Markhiya Roundabout
• Al Rawnaq

Schedule

Start: Sat, 19 Jan, 2019
End: Fri, 9 Feb, 2018
Lessons: 4
Days: Saturday
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Location: VCUQatar, Room 254
Cost: QAR 950

Register

To register for this course, access the form.