Illustrating for Young Readers: The Art of Children’s Book Cover Design (18+) – Online

About this class

Unleash your creativity in this 4-week interactive online course, designed for aspiring illustrators and artists passionate about storytelling through art. Learn to create vibrant and captivating children’s book cover illustrations, from conceptualizing original characters and scenes to mastering color palettes, layouts, and design techniques.

This course is perfect for individuals with prior experience in art or design who want to elevate their skills and explore the world of children’s book illustration. Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn how to craft compelling book covers inspired by both your imagination and existing reading materials.

The course is divided into two segments:

• Segment 1: Create a book cover of your choice, bringing your unique vision to life.
• Segment 2: Tackle prompt-based assignments to challenge your creativity and adaptability.

Who Should Enroll?

• Ages 18+
• Industry professionals and passionate hobbyists with a strong interest in illustration.

Prerequisites:

• Proficiency in drawing and design.
• Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, or similar software. (Note: Software instruction is not included in this course; students should arrive prepared with their preferred tools.)

By the end of the course, you’ll have completed polished, portfolio-worthy book cover projects that showcase your storytelling and artistic abilities. Whether you aim to break into the illustration industry or expand your creative skills, this course will guide you every step of the way.

Class Outline

Week-by-Week Breakdown:
Week 1: Illustrating Children’s Book Covers (Prompt Base)
Session 1: Understanding the elements of a successful children’s book cover.

• Discussion on target audience and how to visually appeal to children and young adult.
• Overview of different illustration styles and use of typography (whimsical, realistic, cartoonish, etc.).
• Brainstorming Session: Finding inspiration for book covers.
• Assignment: Each student will be given a random prompt/ brief description from an unread book by the instructor and will be tasked to create a book cover. 3 rough sketches will be expected in the next class.

Session 2: Discussion on the 3 sketches assignment.

• Exploring dynamic compositions for cover art: Centering, perspective, and movement.
• Character design basics: Simplifying and exaggerating characters for children’s books.
• Introduction to color theory: Choosing child-friendly color schemes.
• Assignment: Start adding color to the characters and background and bring color blocked cover by next class.
• In-house working class.

Week 2:
Session 3

• Discussion on the finalized cover.
• Working with color palettes: How to evoke emotion through color.
• Integrating text with illustrations: Placement of the title and author’s name.
• Typography tips: How to make the text part of the overall design.
• Assignment: Apply typography to your cover design and balance it with your illustration and complete the draft of your book cover illustration.
• In-house working class.

Session 4:

• Final presentation of completed book cover.
• Group critique: Presenting your cover and receiving constructive feedback.
• Assignment: Find a book of your choice that you would like to illustrate. Find three moments in that book by next class that would be ideal as a book cover. Bring Mood Boards of existing book covers of the selected book.

Week 3: Creating Alternate Book Covers (Choice Based)
Session 5:

• Discussion on rough sketches and ideas.
• Discussion on Mood Boards of existing book covers/ How can you make it different.
• In-class working session.
• Assignment: Select one cover idea by next class with 3 typography directions,

Session 6:

• Discussion on finalized cover direction.
• In-class working session/ Color Theory
• Assignment: Begin color blocking by next class.

Week 4:

Session 7

• Work in Class session
• Finalize typography
• In-class working session
• Assignment: Finalize the cover by next class

Session 8:

• Critique on Book Cover
• Discussion on portfolio building for aspiring children’s book illustrators.
• Tips on pitching and working with authors or publishers.

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

For hand drawing art: Paints/ canvas
For digital art: Procreate, Photoshop or any other tablet for drawing that they feel comfortable with.
Student Materials
1) Laptop for Zoom Meetings
2) Ipad/ Drawing Tablets for the course projects
3) Procreate App or any other drawing softwares should be installed prior to joining the course

Where to buy your materials

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

• Cass Art (Fire station)
• Jarir Bookstore: on Rayyan Road or Salwa Road
• Color Note: on Al Nasser Street
• Ibn Al Qayyim: at Markhiya Roundabout
• Al Rawnaq

Schedule

Start: Apr 16, 2025
End: May 11, 2025
Lessons: 8
Days: Sundays and Wednesdays
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Location: Online
Cost: QAR 950

Instructors