Saturdays in the Studio! with Victoria Anne D’Anna

Discover the similarities and differences between drawing and illustrating by looking at children’s book examples and line work techniques. Each participant will draw an iconic children’s book sentence out of a hat! This sentence will be used to explore the relationship between text and picture. It will act as the inspiration behind your illustration.

Learn how to build a story from an image! Participants will use an image or idea and render it into a more finalized form for the base of their illustration. By adding linework and extra details, create a more complete illustration. Develop your individual illustration styles and explore different line work techniques.

Participants will use an image or illustration and focus on adding shading to their work. We will explore the importance of light and shadows through various shading techniques such as crosshatching. Participants will be encouraged to explore their own unique styles and apply the shading technique they feel best suits their illustration. Minimalistic, realism, caricature, anime – it’s up to you!

The final activity in our book illustrating series! Wrap up your final illustration with colouring. Adding colour to your illustration pulls everything together. It is the most effective way to evoke the overall tone in a work. Explore how different colour palettes translate emotion and expand meaning. Whether you use minimal colour or saturate your illustration it is up to you! By the end of this activity, you will have a fully realized illustration, a better understanding of your own unique style, and how illustrations expand the meaning of text.