Book Illustration Short Course
Course description
Course overview
In this book illustration short course you will explore materials, gain confidence in character development, layout, composition and understand the relationship between illustration and text.
A short demonstration on digital processes will introduce you to the possibilities of incorporating new working methods into your illustration practice. The course tutors are practising illustrators who will give you inspiration and insight into the current children's book market.
Throughout the course you will also enjoy valuable one-on-one tuition sessions as well as group feedback.
Past students have featured among the prize winners of the Macmillan Book Prize and the V&A Inspired By Competition.
This course is available both on campus or online.
Who this course is for
This course is for anyone interested in illustrating books, book jackets or children's picture books and want to take a drawing based course. It is also ideal for anyone who is considering taking an Illustration MA or Illustration BA course.
This is an intermediate/advanced level course.
Key information
Topics covered
- Introducing materials and approaches to illustration
- Drawing from observation
- Storyboarding and sequential image
- Character and expression
- Printmaking techniques at home
- Individual tutorials
- Project briefs you can continue after the course
- Exploring possibilities of digital processes (Photoshop demo)
- Portfolio tips
- How to approach an agent or publisher
Learning outcomes
- You will aim to complete a series of illustrations or have developed ideas and some sample artwork for a book
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
On campus
Please bring the following materials with you on the first day:
- A4 sketch book
- 2B, 3B, 4B or 6B pencils
Useful to have:
- Black Pentel brush pen
- Any other drawing media that you like to use
- Examples of any recent work; drawings, sketchbooks (it does not have to be illustration)
- An image of your favourite illustrator's work
Online
Essential materials:
- A4 sketch book
- 2B, 3B, or 4B pencils
- Black ink (indian ink preferable but not essential)
- Gouache or watercolour paints in a tube (red, blue and yellow)
- Paint brushes
- Scissors
- Glue stick
Useful to have:
- Some form of colour pencil crayons or pastels
- Any other drawing media that you have at home
- Examples of any recent work; drawings, sketchbooks - (it does not have to be illustration)
- An image of your favourite illustrator's work
If you are taking this course online, please see our Guide to taking online short courses.
Tutor
Zehra Hicks
Before embarking on a career in illustration, Zehra Hicks graduated from University of Northumbria with a First Class BA Hons degree in Fine Art. Later she worked as a graphic designer in London for 8 years. After she had her first child she completed a Short Course in Book Illustration at Chelsea College of Arts in 2009 which gave her the confidence to change career. The book she worked on while on the course got highly commended for the Macmillan Prize that year and she was offered a contract with Macmillan. Her first book, ''The Boy Who Hated Toothbrushes'', was winner of the Heart of Hawick Award in 2012, the Read It Again! Cambridgeshire Children''s Picture Book Award and named Lovereading4Kids Debut of the Year 2011
Zehra''s books she has written and/or illustrated have been published in over 20 countries. Clients include: Andersen Press, Hodder, Two Hoots and Macmillan. She''s currently working on her 15th picture book and she''s excited about some new projects in the pipeline.
Her first illustrated only book (The Problem With Problems) was read by Tom Hardy on CBeebies. Most recently, her book, ''When Dinosaurs Walked The Earth’, written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Zehra, has won Oscar''s Book Prize 2024.
View Zehra''s website
Phillip A Goss
Book a course
Loading