Undergraduate Course: Children's Picture Books; the art of visual narrative (LLLA07111)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Sandwich |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | THIS IS A FOR-CREDIT ONLY COURSE OFFERED BY THE CENTRE FOR OPEN LEARNING (COL); ONLY STUDENTS REGISTERED WITH COL SHOULD BE ENROLLED
The course introduces students to the art of sequential imagery and visual narrative with a particular focus on children's picture books. Through a series of practical exercises and workshops the students will explore all the aspects of creating a picture book from research and initial concept to the final artwork. They will have the opportunity to develop their own illustrative style and learn to apply it to create a successful and engaging picture book narrative.
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| Course description |
The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.
Over the class sessions the course will cover:
- Introduction to the art of the picture book. A short sequential imagery brief.
- Drawing and sketchbooks. Developing visual vocabulary for picture book projects.
- Researching and developing concepts and ideas for picture books. A short storytelling brief:
- Where do the stories come from?
- Illustrating for children ¿ exploring themes. Drawing children and animals. Planning personal projects.
- Character development. A short character design brief.
- Setting and atmosphere in picture books. Exploring process and techniques in order to set the mood of the book.
- Sequential imagery. Introduction to storyboarding and dummy books.
- Words and pictures. Exploring the relationship between the text and illustration in picture books.
- Illustrating process: from roughs to final artwork. Developing a personal project.
- Developing a personal project and final presentation. (optional: Short introduction to children¿s book publishing)
The Learning Experience
The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, students' progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.
For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.
Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes.
The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment.
In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:
- an A4-sized sketchbook
- 2B, 4B and 6B pencils
- a dipping pen and a drawing nib
- black ink
- a selection of cheap watercolour brushes
- a few sheets of A2 or A1 heavy or light-weight cartridge paper and coloured paper according to student preference.
- a selection of recycled newspapers and other materials according to student preference.
- a selection of drawing materials such as fine-liners, watercolours, acrylics or colour pencils depending on individual projects.
- craft knife, scissors, masking tape, putty rubber and a ruler.
- digital camera.
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Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Research, context and ideas: Demonstrate a range of practical research skills to explore personal concepts and visual ideas to successfully inform a sequential imagery project, supported by contextual references and sketchbook studies.
- Practice, skills and techniques: Show a confidence in employing a range of appropriate materials, methods and approaches to convey a visual narrative through a series of briefs and exercises.
- Selection, presentation and reflection: Evidence appropriate judgement to document, select, edit and present a completed picture book project in the form of a storyboard, roughs for a dummy book and finished illustrations.
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Reading List
Suggested Readings
SALISBURY, M. 2006, Illustrating Children¿s Books: Creating Pictures for Publication. London: A&C Black.
HELLIGE, H., Klanten, R. 2011, Little big books. Illustrations for children¿s picture books. Berlin: Gestalten.
BOLOGNA Illustrators of Children¿s Books, Annuals. Bologna: Bologna FiereWeb S.r.l.
HUNT, P. 1995, Children¿s Literature: An Illustrated History. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
NODELMAN, P. 1988, Words about Pictures: The Narrative Art of Children¿s Books. Athens and London: University of Georgia Press.
SALISBURY, M., Styles, M. 2012, Children¿s Picturebooks. The Art of Visual Storytelling. London: Laurence King Publishing.
REES, D. 2008, How to be an Illustrator. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Web Sources
http://www.childrensillustrators.com/
http://illustrationfriday.com/
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and develop personal visual ideas.
Complete an extended visual art project.
Become familiar with process and materials.
Employ storyboarding techniques. |
| Keywords | Children¿s,Picture Book,Illustration,Drawing,Narrative |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Oliver Reed
Tel:
Email: Oliver.Reed@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk |
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