City Lit Children's book illustration course
The Children’s Book industry is thriving, largely due to globally rising literacy levels, and a growing awareness of the importance of early childhood education. As a result, Children’s Book creators are in demand.
Our tutors will teach you the many and various skills you’ll need to illustrate books for children - from drawing and painting (analogue and digital), sequencing and pacing the narrative, to editing the images digitally and overlaying text.
You'll learn about the children’s publishing sector; gaining a sense of the different genres and markets for children's books, and where your illustration style might fit.
- Course Code: VZ501
- Dates: 04/10/24 - 21/03/25
- Time: 10:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 20 sessions (over 25 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Dee Shulman
Course Code: VZ501
Duration: 20 sessions (over 25 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course will help you to develop the practical and conceptual (thinking) skills integral to the discipline of children’s Book Illustration, and delve deeper into its context (the historical and contemporary eras and styles which have shaped its evolution) whilst you shape your personal practice.
All sessions are delivered in our fully equipped studio, with access to the latest professional Adobe CC applications.
What will we cover?
• A variety of media: graphite pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal, pastel, crayon, pen and ink, watercolour, gouache, monoprint, collage.
• Character development and consistency
• Image composition and page-layout
• Visual sequencing and pacing
• The relationship between illustration and text
• Introduction to Adobe Photoshop & Procreate
• Research, idea-generation, critical appraisal, revising and refining skills, visual and verbal presentation of ideas.
• The different genres of children’s books, for example: board-books, interactive books, picture books, chapter books / early readers, graphic novels, non-fiction, illustrated fiction for proficient readers, e-books.
• To identify which genres are most relevant to your developing creative practice.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Create consistent characters
• Create visual effective sequences
• Manipulate relationships between image and text
• Make an effective response to a brief: idea-generation, critical appraisal, idea and image refinement, visual and verbal presentation of ideas.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for complete beginners to intermediate level learners (e.g. those with experience of children’s book illustration, or a related field).
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
- A visit from an industry guest
This course requires independent study outside of Guided learning Hours in the studio. Collaboration with peers is encouraged, as part of this.
Additional/extension activities may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Project assignments will be set to apply your knowledge and develop your skills with group tutorials and supportive tutor and peer feedback to guide your creative journey; enhance your skills in critical judgement and creative awareness; as well as monitor your progress. As part of the course, you will also receive a visit from an external industry guest speaker and engage with an off-site trip to support your work.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
A comprehensive range of materials are available to learners in our classrooms. However, learners are advised to bring a sketchbook, size A4 or A3. Learners may also wish to bring an A3 folder, and/or a USB drive, to transport their work to and from City Lit.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. Student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We recommend looking at our Children’s Book Illustration Studio as a next step in your progression. In addition, we offer a range of courses and specialist workshops within graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels.
You may wish to consider applying to our Advanced Programme in Children’s Book Illustration or a related subject: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design/advanced-practice.
Dee studied English at York University, and Illustration at Harrow School of Art, and has worked as a writer and illustrator ever since – from book-jackets, theatre posters, magazine illustration, graphic novels, to Young Adult and children’s books. She has written and/or illustrated over 50 books ranging from board books to Young Adult. She is published in the UK by Penguin, Random House, Harper Collins, OUP, Barrington Stoke, Heinemann & A & C Black, with co-editions in Germany, Russia, China, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Serbia, Poland, France, Finland, Italy, Holland, Korea, USA, and Japan. Dee has exhibited at the Illustration Cupboard London; Royal National Theatre; Barbican Centre; AOI Gallery; Lyric Theatre Hammersmith; Arnolfini; Ulster Museum; Nottingham Museum; Stirling Gallery; Rochdale Gallery; McRoberts Gallery; and Citylit Gallery. Dee loves tutoring at Citylit, and runs courses on Children’s Book Illustration, Drawing for Graphic Novel and Illustration. It is her mission to create a warm, supportive and creative workplace to help students explore and develop their skills, imagination and potential.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.