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Extended Education - Illustration

Children's Book Writing & Illustration

OAK 219
Instructor: Lissa Rovetch
Wed., 6:45–9:45 p.m., June 4–August 6
10 sessions. $300. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none

For writers and illustrators of all skill levels who want to enter the world of illustrated children's books. The goal is to write and illustrate a picture book (from initial thumbnails to a finished book dummy), get feedback, and strengthen story and images alike.

Students work in a step-by-step approach to develop irresistible, relatable characters, while focusing on fundamentals of plot, structure, voice, description, motivation, and dialogue.

We discuss the different categories that comprise the children's book market and examine old and new children's book classics to see why they are successful. Students also will have the opportunity to speak with a guest editor from Chronicle Books.

Topics include character development, consistency, and creation of visual sequences to complement students' stories. Self-promotion and marketing resources will also be discussed.

Bring to first class: a sketchbook, pencils, a black-ink marker, and several samples of personal work.

Illustration Explored

**Not offered summer 2008 term**

SF 119
Instructor: Isabelle Dervaux
Thurs., 6:45–9:45 p.m., May 29–August 14
(no class July 3 & 10)
10 sessions. $300. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none

Illustration is a multifaceted field in which artists might find themselves creating characters for graphic novels or children's books, designing greeting cards, or illustrating magazine and newspaper articles. Various assignments steer students to develop unique style and create a professional portfolio. From thumbnails to sketches and revisions to final art, participants explore and build upon the image-creating process. Lecture and discussion topics include professional practices and self-promotion.

Bring to first class: sketchbook, pencils, a black-ink marker, and several samples of work.

Illustration Tools A1:
Introduction to Digital Media

OAK 835
Instructor: John Sherlock Hersey
Mon.-Fri., 9:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., May 27-June 13
Final Monday, 9:15 a.m.- 11:45 p.m., June 16
15 sessions. $1,700 pass/fail* (3 credits). Pass/fail or letter grade. Prerequisite: none

Receive a comprehensive introduction to the three main digital image-making programs in professional usage today: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash. Printing on a large-format printer, as well as using the lab printers, will add to the illustration-learning process. Several invited industry professionals present their work and offer valuable, professional insights to contemporary picture-making with digital tools.

* This course also can be taken for a letter grade: $3,660.

Comics in World Cultures

OAK 809
Instructor: Gene Yang
Mon., Tues. & Thurs., 6:30-9:30 p.m., June 16-July 21 (no class July 10)
15 sessions. $1,700. Pass/Fail (3 credits).* Prerequisite: 1 year of college-level drawing and English literature classes

Two parts comprise the course: reading and creating. In the first part, students examine how comics fit into the greater context of culture by reading graphic novels from the three major comics traditions of the world: Japanese, French/Belgian, and American. The class compares and contrasts each culture's history of comics, unique storytelling conventions, and popular genres. Participants study how emerging cartoonists from around the world reflect, react to, and participate in, the globalization of culture.

In the second part, students create personalized comics to more fully understand the underpinnings of the medium. In doing so the class experiments with elements from the three traditions mentioned above.