Illustration for Children's Picture Books

Students will cover ten important aspects of book illustration:
1. Learn to read a manuscript, break it down to fit into the format of a picture book.
2. Doing research, finding reference material and building up a reference library.
3. Learn to produce rough illustrations and layouts.
4. Preparing finished artwork based on the roughs.
5. Learn about page design, layout and composition.
6. Learn about typography and incorporating this with the layout and illustration.
7. To look for their own voice and develop their own unique style of illustration.
8. Learn to use different techniques, media and materials.
9. Applying this knowledge with basic computer skills using InDesign, PhotoShop & Quark.
10. Preparing a manuscript for presentation.

Oxfordshire Adult Learning offer a wide range of similar workshops and courses, please check our website for further information.

Korky Paul does NOT teach drawing, so students must have a passion and an ability to draw, and an inherent or intrinsic skill. The gift as some may call it!

A portfolio: Students are to bring in a portfolio of three (3) pieces they are proud of and a sketch book.

A story or poem to illustrate: Korky Paul does NOT teach writing – but illustration, design, layout and composition. Korky provides an eclectic selection of manuscripts from various authors from which students then choose one to illustrate for the workshop.Permission has been given by the authors to use these stories for the workshops only and they retain the copyright ©.

Or… choose a story/poem from the following source:1. Use a story either written by you or a friend,2. Or an existing poem that can be illustrated over 3 double page spreads,3. Or a traditional fairy story/fable e.g. Aesop, Andersen, Grimm's etc,4. Or a published picture book, which you would like to illustrate.

Select a story that grabs you, inspires you and suits your style. Please print the chosen ‘manuscript’ on white A4 paper or photocopy/print it if it is from another source.

Courses can fill fast, so please enrol early to avoid disappointment. Decisions on whether a course is to run are made two weeks prior to the start date - an email will be sent to you should there be changes to your course or if it is cancelled. Please check your inbox leading up to your course, including the junk folders. For anyone without an email account, our Admissions team will phone you instead.

For the first week of the course you will need to bring a valid form of identification; this includes passport, driving licence, debit/credit card, Birth Certificate or National Insurance card.

Please note - you should be 19 years old or over at 31st August 2024 prior to starting the course.

There is a materials fee to cover the initial costs of the storyboard document. You will need to purchase art materials to create your artwork.

Courses offered by the college are fully or partly funded by the Government and the published fee takes account of this funding.

Before starting a course, the College is required to check you meet conditions relating to that funding, e.g. age, residency status within the UK/EEA, prior qualification level and employment status. In some circumstances (such as with online enrolments), these checks can only be completed after you have enrolled and paid.

If you are unable to pay in full for this course at the time of enrolment, and the course tuition fee is £300 or more, an instalment plan is available. If this is your preference, please do not enrol online but rather call the Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to enrol.

Once enrolled, Admissions will take the first instalment payment from you and pass on your details to the Finance team who will email you to set-up your payment plan. Please return a fully completed instalment plan to Finance as failure to do so could result in being withdrawn from your course.

The rules on fee reduction are complicated, we would encourage you to talk to our Admissions Team on 01235 216400 to discuss these options. You can find more information on our Fees and Bursaries page - search "Fees and Bursaries" at the top of the page.

As this is a non-accredited course, there is no formal qualification. However, you will be asked to complete activities that demonstrate how you are progressing on your course.

Learning Methods: All workshops will be conducted as an editorial meeting with all learners seated around one large ‘board-room’ style table.No work to be done in the workshops, as many students are reluctant or shy to work in front of others. Also from a practical point of view it is difficult to bring in art materials.So be prepared, there is lots of homework!

Assessment: As this is a non-accredited course, informal methods of assessment will be used. You will have your art work constructively criticised and reviewed by Korky and the other students.If there is scope for improvement to the art work from these reviews you will be expected to attempt these amendments.

Please note to track your progress and achievement you will be required to complete a short document.