CSM Children's Book Illustration course - Day 1

After a couple of months of being excessively bled at work, I decided it was time for a change. Initially I was looking for a different short course, maybe sewing or fine art - just something creative, without any numbers and excel sheets.

I came across two courses on children's book illustrations at Central Saint Martin (University of the Arts, London), one for "beginners" and one advanced course, each a week long over the two weeks before Easter 2014. I always wanted to learn more about character development and translating an idea or a narrative into a whole string of pictures. Decision made!

At very short notice I enrolled in the advanced course, which was on just before the very long Easter weekend. Advanced Children's Book Illustration - promising at a minimum a much-needed distraction and at best an eye-opening and life-changing experience!

 

The course took place at CSM's Backhill building, and it was the last week that CSM had this building. We were 8 ladies and one quota chap, plus our lovely teacher April. On Day 1 we were tasked with creating a character (from written description to drawn illustration), Pirate the cat. Apparently Pirate is a large, lazy, fairly round white cat with one black paw, a black patch over his left eye and a black tip to his tail. Now there is something that I might just about be able to do   =)

Pirate the cat from front, side and back	Pirate happy, angry and sad
Pirate climbing into a box with difficulty, about to jump and on a swing	Pirate looking smug, frustrated with the wool and suddenly scared

I had not really been drawing for a couple of years, thought that I might be really rusty and to be frank not really up for this against so many really experienced people. But then it just felt so nice to just take a pencil again and draw something. I spent far too much time on the first sheet showing Pirate from the front, back and side, trying to make perfect every line and every dot.

But then time was starting to run out a bit and the pencil drawings became more fluid and more natural, just bringing onto paper what was in my mind and not worrying about a line being perfectly straight. I was quickly plotting on one sketch after the other and I was very sad when time was over and I could not have a go at more of the potential situations or expressions to portray Pirate in. (This was when I just scribbled down Pirate on the swings in less than 10 seconds..)

My favourite drawing of the day must be Pirate being angrily frustrated. I think I got the face spot on!

Angrily frustrated!

In the afternoon we created a sausage dog from clay and then tried to draw the little dog in a little story around a balloon.

My four-legged creature in clay and pencil

1. Puppy meets balloon

2. Sniffs it, balloon rolls a little

3. Puppy nudges balloon and watches

4. Puppy chases balloon

5. Puppy pounces on balloon

6. Balloon bursts, puppy retreats

I just could not wait for Day 2!