Syllabus: Children s Book Illustration

Transcription

1 Syllabus: Children s Book Illustration CE 2303N Summer 2016 SSyll Wednesdays, 6-9pm Continuing [Pick the Education date][type the sender company name] Course Information: Location: Anderson 730 Dates: July 6 August 10 (5 classes) Note: No class session the week of the DNC, July Instructor Information: Name: Adam Gustavson adam@adamgustavson.com, agustavson@uarts.edu Policy: CC both addresses in correspondence Instructor Bio Adam Gustavson is the award winning illustrator of thirty books for children, and has had his work featured in the juried annual exhibitions of The New York Society of Illustrators, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, and Communication Arts Magazine. He is a graduate of Rowan University, and holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. He is the co- owner and lead instructor at Renaissance Art Studio in Millburn, NJ, and conducts workshops at colleges, high schools and elementary schools. He lives in New Jersey with his family and a bunch of musical instruments. Course Description: This class is designed for illustrators looking to tailor their portfolio to target children s book agents and publishers. You will develop new portfolio pieces with a focus on narrative and promotional materials. Examine the works of contemporary illustrators and discuss techniques, materials, and style. Come to the first class with examples of your work, a children s book that is particularly meaningful to you, and a sketchbook. Pre- requisites: (if applicable) Course Overview: This course will concentrate on the process of book illustration and design, beginning with basic pagination and progressing into thumbnailing, reference gathering, development of finished sketches, and the creation of final art. The variety of approaches afforded by this art form will be stressed; students will be encouraged to seek out various inspirations within this wide ranging discipline, all the while refining and streamlining their studio work habits. We will begin with an overview of book illustration with respect to design, pacing, and visual style. Drawing from either song lyrics, a nursery rhyme, or a memory, we will thumbnail out an entire narrative, select 2-3 images for development into tight sketches, and create one piece of final art. Course Objectives/Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, students will have learned to anticipate industry expectations in working on a children s book project, and will have created no less than one stand alone piece for inclusion in their portfolio, with a clear road map to produce others. Students will be exposed to various media and working methods, and will be more acquainted with the children s book market and industry practices, both creative and business related.

2 COURSE R ESOURCES There is no required text for this course. Examples and handouts will be introduced to the class, and students are encouraged to bring in books and other inspiration (artists, individual works of art and photography, etc.) throughout the session. A working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) would be beneficial; I will be happy to assist in program basics and development of skills relevant book illustration as the need arises. Additional Course Materials Supplies Students will bring their own materials to class. Supplies will vary, and will likely build from week to week, but at minimum students should be equipped with: A laptop computer or tablet digital camera (preferably not inside your phone, though a recent phone can suffice) Sketchbook (9x12 or 11x14 recommended) T- square and/or ruler pencils/erasers Additional media to be considered: paint and brushes (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, etc.), supports (paper, canvas, board), collage materials, colored pencils, pastel, charcoal and conté crayon. COURSE A CTIVITIES Lectures + Discussions Sketchbook s In- class work and exercises Critiques Students are expected to work outside of class on their projects in order to fulfill the learning objectives of this course. COURSE POLICIES Student Feedback/Communication - Submitting Electronic Files - Attendance + Participation All students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly, and for the duration of the scheduled instructional time. Individual instructors will decide the optimum time for taking attendance and may penalize for habitual lateness of absence. Repeated absences may result in a grade of "F" for the course. 2

3 Students who withdraw from a course must do so in writing. Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal. U NIVERSITY POLICIES: Academic Honesty/ Integrity Policy Violations of academic integrity are considered to be acts of academic dishonesty and include (but are not limited to) cheating, plagiarizing, fabrication, denying others access to information or material, and facilitating academic dishonesty, and are subject to disciplinary action. To review the Academic Honesty/ Integrity Policy in its entirety, please visit: Student Code of Conduct It is the policy of the Division of Continuing Studies to provide a safe and healthy environment for learning, personal growth and enjoyment. The well- being of this community depends upon the good judgment and considerate behavior of its members. Student status at The University of the Arts is not an unconditional right, but a privilege subject to certain rules and expectations articulated in the Student Code of Conduct. To review the Student Code of Conduct in its entirety, please visit: code- of- conduct.original.pdf G RADING: (if applicable) Your grade will be based on the following: Component Points Written s 30% Participation (incl Responses) 30% Artist Presentations 20% Final Portfolio + Statement 20% Total 100% Your grade will be calculated using the following scale: Grade Percentage Range Grade Point A % 4.0 A % 3.67 B % 3.33 B 86 83% 3.0 B % 2.67 C % 2.33 C 76 73% 2.0 C % 1.67 D % 1.33 D 63 66% 1.0 F 59% or less 0.0 P Pass - 3

4 SCHEDULE: SESSION + DATE TOPIC COURSEWORK DUE Attendance and creative group drawing exercise. Session 1 Introduction of students previous work. Lecture: Examples of children s books (focus on types as well as aesthetic variety); process (manuscript, research, thumbnailing, reference, sketches, finals); possible layouts (self ended or otherwise, spreads vs full page, etc.) Discussion of materials for next class (for tight sketches) IN- CLASS thumbnail assignment Produce thumbnails for a page book idea. (This may range from small scale images.) Due: Next class, 7/13 Session 2 Critique of thumbnails. Presentation/In- class work Revising of thumbnails in class. Discussion and examples of reference gathering. Photo reference and sketch process demo. Sketchbook character study/development. Begin work on tight sketches in class. Produce one tight sketch (value study) for following class. Bring in examples of artwork to be used as inspiration. Due: Next class 7/20 Session 3 Critique of tight sketch/value study. Revising of sketch in class, begin remaining sketches. Discussion of media, aesthetic, and process for final piece. Painting media demo. 4

5 Complete remaining two tight sketches. Bring materials and reference to begin final art in class. Due: Next class 8/3 Session 4 Critique of all three finished sketches as a unit and in context of thumbnails. Revising of sketch for final art in class. Painting media demo. Begin and work on final illustration in class. Session 5 Complete one final illustration. Due: Next class 8/10 Critique of Final Image. Plan road map for producing final art based on remaining tight sketches. Discussion of promotional techniques; developing a personalized studio work flow; portfolio development. A SSIGNMENTS/ PROJECTS: Thumbnail out a complete picture book dummy. Develop three tight sketches (value studies) from three images in book dummy. Complete a finished piece based on one value study. In class exercises (character development, material and technique exercises) TBD. 5