SCHOOL SESSIONS

I run sessions which are fun, interactive and stimulating, with lots of audience participation.   I was a secondary school teacher before I began illustrating, so am very comfortable managing and engaging large groups of students. I regularly give talks and run workshops for all ages, from Pre-K to adult - I'm as happy singing songs and imitating animals with the littlies as I am discussing how to use the formal elements of art to create visual narratives with Year Twelve.

WHAT DO I COVER?

While I do talk about my work, I use it as a way to discuss the power of creativity and lateral thinking rather than making it all about me. I like to keep the focus on what the students can do and show them how to harness their own creative superpowers. I prefer it if students come equipped to draw along with me (even in big groups!) so that we can create stories and images together. In the process I’ll show them roughs and works in progress, and teach them the basic principles of illustrating a picture book, character design, composition, and constructing a visual narrative.

organising Sessions:

Sessions work best when divided into year groups or stage groups, so that I can choose age-appropriate activities.  I prefer hour long sessions (even for the kindy kids - I usually find they stay engrossed right to the end!) and I include three sessions in my day rate - extra sessions are possible if you require them. I adapt my sessions to meet the different needs of each age group.

Pre K and Stage 1: The focus is on having fun, thinking about telling stories with pictures, and learning about how books are made, with lots of interactive, high-octane audience participation and a big dose of silliness.

Stage 2: I start to introduce some more technical ideas about the process of illustration, and give them handy drawing tricks they can use in their own work, with the focus on creating expressive characters.

Stage 3: We get more in-depth, discussing how visual narratives work and exploring how some of the formal elements of design such as shape and composition help enhance the emotional impact of images, again giving them a range of strategies they can use in their own drawing. 

Having students can draw along with me helps them get the most out of our time together.

Equipment for the students:

Each child will need:

  • at least 3 sheets of A4 printer paper

  • a sharp lead pencil

  • a book or clipboard to lean on (sketchbooks or art books are a good alternative to the printer paper)

  • Please make sure all children are equipped with these before they come into the session, so that we don't lose time trying to distribute them. 

During the last 15 mins of each session, we invent and illustrate a story together. I draw using an ipad, projected up on to the big screen so that students can see the drawing take shape. Once the drawing's finished, you can print out copies and use them as colouring-in sheets and starters for creative writing exercises. You can see (and download and use!) some of the pictures I've done with various school groups here.

If you have anything you'd really like me to focus on, or any special requests, just get in touch via my contact form or email or feel free to phone me on 041 4938261. I'm happy to try almost anything and accommodate any suggestions - so long as you don't want me to ride a unicycle or wrestle a grizzly bear!

Equipment for ME:

  • A data projector or interactive whiteboard that I can plug my ipad into, with an HDMI port and cable. Please note: My ipad needs to be next to me when I'm presenting (rather than down the other end of the hall!) because I'll need to access it during my presentation.  

  • A working microphone if I'll be speaking to a big group (more than 40 kids) or if the acoustics are not so great. 
    Before I arrive, please make sure all the equipment is working and make sure all connection cables, remotes etc are there. 

How to prepare:

Teacher-librarians are experts at creating a buzz around books, and it's such a delight to visit schools where the kids are already familiar with some of the books I've illustrated - so if you get a chance to read even just one or two of them prior to my visit, it really helps build their enthusiasm and sense of connection.  I know time is limited and the schedule is very full, though, so don't worry if you can't manage it. 

If you would like some images to print out to put up around the school or add to notices/newsletters, feel free to use any of the images on my website.

Links to teacher notes and activities can be found throughout my website, on the page for each specific book, or on my resources page

Book signing

I'm happy to sign books for the library, or any copies that students have brought from home.