This course will focus entirely on finely rendered small scale pencil drawings. At the completion of this course the student will have a great appreciation of how to apply sharp focus line drawing, fundamental perspective methods, tonal emphasis, and subtle form description as it pertains to narrative illustrations. Prerequisites: none

Students of all abilities learn wildlife sketching and drawing techniques based on comparative anatomical studies of the principle families of animals. Various resources available to the artist are explored in order to create accurate environments for animal art. Sessions take place at the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. At the end of this course, the student shall have a developed sketchbook of animal drawings that demonstrate knowledge of the various proportions, anatomical structure, and characteristic gestures of a wide variety of animals, and a final composition project placing various animals into a storytelling picture. Prerequisite: FD 1360 Structural Drawing

Students are familiarized with the illustrator’s role in the development and creation of a children’s book. Assignments include breaking up manuscripts, designing characters, creating a storyboard, a wrap around jacket, a 3-D page dummy and several finished pieces. Other areas covered in class are story flow, consistency, age-appropriateness, professional practices, working with text, design, color and composition. At the conclusion of this class the student will have an understanding of the process of illustrating a children’s picture book as well as increased understanding of storytelling, character and other basic illustration skills. Prerequisite: IL 2570 Basic Illustration

Telling good stories involves creating memorable characters. How is this accomplished? What is the role of costume? How can the artist develop vivid personalities to inhabit the author’s stories? How does knowing the audience help define the character? The answers to these questions are the basis for this advanced course in character design. Students develop a series of characters traditionally on paper (character sketches, turnarounds, sheets and finished drawings) and with Sculpey or other clay 3-D materials. At the conclusion of this class the student will have a better understanding of how to create a more fully developed drawn character. Prerequisite: IL 3610 Life Drawing 4

Children’s Book Illustration 2 is the second half of Children’s Book Illustration 1. Individual assignments augment the earlier course and extend the practical methods. At the conclusion of this class the student should have an increased knowledge of the process needed to complete a 32 page picture book project, as well as an increased understanding of storytelling, design, character development and other basic illustration principles. Prerequisite: IL 3650 Children’s Book Illustration 1