Shadra Strickland

The Art of the Picture Book

Shadra Strickland

Already a member?

Sign in to view the full class
Sign in or Become A Member to view full class!
  • In-depth Instruction; over 165 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
Meet your instructor, children's book author Shadra Strickland. Then dive into an exploration of how text and images work together to create meaningful stories.
What qualities bring a character to life? Strickland guides you through everything you need to know, from how to identify with your character through various ways to develop compelling stories and meaningful imagery.
Learn how to infuse emotion into your illustrations with realistic expressions, postures and composition ideas that will continue to breathe life into the characters on the page.
Robust characters need a carefully designed book to live in, so follow along as Strickland explains self-ended and separate-ended layout options for picture books, including notes on trim sizes and other technical considerations.
Discover how to turn an ordinary story into an extraordinary adventure as you push yourself to add more depth, dimension and movement into your illustrations.
Every project needs a strong critique, and Strickland shares the best tricks of the trade for revising your work with fresh eyes. You'll also discover ways to experiment with mood and color that can improve your story with as little as one change in your palette.
Strickland wraps up the class with a tutorial on creating and submitting a dummy for a publisher, including tips on how to create a dummy for self-publishing or personal gifts. You'll leave the class wanting to run straight for the drawing board in pursuit of your next story!
 
 
7 Lessons
2  hrs 45  mins

Description

Published illustrator Shadra Strickland guides you through the foundational techniques you need to create strong visual stories. Delve into various picture-book structures and select the best format for your work. Discover Shadra’s secrets for using simple shapes to build complex, expressive characters. Gain critical insight into book pacing, imagery, and text placement by creating a storyboard. Develop thematic boards and color studies to give your illustrations the depth they deserve. Plus, learn industry tricks to prepare your book for proposal. Bring your creativity to life in a picture book that will delight children and publishers everywhere!

Shadra Strickland

Shadra Strickland is a Baltimore-based illustrator who specializes in childrenÂ’s picture books. Currently, she teaches illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Strickland frequently collaborates with other illustrators and authors, an endeavor that has earned several publishing accolades, including the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe Award. When sheÂ’s not teaching Craftsy classes, Strickland enjoys conducting workshops and sharing her craft with children and adults across the country.

Shadra Strickland

Bonus materials available after purchase

Explore Classes by Shadra Strickland

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You may be interested in

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get exclusive premium content! Sign up for a membership now!
This site uses cookies and other technologies to track your use of the site that will allow us and our service providers and partners to enhance your experience and deliver relevant content to you. By agreeing to or closing this notice, you understand and agree to such use and data collection. For more information about our privacy practices and your choices, please visit our privacy policy and cookie notice.

Sign in to Craftsy

Enter your sign in info below