Craig Smith has illustrated more than 400 books for children over 40 plus years, working with many of Australia's most experienced writers and editors.
I've been fortunate to have worked as a book illustrator my entire working life. My pathway to illustration came through reading, a love of humour and through drawing people.
I love stories. I love being in a story – by that I mean really inside the story, thinking about the characters, what they might be doing, how to picture that?
And, what technology to use? Pencil, paper, paint and ink certainly. Somewhere in the process digital tools and software.
For particular info and resources about Daradgee Writer's & Illustrator's Camp please scroll down to School Visits page... There you will find video and pdf links that will help make clear the book-making task - especially the illustration task!
My Story pdf FAQ's pdfI learnt my illustration style by drawing with pen and nib, and black ink. This could be described as learning how to make the outlines come to life.
My school presentations are about drawing for storytelling.
The presentation is organised around the questions and choices an illustrator faces in composing an illustration, and modelling a technique to work it all out.
In the guided drawing task, the first questions include, where and when is a story set, what moment to draw, what viewpoint, arranging the main shapes on the picture plane, what movement and body language, using light and shadow.
For teachers, a quick insight into this process may be found in the GETTING STARTED video created for the students at Daradgee Writers and Illustrators Camp. For more information please go to the School Visit button below, or contact me direct.
In 2024 it is a buzz that our book Saving Seal, written by by Diane Jackson Hill, has been included in the Vic government's Prep Bag program.
School visits pdf A Day at School pdf Prep Bag pdfInterested in a school visit, or any other enquiry? Don't hesitate to get in touch.
