Draw a Child Animal Character
A live workshop with Shirley Ng Benitez
Drawing Children for Children's Book Illustrations
A spring workshop series (that starts next week!)
Shirley Ng Benitez has worked as an illustrator (and author) of children's books for more than five years, and as a graphic designer for American Greetings, Inc. and many other professional clients in the technology, medical, toy and publishing industries.
"I paint traditionally in gouache and watercolor and also create mixed media pieces as well as digitally on the computer."
She's one of the six guest teachers in a new workshop series, Drawing Children for Children's Book Illustrations. Others will be Patrice Barton (January 30), Tracy Nishimura Bishop, Juana Neal-Martinez (April) and children's book literary agent and artist rep Christy Tugeau Ewers (March.)
As she says above, Shirley's assignment for you for Wednesday, is: Illustrate one of the following prompts, using a young animal (or animals) in your narrative piece: Patience, Optimism, Warmth, Kindness, Gratitude, Being Present.
She'll also share her process and favorite tips for creating exquisite child characters in story illustrations.
Registration for her December 20 workshop also enrolls you in the other six workshops of the spring series (taught by Barton, Neal Martinez, Bishop and Ewers) and access to the video replays, and the replay of November's class, How to Draw 'Cute' While Capturing Natural Realism by award winning fine artist and renowned drawing teacher Cindy Wider.
Group critiques are 'perfect practice'
They tell you...
What isn't working
When to push harder
When to just stop
Art by Shirley Ng Benitez
And help you to...
Get a fresh perspective
Our guest critiquers – illustrators, author-illustrators, children’s literary agents, art directors, sometimes an editor – examine your artwork in a spirit of teaching and mentoring.
Think like a pro
Watch up close and personal how full-time creatives evaluate and troubleshoot their own and others’ pieces.
Prepare for...
That upcoming SCBWI conference, promotional mailing, portfolio prep, online gallery posting, or sit-down with a client.
Art by Shirley Ng Benitez
And nudge you to...
Sharpen your powers of discernment
Reinforce bedrock principles of draftsmanship, design and communication. (Funny how critiques bring you back to those.)
Meet your tribe
Expert practitioners and your colleagues who share their What I Wish I Knew Then stories and become your contacts in ‘the biz.’ (It’s called networking.)
Get better at... getting better
Critiques with practice dramatically speed your progress as you learn to wisely navigate the hierarchy of feedback – what’s valid for you now vs. what can be set aside.
Improvement comes from consistent focus
Sometimes it will be your work being discussed. More often than not, it will be someone else's.
You'll benefit by being there. Absorbing the insights in pieces, bit by bit, as many times as you want.
For the time when it's just you behind the drawing board making every design decision.
A jolt of art school at your fingertips!
Shirley shares how the family puppy, a boxer named Gabby, made the difference for her fledgling design company and personal way of life.
Secure your spot at the table while these wonderful artist-teachers are available to share their secrets with you.
30 Day Money Back Guarantee!
Six sessions. Six months. If you find your first experience of a session not helpful or just not your cup of tea, write me (c/o the How To Be A Children’s Book Illustrator blog) and I’ll refund you same day, no questions asked and no worries (and we’re still friends.) – Mark Mitchell