• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer, Legal and Media Kit
  • Blog
  • Contact me

A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

  • Art
  • Blogging Helps
  • Faith
  • Homeschooling
  • Poetry
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Writing
You are here: Home / Art / Illustration Workshop

Illustration Workshop

April 25, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Click here to go to my disclosure policy.

Raincoast Books sent me a great book to review called Illustration Workshop.  This is a practical book filled with inspiration and exercises to delight those looking for some creative fun as well as educate those looking to broaden their skills as they look towards a career as an illustrator.   If you want to create attention-grabbing work, this workshop will help you. 

Illustration WorkshopMy Thoughts:

I’m going to tell you right up front… I really like this book.  There is a firm appreciation for good teaching up front.  I love the loads of exercises that the reader is walked through. The graphics and the step by step teaching, and the checklist at the end of lesson is simply marvellous.   Great for the student who really wants to learn, and yet loose enough to attract those who just want to get better at something they love without the pressure to do it as a professional … learning but keeping it fun. 

Now on to the nitty gritty.

What do you get?

Illustrators workshop

The section illustrating like an illustrator walks you through the ideas of illustrating… from what illustrating is to how to combine concept with style, targeting your audience and more.  Well written text that explains each thought simply yet thoroughly.   Could lots more the said about each topic?  Sure, but there is enough to get you started on your own journey of discovery. 

Materials, bright and colourful section with some basic information given to help you determine what your needs are. Each type of implement with it’s pros and cons. 

Illustration Workshop

The next section walks us through the steps taken through each of the 36 assignments given. Given examples of how to complete each section so you end up with illustrations that you are happy with. 

It is rather nice I think, that the author includes a section on how to do some of your drawings using computer software.  She urges the illustrator to complete work by hand as it takes longer but gives you more control, helps you improve your ability to draw and helps you to be more thoughtful about your work. Digitizing your work means it is easier to play around with your colour palette and to make incremental changes more easily. 

The Warm up section was just plain fun.  Different ideas to get you thinking creatively from using scribbles to make a drawing, using hatch marks to create an image, using shapes to make a picture and more. 

36 Assignments

The 36 assignments were created to take away the “what on earth do I draw” dilemma.  This gives people an actual project to work on.  Call them, if you will, 36 mini projects to give the budding professional illustrator confidence in approaching a paid project of their own.   These assignments cover such topics as greeting cards, book covers, bottle packaging, and hankerchiefs.   Interesting assignments to delight you the illustrator.

Each assignment follows a similar format: 

The assignment page.  This page includes with the requirements of the assignment clearly given. 

Illustration Workshop

The next steps include thoughts the illustrator might have on the assignment.   All these steps help the illustrator come up with ideas to help them create the product needed.

Illustration Workshop

Each of the following steps walks the illustrator through the necessary steps to complete their final product. Brainstorming through text and drawings, developing your concept, creating thumbnails, making rough sketches, and then revising your sketch til it’s about where you want it.

Illustrations workshopA lovely checklist is provided for each of the assignments, giving you a way to double check that you have completed each of the steps before you finalize your project.

Illustrations WorkshopThe final step gives you a chance to have fun with your project, choosing your best writing/drawing medium, surface to use, colours needed and so forth.  It’s where all your research and activity comes to a conclusion.

In conclusion

At the close of the book are a number of practice sheets where an illustrator can improve their skills drawing some specific targets like hands, bikes, people wearing a gorilla suit, and animals.  A chance to practice lettering to demonstrate emotions like fear, energy, and playfulness. These pages allow people to play around with drawing trees, people, buildings and more.   Improve skills and just keep drawing.  

Illustration Workshop

This well-laid out book gives the illustrator a chance to build for themselves a small portfolio that they can use to showcase their work. It allows the novice art student to experience what an illustrator needs to do in order to be successful and to improve their skills.

This well-laid out book gives the illustrator a chance to build for themselves a small portfolio that they can use to showcase their work. It allows the just for fun learner to experience what an illustrator needs to do in order to be… Click To Tweet

An excellent book for novice and seasoned illustrator alike.

Illustration Workshop

Illustration Workshop

Find your style, practice drawing skills, and build a stellar portfolio.
Mary Kate McDevitt
Chronicle Books
Art, Illustration, Workshop, Drawing
Softcover, 192 pages
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Where to find: Amazon Link.  

642 Awesome Things to Draw
My Favourite Art Books

Related Posts:

  • The Illustration Idea Book
    The Illustration Idea Book
  • Create Your Own Secret Language
    Create Your Own Secret Language
  • How to Get Your Homeschooled Child Socialized?
    How to Get Your Homeschooled Child Socialized?
  • Art Book: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
    Art Book: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
  • 11 Ways to Study Geography
    11 Ways to Study Geography
  • Art Book: Creative Lettering Sketchbook
    Art Book: Creative Lettering Sketchbook

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
Spread the love

Filed Under: Art Tagged With: Art, Art Books, Art Series, Book Review

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

ABOUT ME

I am centered by the love of God and family. Smiles are brought about being a Writer, Poet, Hiker and reader. Growth occurs as I educate my son, raise him up in the fear of the Lord, love up on my critters and live as a pastor’s wife.

Want to Stay Informed?

Subscribe and I’ll shoot you an email once a week.


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.



Recent Posts

  • Review: Personal Finance Lab
  • Perfect Indoor Games
  • O God, Our Help in Ages Past
  • The Wanderer
  • What does it mean to be Observant

Recent Comments

  • Kristen on Perfect Indoor Games
  • Annette1 on Perfect Indoor Games
  • Ellen Wike on Perfect Indoor Games
  • Annette1 on What does it mean to be Observant
  • Annette1 on The Wanderer

Archives

Categories

  • Art
  • Art Books
  • Blogging Helps
  • Faith
  • Homeschooling
  • Poetry
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing

Footer

Amazon Affiliate information

A Net in Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Tinker Crate Affiliate

Copyright © 2021 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time · Lifestyle Pro - Child Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in