Kids Illustration: The Tunnel Book II

Service Description

A 15% discount is applied per course if more than one course is booked. Thanks to e-books, you can browse for new books on a tablet, smartphone, or computers. All that technology is great, but some people still like to hold a text in their hands and turn the pages with their fingers. This is especially true with movable books, such as pop-up books and tunnel books. Some physical books are also works of art. There’s really no electronic substitute for these, as making them is a special experience. And that’s certainly true of The Tunnel Book. Tunnel books date all the way back to the mid-18th century, when they were originally called “peep shows.” The concept was inspired by theatrical stage sets. Have you ever seen a live play with movable set pieces? If so, you may understand how they inspired tunnel books. This workshop will cover a brief introduction to tunnel books and the use of three-dimensionality within storytelling. Throughout, Fran will work with the children on planning, creating and assembling layers to create a child's own and unique visual environment for their tunnel book. The children are encouraged to have cutouts or images of their favourite animal, its environment and any imagery related to this, ready to use for the class. The method we will be using for creating the artwork for the layers, will be done using a combination of watercolours, coloured pencils, and collage. As this is a flexible medium, the children will be able to incorporate any cutouts they bring, with their own drawing/painting onto the layers. Francesca is a Maltese illustrator and picturebook maker based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She received her MA in Illustration at the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh College of Art). Her aim is to tell whimsical stories full of magic and emotion, driven by dynamic characters that help people to connect with the work in a meaningful and engaging way. The themes surrounding inclusivity, mental health and well-being are an important part of her practice. Fran often combines her illustrative work with material such as textiles, book art and paper cutting as an additional layer for storytelling. Fran has illustrated 5 children’s books so far, including a Maltese adaptation of The House that Sneezed’ (2020) and the award-winning, Maltese children’s fiction series of ‘Irvin Vella, Virtual Investigator’ (2021, 2022). • Please bring with you, photos, cutouts or reference photos of your child's preferred animal and environment