Picture Book Writing/Illustrating Class in Chicago

If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in learning how to write and illustrate a picture book, this is the class for you! I took this class with artist/author Laura Montenegro a couple years ago and am so glad I did. Laura is nurturing, very giving, and filled with passion for her craft and for teaching. She taught us how to hand stitch a book dummy using booking binding tape and thread - a very awesome and easy process even if only to make your own sketchbooks or journal. We did a lot of mixed media projects, a different one in every class, which really got the juices flowing. And we also had writing assignments that tied into the art making process. By the end of class I had tons of new ideas and concepts for new stories, though I didn't finish a book dummy (that was optional, as long as you got something started!). I know of a few artists (all of whom are SCBWI members) who are still working on stories they started writing/illustrating in this class, and one person who even submitted her artwork to the 2010 Bologna Book Fair. Aside from all the amazing creativity and positive energy within the class, Laura has a way of taking the mystery out of whether it's possible to get published as a childrens author/illustrator and just leads the way into making it a reality with discussions about how to submit book dummy's, the importance of getting in front of editors and ADs at SCBWI conferences and the like. I highly recommend Laura's class if you want to start learning the business of picture books, or if you want to just come and experiment with illustrating and writing.

Her class is a the Noyes Art Center in Evanston, IL. Laura is the author and illustrator of several published picture books, including The Poets Bird Garden. Laura is an art educator, with a BA in Fine Arts and Anthropology and an MA and certification in Art Education. She is a puppeteer and movement artist, co-founder and ensemble member of Theatre Zarko in Evanston, IL.