Chris Jackson

Readings

To every reading, I bring large images, on flip charts, from each of my books. This allows me to present, not only the stories, but also the illustrative process. For older grades, I will take one of my books and then deconstruct it. I can show not only the pictures that went into the book, but also the ones that didn’t and then talk about why they didn’t. Aspects of perspective, focus, colour, can all be discussed at this time. I can talk about the role of an editor and show the various sketches that lead up to the final illustration.
I use a variety of materials in my work and can bring and show examples of watercolour and pencil crayon; pen and ink; wax crayon (my favourite).

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed, if requested.

Workshops

The workshop is split into two halves. The first hour will involve some reading and discussion of illustrative techniques, materials and the illustrative process. I will talk about editing and show how a picture evolves from a first sketch to final illustration. Finally, I will end with the setting of the assignment for the second hour.
At the start of the second hour, I will talk about and show standard face drawing layouts. To get students started I ask them to think of a character based on details of their own life — their own names, street name, etc. This gives them ownership of the character they will draw. During this drawing period, I will go round to each child, to draw with them — get them going —help them.
I will bring all materials with me. They include: paper, pencils for sketching, pens for final definition and then cotton wool balls for the application of powdered tempera colour.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed, if requested.

Biography

Chris Jackson is an author and illustrator. His first book, Edmund and Hillary, was published in 1997 and was the first of the China Plate Farm series. Then came Edmund for short, and finally Edmund and Washable. Since the release of his first book, Chris has taken his farm characters to many classrooms and libraries in the National Capital Region. To every reading Chris takes large images from each book to illustrate, not only the stories, but also to promote discussion about the illustrative process. Chris also produced illustrations for Three Tales of Three, a collection of “once-upon-a-time” tales. In September of 2002, two new characters — Sadie and Dorothy, made their debut in The Gaggle Sisters River Tour. The two sisters continued their trip further down the river in a book entitled The Gaggle Sisters Sing Again.