Karen Reczuch

Readings

Using examples from a 20 year career in picture book illustration, I describe the illustrator's role in the making of a children's book. Taking the audience from a submitted text through to finished art, I discuss the teamwork of author, illustrator, editor and designer. Along the way I share examples of how an illustrator's vision is informed by the text, personal experience, research and editorial input. I demonstrate how an idea develops, how it can sometimes go hilariously wrong, and how important it can be to accept criticism - all with the view of sharing principles relevant to the learning process. Using original thumbnail drawings, pencil linears and actual paintings, the audience can see how an original scribbled idea develops into the final printed book. As the circumstances require, I can tailor the presentation to cover a specific title or give an overview of illustration through several books.

Special Equipment:

Table and chair, area for display.

Book Sales:

I can with advance notice.

Biography

Karen Reczuch was born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario. At a young age her desire to be a ballet dancer led her to draw pictures of ballerinas, which she left around the house as hints to her mother to send her to ballet school. Her mother was impressed with these drawings and immediately sent her daughter to classes -- in painting.

Later, Karen studied illustration at Sheridan College in Toronto, and after graduation worked for two years as an artist with a literacy mission in West Africa. She returned to Canada and illustrated several educational texts before illustrating her first book with black-and-white line drawings -- The Girl on the Hat, by Jane Jacobs.

The Auction, by Jan Andrews, was her first full-color picture book and was nominated for a Governor General's Award. Just Like New, by Ainslie Manson, was shortlisted for the IODE (National Chapter) Award, the Mr. Christie's Book Award and won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award. Her latest book is Loon by Susan Vande Griek.

Karen Reczuch lives in Acton, Ontario, and works from a studio at the historic Williams Mill in Glen Williams, Ontario.