Renée Schwarz

Workshops

An interactive presentation with an illustrated guide to the step-by-step process of how the craft books are created: from the original idea, the proposal, the reworking, writing, edits, problems, funny incidents and the nitty gritty hard work.

Supplemented with cartoon sketches of the different steps, as well as original book bits (roughs, final illustrations, proofs, crafts, editing...) A period for questions is followed by a hands-on craft project (a simple craft from one of the featured books that children make). Craft materials are provided by the author but a space with work tables or desks is required.
time: approx. 1 hour

Special Equipment:

n/a

Book Sales:

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

Biography

I remember always wanting to draw and to make things, and after studying Fine Arts at university, I finally decided to be a toymaker and that led to other things, like books (but I'll always be a toymaker.) I started writing when a magazine editor asked me to design some toys and write up the instructions. Since then, I've designed a lot of toys and written tons of instructions and even some stories that went with the toys. At school I was a terrible speller and since spelling was a big part of English class, I really wasn't encouraged to write. Now with spell check and computers, life is easier.

My ideas for crafts just happen. I'll be holding something and all of a sudden I'll imagine it as something else — like a paper towel roll that becomes an alligator. Because I have trouble falling asleep, I'll start thinking about things and imagining different weird creatures. Then, of course, I have even more trouble falling asleep, but that's okay as long as I remember that great idea I had the night before.

When I'm fiddling with stuff and coming up with ideas for crafts, I really like the idea that kids will make some of these things, and some things might be a lot like mine and most will be totally different because as you're working, things just transform themselves. The fun part is just making things and taking the time.
I live at the dead end of a country road about 9 km from a tiny village in the Eastern Townships (La Patrie, Québec.) My kids would say it’s at the end of the world, but my husband and I simply adore it. I work at home, sometimes in my studio upstairs, sometimes in the basement, sometimes on the kitchen counter (where I'm obliged to clean up). On warm, sunny days, I try to work outside, but then if I'm doing papier-mache, the paper scraps flutter away and the bugs fly around and annoy me, so I usually end up back inside.