Children’s Book Illustration

Bring your ideas to life and learn the art of storytelling through illustration. This hands-on course takes you from initial concept to polished, publication-ready artwork. You’ll explore how colour, tone, and light can transform a narrative and create emotional impact for young readers.

What You’ll Learn

Storyboarding Essentials: Plan your visual narrative and understand pacing in picture books.
Picture Book Design: Explore layout, composition, and how text and image work together.
Illustration Techniques: Experiment with traditional and digital media, character development, and visual style.
Colour, Tone & Light: Learn how to create mood and depth through palette choices and lighting.
Industry Insights: Examine current trends and leading children’s book publishers in Australia.
Presentation Skills: Prepare your work for submission to publishers or for your portfolio.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Develop a complete storyboard and finished illustrations ready for publication.
• Understand how successful illustrators use colour, tone, and light to enhance storytelling.
• Gain confidence in presenting your work professionally to publishers or clients.
• Build a foundation for further study or a career in children’s book illustration.

Who Should Attend

• Aspiring illustrators and storytellers
• Beginners in drawing and illustration (no prior experience required)
• Anyone passionate about creating engaging visual stories for children

Lorette Broekstra studied Graphic Design at Swinburne University and after finishing she travelled to Holland where she worked as a freelance Illustrator for eight years. Lorette worked for various advertising agencies, publishing houses and design bureaus in a range of media.

After her return to Melbourne in 1996, as the mother of two young children, Lorette developed a keen interest in Children’s Books. In 1999, she wrote and illustrated her first picture book, Baby Bear goes to the Zoo which won her the Crichton Award for illustration. She now has a total of sixteen published books.

Lorette teaches drawing and design at RMIT, and short courses in illustration and Children’s books at both RMIT and the CAE (Council of Adult Education).

Please bring to the first class the following materials:
– 2B and 4B pencils
– A3 Bank / Layout pad
– Eraser
– Ruler

Further materials will be discussed at first session.