Join former Peaks Islander, crime fiction writer Brenda Buchanan for an intimate conversation about her creative process, developing character and story twists & turns.
Free, Open to all ages
Sept 20, 7-8pm 5th Maine Museum, Peaks Island
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org with questions
"Hannah Bess Ross is a Chicago based illustrator and writer. She lives in a little house with a blue door and an orange cat, but dreams of the woods and the waves of rocky seas far, far away. She likes telling stories about everyday magical things like bugs and stars. She also loves puppets, folk art, and silly word-play. Hannah mostly makes art for a children's market.
Join her as she talks about her illustration journey thus far and how she orients herself in the art making process – who to make art for, why adapting is a key, how strange ideas start, and why children’s books can and should be a little weird."
Free, Open to all ages
Sept 14th, 5:30 -6:30 Mechanics’ Hall, Portland
Eventbrite reservation required: see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/691711506737?aff=oddtdtcreator
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org
In this presentation Gareth will discuss and demonstrate his approach to visual storytelling and adapting the classics, including how the visual language of comics compares to other storytelling media, and how he found his particular niche and developed a career as a graphic novelist.
Free for all, Open to all ages
Sept 7th 5:30 -6:30 Maine College of Art & Design
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org
Join us for a musical multimedia program telling the story of The King Of Ragtime, Scott Joplin with award winning author/illustrator Stephen Costanza. Costanza has illustrated and written several books for children, including Mozart Finds a Melody, Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra, and his latest, King of Ragtime. Not only an extraordinary illustrator and author, Steve is a talented musician. He will be performing Scott Joplin compositions and discussing his book, King of Ragtime.
Free for all, Open to all ages.
August 24, 7-8pm 5th Maine Museum, Peaks Island
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org with questions.
Selina Alko brings her workshop to us at the Trefethen Evergreen Improvement Association (TEIA) sharing her journey of becoming a picture book illustrator with an emphasis on her books: B is for Brooklyn and I is for Immigrants. Her workshop will play with lettering in mixed media, acrylic paint, and various textured papers for participants to make their own alphabet letters in an alphabet sketchbook. She will also share the process of how she works in her own studio, the supplies she uses, and the big messes she makes!
Attendance is limited to 35 participants. Please email nancy@illustrationinstitute.org to reserve your spot.
Free for all, Open to all ages
August 16, 10am to 12pm
TEIA, 10 Trefethen Ave. Peaks Island
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org with questions.
Join award winning Italian graphic novelist Daniele Marotta for a hands-on workshop. A local storyteller will regale the class with a “Strange Maine” tale, then Daniele will lead participants in creating a series of fiction pieces (illustrations, comics, or stories) in which the “strange place” becomes the subject of one or more mysterious tales in a “Scooby-Doo” mood. The material produced is then collected in a scrapbook as it is or developed by a third-party artist, becoming a mysterious guide of the area for others.
Free for all, Open to all ages
August 8, 2-4pm Portland Public Library
Class limited to 25, email nancy@illustrationinstitute.org to reserve a space.
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org with questions
Join us for a wonderful opportunity to gain insight on the creative process with one of our most celebrated picture book artists, Cozbi Cabrera. Cozbi has had a richly diverse artistic career; she’ll share her creative passions and how they led to picture book making.
Thursday, August 3rd ,6:30-7:30, Maine College of Art & Design
Free for all, Open to all ages
Contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org with questions
July 27th, 6:30 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick
As part of Illustration Institute’s exhibition Robert McCloskey: The Art of Wonder, in collaboration with Curtis Memorial Library: please join us for an intimate conversation about the art and illustrations, influences and those who were influenced by the work of Robert McCloskey. The discussion will be led by Maine art writer Carl Little, who will be joined by McCloskey's daughter/author Jane McCloskey, author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen, and author/illustrator/co-founder of the Illustration Institute who curated our exhibit, Scott Nash.
There will be time for questions, and each panelist will have books for sale and signing.
What an incredible panel to dive into McCloskey's work!
An intimate storytelling workshop at the historic 5th Maine Museum on Peaks Island with a celebrated writer whose curiosity is deep and infectious. Author of “The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What They Do & How They Do It So Well,” a former NYTimes journalist, and a TEDx Spaker on “The Art of Curiosity,” Sweeney is currently founder of a career exploration program that offers people unique tools to connect their genuine interests to meaningful careers that will support them. Sweeney also writes fiction and shares storytelling strategies for everyone.
Free and open to all ages and abilities.
Limited to 20 people, please email Nancy@illustrationinstitute.org to reserve a space.
Hands-on stop motion animation workshop with master animator Tom Gasek of The Wrong Trousers fame. Two hour intro to animation principles " featuring dynamic “pixilation” - students will be animated using software and camera work, demonstrating fun ways to approach animating people. Gasek will bring his equipment (dslr & computer ) & a free “app” for smartphones that people can use to make their own animation at home."
Free Class: limited to 16 students: email Nancy@illustrationinstitute.org to reserve a space
Animator Tom Gasek, of The Wrong Trousers (Wallace and Gromit) fame will give a presentation about his varied stop motion career and share behind-the-scenes insights on his creative process. He is currently in production on a series of pixilated self-portraits called “4 @ 60.” Gasek completed a second edition of his book “Frame by Frame Stop Motion” in 2017. It is one of the only complete resources on non-puppet stop motion photographic techniques. This is a rare treat to meet a master of his craft!
FREE! Open to all ages. NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY.
Friday, July 21 7- 8pm
Maine College of Art and Design, 522 Congress Street, Portland Maine.
For more information contact: nancy@ illustrationinstitute.org or natalie@illustrationinstitute.org
“ Inspiration comes to us free of charge, but that’s just the start of the creative process!” Join award winning illustrator, fine artist & former art director of New York magazine Josh Gosfield as he shares in depth his richly creative approach to his work. This is a rare opportunity to gain insight about the creative process from a provocative, esteemed talent.
Please join us Thursday, July 20, 2023, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Maine College of Art & Design
522 Congress Street ,Portland. FREE and open to all.
Join award winning illustrator Melinda Beck for insights, life lessons and gems, PLUS a hands-on mixed media workshop!
Please join us on JULY 12th from 10am - 12pm for this FREE workshop at TEIA (Trefethen Evergreen Improvement Association) on Peaks Island. Attendance is limited to 35 participants, open to all ages and abilities!
Please email nancy@illustrationinstitute.org to reserve your spot.
Join celebrated author and illustrator James Yang for an evening discussing his creative process and behind the scenes development of his picture books. He will also share insights on his illustration career path .
July 10th , 7pm to 8pm, Peaks Island Community Center
129 Island Avenue, Peaks Island (next to the Peaks Island Library).
Mainlanders take the 5:35 ferry boat from Casco Bay Lines.
Illustration Institute is excited to share another of our first events of the summer season with visiting artist Elizabeth Haidle! Elizabeth is a renowned illustrator who will be demonstrating her process through an experimental comics workshop on Peaks Island.
Come and visit us for this free workshop on June 27th from 10am to 12pm at the Fifth Maine Museum -45 Seashore Avenue, Peaks Island. Reserve your slot by emailing nancy@illustrationinstitute.org so we know you want to participate! Event is limited to 35 participants.
Illustration Institute is delighted to welcome the award winning children’s book Illustrator Isabelle Arsenault, who will be sharing a behind the scenes look at how she develops evocative characters while doodling, “giving space to experimentation and improvisation.
The presentation will be held on June 22, from 7-8pm at Mechanics’ Hall (519 Congress St. Portland Maine). FREE and OPEN to ALL!
See you there!
DRAW OFF!! TIM (THE ERASER) SAMPLE and SCOTT (THE SCUMBLER) NASH!!
Join us for a GREAT STATE OF ILLUSTRATION IN MAINE EVENT 6 PM on June 14: Draw Off! Taking on ridiculous requests from the audience, pro illustrators Scott Nash and Tim Sample will face off with sharpies in hand as they attempt to out draw each other!
Free and open to all!
At Waterville Creates’ Ticonic Gallery/ Paul J. Schupf Center
93 Main Street, Waterville
http://www.watervillecreates.org/.../draw-off-with-scott.../
LIFE DRAWING WITH STUFFED ANIMALS & ACTION FIGURES at Waterville Creates’ Ticonic Gallery at The Paul J Schupf Art Center in 93 Main Street, Waterville
Children's book illustrator, Graphic Designer and Founder of Illustration Institute, Scott Nash will be leading a action-stuffed workshop on Life Drawing with stuffed animals and action figures for artists of all ages and skill levels! Scott is the illustrator (and sometimes author) of over 50 Children's books including FLAT STANLEY, I'm Afraid Your Teddy Is In Trouble Today!, Saturday Night At The Dinosaur Stomp, TUFF FLUFF, Shrunken Treasures and The High Skies Adventures Of Blue Jay The Pirate.
PRE-register for this FREE event happening on June 10!
