Illustration for Picture Books

with Trisha Krauss

Spring Term 2025 Dates

9, 16, 23, 30 January

6, 13 February

(Half Term 20 February)

27 February

6, 13, 20, 27 March

3 April

Course Description

You will be introduced to the work of well-known children’s book illustrators and learn how to visualise text, animate characters, design a page, and use new illustration techniques. Each week, there will be a class project that will reinforce what you have learned and challenge your imagination. Midway through term, you will begin illustrating a short story and create a mock-up booklet to take home with you.  

You will come away with:

  • Knowledge of illustration techniques

  • Knowledge of how to interpret text visually

  • Understanding of how illustration can be used commercially

  • Development of a unique style and personal voice

  • Understanding of the business of illustration and the relationship between an illustrator and an art director.

  • Inspiration…

You will explore many artistic techniques such as: pen and ink, watercolour, coloured pencil and gouache. Whether you are a beginner or you are developing a portfolio for A levels, you will be in the capable hands of an instructor from New York City with many years of experience in editorial illustration, advertising, fashion illustration, children’s book illustration and publishing.

Come and learn, be inspired and have lots of fun in a beautiful art studio.

Course Programme Spring Term 2025

1. Character Development 9/1/25

Reading and Visualizing text / description

Pencils, sketch books, coloured pencils 

2. Illustrating Animals 16/1/25

Illustrating using reference and examples

Pencils, sketchbooks

3. Proportions / Faces / Coloured Pencil Techniques 23/1/25

Illustrating children and adults  

Coloured pencils, pencils, sketch books

4. Movement / Ink Techniques 30/1/25

Animating animals and humans

Pen & ink, pencils, sketch books

5. Emotion 6/2/25

Illustrating emotion / animals and people 

Coloured pencils, pen & ink, pencils and sketchbooks

6. Technique / Watercolour 13/2/25

Painting with watercolour to illustrate a rhyme

Watercolour, pen & ink, coloured pencils, pencils, sketch book, small watercolour brushes

7. Develop your own Character/ Short Story Project 27/2/25

 Illustrating a short story using your own character

Pencils, tracing paper, cartridge paper

8. Page Design / Layout / Storyboard 6/3/25

Illustrating a short story class project

Pencils, tracing paper, sketchbook

9. Pencil sketches 13/3/25

Rough sketches of the short story

Tracing paper, A3 cartridge paper, pencils, coloured pencils

10. Final Art / Technique 20/3/25

Illustrating the final project (short story)

Tracing paper, A3 Cartridge paper, pencils, coloured pencils, pen & ink, and watercolour

11.  Final Art / Technique 27/4/25

Illustrating the final project (short story)

Tracing paper, A3 Cartridge paper, pencils, coloured pencils, pen & ink, and watercolour

12. Creating a Dummy 3/4/25

Making a mock up booklet of your final project

Double sided tape, metal edge ruler and a pen knife.

Materials Required

A-3 pad of heavy weight cartridge paper

A-3 pad of tracing paper

A sketchbook

Small watercolour

A set of watercolours (pans rather than tubes)

Waterproof ink

Dip pen and drawing nibs, or waterproof fine liners

Coloured pencils

Pencils, rubbers and a pencil sharpener

Reviews for Trisha Krauss…

I loved the Children’s Book Illustration class so much that I attended it for 3 years. Trisha is an amazing teacher, she is extremely talented and inspirational as well as being a lovely person. I learnt so much.

— Solvieg Nepstad

“Trisha is a great illustrator and teacher.  I learnt such a great deal and have gone on to be published!  By introducing me to new drawing techniques, Trisha freed my hand and increased my confidence. I’m now working on the illustrations for a second book due to be published next year.”

— Liz St Claire-Legge

Trisha Krauss

I have been lucky enough to work with some of the most creative designers, art directors and advertising agencies, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Nordstrom, Ogilvy and Mather, Penguin and Universe Press.  I was an American illustrator and featured regularly in its bible, American Illustration.

In 2004 I packed up the contents of my life in NYC and took firm hold of Hector, my unruly but much adored Weimaraner and moved to London. I now live in West London with my husband and Esther The Glorious.

Maude,The Not So Noticeable Shrimpton was published in October 2012 by Puffin UK. It was written by Lauren Child and illustrated by Trisha Krauss. It was published by Candlewick Press in August 2013. 

Charlotte’s Very Own Dress, Penguin Random House US, is the first book that I have both illustrated and written. It was published in September 2016.

In 2019, Midnight at Moonstone was published by Oxford University Press. I worked with the author, Lara Flecker who is a costume specialist at The V & A, London.

For 3 years, I have been illustrating the Right at Home column in the New York Times and 2 of the illustrations from this column were recently selected to be in American Illustration 39.

https://www.trishakrauss.com/