St Swithun’s Junior School workshops with writer and illustrator Chloë Inkpen

13 May 2016

Children’s picture book writer and illustrator Chloë Inkpen joined pupils at St Swithun’s Junior School, Winchester to lead a programme of creative workshops last week.

Chloë is the daughter of famous children’s writer and illustrator Mick Inkpen, with whom she has co-written and illustrated her Zoe and Beans series of books.

She started by explaining to children in Years 1 and 2 the roles and emotions of the characters in her books, and showed pupils how to begin drawing a character and how the drawing might evolve. All the children were thoroughly engaged as they practised intonation and designed imaginary characters.

Children in Years 3 and 4 explored how to write a book for young children. Chloë encouraged them how to think of ideas and then helped them to develop these on paper. She then went on to show Years 5 and 6 pictures drawn by both her parents and demonstrated how to change perspective and tension within an illustration, showing how much an illustration can add to the text. She also showed how text can become part of the illustration and how small changes to facial features can show changes in emotion.

All the children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and are now creating their own books over the next few weeks. Chloë has kindly agreed to come back to school to choose the winning story.

 

Photo: Chloë Inkpen with St Swithun’s Junior School pupils