A children’s book author and illustrator based in Lacombe taught local students the value of proportioning.
Georgia Graham, 58, is a top-selling author and illustrator of more than 20 children’s books and spent an hour with Barrhead Elementary School Grade 5 students teaching them about proportions and the importance of detail in illustration. Graham’s workshop was hosted by the Barrhead Public Library Oct. 11.
“I was there to talk about how I write and illustrate books, but chose to focus more on the illustration part of it because that’s what I love the most,” Graham said, noting she started drawing in the 1960s.
“A lot of my old sketchbooks are filled with little girls in bell-bottoms, eyeballs and other crazy things that little kids like to draw. I’ve used pastels my whole life. I prefer to work with them because you don’t need a brush to blend colours.”
Graham, who graduated from the Alberta College of Art in 1982 and previously worked as a newspaper illustrator for the Red Deer Advocate, said she is a ‘compulsive’ artist.
“That’s what my brothers and sisters say about me, talking about my childhood,” she said, adding creative people need an outlet and often go stir-crazy if they can’t find one.
“A lot of my books have been in print for around 20 to 25 years now and I’ve illustrated every single one using a pastel-sanded paper. Smooth paper just makes a mess. I like to work in layers using shadow and light to make my illustrations appear more three-dimensional.”
Graham said she makes faint practice lines first.
“I find ovals are really hard for me. If I’m trying to make something symmetrical, I work from side to side,” she said, noting that completing one whole side first before the other does not result in true symmetrical art.
“If you are going to be drawing people, I recommend you sit in front of a mirror and practice drawing your own face like I did when I was young. I also got my friends to sit still while I drew their hands, feet and ears. If you can get someone to do that for you, I think it’s the best way to learn how to draw,” she added.
Graham said her illustrations depend on the material she is working from.
“If I’m doing a funny cartooney book, I’ll make up things to draw in my head but if I’m working on a realistic book, I have to look at realistic things to draw and I take lots and lots of photographs,” Graham said, adding it is really hard to get published.
“It always has and it always will be. Hang in there though. Write what you know and what you know people like,” she said.
Graham said graphic novels are a popular trend right now.
“It’s something I’m thinking about getting into myself,” she added.
Graham’s published works include “A Team like No Other”, “Where Wild Horses Run”, “Bibi and the Bull”, “The Strongest Man This Side of Cremona” and “Cub’s Journey Home”.
For more information visit her website at georgiagraham.com.
