Author, illustrator and artist, Charlotte Ralph, winner of the London and South East Illustrator and Artist of the Year Award 2021-23, came to St Lawrence College to run a workshop about how to create your own book and illustrate it. Her purpose was to inspire the next generation of authors!
Charlotte used a range of art therapy techniques through worksheets that she created to help express emotions and feelings. Whilst some students initially needed some motivation, once they got started they were all able to express their emotions through use of colour and design. This then fed into their choices of colours for their next activity.
Following on from this, they created a storyboard of their idea for a book. Students were encouraged to generate approximately five pictures in frames, describing what was happening in each one. This was to help with creating the final part of the session, their own books. Charlotte drew out examples to help them to follow step by step, and gave advice and guidance when needed. It was clear that the group included a number of very talented students, but all of the students took part and were very creative with their ideas.
The last part of the session was converting the story board ideas into a first draft of their book, which they will finish in a future session.
Our boarders really enjoyed the session, and through Charlotte’s guidance they were able to express their thoughts and emotions through their artwork and stories, sharing a part of themselves with the group and the world!
Charlotte will be returning in November to help the students to complete their books.
