“...The children loved your presentation. ...You have a special gift with an audience.”
-Eleanor Fall, Librarian, Loudon Country Day School
 

 

For the past fifteen years, Jennifer has visited schools and libraries to share with children, teachers and parents her love of creating picture books. Her hope is not only to show children the exciting process of creating a book, but to instill in them the idea that real people do this and that they might want to do it themselves.

For more information about her programs and to discuss fees, please contact Jennifer at jo@jenniferoconnellart.com. Click the links above for FAQs and a book ordering form that can be personalized and printed.
 
 
 
presentations

1. “A Garden of Whales - An Adventure in Illustration”

In this fun-filled interactive talk, I show how A Garden of Whales started with the author’s idea and text and how these were woven into my illustrations to become a picture book. I explain how I, as the illustrator, was part of a team working together to produce the book. I discuss the role of the author, publisher, editor, art director and printer, focusing on my function and contribution as the illustrator. I show a progression of sketches (including some that were rejected), dummy books, and final illustrations as well as a set of transparencies to explain how the color separation process works to create a color book.

Later in the presentation, while playing a CD of the music that inspired me when I was painting the illustrations, I create a large pastel drawing of three different whales (this is given to the class). I share some fascinating facts about whales and ask the children to say how big they think a newborn baby blue whale is. It’s 23 feet long - but don’t tell! I unfurl a life-size mural of one. This is followed by a Question and Answer session.

2. “How Ten Timid Ghosts Came To Be”

In a lively interactive presentation, I detail and trace the creation of the Ten Timid Ghosts counting books from the first spark of an idea, to selling the concept to a publisher and working with the editor and art director to produce the final text and art. I show my initial sketches, dummy books, revisions, final sketches and paintings. I also explain the color separation process used in printing a color book by showing a set of color transparencies; when laid one on top of the other, they form a full-color picture that always seems like magic to the children. Toward the end of the talk, the children direct me as we draw together our own ‘scary’ (more funny than scary) creature. We then brainstorm and make-up a story for our new character. The drawing is left with the class. A Question and Answer session follows.

3. Workshop: “Let’s Create A Character!”

In this exciting workshop I begin by briefly showing my books and explain my process of creating stories and characters. I also discuss the key elements that are found in good picture books. Then each child is encouraged to think up an original character and draw it on the cover of his or her book. If they can’t think of one, we have fun brainstorming together and can use my “idea grab-bags.” Usually with the character a story idea develops with a title and before they know it a book is being written and illustrated! All children work differently. In this workshop everyone can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable doing. They will all ‘put together’ their books including hole-punched blank pages, then the work in progress can be brought home to finish.

4. For Adults - “The Road to a Bestseller”

In this slide lecture I share how I began illustrating and describe the peaks and valleys of my experiences in publishing. I discuss the process of creating picture books and the journey in achieving publication. I also talk about the aspects of Ten Timid Ghosts that helped it to become a bestseller.