Bringing imaginary friends to life
In this lesson, you’ll discover some secrets for drawing illustrated story characters. Learn how to convey feelings, thoughts and emotions in your story beings, and how you can show us parts of a story without any words at all.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Meet the creators
00:55 How to illustrate characters and where to get inspiration
02:42: How to make characters come to life
04:14 Tips and tricks to give characters personality
05:10 Final words of advice
05:55 Here's what we've learned
Learning Intentions
1. Learning about illustrated characters, and some ways in which we can find character ideas for illustrated stories.
2. Learning about visual language, and some of the techniques illustrators use to convey character information.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
1. Analysed illustrated images, some of the techniques used to convey feelings, mood and emotion.
2. Used different visual language techniques to show character feelings, mood and emotions.
Discussion Questions
- Do you have a favourite character from a picture book or illustrated story? Can you describe that character? What do you love about them?
- How do you come up with ideas for your drawings or story illustrations? What do you think about when you are creating them?
- What sorts of things do you think might be important when you are inventing illustrated characters for a story?
- Anna talks about keeping a visual diary. What sorts of things does Anna put in her diary?
- David talks about his sketchbook, and how it’s like a ‘big soup of ideas’. Do you think keeping a sketchbook could be useful? How?
- Anna mentioned some different ways that she brings her characters to life. And she talks about spending time with them to learn different things about them. How do you think learning about your character can help you draw them in a story?
- Anna also talked about some tricks she uses to show a character’s personality. Do you remember what some of those tricks were?
- David and Anna both talked about practice, and drawing often in order to get to know your characters. What things might you learn as you draw your characters over and over again?
Curriculum Links
Australian Curriculum V9.0 Links
ENGLISH Y3-4
Language:
● Language for expressing and developing ideas: AC9E3LA09, AC9E4LA10
Literature:
● Engaging with and responding to literature: AC9E3LE02, AC9E4LE02,
● Examining literature: AC9E3LE03, AC9E4LE03
Literacy:
● Analysing, interpreting and evaluating: AC9E3LY03, AC9E4LY03, AC9E3LY05,
AC9E4LY05
● Creating texts: AC9E3LY06, AC9E4LY06
GENERAL CAPABILITIES
LITERACY
Writing:
● Creating texts: Crafting ideas Level 5-6
Reading and Viewing:
● Understanding texts: Comprehension Level 5-6
CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING
Generating:
● Create possibilities: Level 3
Reflecting
● Transfer knowledge: Level 3
CREATORS
Resources
