CLASSES
WELCOME TO BIG TABLE STUDIO
Big Table Studio is a warm and welcoming space in which to be creative. Come join us for a class. Whether you would like to work with a group of artists and writers or prefer individualized, private instruction, you will grow and discover your voice, and become a part of a fascinating community of picture book makers.
CLASS INFO SOON TO COME-
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Creating the Children’s Picture Book
The children’s picture book is a unique art form with visual storytelling at its heart. The unfolding of a story relies on sequential images to carry the reader from beginning to end. Add to this, the interweaving of word with image, and you have a richly complex storytelling form. In these workshops, you will experiment with a variety of styles, materials, and techniques to create your own hand-bound picture book dummies, as well as learn about the children’s book publishing process.
The book dummy. Making one is arguably the most magical act in the making of a picture book. It is the physical handmade assembling of pages and images, gutter and cover. It is the book, just new born, shaped and standing on its first legs. It can be rough, raw, finished, clumsy, or elegant, but it reveals the specific personality of a book in a way that simple writing or illustrating alone cannot possibly do.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced writer or illustrator, you will discover your own individual voice and develop your understanding of this beautiful art form. Through playful exercises, discussions, demonstrations, and in-class activities, you will explore the elements of picture book making and receive individualized guidance as you develop your ideas and put them on paper. You will leave with a strong foundation, energized and inspired to continue picture book making in your own studio.
What students are saying—
“I loved everything about the class. I’ve taught for 32 years and I know good teaching when I see it. The class was outstanding from the first minute until the last.”
“Laura’s enthusiasm and positive regard for each of us was amazing. She made the class a source of constant encouragement. The energy was always warm and forward moving. I so enjoyed just being in her studio with its whimsy and call to be playful.”
“The class restored my fascination with picture books.”
'“I just loved the class! I have felt stuck for months and months. The teacher, the other students, and the activities helped me get unstuck.”
“I loved everything about the class. I’m not kidding. Everything.”
“Delightful instructor, fascinating subject matter, hands-on learning. The instructor is highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, warm and well-spoken, very helpful and encouraging, open to helping and communicating with students. It went beyond illustration and covered writing which was hugely helpful.”
“I’ve been taking a fantastic class with author/illustrator extraordinaire Laura Montenegro. Laura has a wonderful sneaky way of pushing you outside of your comfort zone in order to find wellsprings of creativity you didn’t know you have.”
Laura Nyman Montenegro is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Her books, A Bird About to Sing, A Poet's Bird Garden, Sweet Tooth, and One Stuck Drawer have won Parent's Choice Awards, as well as have been featured on Reading Rainbow. Laura teaches classes for adults in picture book making at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Big Table Studio in Evanston, IL., and Peninsula School of Art in Door County, WI.
