Led by talented illustrator Kate Voronina, this special two-day workshop is dedicated to character creation. We will explore where to find inspiration, how to make characters expressive, and how to strike the right balance between children’s and non-children’s illustration styles.

Over two intensive days, participants will practice extensively, explore different techniques, and experiment with a variety of creative approaches.

February 7
Where do the strangest characters come from, and how can we develop an existing character into a more unique one? We’ll be playing with scales and learning to create characters in very different sizes. Then we’ll use scaling as a deliberate drawing tool. The main focus of the first day will be children’s illustration.

February 8
How can we develop a character from sketching? What is the main difference between them? How can we transform a children’s illustration into an adult one and vice versa? What should we focus on when choosing materials and palettes for illustration? How can we make the work more complex by deliberately combining elements that don’t traditionally match? We’ll play with proportions and experiment with new technical methods such as multiple negative space and stencil. The second day will focus on adult illustration.

By the end of this two-day intensive workshop, you will feel more confident and open in your work with characters. You will leave with a substantial collection of ideas, experiments, and visual discoveries developed during the course - material you can later integrate into your own practice.