Kid illustrators, storytellers emerge at showcase

A growing number of children are showing interest in developing illustration and storytelling skills, a trend celebrated on Friday at the inaugural Barbados Children’s Book Illustrator and Author Showcase at Olympus Theatres.

Children’s author Ruth Amanda engaging students from various primary schools during her presentation. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt)

Hosted by Bookscape Studio, with title sponsor The Sandy Lane Charitable Trust, the free event brought together invited primary school pupils for an immersive introduction to the world of children’s book creation through live presentations, storytelling, and illustration demonstrations.

Featured presenters included authors and illustrators Cherise Harris, Ruth Amanda, and visiting Canadian author Yolanda T. Marshall, all of whom used the platform to encourage young creatives to explore writing and art as avenues for self-expression.

Accomplished children’s author Ruth Amanda told Barbados TODAY the event was designed to show children the possibilities that exist within literacy and illustration.

Children’s author Ruth Amanda. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt)

Amanda said: “I was graciously invited by Cherise Harris and Yolanda T. Marshall to join them today to do this brilliant author and illustrator showcase, showing what people in Barbados can do to create literacy projects for the world, to create books that children will love to read with images that are familiar to them.”

Through live drawing exercises and discussions on storytelling, organisers sought to impress upon students that illustration is not confined to one style or technique.

“We’re hoping children will take away that there are more than one type of illustration style, that there is no right or wrong way to illustrate a book. It’s the story that needs to come through,” Amanda said, adding that the aim was also to inspire “a whole new generation of literary creators, authors, illustrators, and combinations. The sky is the limit.”

She noted an evolution in children’s artistic interests, particularly in Barbados, where more young creatives are gravitating towards illustration styles influenced by anime and graphic novels.

“What I’ve seen over the last few years, particularly here in Barbados, is an anime style of illustration coming out, more people creating things that are a little bit more like a graphic novel, and that’s very popular with older children,” she explained.

At the same time, younger readers are increasingly being drawn to softer, more traditional artistic styles, she said.

“For younger children, I think the trends are starting to evolve a little bit and go back to the watercolour kind of softer illustrations…while you still have computer-drawn images where people are using digital means with brighter colours,” Amanda said, noting that “there is so much out there”.

For children eager to sharpen their artistic abilities, Amanda’s advice was straightforward: practise consistently and draw inspiration from the world around them.

“Take inspiration, take a photo, recognise the shapes, draw the basic shapes, add the details after, keep practising. 

“It doesn’t necessarily matter whether you took some formal training in art or not. Anyone can become an illustrator. So just keep exploring the world, draw what inspires you.”
(SB)