The main focus of my presentation is the work that goes into being an illustrator.
I bring a varying number of my actual paintings with me, along with displays containing prep sketches and photographs. I discuss my background, my creative process, and touch on the business end of things. I also talk about what makes an illustration an effective device for telling a story. I show a Powerpoint presentation (many of the slides are quite funny -but don't tell the kids that, let it be a surprise), and I demonstrate with volunteers from the audience how to have kids pose as models. I talk about my writing process and how I developed my ideas as an author. I always close with drawing an 18 x 24 caricature of someone from the audience.

My presentation is very informative and entertaining. It's very visual, so I'm very effective at holding the students' attention. And my work is generally humorous, so that's always a plus. An additional reason is the sheer number of books that I've illustrated, that the students can get excited about reading. There's Dinosaur Train, and a few other picture books for the younger crowd. The Bailey School Kids series, A to Z Mysteries series and Big Apple Barn series total more than 100 books that IÕve illustrated, and there are other chapter books as well.
I teach workshops in drawing and cartooning that can be adapted for kids of any age. I can work with older students who have written stories, and discuss the process of developing illustrations for them, beginning with the concept stage, through a discussion or demonstrations of different techniques.

Fees: $850 full day, plus expenses; $450 half day plus expenses;
$600 full day within 90 minutes of Brattleboro, Vermont

Touring dates: Anytime, unless booked
Contact Person: John Steven Gurney
Address: 710 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Phone: 802 258-2654
Email: johnsgurney@comcast.net
Web Address: www.johnstevengurney.com