BIOGRAPHY
Award-winning artist and author Carolyn Fisher has been drawing pictures and writing stories for her whole life. She wrote three of the eight books she has illustrated. Her book Two Old Potatoes and Me was featured on the PBS educational TV show Reading Rainbow. Paul O. Zelinsky, writing for The New York Times Book Review, called her book The Snow Show "…visually arresting…one of the most gloriously exuberant, inventive displays of computer-created art that I have ever seen in a picture book.” In addition to teaching at art college for seven years, Carolyn has talked to thousands of kids in libraries and schools about writing and art. She draws and writes in (and out) of her studio in Calgary, Canada.
Check out videos of author-illustrator Carolyn Fisher at work on her YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarolynNoelleFisher
On-the-spot portraits made of students by artist-author Carolyn Fisher during school and library presentations
PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
•Adaptable for different audiences from kindergarten to adults.
•Feature real-time drawing by the artist/author.
•Carolyn’s presentations can be in-person or online.
PRICING
•Visits can be as many presentations of 30 to 60 minutes as you can fit into the time slot.
•Total visit time can be split between different classes (minimum session time 30 minutes).
•Sessions of 45 minutes or more can include a free live drawing of a student. I will gift the portrait of the student to the school (by mail) to keep after our session. If an on-the-spot portrait of a student doesn’t appeal, I’ll do a drawing demo of another subject.
DAY RATES
1 hour $250 + GST
Half day $425 +GST (as many sessions as you can fit into a half day, max 2.5 hours)
Full day $700 + GST (as many sessions as you can fit into a full day, max 4.5 hours)
MULTI-DAY RATES
Buy a half day or full day and split the time over several days or several weeks.
From Storyboard to Storybook: how a children’s book is made
Carolyn shows slides of the illustration and writing process from storyboard to storybook. Ideas look messy when they come out of Carolyn’s brain and usually need to be revised many times before they shine. Carolyn shows how she collects thoughts and refines drawings and paintings in her sketchbook. Carolyn winds things up with a demonstration: how to draw a portrait WITHOUT using an eraser. She gets an audience member to be the model, and leaves the portrait with the model when she’s done.
The Snow Show
Carolyn’s editor came to visit from California during a raging Alberta snowstorm. The temperature was –35C. The doors on the editor’s airplane luggage compartment froze shut.
“Hey,” Carolyn said to the editor. “Maybe I should write and illustrate a book about hot and cold!”
This presentation shows how you turn a very bad day into a good idea, and then turn the good idea into a book.
Using Sketchbooks to Grow Ideas
Break out your sketchbook for a session of drawing and brainstorming! Carolyn talks about how she collects ideas in sketchbooks. She uses her sketchbooks to grow stories, pictures and comic strips. Students will use Carolyn’s brain tornado techniques to write a story or draw a picture of their own.
From Ugh to Wow: using drafts to fix your stories and drawings
Sometimes ideas look ugly and messy and slimy when you first write them on paper. Carolyn works with students to show it’s ok to try ideas 999,999 times just to see what they look like. Carolyn gives composition tricks and sketching techniques to help students make stronger pictures and stories.
Other workshop topics available upon request, including comics & graphic novels • zines • calligraphy & graffiti • portraits, bodies & hands • art media • group mural.
Art made by kindergarten kids during Carolyn Fisher’s author residency.
Post-it art story starters and comics made by students during Carolyn’s Story Avenue workshop.
A collaborative group still life made by grade three and four students during Carolyn Fisher’s author/artist residency at an Edmonton school.
Reviews of Carolyn’s visits:
“Carolyn Fisher was one of the most engaging, organized, and age-sensitive presenters I’ve ever seen encounter a group of kids...
Her stories of idea-collecting and journaling connected to learning my students are doing in school, and inspired them further for how those skills can be extended beyond school...We loved having her visit. The kids are still talking about the nose-blowing type of writing!”
–Carter Higgins, librarian
“Carolyn Fisher energized our university children’s literature course!...Students lit up when invited to help Carolyn crowd-source a drawing of a new character, and were thrilled to see the final product she sent to us the next day. Carolyn demonstrated storyboard process better than I could ever hope to, and students were intrigued by the ‘middle’ parts we don’t get to see in the published book...Her clear and friendly style and great laugh kept us all engaged!”
–Dr. James Erekson, professor
Murals made by grade one and two students during Carolyn Fisher’s author/artist residency.
Click to download your free PDF of The Snow Show Activity Kit.
Click on the photo above to download a free PDF activity kit for THE SNOW SHOW.
Click to download your free Weeds Find a Way Curriculum Guide.
Click on the photo above to download a free PDF activity kit for WEEDS FIND A WAY.
