URBAN SKETCHING TUTORIAL
Urban sketching is the practice of capturing a real place at a real moment in time — live and on-the-spot. Learn about urban sketching in a video tutorial by author illustrator Carolyn Fisher. Then grab some paper and make some urban sketches of your own! Share your urban sketch with Carolyn Fisher on social media (IG: carolyn_fisher_illustration & TW: @carolynnfisher). I’d love to see YOUR neighborhood!
VIDEO: DRAW A SOCIAL DISTANCE PORTRAIT WITH AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR CAROLYN FISHER
I’m a writer and illustrator of children’s books. Usually, my schedule is crowded with school author visits.
But not this year, because of the Covid 19 pandemic. I miss making on-the-spot portraits of school kids! So I had an idea — what if I made a series of social distance portraits — over Zoom?
Here’s how it works: I connect with my subjects — kids or adults — via Zoom. They send me their pandemic story and I draw their picture. When I’m done, I snail-mail the postcard-sized drawing to the model.
Message me if you or someone you know (kid or adult) has an ordinary or extraordinary pandemic story and would like to be considered for a portrait.
Draw your own social distance portrait, then share it with me by email or social media!
Above: social distance portraits made by Carolyn Fisher live over Zoom.
I asked G., age 12, to sit for a social distance portrait. Here is G.’s quarantine story:
"During the reign of the Covid-19 virus, when there is a lot of despair and regret, there can be found acts of kindness and happiness in this world. For a little old me, that was on my 12th birthday, I couldn’t call my friends. On my birthday, we were getting ready for a small party with my family. As the party was beginning to start, a huge shock came. This surprise was one of my best friends, K! When he came to hang out in the back yard, I was overflowing with joy. It has been so long, ‘cause I moved to a new school. We ate cake, played games, and laughed. We played and played—at a distance. But then, it was time for him to go, but we had so much fun, and I knew we would talk with each other later."
Ellie, age 11, met me on Zoom for a portrait. Here is Ellie’s quarantine story:
“Hi my name is Ellie. I am in Grade 6. I love everything about hockey. I live in Calgary. My dad works at the hospital and I worry that he might get exposed. My mom works at the City. She helps protect employees from corona. She is safe because she can work from home.
I’ve done fun things since we’ve had to quarantine, like I get to sleep in longer in the mornings. But I miss so many things. As an only child it is really tough being alone so much. I miss my friends. Even though I can see or talk to them online it isn't the same.
My advice for other kids is to stay positive, try something new and remind yourself that this won't be forever.”
I asked my friend Heather to model for me for a social distance portrait. Twenty-five years ago, Heather lived around the corner from me in Bozeman, Montana. Now Heather lives around the corner – and more than a thousand kilometres away – in Fox Island, Washington. (I live in Calgary.)
While I drew Heather’s picture, she told me her quarantine story.
“I live with my family on an island near Tacoma. I worked in home care, but I’m on leave because I had Covid symptoms this spring so I had to isolate myself from my clients. The drive-through coronavirus test that I got at the Tacoma Dome came back negative, though. Sheltering at home has been challenging for my family, but I’ve realized that I have a long-unfulfilled need for quiet – and the quarantine has opened up pockets of time in my life for solitude."
VIDEO: #STEAM ART CLUB — MAKE AMOEBA ART WITH AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR CAROLYN FISHER, plus book giveaway
In this video, you’ll learn about cells and make some amoeba art with author-illustrator Carolyn Fisher. Learn more about cells from Carolyn’s book Cells: An Owner’s Handbook. Share your amoeba art with Carolyn on social media (IG @carolynfisherillustration | Twitter @carolynnfisher | Facebook at Carolyn Fisher Artist-Author.) I’d love to see your art!
Materials for amoeba art: coffee filter, washable felt markers (or paint), spray bottle (or paint brush or sponge), scissors, glue.
VIDEO: MAKE ARTIST TRADING CARDS WITH AUTHOR-ARTIST CAROLYN FISHER
Calling artsy kids and grown-ups! Make your own artist trading cards with this tutorial from children’s book illustrator-author Carolyn Fisher. Share your artist trading cards with Carolyn via email or social media!
