Founders Workshop

Advanced Illustrators Workshop

 
While your artwork is accomplished alone, it is only with guidance that an illustrator can begin to understand how to make it in today’s picture-book world. Let one of today’s top children’s book illustrators be your guide. Explore the children’s book market with them, learn new techniques, and enjoy the camaraderie of artists who understand your passion. 
 
During this intensive, five-day workshop you’ll immerse yourself in illustration—oil wash on board, printmaking, pen and ink, watercolors, and more. Daily hands-on workshops will challenge you to sharpen your illustration skills, all under the support and guidance of our highly talented mentors. 
 
In addition to illustration techniques, you’ll also explore

  • dummy preparation;
  • storyboarding;
  • continuity;
  • portfolio expectations;
  • character development;
  • self-promotion; and
  • finding a market.

 
Your work will receive personal attention through one-on-one critiques from your mentors, group critiques with peers and guest art directors, and feedback from special guests at our portfolio showcase. 

Workshop Leaders

Floyd Cooper

Floyd Cooper is the Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator of more than 60 books for children. Floyd started his career in illustration at Hallmark, after a successful career in the industrial side of art, he made the leap into picture books with Eloise Greenfield’s Grandpa’s Face.

Read More

Eric Rohmann

Eric Rohmann is a painter, printmaker, and author. His work includes the Caldecott Award winning book, My Friend Rabbit; the Caldecott Honor book, Time Flies; and most recently, the highly praised, Bone Dog.

Read More

Kelly Ann Murphy

Kelly Ann Murphy is an award-winning illustrator, author, and educator. She has worked at Montserrat College of Art, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the co-founder of Shybird™ Studios, which showcases her collaborative work with french artist Antoine Revoy.

Read More

Ruth Sanderson

Ruth Sanderson is the award-winning illustrator of more than seventy-five books for children. She is well known for her fairy-tale retellings, including The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Goldilocks, Papa Gatto, Rose Red and Snow White, and Cinderella. She was given the Texas Bluebonnet Award for The Golden Mare, The Firebird, and The Magic Ring.

Read More

Special Guests

Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli is an award-winning writer of children's fiction, from picture books to young adult novels. She’s won the Golden Kite, the Sydney Taylor, the NJ Reading Association, and the Kentucky Bluegrass awards.

Read More

David Wiesner

David Wiesner has been awarded the Caldecott Medal three times—for Tuesday in 1992, The Three Pigs in 2002, and Flotsam in 2006. Two other books of his, Sector 7 and Free Fall, were named Caldecott Honor Books.

Read More

Workshop Information

August
30
with dinner at 6 PM (optional tour of HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN and Boyds Mills Press offered at 3 PM)
through
September
3
after lunch
$1,065
Request an Application


Follow Us On Facebook

Our Scholarships

The Highlights Foundation has a number of scholarship opportunities available.

Want to stay up-to-date?

Our workshops fill up fast. Join our mailing list and we'll let you know about news and upcoming events!