The Art and Craft of Picture Book Making (1)

A picture book might seem like a simple illustrated story but it actually comprises multiple forms of expression and layers of meaning.   

This course will explore the techniques that illustrators and authors use to create these expressions, how different methods shape narratives, and how they encourage readers to keep turning the pages.  

You will have practical guidance on visual story-telling techniques, followed by workshops and tutorials covering the process of creating and publishing a picture book includes tips on designing appealing characters, using colour and texture to enhance the story’s impact, adding visual clues to create mood or symbolism, and incorporating design elements to maximise the book’s overall visual impact. 

Students will be informed of the materials needed in the first lesson. 

Tutor
Benny Lau   

Benny Lau is an award-winning artist, picture book maker, graphic and product designer, and community project curator. In 2009, he won the silver award at the inaugural Greater China Illustration Award.    

Apart from practising as a multi-disciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Benny has been facilitating creative workshops in Hong Kong and overseas, and is also a part-time teacher at many academies and universities in Hong Kong. Out of personal interest and societal future demand, Benny has been collaborating more with schools and organisations on early years education — exploring picture books as a new artistic language as well as a learning medium for communication and creativity.     

Benny co-founded the Macau House of Childhood in 2017 and has since designed a series of creative workshops and picture books for playful learning. In 2022 he organised “The Beautiful Pages” community project in Sham Shui Po, introducing workshops and activities with other picture book artists. Most recently, Benny curated the “World of Art and Culture” at the Hong Kong Bookfair organised by HKTDC, where he selected and presented outstanding picture books from around the world.