Illustrating unheard stories
Award-winning Filipino artist and children’s book illustrator Aldy Aguirre is scheduled to conduct Illustrating Unheard Stories, a two-part webinar which delves into the creation of picture books and its importance in highlighting extraordinary themes and peculiar narratives, set to happen on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2021.
The first session walks the participants on the artistic process, from conceptualizing characters, worldbuilding, creating storyboards to seamlessly incorporating texts and sketches. An interactive exercise guides the students how to flesh out their cast, tapping the diverse personality traits provided by the class.
The second part focuses on the art. Aguirre discusses different mediums used in picture books, as well as the various points to consider in color selection. He designs a new cover from scratch, inspired by non-existent children’s book titles provided by attendees.
Both sessions are set to conclude with an engaging question-and-answer portion.
Aguirre likewise tackles the making of two books he illustrated. These include Ya Pagkatu-Ang Na Banwa (The Creation of the World), a Tagakolu tale published by DO62 Indigenous People Education (IPEd) Partnership Initiative of De La Salle Philippines.
The second is entitled Si Kian, the story of Kian Delos Santos, one of the victims of extrajudicial killings during the war on drugs. Si Kian was published by Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and Adarna House. It is included in the White Ravens Catalog by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.
The two-part webinar delves into the creation of picture books and its importance in highlighting extraordinary themes and peculiar narratives.
Aguirre’s artworks, which range from colored pencils to watercolor and gouache, have graced a number of children’s books from various publishers and independent writers here and abroad.
His works have also donned A Grain of Hope, Publishink Press Australia, 2019; A Basket in War, ABC Children’s Books, 2018; Isang Mabalahibong Bugtong, Lampara Books, 2017; Ang Maraming Ngalan ni Emilio, Adarna House, 2017; ABCs of Heaven, OMF lit, 2017; Imbisibol na ako, Bookmark Publishing, 2016; I want sweets (Hongkong), Katherine Newman, 2015, and The Little Girl in the Box, Adarna House, 2013.
Completing the list are The story of how everything began, OMF lit, 2013; Hello, tatay!, Gig Seafarer Children's book, 2013; Sinemadyika, Lampara Books, 2013; Ang riles sa tiyan ni tatay, Lampara Books, 2013; Si Berting ang batang uling, Lampara Books, 2013; Whuush, Adarna House, 2011; and Ang Batang may maraming maraming bahay, Vibal Foundation, 2011.
He had received awards and recognitions for his illustrations, locally by the Philippine Board on Books for the Young People and National Book Development Board; and abroad by ILUSTRARTE in Castelo Branco, Portugal and Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Hosted by the arts and culture cluster of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the webinar-demo is free and open to the public. It will be held via Zoom on today, Sept. 29 and on Oct. 6, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Interested participants may register through https://forms.gle/pFjMtbepchYG4FvP8.
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