Photoshop workshop

Adelle van Zyl, illustrator and graphic designer, showed participants techniques and steps she used to create illustrations for Rympies vir Pikkies & Peuters.

The demonstration covered the following:

Scanning line drawings, ensuring correct quality and colour settings

Removing background, enhancing colour and touching up of line drawing using Photoshop - working with a stylus and tablet

Creating textured backgrounds in Photoshop - working with layers and the clone tool

Adding shading, highlights and detail in Photoshop - working with transparency and brushes.

Photo by Teresa Truda

Printmaking workshop

Janina Pechova will facilitate a two-day workshop.

Venue: Johannesburg

Date: 12-13 November 2013

Time: 10:00 - 15:00

Cost: R400 SCBWI members, R700 non-members

RSVP: By 4 November to Jenny at SCBWI.SA.Gauteng@mweb.co.za

Booking is essential. Only a small number of participants can be accommodated.

Participants will be doing monoprints and engravings (dry point etching) Monoprints are artworks done with oil paints or watercolours on a perspex plate and then the images are transferred onto wet paper. As the name implies, only one print can be made from the same plate. Drypoint etching can be done on a metal plate, where, depending on the type of plate, up to 200 prints can be pulled from one plate. Dry point will be done on an acetate, which is quicker and easier, but only about 5 prints can be pulled. These images are monochrome but colour can be added by various means after printing. Creating nature prints - using found and natural objects we can create prints by running them through the etching press.

All three techniques can be combined into one artwork.

Janina will supply the basic materials: perspex plates, acetate, cleaning material, various texture making materials and rollers. Participants need to bring: oil paints, brushes, plant material, (old lace, mats etc that would print an interesting texture, gauze) old pens or any tools that will make interesting lines, old rags (cotton), etching needle or a sharp tool similar to this for scratching into the plate (more than one tool is useful if lines of different thickness are required) ,rough paper for proofing.

It would be good if participants brought sketches of images that they are intending to make. Janina will show examples of images from books of wellknown artists.

Janina Pechova is an artist, illustrator and writer. She lectures at the University of Johannesburg. She has published two books, The Little Five and Field Guide to Lesser Known Spooks and Magical Beings.

SCBWI SA turns 10

Join in the celebrations from 1 -5 November 2013. These will be held in the Cape Town area. For more information, visit: http://scbwi-sa-10-years.blogspot.com/

Illustration Workshop

Blue Elephant Storyshaping

I am delighted to announce the launch of my new venture, Blue Elephant Storyshaping, an editing, mentoring and coaching service for children's book authors and illustrators. I will also be offering editorial support and creative brainstorming services to publishers and agents, as well as running workshops.

M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners - 2010

The M.E.R. Prize was established in 1983 and is awarded annually by M-Net and Via Afrika in two distinct categories. A prize is awarded to the best illustrated children’s book and another to the best youth novel published during the previous year. The only condition is that the books must be aimed at younger readers and that the authors and illustrators must be South African citizens. The award is named after MER (Mimie E. Rothmann 1875-1975), for her groundbreaking work in the field of children’s literature. No distinction is made between English and Afrikaans books.

2010 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners – MER Prizes

Next really BIG event

Exhibition by Illustrators and Writers of Children’s Books University of Pretoria

Workshop: Illustrate and write a Children's book for the Trade Market facilitated by Joan Rankin

Dates: Beginning Wednesday 27 May and continuing with three more workshops on dates to be agreed on by participants

Draft Programme for Exhibition in November 2009

Exhibition by Illustrators and Writers of Children’s Books The same exhibition will move from the University of Pretoria to Alliance Francaise in Pretoria. The focus of the exhibition is on how illustrators illustrate and writers write for children.

Beginner Illustrators' Critique Group

To join a Beginner Illustrators' Critique Group based in the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg, send an email to SCBWI.Gauteng@MWeb.co.za

Maskew Miller Longman Children's Literature Awards; competition

Maskew Miller Longman has announced its annual competition. They are inviting writers to submit unpublished and original children's stories and illustrations. R7500 will be awarded to the story winner in each language and to the illustration winner. There will also be a runners-up prize of R3500. Click on the title above to get more details.

Writers and illustrators required

Writers and illustrators are required by MasterSkill, an American publisher. Click on the title above to read more.

SCBWI Retreat

For coverage of the SCBWI Retreat, click on the title above. It'll take you to brief reports on: From story board to published book: How to find your own way in the world of publishing - a talk by international literary agent Susanne Koppe. Blank page to under a child's pillow: the creative process - a talk by Editorial Director, Picture/Gift Books, Macmillan Children's Books, UK, Suzanne Carnell International children's magazine market: What material they need, how to submit work, how children's magazine copyright and payment works - a talk by Christine Clark Panel Discussions Stories by Sindiwe Magona Workshops Discussions

Illustrators' Rates

Have you ever wondered what you should be charging for illustrating? SAFREA (Southern African Freelancers' Association) suggests some minimum rates. These can be accessed at: http://www.safrea.co.za/. For the rates suggested in 2007/2008, click on the Title above.

Resources for Writers in SA compiled by Colleen Higgs

Colleen Higgs left the Centre for the Book at the end of February 2008. She developed a Resource list over her years working there and shared this with the e-group before leaving to start Modjaji Books. Her list is very valuable and can be accessed at http://scbwi-za-news.blogspot.com/2008/03/resources-for-writers-in-sa-compiled-by.htm

Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat

For the full programme and costs of the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat at Goudini Spa from May 5-9 2008, see http://sa-writers-illustrators.blogspot.com or click on the Title above. This is a wonderful opportunity, NOT TO BE MISSED!

Katrine Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations

The Katrine Harries Award, originally the only and most prestigious award in South Africa for children's book illustrations, but which had been dormant for the past nine years, will soon be awarded again. Protea Boekhuis has kindly agreed to sponsor the Award on a continuous basis.The award that was made for the first time in the early 1960's by the SA Library Association and later the South African Institute for Library and Information Science (SAILIS) has been awarded to South Africa' s most well-known illustrators: Katrine Harries personally received the award twice before it was named after her. Thereafter illustrators such as Niki Daly, Joan Rankin, Alida Bothma, Cora Coetzee, Jeremy Grimsdell, amongst others, have received it, with Jude Daly finally receiving it in 1997 for Gift of the Sun. With the disbandment of SAILIS, the Children's Literature Research Unit at Unisa was tasked to find new homes for the awards. The English Academy agreed to take over the Percy Fitzpatrick Award and Protea Boekhuis agreed to sponsor the CP Hoogenhout Award. It has, however, been a struggle to get a sponsor for the Katrine Harries Award. With the exception of two years when the magazine, Baba en Kleuter, sponsored the award (Jude Daly won again for The Stone) the award has not been made since Daly won it for books published during 1997-1998. CLRU is however, now delighted to announce that after a laborious search for possible sponsors the Katrine Harries Award will again be awarded from this year. As was traditionally the case, the Award will be a 9-carat gold medal.The Award will be made biennially for children's book illustrations by a South African illustrator. It will include books by South African illustrators resident in South Africa or abroad, irrespective of the place of publication. The first new Katrine Harries Award will be made early in 2008 and will cover books published during 2006-2007. Because the Award was not made for so many years and outstanding books were published during those years, the CLRU is currently trying to find sponsors so that awards can also be made for the books published during those years. It is hoped that five medals will be awarded at a gala-function in the beginning of 2008.

Update: 3rd Conference on South African Children's Literature

UPDATE: 3rd Conference on South African Children's Literature - 17 - 20 September 2007, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa Conference theme: Writing (on) South African Children’s Literature The full conference programme is now available and included below. REGISTRATION: The details for registration can be found on the conference website at the following addresses: * General information: http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/klw/kinderlitkonf07/registrasie_e.html * Registration form: http://www.puk.ac.za/opencms/export/PUK/html/fakulteite/lettere/klw/kinderlitkonf07/registrationformEng.doc * Enquiries about registration: Teresa Smit - Teresa.Smit@nwu.ac.za PROGRAMME: Monday 17 September All papers and workshops in languages other than English will be interpreted into English 10:00 - A - Opening and welcome 10:15 - 11:00 A -Keynote: Maria Nikolajeva - Stereotypes of Dystopia: The Denials of Kow-Ten (Jenny Robson) in an International Context 11:00 - Tea 11:30 - 13:00 A - Workshop: - Skryf ‘n storie [Write a story] - Hans du Plessis and Franci Greyling 13:00 - Lunch 14:00 A - Ian Marley - Confessions of a want to be children’s book illustrator B - Mickias Musiyiwa - Children’s Literature as Resistance to and Engagement with Globalization 14:35 A - Franci Greyling - Die avontuur van skryf en boekmaak [The adventure of writing and bookmaking] B - Ingrid Wagener - Jenny Robson’s portrayal of a South African society in transition 15:10 A - Keynote: Elwyn Jenkins - Sources for research in South African English children’s literature 16:00 - Tea 17:00 CACHET THEATRE As die skoen jou pas - ’n toneelstuk geskryf deur Anneretha Combrink en opgevoer onder spelleiding van Jana van Staden en Elonie de Klerk (Karos & Kambro Jeugontwikkelingsprojek Promosa) [If the shoe fits - a play written by Anneretha Combrink and produced by Jana van Staden and Elonie de Klerk (Karos & Kambro Youth Development Programme Promosa)] 19:00 - Supper Tuesday 18 September 08:30 - A - Announcements 08:40 A - Lissa Paul - Women of influence 09:30 A - John Mckenzie and Cecilia du Toit - Paper 1 “Naked in the open air...the waves... invited her": Eco-criticism and the picture book B - Anneretha Combrink, Madeleen Combrink en Jana van Staden - As die skoen jou pas: Die oordra van lewensvaardighede aan adolessente deur middel van gemeenskapsteater [If the shoe fits: Conveying life skills to adolescents through community theatre] 10:05 A - John Mckenzie and Cecilia du Toit - Paper 2 - Essentialising South Africa: National identity and the perspective of the Other B - Audrey Hitchcock - I.Q. vs. E.Q. - The importance of developing Emotional Quotient through the use of books 10:40 - Tea 11:00 A - Susan Meyer - Die natuur as didaktiese avontuurruimte in Afrikaanse jeugromans [Nature as didactic space of adventure in Afrikaans youth novels] B - Elaine Ridge - Translating children’s literature: Opportunities and challenges 11:35 A - Molly Brown - Between a rock and a hard place: hidden stories and The Hidden Star B - Idette Noomé - “Kobie rules!”: The dynamics of the schoolgirl ethic in Stella Blakemore’s Maasdorp series 12:10 A - Jeremy Fogg and Basil Mills - Telling Our Story On NELM's Outreach Camps B - Elma de Kock - Karnaval van die kunste: 'n multi-dissiplinêre benadering tot die aanbieding van kinderliteratuur [Carnival of the arts: a multi-disciplinary approach towards the mediation of children’s literature] 12:45 - Lunch 14:00 A - Margaret Labuschagne - A number paints a thousand words? A quantitative approach to a publishing history of South African children’s literature in English B - Crystal Warren - Reading AIDS : HIV / AIDS in South African children's books 14:35 A - Maritha Snyman - Wie is hulle regtig? Die winste van ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering by die bepaling van die leesbehoeftes en -voorkeure van kinders [Who are they really? The dividends of a qualitative research approach in determining the reading needs and preferences of children] B - Claudia Mitchell and Jean Stuart - Digital Hope: Digital Storytelling in the Age of AIDS 15:10 - Tea 15:45 - 17:15 A - Workshop: Elwyn Jenkins - Developing, writing and publishing academic articles on children’s literature 19:00 - Supper Book Launch: Formule Drie, Twee, Een! / Formula Three, Two, One! - Franci Greyling (author) and Vian Oelofsen (illustrator) Wednesday 19 September 08:30 - A - Announcements 08:40 A - Keynote: Olga Sema -South African children’s literature and the advancement of multilingualism 09:30 A - Workshop: Cecilia du Toit - The English classroom and South African children’s literature 09:30 B - Betsie van der Westhuizen - “Aag, Mia ... Jy vertel so baie stories dat niemand jou meer glo nie”: van sien tot lewensiening met Mia se Ma (Marita van der Vyver en Piet Grobler) [“Mia... You make up too many stories. No one believes you any more”: from seeing to view of life with Mia’s Mom (Marita van der Vyver and Piet Grobler)] 10:00 B - Mariska Scheepers - Skryf as vorm van narratiewe terapie in die briefroman Van jou jas (Marita van der Vyver) [Writing as form of narrative therapy in the youth novel Van jou Jas [From your Jas] (Marita van der Vyver)] 10:30 B - Retha Fritz - Die teksinterne literêre korrektief in drie Afrikaanse jeugverhale [The textual literary corrective in three Afrikaans youth novels] 11:00 - Tea 11:30 A - Workshop: Dolly Dlavane and Rakgomo Pheto -- Ditlhangwa tsa bana mo phaposiborutelong [African languages and children’s literature in the classroom] 11:30 B - Kristel Roets - 'n Vergelyking tussen Roepman (2004), deur Jan van Tonder en Winterijs (2001), deur Peter van Gestel [A Comparison between Roepman (2004), by Jan van Tonder and Winterijs (2001), by Peter van Gestel] 12:05 - 12:40 B - Elbie Adendorff - Tendense in die resepsiedokumente oor Daar's vis in die punch - Jackie Nagtegaal [Trends in reader response documents about Daar's vis in die punch - Jackie Nagtegaal] 13:00 - Lunch 14:00 A - Workshop: Estelle Kruger - Die gebruik van tradisionele literatuur om kreatiewe skryf in Afrikaans te fasiliteer [Using traditional literature to facilitate creative writing in Afrikaans] 14:00 B - Renè Schoombee - School Libraries Work! - the role of school libraries in promoting children’s literature and information literacy 14:35-15:10 B - Dudu Jankie - Adolescent literature and the promotion of the principle of Botho / Ubuntu in secondary schools 15:30 - Tea 16:00 A - Betsie van der Westhuizen, Teresa Smit en Elsabé de Klerk - Visuele wêrelde en betekenisontdekking: Die film in die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolkurrikulum [Making meaning of visual worlds: The film in the South African school curriculum] 16:00 B - Diana Garver - Using Children's Literature to Enhance Comprehension 16:35-17:10 B - Sandra Crosser - Using Literature to Teach Emergent Readers 19:00 - CONFERENCE DINNER Thursday 20 September 08:30 - Announcements 08:40 A - Keynote: Osa Osayimwense - The expanding universe of African children’s literature: the why, the how and the what of publishing in Africa about African children’s literature 09:30 A - Snoeks Desmond - From the Berg to the Karoo - families are reading! B - Christine du Toit - 'n Integrasie van taal, letterkunde en kultuur binne Kurrikulum 2005 vir Afrikaans addisionele taal [The integration of language, literature and culture in Curriculum 2005 for Afrikaans as additional language] 10:05 A - Carol Bloch and Xolisa Guzula - Stories Across Africa: work in progress B - Leone Tiemensma - Am I a Zulu? The value and role of multicultural children’s literature in building bridges of cultural understanding 10:40 - Tea 11:00 A - Workshop: Maria Nikolajeva - Mission Impossible? Writing a Scholarly Book on Children’s Literature 12:30 A - Conclusions: Possibilities of research and work ahead; possibilities for collaboration 13:00 - Lunch WEBSITE: Read more: * 3rd Conference on South African Children's Literature: http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/klw/kinderlitkonf07/kinderlitkonf07_e.html Bala go le gontsi: * Khonferense ya boraro ya ditlhangwa tsa bana ba Aforika Borwa: http://www.puk.ac.za/opencms/export/PUK/html/fakulteite/lettere/klw/kinderlitkonf07/oproepreferate_t.html Verdere inligting: * 3de Konferensie oor Suid Afrikaanse Kinder en Jeugliteratuur: http://www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/lettere/klw/kinderlitkonf07/kinderlitkonf07.html ENQUIRIES: Enquiries about any aspect of the conference programme can be addressed to: Betsie van der Westhuizen Subject Group Afrikaans and Dutch School of Languages Faculty of Arts North West University Potchefstroom Campus Private Bag 6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa Tel.: +27 18 2991491 (international) or 018 2991491 (South Africa) Fax: +27 18 2991562 (international) or: 018 2991562 (South Africa) E mail: Betsie.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za OR: Franci Greyling Subject Group Creative Writing School of Languages Faculty of Arts North West University Potchefstroom Campus Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa Tel.: +27 18 2991781 (international) or 018 2991781 (South Africa) Fax: +27 18 2991562 (international) or 018 2991562 (South Africa) E mail: Franci.Greyling@nwu.ac.za OR: Dolly Dlavane School of Teacher Education (Human oriented School Subjects) African Languages Faculty of Education Sciences North West University Potchefstroom Campus Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa Tel.: +27 18 2991817 (international) or 018 2991817 (South Africa) Fax: +27 18 2994238 (international) or 018 2994238 (South Africa) E mail: Dolly.Dlavane@nwu.ac.za

Cape Town Book Fair

SCBWI had a stand at the Cape Town Book Fair where members of SCBWI displayed examples of their work. LeAnne Hardy from Jo'burg was one writer who took advantage of the opportunity to display her books. Other authors included Wendy Hartman and Reviva Schermbrucker. Illustrators also displayed their books as well as examples of their work. Gauteng illustrators whose work was on display included Joan Rankin and Yvette de Beer. Other illustrators who displayed their work included Marjorie van Heerden and Paddy Bouma. The stand was very busy throughout the fair. Many people went through portfolios and looked at the books published by SCBWI members. They took down names of writers and illustrators whose work they could commission. A popular attraction were the beautiful posters for sale. These were done by renowned artists such as Piet Grobler and were snapped up by eager teachers and librarians. The SCBWI stand was next to the IBBY stand which displayed some wonderful examples of South African books. A large number of exciting children's events were also organised. All in all, children's books were prominent at the Cape Town Book Fair.

The joy of illustration

The Gauteng branch of SCBWI South Africa had its first meeting on 3 March 2007. This very special occasion was hosted by Joan Rankin at her beautiful old house overlooking the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

The presentation was attended by a total of 22 people, three of whom are SCBWI members. Illustrators, writers, teachers and lovers of children’s books came from Middleburg, Witbank, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The morning began with a brief welcome and introductions. Joan then told her story and mindmapped some of the important events in her life that lead to illustrating children’s books. After tea she showed slides of illustrations from a wide range of international and local books. Then she passed around a fascinating array of children’s books. Finally, Joan spoke about visiting schools and demonstrated how a story could be shown on the Overhead Projector.

Joan’s experience comes from illustrating over forty children's books as well as writing some of them. In 1991 she won South Africa's most prestigious award for children's book illustrations, the Katrine Harries Award, for her illustrations in The Dancing Elephant; Ask for Patricia and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

A key message that Joan delivered was the importance of learning from one another. The Gauteng branch intends to do just that. It plans a number of initiatives to meet, share ideas, support one another and promote the publication of more South African children’s books.