Last week I was on
vacation and linked you over to DeeDee’s website to get in on the action!
Today, I am back with some of my own thoughts and connections. The second
section of this marvelous book covers the 50 illustration techniques and how
the relate to the qualities of "Good Writing."
I love how she has
organized each illustration technique:
1. Something to Notice-Names the illustrative technique
2. Illustrative Example-Provide an example of what this
looks like in a picture book.
3. An Understanding for Young Writers and Illustrators-Involves
the kind of thinking you might do with the technique.
4. In a Teacher's Voice: An Idea for Trying it Out-This
is just what it says. There is a little script that you might use when
discussing the use of this technique with your students,
5. A
Writing Connection-This section helps make the composing connection between
writing and illustrating. For me, this is the "Aw, Yes!" moment. This
is the section I want to understand and internalized. This is the justification
for conducting illustrative studies.
Chapter 7:
Ideas and Content
In this
section Katie Wood Ray talks about 10 different techniques illustrators use
such as distance perspective and crafting the background.
I totally
made a connection!
My friend
from Chicago has been at my home this week. We have worked really hard all week
getting things ready for next school year. Yesterday we said, “Play time!” I
took her to a truly southern tea house for lunch and then we went to the store
and purchased “beverages” and hit the pool—something else you do when you live
in the south! To let all my friends know what was going on, I took this picture
with my camera. I chose to only focus on
the beverages, not the pool or the sun or any other background except the
container of drinks and the brick pavement around it! But, anyone looking at
this picture with the caption: Hello summer! Pool, sun and beverages...work can wait!
could create the scene around the photo. You can also see another technique
Katie talks about—perspective. The shot is from overhead as if you are going to
reach right in and pull out one of those cold drinks on that hot summer day! How
cool it would be to add a hand going down into the container!
When I
think of illustrators that depict these techniques I think of Dory Story.
Technique #4: An illustration may
show two sides of a physical space simultaneously: inside and outside; above
and below... See the photo where Danny is in the boat, but you can see the fish
below. Why do they think the illustrator decided to include both sides of the
scene?
Technique # 1: Illustrations have
distance perspective: a central image may be pictured as far away, close up, or
any distance in between.... See the photo where Danny is pulling himself up on
a rock. The bulk of the page is the vast sea and it creates the feeling that
his is really isolated and alone.
Technique #2:
Illustrations have positioning perspective: a central image may be pictured
from the front, the back, the side, about, or below... See the photo where
Danny is viewed from above. You could have a conversation about why the
illustrator decided to draw this image in this way. How would the feeling of
this page be different if it was illustrated a different way?
Technique #3: Illustrations carefully craft the background
in their pictures. They may have lots of background behind it, just a little,
or hardly any at all. Last week my friend Michele and I were working on our
Reading Workshop Unit 3 Digging Deeper (Not quite done with it yet!) We were
working on characters and settings. One thing we talked about was illustrators
who use little or no background, but let the characters be front and center! Of
course, one of our favorites is Mo Willems. Piggy and Elephant are the focus of
the story. Why do you think Mo Willems decide not to add a background? Is it
important for the reader? Do you know the setting without even seeing it? By
the way, do you see another technique in this photo?
Now it is your turn!
You can enter to win
Here is
how (pick just one)
1. Followers:
Leave your reflections on chapter 7 in the comment section of DeeDee’s blog...Simple!
(mrswillskindergarten.blogspot.com)
or
2. Bloggers: Blog
about chapter 7 and include a link back to DeeDee’s page.
Two winners will be randomly selected and announced on July 5th.
http://www.mrswillskindergarten.com/2012/06/in-pictures-and-in-words-chapter-7.html
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