School challenges:
I am going to various schools giving presentations and workshops on illustrating. I have issued to each school an illustrating challenge. I read an excerpt from Orion’s Sword (my yet-to-be published fantasy) that describes a creature in the story. The students then illustrate the creature based either on my idea of what it might look like or their ideas. I give them the freedom to do whatever they want and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with both their imagination and skill. Have a look for yourself!
Dracominx and Bellator Challenges
The bellator challenge illustrations came from North Glenmore. It was a tough challenge, so I also issued the dracominx as I wanted as many to be able to be involved as possible. Many thanks goes to Shawna Horning, their amicable and fun librarian, who invited me for most of the day on April 9, 2015. The morning consisted of one presentation and a workshop, and the afternoon consisted of two more workshops.
The Bellator challenge
Many of the grade 4 – 6’s took on the bellator challenge, and drew pictures based upon the following excerpt from my yet-to-be-published novel, Orion’s Sword.
“Athena folded her leather wings, lowered her head, and glared at me with red-rimmed brown eyes. Her long eyelashes may have looked feminine, but her massive shoulders with a ridge of tan spikey hair did not. Athena swished her long tail with a claw-tipped fan on the end back and forth. She bared yellowed fangs and growled at me.”
The Dracominx challenge
Many of the grade 4 – 6’s took on the dracominx challenge, and drew pictures based upon the following excerpt from my yet-to-be-published novel, Orion’s Sword.
“What that animal?” whispered Teesha, close behind me. “Aaaaww, so cute!” Teesha parted the grass for a better look.
I groaned and pulled her back. “Believe me, they are anything but cute. Those are dracominxes.” A couple of stubby-legged, fat-bodied creatures fought over what appeared to be a huge bone about twenty yards away by the creek. “They like to hang out at water sources and wait for prey. And they don’t just go for little things, either. I’ve watched them take down a full grown bulatan by nipping it on the leg first, then wait for it to get dizzy from their poison. When it goes down, they all attack, basically eating it alive. Not cute at all.”
The dracominxes froze, red eyes boring into us. We jumped up and ran, growls and scrabbling little paws close behind. –
