From Autobiography to Illustrated Story

Through colors, lines, and words, it is possible to recreate a story that today only exists in your memory. To help you with this mission, there’s no one better than children’s book’s illustrator and writer Paloma Valdivia. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and she has been recognized with several international awards, including The Best Book Awards by UNESCO and the German Graphic Arts Foundation.

In this course, Paloma teaches illustration and writing techniques for you to learn how to create an autobiographical story based on an object from your childhood. See how to rescue the memories inside your head and bring them to life in a unique and intimate illustrated book.

Paloma begins the course by showing you her trajectory and sharing her main artistic references. She then tells the story of how she became an illustrator and how she published her first children's book.

In the next stage, learn some resources and storytelling tools like the autobiography to incorporate into your story. See the importance of creating a daily journal with your thoughts and ideas and how to explore your memories through an object.

In the third unit, find your object and approach it from different perspectives, transforming it into the thread that connects your story. Paloma shares her method for structuring text and shows you how to make the first sketches for your final illustration.

Then, give the final shape to your illustrated story, adjusting your sketches until you define your final drawing. Learn how to work with graphite and paint, applying different coloring techniques to achieve the desired atmosphere.

In the final stage, polish your text, paying special attention to the cover and the final sentence of your story. Finally, Paloma gives you some advice on promoting and sharing your creation.

Create a written and illustrated autobiographical story, based on an object from your childhood.

Anyone who wishes to tell a personal story using illustration and writing techniques.

To take this course, it is recommended to have basic drawing skills.

Regarding materials, you will need a phone with a camera, an object from your childhood to base your story on, sheets of A3 drawing paper, pencils, erasers, ink, rulers, pens, and colored pencils.