Breakout Session: Creating Memorable Characters with Shamar Knight-Justice

Shamar's bio: Hi! I'm an author/illustrator based in Atlanta, Georgia. My artwork focuses on mixed media, and unique textures. I've illustrated Ari J.'s Kinky, Curly Crown, which was written by Ain Heath Drew, Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince written by Alliah Agostini, Repeat After Me written by Jazmyn Simon and Dule Hill, Ari J.'s Firefly Adventure written by Ain Heath Drew, Forever and Always written by Brittany Thurman, and Dante Plays His Blues written by Allen Wells. I work full time as the principal of Ethos Classical, and am entering year 15 in education. In my spare time, I hoard collage materials and take long walks with my wife, dog, and three year old. You can see more of my work on Instagram at @shamarknightjustice, or my website www.shamarknightjustice.com.

Shamar's intro slide:

We start with character study: 

Essential Questions:

1) Who and what does this character represent?

2) How is that reinforced by the artist's character design?

3) What does this character say about the artist as a person? What do they value?

Shamar walks us through some examples of characters in picture books--and what makes them memorable, including Peter from A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Big by Vashti Harrison.

Then Shamar walks us through the process of his developing the character Shane from Big Tune, written by Alliah Agostini. We get to see reference photos, notes, the original manuscript with art notes, research materials, and early sketches of both setting and character.

Shamar explains that he appreciates art notes and actually likes to talk to the author before starting the illustration process! (Note: this is pretty unusual for traditional publishing. Often publishers and editors don't want authors talking to illustrators, because, as it has been explained to me, they want the illustrators to be working in service of the story, not in service to the author.)

There was much more, as well as an engaging Q&A session.

Super interesting data point: One of the questions asked about how amazingly productive Shamar is, with the illustration work and a full-time job as an educator, and Shamar told us that it takes him about 300 hours to illustrate each picture book!

Even as an author (and not an illustrator), this session gave me lots to think about regarding my picture book manuscripts and characters!