Tags

, , , , ,

by Jessica Cooper

Calling all Los Angeles-area artists and writers! Come join the fun!

Local artists and writers will have the opportunity on March 29 to trek to the Los Angeles Zoo to draw and observe animals in their various habitats, capturing their essence and gathering ideas for stories. This animal drawing master class will be guided by Alexander Vidal, illustrator of nonfiction picture books including So Many Feet, Cougar Crossing, I Love Birds, Los Angeles Is …, and The Bone Wars, and author-illustrator of Wilds of the United States from Chronicle Books.

Springtime is a great time to see baby animals at the LA Zoo—and to draw them in your own style, as in these colorful images by Alexander Vidal.

Alexander will give tips on capturing animals in your personal style and how habitat affects the illustration. While this is a sketch event, writers are welcome to share in the fun for story inspiration! Spaces are limited, and LA Zoo entry (valid for the entire day) is included in the event fee. Springtime at the LA Zoo is a great opportunity to see baby animals!  

Originally from New Mexico, Alexander Vidal studied cultural anthropology, and spent time living in Africa and Asia before starting his career in illustration. A love for animals and a dedication to conservation are the driving themes in his work. He is visually inspired by folk art, mid-century design and California modernism. A graduate of ArtCenter College of Design, his clients have included the California Academy of Sciences, Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Chronicle Books, the Nature Conservancy, and the Audubon.

See you there!

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Jessica Cooper is an illustrator, writer, and surface pattern designer based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in picture books, middle-grade, young adult, non-fiction educational market, editorial illustration, as well as surface and pattern design for novelty items and home decor. She is the Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI-Los Angeles.

Images provided by Alexander Vidal, SCBWI-Los Angeles, and Jessica Cooper