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Patricia Storms

Patricia Storms

Photo: Patricia Storms

Words and pictures have always been a big part of Patricia Storms' life, ever since she was a little kid. Patricia has always loved to write and draw, especially cartoons and humorous illustrations. Her teachers in school enjoyed her cartoon work, but often encouraged her to move beyond cartoons into more respected forms of art. As soon as she finds a more respected form of art, she promises to drop the cartooning.

Patricia worked for 10 years in libraries, and 5 years as a graphic designer before she got into children's books. In fact, she used to catalogue children's books for the Toronto Public Library when she worked as a Library Technician. So she is extremely delighted to be fortunate enough to create children's books that are now in libraries across Canada. And speaking of libraries, Patricia is also very honoured that she was the artist for the TD Summer Reading Club for 2008. It was a wonderful experience meeting librarians, teachers, and so many enthusiastic children.

Patricia has worked for Scholastic Canada, Kids Can Press, Owlkids Books,TD Bank, ChickaDEE Magazine, American Greetings, Barnes and Noble, and Chronicle Books. She lives and creates in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband Guy, and two fat cats in a 93-year-old house that’s full to the brim with books.

 

City:
Toronto
Province:
Ontario

Publications

13 Ghosts of Halloween. Scholastic Canada, 2007
Good Granny/Bad Granny. Chronicle Books, 2007
Democracy. Capstone Press, 2008
The Pirate and the Penguin. Owlkids, 2009
Links:
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/PStormsy/
,
Website
http://www.patriciastorms.com
Eligible for National Public Readings Program:
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

My session focuses on ideas for creating characters, and then drawing these characters in a story. I tailor each talk to the age level of the group. In the first half of the session, using a marker and easel flip chart,
I involve the children in a fun session of working together to create a
cartoon character that could perhaps exist in a picture book or graphic novel. I then turn the tables on the kids and become the art director of a
picture book. I write out a silly story and encourage the kids to illustrate all or part of it.
As well as walking around to give encouragement to the kids, I also
work up at the easel drawing examples of the story, in order to help
those who may have some challenges with thinking of what to draw. At the end of the session I encourage the children to ask questions,
and come up and look at my published works, as well as some of my
original art.

Presentation Length:
1 hr
Genre:
Children's picture books
Audience Size:
Max 100
Workshop Description: