How to Illustrate Picture Books is an online course for those who have always wanted to create a picture book and want to know the nuts and bolts of how picture books are made and why they matter. Illustrator and graphic novelist, Debasmita Dasgupta will take you step-by-step through the processes of illustrating your picture book, and answer questions on how to work with work with authors as an illustrator.
Packed with industry insights and expertise, this course is for those who are curious and passionate about picture book creation, and those who want to create their own.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a storyboard of your debut picture book.
Please note, if you are a writer you can check out the accompanying How to Write Picture Books course here. And if you are a writer AND an illustrator you can take a look at our full course on How to Write & Illustrate Picture Books here.
Week 1 (1 hour)
Basics of illustrating picture books
An overview of the basics of illustrating picture book stories, focusing on narrative picture books. Let’s take a look at a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, visually. We'll also discuss the importance of identifying your target audience to ensure your illustrations are suitable for the audience your picture book is aimed at.
Week 2 (1 hour)
Drawing Memorable Characters
In this session, we will create a memorable main character and the supporting characters that make the story come alive. Come with your notebooks, pens and coloured pencils.
Week 3 (1 hour)
Making Thumbnails & Storyboarding
When you start storyboarding your scenes, you’ll be able to see your story come alive. You’ll see real-life examples of a storyboard!
Week 4 (1 hour)
Colour Theory and Composition
A good picture book leaves a lump in your throat. A great picture book opens the floodgates. Learn how to amp up the feels with composition and colours that will make your story unforgettable.
Week 5 (1 hour)
Finding Your Artistic Voice
Ah! That nebulous entity called ‘voice’. This week you’ll be hearing about how Smita took Voice by the reins to illustrate her picture books.
Week 6 (1 hour)
From Concept to Pitching your Illustration Portfolio
When it’s all done, it’s time to share it with the world! Let’s take a look at pitching your illustration portfolio to agents and editors. Includes tips on what agents and publishers want to see.
Testimonials from events led by Smita:
"A great course with excellent speakers that provided invaluable information and advice. The dip into the world of illustration was brilliant." Jason Francis-Sutton
"It was interesting and inspirational. I learned a lot of things I didn't know." 2025 Masterclass attendee
Debasmita Dasgupta illustrates and writes books for children and young adults. Initially self-taught, in 2023 she completed a Masters degree in Children's Book Illustration & Graphic Novels at Middlesex University, London.
Her picture book, Mina vs the Monsoon, published by Yali Books USA in 2018, was nominated for the Kirkus Reviews Prize for Best Picture Book. Her graphic novels Nadya, Terminal 3 and ZardoZi-stitched with love are published by Scholastic, Penguin and HarperCollins India. In 2023 she illustrated Ganesha goes Green, published by Barefoot Books that won many awards and recognition. Her most recent graphic novel Faiza is a Fighter is published by Lerner Publishing Group in the USA, UK, and Canada.
She is co-founder of Picture Book Matters, which empowers aspiring and emerging picture book artists and authors in Asia. Besides her books, Debasmita has illustrated animated stories that have been showcased in the Raindance Film Festival in London and Toronto. She is passionate about cinema and produces indie international feature drama for streamers such as Netflix.
She was born and grew up in Kolkata in the east of India, lived for many years in Singapore, and now lives in Windsor, in the UK, with her partner.
Picture Book Matters is a mentorship platform, for aspiring and emerging authors and illustrators, co-founded by author Eva Wong Nava and Artist / Graphic Novelist Debasmita Dasgupta.
The course fee of £175 (inc. VAT) is payable in full online. Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on [email protected] so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
If this event is Sold Out, please look out for other writing courses by visiting our Events homepage.
This is a live online course which will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date. All timings for this event are as per UK time.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made one bursary place available for this writing course as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page for further information about how to apply. Please note, this has now been allocated.
- At the author’s discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after the course.
- A link to a recording of the course will be circulated each week. This will be made available to course attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- This course will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email [email protected]
