Creative Writing, Journalism and Illustrating

In this course, students will learn how to communicate ideas effectively in words and images.  There is a book called "Doubly Gifted, The Author as Visual Artist" by Kathleen Hjerter.  This book covers a group of very famous authors who were also gifted artists including Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Lewis Stevenson, O. Henry, and Churchill to name a few.  Many times, students who love to write also love to create art.  This class will be live with lots of interaction during class.  All classes will be recorded so students can listen again to the instruction or something they might have missed.  Students will need a sketch book, pencils, a black ink pen and markers.  For one class we will need white, red, yellow, and blue acrylic paint and wet wipes as we will be learning how to create backgrounds.  
Our first class will discuss visual images and posters that teach and communicate ideas.  We will start with quotes on courage beginning with the quote by Maya Angelo’s quote on courage.  We will look at several posters with backgrounds that enhance the quote and talk about which ones work and why. Students will create their own poster of that quote with their own background.  If they have another quote they would prefer to illustrate and empower, that will work as well.
Each class will discuss some of the elements and principles of art and powerful keys to effective written communication, and students will create a work of art and writing with the goal  to communicate their own ideas with excellence. 
In the second class we will talk about ads, logos, and billboards and principles of design and students will design a billboard and ad campaign.
In the third class we will discuss different forms of writing and the images that go with the writing.  We will discuss the great illustrators N.C. Wyeth and Jesse Wilcox Smith.  Writing a story will be introduced.
In class number four students will write a short story for publication and do a cover illustration.
In class number five students will understand Investigative Journalism and Editorial Photography.  They will write an article and take a photograph that enhances it.
In the sixth class we will talk about the news media and students will create their own video about something in the news.  They learn how to record news on the cell phone.
 In class number seven students will write a feature story about a person and learn how to do a portrait.  
. In class number eight students will write an editorial and do an editorial cartoon.  
Throughout the class, students will learn how to research images.  
Students will experience the steps needed in getting their original writing published and the process of publication.   They will understand copyright and intellectual property.  Students develop an excellent digital portfolio for college entrance or freelance work.