Creator Profile:
Erika Rodriguez Medina
Home Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Website: erikaim.com
Available for in-person visits: BC's Lower Mainland
Craft: Illustrator
Genre: Picture Books, Beginning Readers
Target Audience: Grades 3 to 6
Cost for School and Public Presentation: $250.00, plus applicable taxes
Biography
Erika Rodriguez Medina is a book publicist and illustrator, currently living and working in Vancouver, BC. Besides nature, moving her furniture around constantly, crafts and ghost stories, Erika is interested in mythology and folklore from around the world. She also likes to use dynamic shapes and grainy textures in her work. Some clients that Erika has collaborated with include Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Kids Can Press, Owlkids, Kellogg's, Translink, City of Vancouver, Disney Hyperion, Scholastic, Literati, and more. Her absolute favourite things to illustrate are expressive characters, grumpy children, and plants.
Presentation Information:
Workshop #1: Expressive Characters Unleashed (Ages 8-12)
Participants will be encouraged and guided in creating expressive characters through engaging exercises focused on dynamic poses and facial expressions. Through drawing exercises, they will work on creating dynamic poses with C and S shapes, facial expressions, as well as character development and refinement. Participants to share their work and appreciate that of the classmates. The session will conclude with a short Q&A period.
Maximum group size: One class (or approximately 20 students)
Workshop #2: Creative Proportions (Ages 10-12)
Participants will practice drawing faces and bodies using standard proportions, experiment with playing with facial features, and sketch characters with various head and body variations. The session will conclude with a ten-minute period during which students will have the opportunity to share their sketches and discuss the inspiration for their work.
Maximum group size: One class (or approximately 20 students)
Book List
Adela's Mariachi Band by Denisse Vega (Charlesbridge, 2024)
Fighting Words by Leonarda Carranza (Annick Press, 2024)
Miya Wears Orange by Wanda John-Kehewin (HighWater Press, 2024)
Abuelita's Blanket by Leonarda Carranza (Annick Press, 2024)
I Love My Body Because by Shelly Anand (Simon & Schuster, 2022)
And J.J. Slept by Loretta Garbutt (Kids Can Press, 2022)
The Tunnel by Sarah Howden (Owlkids Books, 2022)
48 Grasshopper Estates by Sara de Waal (Annick Press, 2021)
There Goes Patti McGee! by Tootie Nienow (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021)
Margot and the Moon Landing by AC Fitzpatrick (Annick Press, 2020)