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Author,
illustrator teaches students basics of artistic expression
Posted
On: Saturday, Oct. 11 2008 06:49 AM
photo: Herald/SARAH MOORE KUSCHELL
Author and illustrator Scott E. Sutton fields a slew of
questions from third-graders at Iduma Elementary School on
Friday. Sutton talked to students about drawing and the
components of storytelling.
photo: Herald/SARAH MOORE KUSCHELL
Iduma Elementary fourth-grader Chanse Smith-Muro listens to
author and illustrator Scott E. Sutton during a special
presentation on Friday.
By Iuliana Petre
Killeen Daily Herald
Scott E. Sutton, an author and illustrator of children's books,
has been drawing since he was 2 years old.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss, Sutton, 55, has been professionally writing
and illustrating children's books since 1985.
On Friday, the author of "Danger: Dinky Diplodocus,"
"The Family of Ree," "The Sheik of Shapes" and
"How to Draw Stuff" visited with third- and
fourth-graders at Iduma Elementary School in Killeen in an effort
to inspire kids to read, write and try their hand at the arts.
"I want them to get the idea that writing and reading are
fun," Sutton said in between drawing instruction sessions
with students at the school's library. "They can draw, too.
Too many people think they don't have a talent for drawing (and
that's not true)," said Sutton, who every morning, like
clockwork, sits down with his sketch book and draws something.
A self-proclaimed visual learner, Sutton said that he had
difficulty in school when he was a student because work was either
difficult or boring until he began illustrating his assignments.
Regardless of whether he was writing for an English class or a
history class, Sutton started to draw. He would submit his
drawings with his assignment. Sutton's teachers realized that he
had a good grasp on the subject because he was able to illustrate
it. "I started doing well in school when I incorporated
visual works into my book reports," Sutton said, adding that
drawing is a good form of communication for kids and that there
are different pathways to knowledge.
Sutton, who has authored and illustrated 16 of his own books and
numerous other books, said that by visiting schools, he is trying
to use visual methods to show students that they can write and
illustrate, too. Although Sutton was never formally trained in the
arts, much of what he learned was self-taught or he paired up with
strong mentors who taught him basic and advanced drawing skills.
Sheila Donahue, Killeen Independent School District's director of
fine arts, who did the legwork that brought Sutton into KISD
schools, said that the "fine arts are a vehicle for engaging
students by making connections to writing and reading."
KISD students benefited from Sutton's visit not only from his
drawing instruction but also because Barnes & Noble
Booksellers, in Harker Heights, donated copies of Sutton's books
to each of the elementary school campuses, Donahue said. Other
authors from whom KISD students will benefit include Keith Graves
and Clare Dunkle, whose books were also distributed to elementary
and middle school campuses. Graves will visit with KISD students
at six elementary schools on Feb. 28.
All of the authors – Sutton, Graves, Dunkle – will participate
in the "Take 190 West: Killeen Salutes the Arts"
festival early next year. The partnership event between the city
of Killeen and KISD will focus on authors and artists.
Contact Iuliana Petre at ipetre@kdhnews.com
or (254) 501-7469.
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