Students in grades K-5 from the Bethpage Union Free School District recently met Chris Soentpiet, an award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. Mr. Soentpiet visited Central Boulevard, Charles Campagne and Kramer Lane to discuss his work and share his art process with students.
During his presentations, he showed students some of his book illustrations and the steps he took to bring them to life. This included photographing real people to serve as models for his illustrations. To give students a better idea of how he begins his illustrations, he invited one student to the stage and began sketching them. The classes watched in amazement as he worked his magic.
Mr. Soentpiet also spoke with students about being an author. He highlighted the importance of research when writing a story and discussed how he creates storyboards. The special visit allowed students develop a better understanding of what an author does and how an illustrator works.
