Author, illustrator teaches students basics of artistic expression
Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 11 2008 06:49 AM
By Iuliana Petre
Killeen Daily HeraldScott 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.