Mid-Term Five-Day Illustration Camp 16 - 20 Feb 2026
Join us for a week-long hand-drawn illustration camp for children aged 9 to 12.
‘One winter night the deer, the fox, the robin, the squirrel, the badger and the owl got together for a meeting under The Big Oak.’
Jole is looking for help with her upcoming exhibition, inspired by a story she wrote about animals meeting Under the Big Oak. Jole, who designed The Ark's original unicorn, that is now our logo, can’t make up her mind what to do with this project. What should the story characters look like? Which illustration style to choose? What medium to use?
As always, when in doubt about creative choices, she turns to children for help for ideas and consultation. So if you love drawing and painting and would like to spend some time doing just that, this weeklong camp is for you!
Join Jole on a special journey through the most loved illustrated children’s stories. Learn the difference between illustration styles and try out some illustration mediums or make up your own. Work on your ideas for character development through hand drawing and 3D character model-making, and unleash your imagination with background painting.
The artworks produced during this programme will contribute to and inspire an illustration exhibition at The Ark during March & April 2026.
About Jole...
Jole Bortoli has for over 20 years been a visual artist, art-facilitator and director of Art to Heart – an art organisation that she established and that is dedicated to working with children and adults in art, educational and community settings.
Jole regularly curates and leads visual art programmes in The Ark, for which she has also designed the original visual identity. She also facilitates their Primary Schools Visual Art Curriculum programme that is part of the Department of Education and Skills approved summer course for teachers.
A passionate graphic designer, printmaker and illustrator Jole also produces her own illustrated stories which reflect in words and images the love for her native Italy and her adopted Ireland.
She currently works in Dublin and the Burren, Co. Clare where she leads workshops for children and adults.