In this two-hour workshop, author-illustrator Natali de Mello will give us ideas for overcoming the fear of the blank page. Participants will discover how spontaneous marks can spark both illustration and storytelling. Aimed at beginning, intermediate, and advanced illustrators, this workshop is part of the SCBWI Canada East Digging Even Deeper workshop series.
From Blotches to Stories: Overcoming the Fear of the Blank Page
Participants will discover how spontaneous marks can spark both illustration and storytelling. Starting with a simple sheet of paper, we will fold it into a mini-book format. Before realizing its potential, each page will be seeded with unexpected textures: a blotch of ink, a bold crayon stroke, or a hesitant line made with the “wrong” hand. These raw, unplanned gestures will then become the foundation for a playful exercise: transforming marks into images, and images into a narrative. By the end of the session, each participant will have created a unique mini-book—an improvised story born from spontaneity, chance, and the dialogue between drawing and writing. To close, I will share a glimpse of my own creative process behind the picture book I illustrated SUIVEZ LA CAPITAINE FOURMI! (Planète Rebelle, 2024) and briefly introduce my work as an illustrator and author, connecting the workshop to real-world bookmaking. The goal of the session is to demonstrate that, whether you are a beginner or an advanced artist, it can be refreshing to invert the process: instead of facing the fear of a blank page, we can let textures and marks guide us toward characters and stories.
About the Presenter
Nátali de Mello is a Brazilian-Canadian published author and illustrator living in Ottawa. Inspired by Brazilian landscapes and creatures, she explores themes of identity, nature, and belonging through a mix of painting, collage, and digital drawing. She has a background in architecture, visual arts and holds a Master's in Illustration from Falmouth University. When she’s not drawing, she’s out in nature biking with her husband and twins, or enjoying a nice slice of pizza!
Workshop Details
MATERIALS
To participate fully in the workshop, please ensure that you have the following materials on hand: one A4 sheet of paper, drawing tools (pencil, markers, ink), and any unusual instrument participants would like to try (e.g. a twig, a sponge, their non-dominant hand).
WHEN AND WHERE
Saturday, November 15, 2025. 1:00-3:00 pm ET
This is a virtual event. After registering, you will find your registration confirmation under My Events on your Member Home. The Zoom link for the event will be found under the green Meeting Info button.
COST
- $20 USD for Premium Members.
- $35 USD for Preview Members.
** Note: SCBWI is a U.S.-based organization, therefore all payments collected for SCBWI events via the website are in USD.
RECORDING
The workshop will be recorded, and the recording will be available for one month following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email the week following the event.
REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONS
Upon completion of payment, you will receive a payment confirmation by email. You will also find a registration confirmation on the website that will include event-specific details. Go to your Member Home and click on My Events under the black bar at the top of the page. All events you have registered will be displayed on this page. If there are additional meeting details (i.e. Zoom links for virtual events or materials required for the event), this information will be found under the green Meeting Info button.
Questions about this event? Contact Michelle Jodoin, Regional Advisor, SCBWI Canada East
