Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges is herself a graduate of RISD’s undergraduate program in Illustration. After graduation, she worked in the art departments of such places as Hallmark and Ginn & Co. before starting her own children’s book studio in Boston in 1989. She envisioned a place where she could nurture creative talent and develop quality book projects for trade markets and museum communities. Today, she works on behalf of nearly 40 picture book artists worldwide (with a staff of RISD alums).
As a professor of Illustration for more than 35 years, Sturges continues to nurture young talent. She has taught Picture and Word for many years and designed the course to help students interested in working in children's books understand the necessary balance between writing and illustrating. She co-teaches the course with an industry professional working as an author and/or editor of picture books.
Although her passion is children's literature, Sturges loves all forms of artistic expression. Her Artist's Book class challenges students to extend their concepts outside of traditional book parameters to achieve their own creative interpretations. In addition to these upper level courses, she teaches basic illustration concepts to sophomores and helps guide seniors through their thesis projects.
In 2008 Sturges was approached by Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project to collaborate on another double credit course entitled Folk Tales in the Digital Age. Musicians from the Silk Road Ensemble worked with students in a workshop setting honing their skills in writing, storytelling, illustrating and music, and the class culminated in a final public performance in the RISD auditorium.
When on break from RISD, Sturges likes to return to Italy, where she spent a few glorious years as the chief critic for RISD's European Honors Program. While there she attends the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, spends quality time with partner studio illustrators who are living abroad and, most importantly, spends time working on her own stories.
Courses
Spring 2025 Courses
ILLUS 2004-05 - VISUAL STRATEGIES
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ILLUS 2004-05
VISUAL STRATEGIES
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: M | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Judy Sue Goodwin SturgesLocation(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 411Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Building on the skills and sensibilities developed in ILLUS 2000: Visual Thinking, this course will address a range of strategic considerations important for the articulation of ideas. While emphasis will remain on methods for encouraging conceptual aptitude and innovation, there will be greater focus on specific forms of communication. Practical issues such as the nature of audience and the context for interpretation will be matters of concern, as will vehicles for communication and the handling of media. The basic aim of this course is to enable the student to discover a creative identity and develop an itinerary for upper-class study; its larger goal is to wed communicative purpose to artistic voice.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department.
Major Requirement | BFA Illustration
ILLUS 4012-04 - SENIOR PORTFOLIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
ILLUS 4012-04
SENIOR PORTFOLIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitIllustration
Subject Illustration
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Judy Sue Goodwin SturgesLocation(s): Illustration Studies Building, Room 411Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to help students find their way to the professional marketplace utilizing the best tool available - the portfolio. Be it the freelance advertising, editorial or children's book markets, an animation or gaming studio, a publishing house, gallery or other venue, this course will introduce the components of the portfolio necessary for success. It includes development of both a traditional and online presence, discussions on specific industries, copyright issues, client contracts and pricing guidelines. Each student will create new work to augment their existing portfolio, as well as business cards, a resume, a contact list, invoice and letterhead. The course will also include visiting guest lecturers from a variety of industries. The focus will be to complete a portfolio that serves as a professional tool most suited to each individual's talent and aspirations.
Enrollment is limited to Senior Illustration Students.
This course celebrates books of all kinds, for readers of all ages. We start by studying picture books for children and make our way through graphic novels (comics), the young adult novel, poetry, fiction for adults, etc. The last part of the semester is spent creating a book of your own choosing from one of these genres.
