Marla Lesage

Background

Marla Lesage loves to tell stories – both real and imagined – through urban sketching, painting, illustration, and writing. She works in watercolour and ink and is mostly self-taught. Her main focus is writing stories for children and her first picture book, Pirate Year Round was published by Acorn Press in 2019. Her art can be found in several NB schools and in private collections in Canada, the US, and Australia. Marla has worked with students in a number of schools on a variety of art and writing projects via the Fredericton Art Alliance’s Artists-in-Schools program. Contact Marla at the email address under her photo, or call her at (506) 208-0380.

Publications

Pirate Year Round, Acorn Press 2019
Cactus Comics, self-published 2018
A Song for Dedi in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Christmas in Canada, 2015
Calgary Stampede Powwow (cover illustration & short article) Skipping Stones Magazine Spring 2015

What I Offer

I offer class presentations about being an Author/Illustrator. In this interactive, peer-to-peer conversation, (we’re all writers/illustrators after all!) we will discuss the ups & downs of writing and I’ll share my most embarrassing publishing moments. We will exchange tips for tackling challenges and discuss how revisions make our work better and how feedback/assistance from others can make great work even better. I’ll talk about the differences between self-publishing and “traditional” publishing and will share my stories through reader’s theatre. The presentation will be adapted according to the age/grade of the students.

I also offer Art and Writing Workshops including but not limited to:
Painting from observation – talk about shapes/shading/trusting our eyes.
Comics – we will discuss the basic features of a story & students will create their own comic to illustrate.

I am happy to work with the school/classroom teacher to adapt or create a workshop that will suit your needs.