Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen is most known as the illustrator of Michigan's Official State Children's Book, The Legend of Sleeping Bear. His Legend of Mackinac Island released in May 1999 also received the 1999 Great Lakes Book Award in the Children's literature category. Gijsbert and author, Kathy-jo Wargin, have been contracted by publishers Sleeping Bear Press to create at least 15 more books in the Legend series.

He was art director for Michigan's state magazine, Michigan Natural Resources Magazine, for 17 years, which is where he picked up his nickname. Nick or Mr. Nick as the kids call him, (short for nick-name because no one could pronounce his real name) has created a drawing program for children around his well known Legend series.

Presentations

Art in Your School

He works with children age K-12, taking them through a step by step drawing process using simple shapes such as circles, squares and triangles. He explains to the kids how he himself begins each painting using these basic shapes. Children will go home with a completed drawing, feeling quite surprised and proud of their accomplishments. His motivation is to give them confidence and show every child (and adult) that drawing does not have to be complicated. The drawings are often characters taken directly from one of the Legend books. During the drawing program he discusses how he became an artist, how he became a book illustrator and what it takes to get a book published. His main philosophy in life is one he encourages all students to take as their own. " Make your hobby your work". He says," We all have to work when we grow up, we might as well be doing something we like to do".

Each drawing session can range between 30 and 60 minutes, with 45 minutes being the average. Smaller classes (less than 35) allow more opportunity for student/artist interaction but he can accommodate up to 100 students per session. Nick can travel from class to class or stay in one location. Materials students will need for the program are pencils and (approx.) 11"x 17" paper. Nick will need an easel with either a dry marker board or large chart paper. Most schools choose the large chart paper for him to demonstrate on. Using this paper enables your school to save those great demo sketches Nick has drawn….that way they can stay right in your school for everyone to enjoy. He has found that for large groups a lapel microphone saves on his vocal chords.

Book Sales and Prices

Nick likes to supply his own books for school programs but each school can decide what best suits them. The additional money he makes from selling his own books helps keep the price of his programs affordable for all schools. Books are $18.00 each. We send each school pre-order forms which should be filled out by parents and sent back to Nick by the school at least 10 days prior to his visit. He will sign them at home, organize them per classroom and bring them in when he visits your school. He has found this leaves more fun drawing time with the kids. He will gladly sign previously purchased books.

Slide Programs

Though most schools and libraries choose the popular hands-on drawing program, Gijsbert has put together 7 slide show presentations for your consideration. All the programs are approximately one hour long with questions and discussion afterwards.

The Painting Process - Follow a step by step process on how Gijsbert creates a painting. He shares with you information on where he paints, how he paints and where he gets his models. Good instruction from beginning to end.

Painting on Isle Royale - A slide presentation on Gijsbert's three week stay as Artist-In-Residence on this wild Lake Superior island.

An African Safari - A culmination of the artist's expeditions to Kenya. This presentation richly depicts Kenya's exotic wildlife and diminishing habitat.

Habitat Improvement - How to turn your backyard into a natural habitat - from creating butterfly gardens and bluebird habitat to creating and saving wetlands.

The Great Horned Owl - For thirteen years the farms resident Great Horned Owl lived around the house. This program documents the natural history and human interaction throughout the seasons.

Meet the Artist - Enjoy a behind the scenes look at Gijsbert's studio, his farm and his family. See for yourself how his forty acres of paradise inspires him to create beautiful paintings.

Suggestions for an Effective Visit

• Most importantly, make sure students, families and community members know Gijsbert is coming to your school. The more prepared the students are, the more they will benefit from his visit.
• Have the students check out our web site. http://my.voyager.net/robbyn

  It is full of great visuals of his art work.

• Send book order forms home early and mail them to Gijsbert's home address so he can have them all signed when he arrives at your school.

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  A Day with Robbyn Smith-van Frankenhuyzen
  Author – Wildlife Rehabilitator – Storyteller

  Robbyn and her husband Gijsbert have spent the last 20 years of their lives rehabilitating orphaned or injured animals. Her training as an animal technician enabled them to raise and release a wide assortment of critters..from foxes, fawns and raccoons to skunks, opossums and owls. She kept journals of their experiences with the menagerie of creatures and tapped those journals to write Adopted by an Owl and Saving Samantha.

  Program Description

  Robbyn shares with students, K – 6, the unique way her book was written and suggests that there is no one way to write a story. She shows a five-minute video with unbelievable footage from home movies of Jackson, the owl and shares stories about their extraordinary relationship. With a short slide show of all the animals they have cared for over the years, Robbyn blends lessons in natural science, writing, and storytelling. Her motivation is to give children confidence in reading, writing and drawing. Her main philosophy in life, just like her husbands, is one she encourages all students to take as their own.  “Make your hobby your work." she says," We all have to work when we grow up, we might as well be doing something we like to do".  Each session should be 50 – 60 minutes long. Class size can range from 30 to 100 students. If the sessions are held in cafeteria or gymnasium a lapel microphone is required…but the media center is much preferred gathering place. Equipment needed is VCR/TV, carousel projector with screen and a dry marker board and easel. Children will need a pencil and sheet of paper.

   

  Book Sales and Prices

  Robbyn prefers to supply her own books for school programs. The additional money she makes from selling her own books helps keep the price of her programs affordable for all schools. Books are  $18.00 each. We send each school pre-order forms which should be filled out by parents, returned to the child’s teacher and then all the forms should be sent back to Robbyn at least 10 days prior to her visit. She will sign them at home, organize them per classroom and bring them in when she visits your school. She has found this leaves more fun time sharing with the kids. Robbyn will gladly sign previously purchased books.

   

  Suggestions for an Effective Visit

• Most importantly, make sure students, families and community members know Robbyn is coming to your school. We suggest contacting your local paper to let them know she will be visiting. Area papers often like to do a story on visiting authors.
• Have the students check out her web site. It is full of excellent information on Robbyn and her family. Also check out this great owl site www.owlpages.com .  The more prepared the students are, the more they will benefit from her visit. Familiarize your students with her book
• Send book order forms home early and mail them to Robbyn’s home address so she can have them all signed when she arrives at your school.

  As -Artist in Residence – Robbyn’s visits can range from a day-long program, to as much as a week in your school district.

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  Environmental Tours given by Robbyn
  The Farm tours can be tailor made to fit your time schedule and interests. Every tour varies with each walk because nature gives us an ever-changing, always surprising look at the cycle of life. Discussions will include protected and endangered plants and animals, food chains, creating a balanced ecosystem in your own back yard, and the importance of every individual becoming a caretaker of the land.
  Habitats visited and discussed are:

• Wetlands
• Open fields
• Wood lots
• Swamps

  Activities can include:

• Map reading
• Blindfold walk
• Survival skills
• Echolocation
• Tracking
• Predator-prey
• Life in a log
• Food chains in our wetlands

  Experience all five senses. Taste certain medicinal plants, spot nests and birds, smell blooming flowers, feel the different textures of plants, and hear the continual chorus of nature.

  Art on the Farm
  Want to stay longer on the farm? pack your lunches and enjoy a peaceful meal outside. After lunch schedule an hour long painting session with Gijsbert in his studio. Paint or draw things you saw on the walk. Hands-on learning lasts forever.

  For program information call or write:

  Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen
  7409 Clark Rd. Bath, Mi. 48808
  Fax/phone 517-641-6690
  email: robbyn@voyager.net