What a Nice Cat!
A playful, practical session on making picture books that truly connect — and a clear introduction to the Key Colours Competition.
Hosted by Philippe Werck, founder of Clavis. With 45 years of picture-book experience (Clavis was founded in 1981), he’ll share what makes stories land — and what Key Colours looks for.
Register
The form asks for your name + email, plus two quick selections (your profile + where you are in your picture book process) so we can tailor examples and follow-up.
That checkbox is only to gauge interest — it’s not a booking. (After the webinar we organize 1-on-1 portfolio reviews in a separate paid follow-up track.)
What you’ll learn
Great picture books don’t just tell a story — they carry a feeling, shaped carefully through structure.
- Emotion + structure: why rhythm matters as much as imagination (and how to use it).
- The picture book journey: a practical emotional arc you can apply page by page.
- Illustration choices that speak: expression, composition, pauses/white space, light and color.
- Key Colours made clear: what it is, what it invites, and how to get started.
Who it’s for
For authors & illustrators who want to grow: students, starters, and experienced makers who want to sharpen their picture book craft — and anyone considering the Key Colours Competition.
- You’re developing an idea, a dummy, or a portfolio
- You want a clearer sense of what “works” in picture books
- You’d like guidance before taking a next step (webinar and/or optional 1-on-1)
Why we’re hosting this
At Clavis we believe books help children grow — and illustration is one of the most powerful ways to open a child’s inner world. Key Colours exists to encourage new makers, new voices, and new dreams.
- Inspire and support emerging talent
- Clarify what we look for (so you can create with focus)
- Create a path from webinar → optional paid 1-on-1 → Key Colours submissions
Session format
A short live welcome, a strong pre-recorded core you can follow easily, then a live Q&A where we answer the best questions.
- Live welcome
- Pre-recorded core (subtitled)
- Live Q&A
- Wrap-up + next steps (Key Colours + optional 1-on-1 @40€/session)
Replay available after the session (limited time).
FAQ
I can’t attend live. Will there be a replay-link?
Yes! So please do register anyway — we’ll share the replay link afterwards (available for a limited time).
Is this webinar free?
Yes. The webinar is free. The optional 1-on-1 portfolio reviews are a separate paid follow-up track. (40€/session)
Why the extra dropdown questions in the form?
They help us tailor examples and follow-up to your profile and your current stage (idea, dummy, portfolio, etc.).
Does ticking “interested in a 1-on-1” book a session?
No — it only helps us estimate interest and plan capacity. We’ll communicate booking details separately.