Jade Goodwin

Jade Goodwin is a First Nations illustrator living and creating on Wonnarua Country in the Hunter Valley.

Her love of art began early in her grandparents’ screen printing studio, where she was always surrounded by creativity. That playful, hands-on energy still shows up in everything she makes today.

Since signing her first picture book contract in 2022, Jade has illustrated over 23 books (and counting!) across picture books, junior fiction, and early readers. Her work includes Little Ash, Tennis Camp Diaries and the Yarn Quest series, to name a few…

Jade’s illustrations are all about warmth, colour, and connection — with lots of heart, nature, and playful details. She loves creating characters that feel real and stories that reflect the diversity of our world. In 2024, she was commissioned to illustrate the national Love Your Bookshop Day campaign, and was featured in an SBS/NITV article for her work in bringing authentic representation to kids’ books.

When she’s not drawing, you’ll find Jade outside in the garden, curled up with a book, or hanging out with her three very cute (not at all biased) cats.

TALKS

What It’s Like to Draw for a Job! Life of an Illustrator

Years 5-10

Ever wondered what it’s actually like to be a real-life illustrator?

In this session, Jade will take you behind the scenes of her life as a full-time illustrator. She’ll share how she turned drawing into a job, what her days really look like, and some funny (and surprising!) stories about how her books were made. Students will see early sketches, messy drafts and how ideas change along the way.

Participants will play a fun “True or False?” illustrator quiz: to guess what’s real and what’s made up in the world of publishing? To finish, Jade will do a quick live drawing so students can see how she builds a character step-by-step.

This session is inspiring, interactive and perfect for curious creative minds.

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WORKSHOPS

Draw Along with Jade!

Years 3-7

Beginning with a reading of one of Jade’s picture books, like Goorramindi the Crocodile or Aslan & Benny, Jade wil show students how the book was made including some of the early sketches and ideas.

Jade will then show students, step-by-step, how to draw one of the characters, using simple shapes to build faces, expressions and bodies. You’ll learn how illustrators show personality through tiny details.

By the end of the session, students will have new drawing skills and a character of their very own to take home.

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Choose Your Own Adventure: Draw the Story!

Years 3-6

In this workshop, students help to decide what happens!
Working together, a brand-new story will be built from scratch using fun prompts and big imagination. First – creating a main character: Who are they? What do they love? What makes them different?
Then – add a side character (friend, villain… or something unexpected!) and design the world they live in.
As ideas are brainstormed, Jade will draw the story live, showing participants how illustrators turn words and ideas into pictures. Students will be able to shout out suggestions, vote on ideas and help shape the adventure.
By the end, a completely original illustrated scene is created and students will have learned how to build characters and settings in their own drawings.
Fun, fast-paced and full of surprises!

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