3 July 07 We had eight year old Melissa Chu-Fong in the Weta Workshop design room this morning for a special tutorial with one of the Designers...

Weta Designers Rebekah Tisch and Frank Victoria worked on the illustrations for the children's book 'Paddy The Wanderer', by kiwi author Dianne Haworth.

Above: Rebekah and Melissa in the Weta Workshop design room, sketching.

The book was released in May 2007, and to celebrate, Wellington newspaper The Dominion Post and the Museum of Wellington City and Sea ran a colouring competition for young artists. Eight year old Melissa Chu-Fong was the winner of the 'Paddy The Wanderer' colouring in competition, and as part of her prize, she won a four hour drawing workshop with Weta designer Rebekah Tisch.

Above: Melissa's sketch of a pig, alongside Rebekah's version, below.

Rebekah set up camp in the middle of the design room with Melissa and her mum, with notepad, pencils, and drawing books. It was apt that Rebekah should tutor Melissa, as Rebekah was at one stage, the youngest member of the design team, too!

Rebekah showed Melissa different forms of sketching, including faces, animals and still life. Melissa says her favourite subject at school is art, and really enjoys drawing characters. "My favourite things to draw are animals and people, because they're cute", she says.

Above: Melissa selected this as her favourite sketch from her tutorial with Rebekah.

Melissa drew much attention from the design team, who were all curious to see her work and chat with her about the competition. Rebekah asked Melissa to draw a face for her, and then, at the end of the tutorial, to draw another. Check out the results below!

Above: To the left, Melissa's inital sketch of a face, and right, after her tutorial with Rebekah.

Click here to see the Paddy The Wanderer images and for more info on the project.