Mohd Khairul started drawing when he was three years old. In primary school, he participated in art competitions and won a number of awards. Drawing and painting were his main hobby. However, when he entered secondary school, art was not one of the subjects offered. Nevertheless, he continued painting in his spare time.
After returning from Jordan with a major in Arabic studies, Khairul became a secondary school teacher based in Shah Alam. He is currently teaching Arabic language and Islamic studies.
He was introduced to picture book illustration when he attended the Book Council's Teachers Author Programme in 2012, in addition to other workshops organised by Kota Buku, PeRUPA (Malaysia Visual Art Association) and Shah Alam Gallery. He credits his two mentors, Yusof Gajah and Izzah Aziz for their coaching and advice.
Khairul recently won the second prize in the inaugural YGL-Oyez! Picture Book Award 2015, a joint award offered by the Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency and Oyez!Books. His submission, Where is Owly? is a story of a big brother looking for his younger brother who has gone missing. Here are a few pages from his submission.
After returning from Jordan with a major in Arabic studies, Khairul became a secondary school teacher based in Shah Alam. He is currently teaching Arabic language and Islamic studies.
He was introduced to picture book illustration when he attended the Book Council's Teachers Author Programme in 2012, in addition to other workshops organised by Kota Buku, PeRUPA (Malaysia Visual Art Association) and Shah Alam Gallery. He credits his two mentors, Yusof Gajah and Izzah Aziz for their coaching and advice.
Khairul recently won the second prize in the inaugural YGL-Oyez! Picture Book Award 2015, a joint award offered by the Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency and Oyez!Books. His submission, Where is Owly? is a story of a big brother looking for his younger brother who has gone missing. Here are a few pages from his submission.
Big brother realises that Owly is missing and goes searching for him...
the village...
through the woods...
and the paddy fields...
Khairul began creating the owl character at a workshop organised by PeRUPA and taught by Yusof Gajah. During the workshop, Yusof asked the participants to create characters based on shapes. "I think the owl is cute and of course, wise," says Khairul with a laugh.
Seeing shapes
Khairul has also illustrated three picture books written by his wife, Razisatul Asyifah Ismail. One of them, "Tolong! Saya Tak Pandai Berenang" (Help! I can't swim) is published under the Karangkraf 100 Picture Books Project and will be launched on 1st February.
"I hope my picture books will colour children's world, guide them, and they will remember them fondly when they become adults," says Khairul.
"I hope my picture books will colour children's world, guide them, and they will remember them fondly when they become adults," says Khairul.
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