Sketch Dummy Beginnings: Breaking up the text

I'm working on a dummy book right now and the sketch above is the very, very first one. I decided to sketch digitally in Photoshop to do the layout. I work digitally, so figured it would be easier and save paper as well. I'll flatten the sketch and lower the layer's opacity and build the illustration on layers above it.

When I received the story I read it over a few times. My approach was to treat it as a standard 32 page picture book: page 1 Title page, page 2 ISBN/publisher information, page 3 dedication page and then 29 pages in the body of the book. So basically, I need to fit the story and illustrations in some wonderful, clever way within these 29 pages. I really like the story and had all kinds of images in my head when I read it, so I figured that's a good sign, right? I submitted my first version of the text breakdown expecting some feedback. I definitely got some, but was glad there was a pretty clear vision of what was wanted. I agreed with the revisions so am now working from the new breakdown. That's where we are to this point. I hope to eventually show you a finished piece when I have one!

Sketch to Finish: Note to self: Don't say it-Show it

This is a book/illustrated play I did of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".

I had gotten tons of art direction. (16 tons). Some of which I did not agree with. Like putting in an upholstered chair with a print of baseball fabric on it. My thinking was- How was Goldilocks gonna sit on that and break it?? Is she gonna go all rock star in a hotel room on the Three Bears' house? Plus- Mama bear would never allow such an eye sore in her well decorated living room. The coffee table with newspaper was also a request. I thought the scene was already too chock full of stuff- some breathing room was needed and the triangle of the wood floor was supposed to draw the eye back to the table and chairs w/ the bowls.

So I started doing these sketches with notes on top to fight the power. 80% of the time they worked. The other 20% I have to chalk up to experience.  You truly do live and learn in illustration. -Kelly

Sketch to Finish: Dummy Book Cover

The sketch and finished print for a mock cover for a dummy book. 

  

For my dummy book sketches I work them out on paper in a smaller version first.  Then I scan them, enlarge and rework them digitally.  When the work is ready for the printmaking process, I flip it so it's backward and print them out.  The printmaking process works in reverse and I let Photoshop do the job for me.

After a plate is carved, (yep, old school lino-block) I print a few of them on vellum and hand-color with oil pastels.  I print several to play with and for insurance, there is no undo button! This illustration also has snowflakes that have been stamped in several different color inks. 

Diandra-Sketcher's Choice: Thumbnails

These are a few thumbnail sketches for a dummy book I completed last year. Believe it or not, these images were in version eight of the book. It's a counting book told in rhyme, that will probably never see the light of a publisher's mail room, but I consider it a necessary step in my journey to publication. If nothing else I learned some lessons in dummy making, and how vital it is to the writing process.  And I like the mouse so much I can't help but think he may show up in another project.

Priscilla ~ Sketch to Finish Spread

Here is a sketch for one of the spreads in the picture book, "Daddy All Day Long", written by Francesca Rusackas.  Using a black prismacolor pencil (one of my most favorite tools!), my goal was to keep the line quality somewhat scratchy, by hand-sketching the image on paper, scanning it in, and then going right to finish in full color, digitally.  

The text for this spread is,''"Ooey-gooey chocolate caramel ice cream?  Well, I love you more than EIGHT cherries on top!" said Daddy.'  Not only was it fun to make sure there were exactly eight cherries clearly in view for the reader, but it was a delightful treat (pun intended) to do the research needed for this book!  This, of course, included hunting down some actual chocolate caramel ice cream to experience first-hand.  I mean, we illustrators need to know what we're creating, don't we?  

Works for me!  

Sketch Interview: Joy Steuerwald

Sketch Interview: Kelly Light