30 Lessons Learned, #5: Getting Ideas Down on Paper (Part Two)

Last week I wrote a bit about my process. Did I mention that I love thumbnails? Okay, good. Then, picking up where I left off:

My thumbnails are rough (they’re only about 1” x 2”). I enlarge them and refine. I do this again to arrive at a rough sketch. I like to sketch at a small size. That is my comfort zone. As a student, I tried to begin by sketching large images, assuming that beginning with a larger sketch would result in more detailed images. I was always frustrated by the results. It has taken me years to develop this process, but I’ve finally figured out that working from a thumbnail is the right method for me.

I enlarge the rough sketches to use in my dummies. I think this works on two levels. One, I can work in my comfort zone (smaller sketches) and two, it keeps the sketches from becoming unnecessarily detailed at this early stage. It’s easy to get drawn into the details and distracted from the purpose of each image.

I’ve arrived at this method of working because of my background as a designer, illustrator and writer. I continue to be amazed at the ways in which we all bring our unique experience and strengths to the process of creating children’s books and always love to hear about what works or doesn't for everyone else out there.

Here's a progression from smallest, roughest thumbnails to intermediate thumbnails and then a loose sketch:


30 Lessons Learned, #4: Getting Ideas Down on Paper (Part One)

Hi all, just a quick note to let you know that I am SWAMPED with work. I may not be doing Illustration Friday quite as much (sniff) but I'll still be posting on Wednesdays. I hope to be back to IF soon. I miss it already. Now, on to the topic of the week:

People tend to be curious about my process and whether I begin with words or images. In my case, both are woven together. Most projects begin with a spark of inspiration—usually a character idea or an observation of a quirk that develops into a character. After that initial spark, I do rough sketches of the character. I keep them very loose and try various poses and expressions. This helps me get to know the character.

I also begin to consider dialogue: what does the character think or say? This guides me into the story. I try to envision the character’s environment and how the character exists within that environment. I also begin to envision the other players in the story and their relationship to the main character.

Next, I like to think about spreads. What are the moments of action in the story? I jot down notes about various scenes, sometimes with sketchy thumbnails in my notebook. I brainstorm and put as many possibilities down on paper as I can. This stage is not about the plot. It is about getting to know the character(s) and key interactions. I am drawn to humor so this is often about the moments—either visual or written—that make me chuckle.

After some time has passed, I review the scenes with a fresh perspective. I circle the most cohesive parts. Often an order begins to suggest itself. At this stage, I like to do thumbnails of the whole book. In art school, I didn’t understand thumbnails. It frustrated me that I couldn’t put any detail into those little squares. It wasn’t until I began to work as a designer that I came to value them. Now, I love thumbnails for their ability to show size relationships, positive/negative space and pacing at a quick glance. In my studio, there is a drawer full of legal sized sheets, each printed with thumbnail rectangles. There’s no need to mess with rulers or drawing rectangles or anything else that might distract me. I write. I sketch. I write. I sketch.

(Part two will be posted next week!)

30 Lessons Learned, #3: Kill Your Babies

I am a very independent person (at least I like to think so). In the past, I've been guilty of trying to write and illustrate in a vacuum. It just seems easier that way. But this past year, I've found my way into two critique groups. And now, I look forward to the groups and use them as deadlines to keep moving forward. The feedback and interaction has helped me to grow as a writer and illustrator.

A favorite piece of advice came from one of these groups. Probably lots of seasoned writers are familiar with this, but it was new to me: kill your babies. Any part of my writing that I love in a completely irrational way probably needs to go. It is hard. In fact, I had another name for a main character that I adored. It was perfect. It just HAD to be the name. But I couldn't figure out a way to spell it that would make it easily pronounceable. And thus, after a few weeks of mourning, I (sniff) let it go. I think this is important for illustration too. There are plenty of situations where I become attached to a sketch because of a cool perspective or fun detail and forget about the overall goal of the image. In the end, images (and words) need to tell the story first.

Illustration Friday: Racing

It's raining here which means lots of racing: adults racing indoors and kiddos racing out.

30 Lessons Learned, #2: Inspiration Arrives at the Strangest Times

Over the years, I've tried to keep daily journals and sketchbooks. Unfortunately, I haven't been particularly faithful at either. I do, however, keep an idea book. I jot down phrases that catch my ear and/or strike my funny bone. Sometimes I do quick sketches. The entries are nothing more than that. However, I've found that the simple act of writing/sketching keeps the ideas brewing in my mind. They simmer away until they're cooked. A couple of years ago, I had written the phrase "messy sleeper" in my notebook. I was thinking about people who tear their beds apart every night vs. those whose beds are still perfectly made in the morning. There was something intriguing about that to me. It simmered for a few years.

Then, when I was a slightly delirious, sleep-deprived Mama with a newborn and feisty 3-year old, my friend asked me to take a writing workshop. I was too tired to say no. As I started to mull over story ideas, I was struck by the contrast between my swaddled newborn who slept so calmly, so neatly and my 3-year old who thrashed from one end of her bed to the other every night. I thought about the "messy sleeping" note in my notebook. I began to suspect that my 3-year old was having BIG dreams. And the story of Buglette was born.

Looking back, I suppose it’s not surprising that I wrote a book about sleep at the point in my life when I was getting the least. Now that my kids are (slightly) older, I'm finding inspiration in the piles of clothes all over their room. Hopefully this will be the upside to the loads of laundry I find myself doing lately.

Illustration Friday: Spooky



This is in honor of my 18-month old who is literally afraid of her own shadow (a new and hopefully short-lived phase).

After receiving an award from Leen Christens, I am excited to pass it on to some more Illustration Friday bloggers whose work I truly enjoy. The list could be much, much longer but I tried not to include folks who have already received the award. Thanks everyone for stopping by!








Yiannis Stilos
Sarah Bowie
Christine Grove
Nicola Killen
Jennifer
Kaitlin McCane
Brooke Boynton
Vera Lluch
Lesley Grainger
Wendy W. Lee

30 Lessons Learned, #1: Always Have Another Project

It was exactly a year ago today that I received a call from Nicole Geiger, the publisher at Tricycle Press (Random House Children's Books). That was the beginning of my journey to publication as an author and illustrator. So, on that anniversary, it seems fitting to begin sharing some of the process. I've decided to do weekly blogs—thirty lessons that I've learned along the way. Some lessons are frivolous and some deeply meaningful (to me, at least). I hope they will be enjoyable for all. I'm also happy to answer any and all general questions from folks about the process. Please feel free to leave them in the comments. I am currently working on new projects and can only hope that I will learn another 30 lessons from each. :)

So, back to the phone call. Nicole told me that they were interested in the dummy I had submitted, asked me a few questions about myself and then said that she would be in touch soon. Barring anything unforeseen, she expected that Tricycle would make an offer on the book in a few weeks. I was thrilled. Writing and illustrating a children's book has truly been a lifelong dream. However, I was a bundle of nerves. Would the offer really come through? What if something unforeseen DID happen. I mentioned to a writer friend of mine that I was jumping out of my skin and she gave me one of the best pieces of advice EVER. She said, "It's time to start on your next project." I have gone back to that advice again and again over the past year. It has served me well because there is plenty of waiting during the process of making a book: waiting for the offer, for revisions, for comments on art, etc. Waiting is the perfect time to dig into something other than a tub of ice cream (or in addition to a tub of ice cream, more on that later).

That friend, by the way, is the fabulous Amy Novesky, author of two stunning picture books (and more on the way). Her latest release, Me, Frida, is illustrated by Caldecott winner David Diaz and is a captivating read about Frida Kahlo's time in San Francisco.

Illustration Friday: Transportation



I've just returned from a mini-vacation to Safari West (only an hour from my house and a very special treat.) The family had a wonderful time and, in addition to all kinds of amazing big beasts, we watched newly hatched baby swans taking piggyback rides.

I have a couple of blog notes. First of all, I want to thank Leen Christens for giving me a very nice shout out. I'm looking forward to passing on the good will. Also, fellow writer Lynne Marie Pisano has a short writing prompt on her blog from yours truly. Her blog is full of interesting tidbits for writers and illustrators alike.

Illustration Friday: Old-fashioned

"Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer sitting on a branch," said Walter to the birds on the wire.




(Obviously I'm continuing on with the bird on a wire theme from last week.) I've been doing IF since May and wanted to take a moment to thank the IF community for your support and encouragement. I LOVE seeing all of the fantastic work and I am so jazzed that people take the time to leave comments. Soon, in addition to IF, I'll be blogging weekly about the process of making my first picture book. Please consider becoming a follower. Thank you!

Illustration Friday: Acrobat


























I did two images because it's such a fun prompt this week! I remember having levitation dreams as a kid. They were AMAZING. Being on a trampoline is the closest I've come in real life. In fact, I had the chance to do some trampolining with a bungee harness (I'm sure there's a technical term for this?) a few weeks ago and that was super cool.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently finished my first picture book. I am considering doing weekly blog entries about the whole process. Is that something folks would like to read? If so, please let me know in the comments. Happy weekend everyone!