Thread by @MarloWordyBird, 1/ Very excited to start illustrating a new book today! Step 1: [...]

1/ Very excited to start illustrating a new book today!

Step 1: PREPARE

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Clean /tidy studio

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Set up progress sheet: 32 pages + cover. First come thumbnail sketches (TN), then sketches, then final art. This helps me keep track of what& #39;s done & the scope of the project.

1/ Very excited to start illustrating a new book today! Step 1: PREPARE https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Clean /tidy studiohttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Set up progress sheet: 32 pages + cover. First come thumbnail sketches (TN), then sketches, then final art. This helps me keep track of what& #39;s done & the scope of the project." title="1/ Very excited to start illustrating a new book today! Step 1: PREPARE https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Clean /tidy studiohttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Set up progress sheet: 32 pages + cover. First come thumbnail sketches (TN), then sketches, then final art. This helps me keep track of what& #39;s done & the scope of the project." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

2/ Step: 2 PAGINATE

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">I do a preliminary splitting up (pagination) of the text, thinking about where page turns will work best. This will change.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Print out a storyboard so I can see the book at a glance. I& #39;ll add to this as illustration ideas come.

#kidlitart #sciart

2/ Step: 2 PAGINATEhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

I do a preliminary splitting up (pagination) of the text, thinking about where page turns will work best. This will change.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Print out a storyboard so I can see the book at a glance. I& #39;ll add to this as illustration ideas come. #kidlitart #sciart" title="2/ Step: 2 PAGINATEhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">I do a preliminary splitting up (pagination) of the text, thinking about where page turns will work best. This will change.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Print out a storyboard so I can see the book at a glance. I& #39;ll add to this as illustration ideas come. #kidlitart #sciart" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

3/ Step 3: FREAK OUT

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Think, OMG what have I done?

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Pace around the house looking pained.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Go for a walk around the block.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Take a deep breath or three.

#kidlitart #sciart

4/ Step 4: RESEARCH & BRAINSTORM

Time to get started!

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Learn more about the subject & its environment

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Think in-depth about the text

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Do quick spontaneous thumbnail sketches

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Let my mind go with ideas. Wheeeeeeee!

Arguably, the most fun part.

#kidlitart #sciart

4/ Step 4: RESEARCH & BRAINSTORMTime to get started!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

5/ Step 4b: MAKING THE MORGUE

Morgue = what illustrators call a set of reference images
I compile it as part of the previous step.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Determine species/places/etc. I may want to incorporate in book

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Make a slideshow with reference pics

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Add useful info and reference links

5/ Step 4b: MAKING THE MORGUEMorgue = what illustrators call a set of reference imagesI compile it as part of the previous step.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

6/ ORGANIZATION is key!

Made up a calendar. This is how many days I have to illustrate it.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😬" title="Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht">

(This is why I have to work weekends + evenings when I’m doing a book. While doing my regular job too.)

#kidlitart #sciart

6/ ORGANIZATION is key! Made up a calendar. This is how many days I have to illustrate it. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

(This is why I have to work weekends + evenings when I’m doing a book. While doing my regular job too.) #kidlitart #sciart" title="6/ ORGANIZATION is key! Made up a calendar. This is how many days I have to illustrate it. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😬" title="Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht">(This is why I have to work weekends + evenings when I’m doing a book. While doing my regular job too.) #kidlitart #sciart" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

7/ MORE PREPARATION

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Set up filed in Photoshop: blank double-page spreads + cover + 2 single pages

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Create a folder for each of the above, named by page numbers they& #39;ll be in the book

Now I can design page layout & text placement, with my initial rough sketches.

#kidlitart

7/ MORE PREPARATIONhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Set up filed in Photoshop: blank double-page spreads + cover + 2 single pages https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Create a folder for each of the above, named by page numbers they& #39;ll be in the bookNow I can design page layout & text placement, with my initial rough sketches. #kidlitart" title="7/ MORE PREPARATIONhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Set up filed in Photoshop: blank double-page spreads + cover + 2 single pages https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Create a folder for each of the above, named by page numbers they& #39;ll be in the bookNow I can design page layout & text placement, with my initial rough sketches. #kidlitart">

8/ Meanwhile, I use good ole PowerPoint to do initial planning & pagination (dividing the text up) & add relevant reference pics.

I’ve already put 2 very rough thumbnail sketches in.

At this point, it’s a massive complex puzzle. Daunting but exciting.

#kidlitart #sciart

9/ But the best bit during Step 4 is this: sitting on my porch, an impression of the manuscript in my mind, music playing, no computer, no reference, just letting my creative mind go and making scribbles that only mean something to me.

This part feels a bit magical. Fun anyway.

10/ The other thing I’m doing at this point is considering what medium(s) I’ll use.

And pondering the artist’s usual dilemma: “Art rarely looks the way you see it in your mind.”

But at least I know how I want the book to “feel.”

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht">

10/ The other thing I’m doing at this point is considering what medium(s) I’ll use. And pondering the artist’s usual dilemma: “Art rarely looks the way you see it in your mind.”But at least I know how I want the book to “feel.” https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="10/ The other thing I’m doing at this point is considering what medium(s) I’ll use. And pondering the artist’s usual dilemma: “Art rarely looks the way you see it in your mind.”But at least I know how I want the book to “feel.” https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

Latest Threads Unrolled: