Unit #2- Lesson #1, part B – introducing Children’s Book Illustration

Our project involves re-illustrating a children’s storybook.  Not a rewrite – do not try and  re-write the wording – that is a writer’s job.  Pick a story that is already written, and  re-illustrate it; The Three Pigs, for example. You can select a story from a children’s book that you have at home, or that you remember or can find.  You will use the words that are already written, but provide NEW illustrations for the book.  You will include the author’s old words in your new version. Below is a list of children’s storybooks read aloud on youtube.  When you pick the book to re-illustrate you should pick a SHORT story.

To proceed, you  first need to pick your story for re-illustrating.

Second, you are to choose a method of illustration that highly appeals to you.  You might draw with markers, collage each page, or watercolour paint and fineline, or ….  Select a method that you enjoy and have the materials for.  I’ve selected some examples of children’s books for their variety of materials used to illustrate.   Take some time  today  to study children’s books illustrators’ work.  Look over the books here or look through siblings books at your own home:

^Crayon drawings^

https://www.sarahmaycock.co.uk/Human-adj    <  <  < check out this remake of an old classic

 

^painted paper then cut out the shapes ^

^Dr. Seuss was kicked out of Art school for illustrations like these^

 

^Bean is such a simple design^

http://hanane.me/en/index.php?pp_title_en=projects&sp_title_en=Collage+children+book+illustration     <<< this one uses paper collage illustrations

 

^ This one used PLASTECINE ^  The illustrations are amazing

 

^Pete the Cat is a great character design ^

Once you’ve decided on the story (remember this is not a writing task so you are using someone else’s writing) you need to design the main character.   The main character will appear throughout the story and needs to be consistent.   Lesson 2 will give you direction and insight into designing a character that works for children’s books.  Go to Lesson 2  to help you design your children’s book character (posting tomorrow..)

 

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