An excellent story for a children's book is only part of the battle.The most engaging plots will not come to life without vivid illustrations.You can bring joy to your children's books by using a simple method of watercolor illustrating.
Step 1: Obtain and read the writer's brief.
Writers will usually give you a brief list of notes suggesting the main actions in each spread of the book if you are contracted to illustrate a book.Try to remain faithful to the author's intentions by studying this carefully.You have unlimited creative license if you are illustrating your own book.
Step 2: Tailor images based on reading level.
Different age ranges of readers need different kinds of illustrations.If you are writing for very young children, each major plot movement may need to be portrayed in your illustrations in easy to follow ways.Older readers may only need illustrations that portray central themes and moments in a chapter if they can read most or all of the story themselves.
Step 3: The work of other artists can inspire you.
Consultants can use the styles of other successful children's books for ideas.You can get ideas for the general aesthetic of your images by looking at other forms of art.If you want to write for younger audiences, the works of Dr. Seuss might be a good place to start.Look at art that relates to the setting of your story.If you want to tell a story about knights and castles, you should research art from the middle ages.
Step 4: Take a look at the sketches of the book.
You can trace out the visual flow of the whole book with these small sketches.You don't need to revise or erase these; just draw and let your ideas flow.The focus should be on landscape design, focal points, and general scene layout.
Step 5: Draw sketches of your story.
Focus on character development, exploring a range of potential expressions, postures, and moods for each character you intend to illustrate.These can be used as references throughout the illustration process.If your main character begins the book in a sad state and ends it happy, try drawing him or her in both poles of emotion, developing intermediate expressions in between.
Step 6: A sketching template can be created.
Each illustration you produce will eventually cover one or two pages of a physical book, so it's important to match the dimensions of your sketch with the final product.Before sketching your scenes, try to create a precise grid with a pencil and a ruler.If your illustrations cover two pages, make sure to mark the area occupied by the spine of the book and avoid sketching important details in this area.Determine where the text will be placed on each page.Don't sketch over the areas with details, mark them with a grid.
Step 7: Work with the text.
The plot of the book should be followed by your illustrations.Look for ways to subtly foreshadow events in coming pages with your images, and try to capture details portrayed in the story.
Step 8: Check for consistency.
Make sure your characters are easy to identify.Check for consistency in clothing and expression.Children may struggle to follow the plot of the book if characters are hard to identify.
Step 9: Send your sketches to your client.
If you are illustrating for a client, make sure to run your sketches by them.It is important to have the author's full approval and feedback before you move on to painting, as images are relatively easy to alter or replace.
Step 10: The final sketches of each spread should be prepared.
Resize your images to their target size and add any extra details you want to include in the illustration, using your study sketches for reference.To scale accurately, try creating a measured grid over your study sketches, and then reproducing them one quadrant at a time in a larger grid scaled to your final dimensions.
Step 11: Transfer your sketches to paper.
You need to transfer your sketches to the correct paper before you can paint them.You can use a printer to take your sketches directly onto watercolor paper.If your printer can't handle heavy watercolor paper, try a traditional charcoal transfer.Attach charcoal to your watercolor paper and then retrace the image by rubbing the back of your sketching paper with charcoal.You should leave a carbon copy of your original sketch on the watercolor paper after removing the sketch paper.
Step 12: Determine your colors.
Make a quick study of your colors before you start painting.Make sure to consult with the author about the book's colors because they can affect the mood and feel of the work.Bright, vibrant colors often convey cheerful emotions, while dark amber and dark blues can give your illustrations a more somber feel.
Step 13: Paint with a brush.
If you are new to painting with watercolors, you may want to make some extra carbon copies for practice.Painting with watercolors has a lighter touch than other forms of painting.Practice with multiple drafts and brush lightly.
Step 14: Use a pen to define your lines.
Adding pen outlines to your lines will give you extra contrast, definition, and pop.If you want to prevent bleeding, use a pen with waterproof ink.If you want a comic-like feel with harder, firmer edges, try outlining your lines with ink before painting, and then filling in the lines.The ink is optional.Limit your outlines or leave them out altogether is a viable option if you want a fanciful, abstract feel.