Illustrating a Picture Book

by Julie Olson

• Get a call from an editor.

• She says, "I have a picture book manuscript here that we'd like you to illustrate. Can I send it to you?"
• You say, "Sure. Send it my way."
• You get the manuscript, read it and decide you would like to illustrate it. You call the editor and start negotiating your contract. Know what you want ahead of time.

• Study the manuscript and characters.

• Discuss the manuscript with the editor and find out if the publisher has any ideas that the publisher feels must be included in the illustrations.
• Discuss the format and dimensions of the book. The age level will help dictate size etc.

• 6 months -2 years: Cloth books; Board Books; floating bath books; touch and feel books; shape books
• 2 years - 5 years: Simple picture books; toy books; pop-ups and novelties
• 5 years - 7 years: more sophisticated picture books; joke books; informational books; simple easy-to-read books
• USUAL PICTURE BOOK FORMAT: There are usually 2 formats to the 28 or 32 page picture book. Horizontal - the book opens on the right shorter side. Vertical - the book opens on the right longer side. Less seen, but an option, is the square format - all sides are equal in length.

• Discuss the characters and make sure you and the editor are on the same page before you begin. This saves a lot of trouble later . . . not as many redo's on the sketches.

The next 2 steps can happen simultaneously or in whichever order works best for you.

• Begin designing your character(s).
• Do thumbnail sketches of the story page by page. Brainstorm. Fast and creative. Do as many as you can stand for each page. Vary the design of each one. Think of lights & darks, foreground & background, big & little, close & far away. Also, if the text speaks of movement, have your design reflect that...diagonals, angles, views. Don't worry about too many details, just get the main design of placing of characters etc.

At this point, you can show your editor these thumbnails. Sometimes I wait until after this next step to show the editor. It depends on the editor and whether or not I feel her input would help at this stage.

• Choose the thumbnails you like best. Photocopy them and put them in order. Then check for the following...

• The relationship between the 2 halves of a double-page spread and how one page visually leads the viewer to the next page.
• The placement of type on the page and whether or not that placement flows well from one page the next. There are countless ways to design this area. The graphic designer usually has the most say in this area but you are expected to make suggestions if you feel strongly.
• Consider the gutter. Make sure no important element will be lost in the fold of the gutter. And don't have anything important within 1/4 inch of the edge.
• Do the drawings feel dynamic or stationary?
• Are my characters stiff or do they look as if they can really move around on the page?
• Is the book's pacing effective? Do you want to turn the pages?
• What would make you want to linger over a page? Do the illustrations have enough variety to maintain interest?
• What is the overall tone of the book? Does the mood of the art harmonize with the feeling of the words? Does the page's composition reflect the mood od the story by creating tension or a sense of comfort?

• If the thumbnails don't meet the standards of these questions, go back to your others and find ones that do...or draw some more. If you take care of these things at this stage, it will make less work for you later. Thumbnails are small and easy to change...full size sketches and illustrations aren't.

Now you're ready to begin the intermediate stages.

• Make sure you have the right page dimensions from your editor. If the illustrations are full bleed, make sure you have ½ inch extra all around.
• Draw your full size sketches. I hardly ever do mid-size sketches unless everything isn't worked out in my thumbnails. If you need to work something out...just do it small, then do the final full sized.
• Show the editor the full-sized sketches. There is usually a due date on the full sized sketches worked into your contract. You usually also get some of your advance at this stage or after you've done this and one full color illustration.
• Make any changes your editor suggests.
• Get written confirmation that the sketches are approved.

Final Stages

• Do your final full color illustrations in whatever method works for your medium. I use acrylics on heavy watercolor paper. So I photocopy my sketches, transfer them down onto the watercolor paper using graphite paper, and then paint. That way I don't lose the integrity of my final sketches. And REMEMBER...most books reproduce the color a little washed out so make sure your color is VERY vibrant. You lose a couple degrees of saturation in printing.
• Show them to your editor. Make any minor changes. If there is a major change they should've suggested at the sketch stage, you should charge them a change fee (work that into your contract in the beginning).
• Get written final approval on the illustrations.
• Review the B&W proofs you are sent for any errors or unauthorized alterations to your work. Make any suggestions needed.
• Review the color proofs. You don't have much power at this stage for any changes.
• SHOW ALL YOUR FRIENDS YOUR WONDERFUL BOOK!

Suggested reading materials...can be purchased on my website in the "INFO" section under reference books.

"Writing With Pictures" by Uri Shulevitz

"Writing and Illustrating Children's Books for Publication" by Berthe Amoss & Eric Suben

"How to Write, Illustrate, and Design Children's Books" by Frieda Gates (out of print; get at library)