I admit it: I’m an app packrat. (“Ooo, shiny app! Must get!”) Last night I decided to go through my iPad Pro apps and decide what to keep, what to cull. I had never actually trying Animation Desk Ultimate on my iPad Pro yet, so decided to give it a shot. Super-easy . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Debbie started to experiment with different colors for the main characters as well as different techniques for the watery background: She did many, many sketches of the characters. Debbie also started doing “thumbnail sketches” (very small, rough sketches) to figure out the general layout of all . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Debbie was SO excited when she first saw Aaron Reynolds’s wonderful story for Sea Monkey & Bob. For one thing, it was hilarious! She fell in love with the characters right away. Also, Debbie has been a longtime fan of Sea Monkeys. She was always intrigued . . .
Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 According to Aaron Reynolds, SEA MONKEY & BOB started as a story idea called Holy Mackerel! (see above image from Aaron’s writing journal) about a Mackerel who was scared he was sinking. The story didn’t quite work (“as many don’t”) but gradually evolved to become Sea Monkey . . .
Starting my week off with a BUGS AND BAKED GOODS speedydoodle. I find keeping a sketch journal fun, inspiring (getting some ideas for stories) and therapeutic (especially when crazystuff is going on in the news on or social media). See more of my art videos, found object doodles and sketch . . .
Thanks to Robert Lee Brewer and Brian Klems of Writer’s Digest for inviting me to be on their new WritersMarket.com podcast! I talked about how I started writing and illustrating books for young people, what I’ve learned so far, my middle grade novel, meeting Judy Blume, how much I love illustrating . . .
When I was asked to illustrate my first picture book (I’m Bored) and I started researching picture book formats, I was confused. I knew a standard picture book had 32 pages, for example, but I discovered that these 32 pages might also include the title page and other non-story pages. Plus . . .
POSTS SO FAR: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 Part 1: Intro Part 2: Brainstorming, Story Pitch, Thumbnail Sketches (Note: This series of blog posts is NOT meant to The Definitive Guide of how a picture book is created. Your own publishing experience may differ, depending on your situation and people involved. Thanks . . .
I posted about working on NAKED! over on Pixel Shavings today: Overall Narrative, Thinking Vs Drawing and NAKED! Sketching: What I’m Learning About The Picture Book Creative Process – by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
I was thrilled to find out that the French version of I’M BORED was available for ordering online, and then got curious about the process. How does a picture book get translated? Are there any issues that children’s book writers and illustrators need to be aware of, when working . . .