I’d like to highlight what I learned in Illustrating Children’s Books, a 5-week intensive LIVE class with teachers Lilla Rogers and Zoe Tucker.
I have dreamed of illustrating children’s books for a long time. I thought this class would be a great way to create examples for my portfolio to get this kind of gig. I feel like I took a college course. It was packed full of information. I learned how to create a character showing emotions, poses, scenes-environment, and a book cover to bring it all together. We had a choice of three different stories. The story I chose, The Night Lights, written by Zoe Tucker, is about a lightning bug named Lampy. When I was a kid, I loved catching lightning bugs. Even now, lightning bugs are one of my favorite things about summer.
I thought I’d show you the work I submitted for the class.
FIRST WEEK
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Hello! I’m Lampy!
Children like to read about characters who are their age or slightly older.
SECOND WEEK
EMOTIONS
Which emotion are you feeling today?
The character in the story must show emotion and look recognizable in each scene. This is not always so easy.
THIRD WEEK
POSES
I love to play pretend, stand on my head, run and read.
What do you love to do?
The poses need to be believable.
FOURTH WEEK
SCENES – ENVIRONMENT
2-Page Spread
Left page text:
First, they played hide and seek, darting through
the ferns on the forest floor.
“Catch me if you can!” called Luna.
Then they try out their best acrobatics.
“Woo-hoo!” shouted Lampy as he looped the loop.
Right page text:
“I’m on top of the world!” he cried as they climbed higher
than they’d ever flown before.
“I bet you can touch the moon!” shouted Luna.
Left page text:
Owls hooted across the sky, casting long shadows in the field and the mice scampered to hide. It was dark and lonely and a little bit scary. Lampy didn’t like being on his own. “Perhaps Luna can help me, she’ll know what to do.” And he hurried off to find her.
Right page text:
“Let’s look for them at the top of the hickory tree,” she said, “we’re bound to spot them from there.” Luna was very good at spotting lights! “Is that them?’ asked Lampy. “Nope. Those lights are from the houses in the town,” she replied. “What about those?” he asked. “Uh-huh. Those are from the cars on the road,” she said. Lampy sighed. What a muddle. How would they ever find his Mum?”
Each scene should make the reader see from different perspectives.
FINAL WEEK
COVER
This is the cover I turned in for the assignment.
The cover is extremely important. It’s what draws you in.
BONUS: THE OTHER COVERS I DESIGNED
I hope you enjoyed seeing what I created and
the process of developing the art for a story.
ALL OF THIS HARD WORK PAID OFF!
DREAMS DO COME TRUE!
I’m happy to say that I have been hired to illustrate a children’s book
named Louisiana Wildlife ABC written by Ricky Pittman.
I am so excited!!
I will share more with you when I can.
