Case Study: Part 6, FINAL ILLUSTRATIONS

This is a follow on from my last post. You can see my draft illustrations in the previous post now it’s time to reveal some of my final illustrations. I used Photoshop to colour the draft illustration up into its final result. In this post I will talk you through some techniques and processes I use.

Colour
Colour is important when creating a set of illustration. You want them to all fit together and look like they belong to the same story. So although you might play around with moods through colour you want the overall palette to be consistent. Colour can play a major part in your style and portrayal of a story. One technique I use to create a colour pallet for a book is to research online. Go through lots of illustration websites and art sites and grab images you like the colouring of. Then I choose one that I think will work with my book. I then use this image to pick my colours from using the eye dropper in Photoshop. That way I end up with the whole series following the same palette.

Texture
Texture is very popular in children's books as it gives an artistic aesthetic. Illustrators who create illustrations using mediums and materials children create with themselves are able to relate to children very well. I also think with the large amount of computer generated illustrations and graphics now days it is nice to add some traditional elements even if it is digitally. I collect textures off Google, this is a little dodgy but as long as you are manipulating them enough that they are no longer anything like the original image you are not doing anything illegal. I then use lots of filters and effects in Photoshop to get the aesthetic I am after.

Light Source
One of the keys to making your illustrations look professional and correct is having a consistent light source. I do this by drawing an arrow on its own layer and locking it. That way I always know where the light is coming from and I add my lighting and shadows to suit. Play with your light source to create atmosphere and you can manipulate it to suit the image however it still should work technically. If something is completely out of light there should be no highlights on it.

Hierarchy
As children’s books are aimed at younger readers you have to make sure you are helping them read your illustrations properly. For example in my book I have a small fly buzzing around the room. This would be hard to spot a lot of the time so I have added white behind it and its trail so the reader can understand that the fly is buzzing around. Use light and colour to point you reader to the action in your illustrations.

Here are a few of my final illustrations.

How to Brief an Illustrator

So you have decided to hire an illustrator to create the artwork for your children's book. It is important you supply the illustrator with the right information so they can create the artwork to best suit your needs.

Style
If the artist/illustrator has more than one style make sure you specify the one you would like them to use. This may seem obvious but it is quite often forgotten and can leave you with a surprise when you receive the final artwork in the completely wrong style. If you have a specific colour pallet in mind this is also important to mention.

Format
It is important to know the format you require your illustrations in before approaching an illustrator. They cannot create artwork without a size specification. If you are thinking about distributing your book through multiple distribution channels like print, eBook, iPad etc make sure you state all of these sizes when briefing the illustrator. The artwork will need to be formatted to suit the size and display of all of these channels. Stating this before the creation of the artwork can save you a lot of work and money in the long run rather than having to try and reformat them afterward. Print specifications vary from printer to printer so make sure you speak with your printer and find out how they like their files supplied. Most printers require 3-5mm bleed however it is very time consuming to add more on later so make sure you know the exact bleed your printer requires.

State the file format you would like the final illustrations supplied to you in. Most of the time .jpeg is the most suitable. You can also ask for the original files the illustrator builds the images in. This could be helpful later down the track if you need to alter or use images for marketing purposes.

Illustrator notes
You can supply the illustrator with notes of what you want happening in each image/page. This is not necessary as illustrators are very creative and can come up with amazing ideas. Most of the time it depends on how descriptive the story is and how much control you are willing to give the illustrator. If you write notes keep it simple e.g. two kids playing with a ball on the beach. Don’t go into descriptions of composition and clothing, this is the illustrators job and they know more about these aspects than you so trust them. By writing too many notes you can cut off all their creativity and end up with very boring images.

Timeline
Together with the illustrator work out a timeline for the entire project. Make sure you both understand the requirements for each deadline and who is in charge of actioning it. As well as setting a deadline for the final artwork to be complete set dates for the drafts and changes to be supplied. Always allow more time than you think something will take. You are better to overestimate and receive the work early than underestimate and miss other production deadlines.

Budget
Make sure both you and the illustrator have a clear understanding of the budget. Most illustrators will supply you with a quote before they start any work on the project. It is unusual for an illustrator to work for an hourly rate with no estimated hours or quote supplied. The only time this is necessary is when the size or length of a project is unknown. Most illustrators will quote you per illustration. This is the clearest and easiest way for both you and the illustrator to work. The price per illustration can range from $30-$1000 depending on the expertise, style and experience of the illustrator. Most of the time you get what you pay for the cheaper they are the less the quality of the artwork.

I am an illustrator and am always looking for exciting new stories to work on. Check out my website and feel free to contact me http://www.amyburrell.com/

How to Find an Illustrator

Once you have your manuscript ready and you are happy with your story it’s time to start thinking about the illustrations. If you are trying to get your book published by a publishing company you don’t need to provide illustrations as they will take care of that. However if you are self publishing you will need to find an illustrator. My advice would be not to attempt the pictures yourself unless you have some form of art or illustration training. It’s not as simple as just drawing a few pretty pictures. The illustrations are a major part of the sales of a book and if done badly they can ruin any chance of becoming a successful book.

Don’t approach an illustrator until:
You have your manuscript completed
You have had the manuscript edited
You have chosen your distribution methods
You know what sizes and formats you require
You have an exact target market and description

Budget
The more you are willing to pay the better result you are likely to get. Like anything the more experienced illustrators charge more than the less experienced. However there are a few ways to bring down the cost.

Students
Illustration students are a good option although they have no experience they are full of enthusiasm and have the correct training and resources around them to create a good result. If you are patient and willing to help a student get some experience this is defiantly an option. A great way of doing this is to contact your local design school or university that offers illustration. Talk to them about running a live project as part of their training. Get each student to create one illustration from your book then pick the style you like the best and reward that student with the job of illustrating the whole book. I would also offer them a small cash prize/payment for doing the work. Most students are very keen to get exposure and experience and are willing to even work for free sometimes. You could even offer them royalties if that suits better.

Online Freelance Sites
There are a lot of online freelance websites that offer illustration. You can have someone from anywhere in the world illustrating your children's book. This can be very economic however it comes with risks. As there is no guarantee that these people are experienced and know what they are doing you must be very though rough with you brief and communication. If the illustrator cannot break down the exact process they work in and exactly what you will receive for you money keep looking. Keep all the terms of the agreement clear and precise.

Illustration Agencies
There are thousands of professional illustration agencies throughout the world. These are the true professionals they have a very high standard and with that charge a very high price. These agencies represent a group of illustrators and act as a middleman between you and the illustrator you choose. They know the process inside out and will create professional advanced artwork. The illustrators they represent are the best of the best and are usually highly trained, full time and very well paid. If you know nothing about illustration and want a bestselling book these people are your best bet.

A Friend or Family Member
A lot of people know someone who is good at drawing or art in their family or group of friends. And it seems like the obvious choice to get them to illustrate your book. The problem with this is that being good at drawing or art is not all it takes to be an illustrator. A lot professional illustrators train for four years have degrees and have a wide knowledge of how to communicate a story visually. If you want an amateur book then use a friend or family member. However if you would like to one day get into the books stores and be taken seriously then hire a professional.

Directly Approach an Illustrator
Another way of getting an illustrator is to contact them directly. Go to the bookstore and pick out the style you would like for your book. Write down the illustrator of the book then go home and type their name into Google. If they don’t come up type their name then illustrator. Most illustrators have websites and are always looking for new exciting projects to work on. This is a good option if you have a budget as you can negotiate the rate and requirements directly with the illustrator rather than relying on a middleman. If you want someone from your own country go to the bookstore staff and ask them if they have a local section you can browse through.

I am an illustrator and am always on the lookout for new exciting projects with creative writers like you. Check out my work and see if my style suits your story http://www.amyburrell.com/. Contact me via my website email.