ILLUSTRATING KNOWHOW Character Part 3
In the third part of our illustrator's know-how series on the theme of character, Anna Violet explains her methods for nailing development, consistency, and body posture.
How does a man crouch to plead with a tortoise? I'll share my working processes in the development of this spread for a young readers' book (The Singing Tortoise, author Kate Scott, publ. OUP 2017).
I start with lots and lots of very quick sketches. From life if possible, or sometimes from photos taken of me ‘in character’. But I always include a search on the internet. Type in ’man crouching down’, and see how many useful poses come up to sketch from.
Screenshot of internet search for ‘man crouching down’ |
Sketchbooks, loose sketches and sketch-collages for ‘The Singing Tortoise’. |
I also made a clay model of the tortoise to help me get to know the character in 3D.
Clay model of tortoise |
My characters stay more fluid if I sketch their actions and gestures in very small thumbnails to start with (see below).
Initial small thumbnails on A4 paper for ‘The Singing Tortoise’. |
I enlarge the thumbnails on the computer to actual print-size and overlay with detail paper (layout paper), which is just transparent enough to trace through (see below). Then I can draw the characters more carefully to scale and cross-check consistency with other spreads. I often end up with several layers of collaged detail paper, as I hone the characters. Sellotape and scissors are a must for me.
Thumbnail, enlarged thumbnail and working up character onto detail paper |
Detail paper image on lightbox, ready for cartridge paper overlay |
I use a lightbox to trace my characters onto cartridge paper, using dips pens, reed pens, brushes and diluted inks.
Inked-up cartridge paper on lightbox, ready to be scanned |
I also reflect the characters in the mirror, which can work like a fresh pair of eyes, to see if this throws up other inconsistencies that I’ve missed before. Finally, I scan and tweak digitally.
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Anna Violet is a freelance author-illustrator based in Manchester.
Check her portfolio website here, and her blog here.
Her work is also on the AOI website
John Shelley is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.
Fascinating to see your process! So much attention to detail! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Candy, glad you found it interesting.
ReplyDelete