Illustration Process

STAGE 1

Having read the script, I plan where the natural positions for illustrations might be and sketch out their content. If there are characters in the story I sketch out studies of them, how they look and how they are dressed, thinking about their traits and personalities. I send  a loose sketched layout for each of the illustrations, indications of colour and the characters for your feedback.

These are done quickly, in pencil and are for discussion about character design, story moments and getting the pace and content right. This stage may take two to three weeks depending on the length of the book.

STAGE 2

The client reviews the stage 1 sketches and comes back to me with comments and/or corrections. I then develop those sketches to a more finished stage, this time with colour and taking into account the client’s comments. These are presented and the author reviews them again. There may be some minor comments at this stage but once these are signed off we move to the third and final stage. This stage may take five to six weeks depending on the length of the book.

STAGE 3

Final stage illustrations. Only once the client has approved the developed sketches do I move on to producing the finished art. Each illustration may take one to two weeks depending on the complexity. Once complete, the final illustrations are submitted to the client and they pass them on to the designer for inclusion in the artwork of the book. Some self-publishing authors like to do their own design.