Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration

Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration

“Congratulations! Here you are at the end of this Domestika course. I hope you learned a lot and feel inspired! Before saying goodbye, let's recap the necessary steps for completing your illustration. You can refer to these steps while working on any project. If you want, you can change their sequence, add something of your own, or skip what doesn't work for you. Find a creative process that suits you! Create the Sketchbook Every project requires preparation. It's almost impossible to create a children's book without preparing first. So, begin your project by creating your sketchbook: this will be the laboratory in which you experiment with materials, gather inspiration, make a mood board, and sketch ideas. This is the first step in preparing for your project. It's also a great tool for finding your own style and voice. Make the Necessary Preparations Now that you have a sketchbook, it's time to prepare for your project. First, play with your chosen materials to discover new, interesting effects. Do this until you feel confident. Then, choose a tale to illustrate, and begin gathering inspiration for your mood board.

Develop the Characters Using the resources I shared in Unit 3, develop an understanding of your characters. What's their personality? Create character spreadsheets to channel different ideas. As you narrow down the different versions of your characters, select your favorite. Then, sketch them in different scenarios. This will allow you to connect with the unique qualities that define them. Draw them in routine situations and gain a nuanced understanding of who they truly are. This understanding will manifest in your illustrations and lift the characterization into something remarkable and consistent! Draw Your Illustration Next, sketch the trial illustrations in pencil. Use this opportunity to discover your own style and aesthetic. Once you're happy with the composition, character, and details, add color. Use the techniques I shared in Unit 4 to find the right color palette: develop miniature color studies and select the scheme that you like. Once you're ready, transfer the colors and textures to your final illustration and watch it come to life! Work on the Picture Book If you're feeling ambitious, you can take your illustration even further by developing a picture book. Create a storyboard. Then, develop the final illustrations. And that's a wrap! I can't wait to see how your sketchbook develops. You can share your project with all of us by clicking on "Create your project". Remember to share both the final result and the steps that have led you to it. It would be great if you showed a picture of each step and added a brief explanation about what you have done in each one. I want to see your sketchbook, mood board, color schemes, character spreads, sketches, trial illustrations, and your final piece! I will try my best to engage with the forum as much as possible. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them! I'm so excited to see our community of sketchbook lovers blossom. I will reply as soon as I can, but in the meantime, I encourage you to interact with each other. Conversation fuels creativity. See you soon with your new ideas! Hugging everyone! Be creative and happy!”

Partial transcription of the video

“ Final Project Dear student, we have reached the end of the course. Thank you for being by my side during this journey. I hope you learned something new and enjoyed the process as I did. In this video, I will share the most important tips that I gave you during the course, so you can start working on your own project. First, choose a sketchbook that feels right for you and your project. Remember to consider the type of material based on the paper you'll use for your project. The A4 format is great for experimentation and has enough space for any kind of sketching. Avoid getting used to one...”

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Course summary for: Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration

• Level: Beginner
• 100% positive reviews (444)
• 15310 students
• 5 units
• 20 lessons (3h 32m)
• 11 downloads

• Category

  Illustration

• Areas

  Character Design, Children's Illustration, Gouache Painting, Pencil Drawing, Picturebook, Sketchbook