Guided Project: Animal Characters to Tell Stories
Course final project
A guided project by Kevin Waldron , Children's book illustration expert
Joined April 2002
Joined December 2019
About the final project for: Guided Project: Animal Characters to Tell Stories
Guided Project: Animal Characters to Tell Stories
“Create your animal character for a storybook Description Immerse yourself in children's illustration by creating an animal character with a unique personality. Throughout this project, you will develop sketches, define colors, and work on the characters' interactions within a visual story. This exercise will help you explore expressive and narrative character design, perfect for picture storybooks. Objective: Design an animal character in your style and present it in a small illustrated scene that suggests a story. Project steps Remember to document your process with photos! This will help you share your project step by step so that everyone can understand how you created it. 1. Initial sketches: Exploring the character - Create multiple versions of your animal protagonist in your sketchbook. - Experiment with different expressions and poses to capture its essence. - Play with simple shapes to make them visually appealing and friendly. 2. Defining colors and details - Experiment with color palettes and choose the one that best represents your character's personality. - Use watercolor, gouache, or digital techniques to bring your creation to life. 3. Interaction and visual storytelling - Place your character in a scene that suggests a story. - They can interact with another character, be in an engaging environment, or be caught up in the middle of an action. - Use expressions and body language to convey emotions and relationships. Example project If you can't think of anything, here's an idea: feel free to do whatever you want. Oliver, the scout fox Oliver is a curious little fox who dreams of traveling through the forest. In the final illustration, he is enthusiastically carrying a backpack and looking at a map while a firefly guides him on his nocturnal adventure. Style: watercolor illustration with warm colors and soft details. Visual story: The image suggests that Oliver is about to embark on a new adventure, sparking the viewer's imagination. Tips to make your illustration stand out - Play with expressiveness: exaggerate the features to make your character more attractive. - Use color contrasts to bring your scene to life. - Keep the background simple to support the narrative without overwhelming the illustration.
Course summary for: Guided Project: Animal Characters to Tell Stories
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Category
Illustration -
Areas
Children's Illustration, Drawing, Painting, Watercolor Painting
Kevin Waldron
A guided project by Domestika
Kevin Waldron is an accomplished illustrator and author with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling through art. With a career spanning over a decade, he has honed his craft in creating compelling animal characters that captivate audiences of all ages. Kevin's journey began with a background in graphic design, which later evolved into a flourishing career in illustration and children's literature. His works have been widely recognized and published, earning accolades for their creativity and unique style.
Kevin's expertise lies in his ability to infuse personality and emotion into his characters, making them relatable and engaging. His approach combines traditional techniques, such as colored pencils and watercolors, with a keen eye for detail and composition. This blend of skills allows him to craft vibrant, narrative-driven scenes that tell stories beyond words. As an educator, Kevin shares his knowledge and enthusiasm, guiding aspiring illustrators to develop their own storytelling abilities. His dedication to the art form and his innovative approach to character development continue to inspire and influence new generations of illustrators and storytellers.
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- 362 students
- 7 lessons (1h 16m)
- 16 additional resources (3 files)
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- Audio: English, Spanish
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- Level: Beginner
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