Picture Book: Layout Process
“Layout Process” for Illustrating a Picture Book.
My “layout process” for Illustrating a picture book is outlined below. These are my takeaways from working on various projects, taking classes, and personal experiences. It’s the groundwork before working on the finished handpainted artwork (check out my other post to see!)
Step 01: Manuscript to Thumbnails
POINT 01: Paginate the Manuscript
I like to first copy (or retype) the manuscript into Microsoft Word. Then I play with pagination in the document. This takes out some guesswork when I get to the thumbnails. I feel like it warms up my brain and familiarizes me with the rhythm of the text. I like to do a few versions, but I know it will change once I start sketching thumbnails.
POINT 02: Do WAY more versions than you think!
I print out many 32-page picture book thumbnail templates…MANY! Then, I pour myself a nice cup of tea, find myself a quiet corner in the house with no distractions, and sketch out my first pass (expecting it to be the worst version) of what I think the whole book would look like. It’s like doing some stretches before a performance…I have to warm up. I put my first version aside, and do many, many more! I find my best ideas sprinkle in with more time.
POINT 03: Decide your Orientation
As you probably know, there are a few different orientations that a picture book can take. For example, Vertical, Horizontal, and Square. So, I choose which one I want based on various reasons. In my case, I’m drawing a crocodile who climbs trees, so I’m going with a vertical format.
Step 02: Larger Storyboards
POINT 01: Stay Creative and Loose
My thumbnails, by the way, are like cliff notes. They are quick, and look like scribbles in some cases! (as you can see in the picture above) But, this helps me focus on telling the story instead of worrying about the artwork. I maintain this headspace when I enlarge them too. I can be detail-oriented, but, I learned this is not the stage to let that attribute come through. The quote I learned from Nina Rycroft that has stuck with me was “If story is King, then clarity is Queen.”
POINT 02: Befriend the characters
What does the main character like to eat for lunch? Do they have a short temper when they don’t get what they want? These questions probably sound silly, but I like to dive into my main character. It helps me capture their personality and decide how they interact with other characters. I’ll do character designs and play with poses.
POINT 03: Simplify
When I’m cleaning up my sketches, I edit out a lot. I love adding detail, but it can clutter up the image sometimes. I think about the shapes of my characters with their environment to help build a layout.
Step 03: Final Storyboards
POINT 01: Character Interaction
Have you ever read a picture book to a child and see them point out all sorts of discoveries in the art? This is one of my favorite parts of illustrating. I love putting detail in the art for readers to find. This includes reminding myself to have side characters interacting in some fun way.
POINT 02: Be Generous with Space for Text
When refining the illustrations, I think about text placement, being sure to give it enough breathing room. I’ll shade the “shapes” on the page with gray which helps me see the variety of layouts clearer.
POINT 03: “Shapes” on the Page
I think about the “shapes” of my pages in the “Thumbnail” and “Larger Storyboard” phases, but I like to revisit them once more before the final. I’ll scan my enlarged storyboards into Photoshop and lay them out in the 32-page thumbnail template. This way I can view them on a smaller scale.
POINT 04: Color Play!
This piece is still in progress, but this photo shows some colors I’m playing with. I like to try many versions. You can see my post about my art painting process HERE.
That’s It!
So there you have it! Those are my steps when initially laying out a picture book. Of course, there are many ways, but I wanted to share what works for me.
In the next post, I’ll outline my approach to final illustrations and fun medium experimentations. My favorite part!