I am currently working on a self published picture book, and my question is...Does the main character have to be facing towards the page turn on the cover? The image I am using would actually look better the opposite way along with the title. Would this go against the rules of a PB cover? I have an example but unable to post with my question!
I’m working on the sample of a thing, and I find samples really challenging, just because it’s so much about the result, and not the process... I think a good result comes from going through a process, but there’s simply not the time and space to do that in a sample. Maybe there is, I don’t know... it’s always a rollercoaster ride with these things.
Hmm did I ask a question?Do you do samples? How do you handle them?
I think publishers think samples are like going on a date, I think they are more like a fling. Thanks for having this page:)
I really like this question, Adam! I finished a sample last month and really enjoyed working on it, but didn’t get hired for the commission. 😭 So I’m also very interested in any advice on sampling! 😄
I’ve just had another “fling” in the form of an illustration sample, so I second this question! Haven’t heard back from the publisher yet but I’m hopeful! 🤞😄
I'm too new to have had even a fling, but this is horrifying news! I thought once you had a portfolio they like you or don't...ack. Yes, would love to hear more about this.
Hi Helen can you advise me? I have a light box and would like to place watercolour paper over pen drawings on cartridge-like paper below, and to then paint ( watercolour ) within those lines. The problem is I can’t see the lines below through my paper even when it’s thinner. Is my light box not good enough !? or is there a trick i’m not aware of?
I am used to photoshop but haven’t been on Adobe for years and am trying to save money and get used to Procreate on my iPad. How do you print from this app please? Do you need to export the file as a tiff and then use something like Affinity Designer or can you print from Procreate? I just want to print a ceramic transfer from my drawing ready for some tiles I have made...
I have a question that has been dogging me recently about what the consumption and creation of art does for us psychologically. I think it came to mind after spending many months spending many hours on art. And then wondering why am I doing this, or more specifically what might be happening to and for me psychologically by doing all of this art. You post about your wolf dream was so very interesting to me. And somehow relates (in my mind) to my question. I just posted today on my little Substack the larger context of my question. But figured I'd ask it simply here. What do you get out of arting in all its forms?
I've been interested in drawing light/capturing light in my work. Like a dark room with light falling onto a character (I've not yet tried this), or light streaming through a canopy in a forest (I've tried this with a modicum of success). In your post about samples you showed one of your drawings of a girl in bed at night time (so so nice). But how did you do this? Did you:
colour the whole image first (the bed, the girl, the dog, etc using your normal colour palette) THEN cover the whole illustration in blue for the nighttime darkness and just see what happens to the original colours (the bed, dog etc - their colours automatically darken as the blue is washed over the top)
OR
are you colouring up the room in night time colours so that they automatically look like they are filled with darkness cos you've chosen say a maroon red for nighttime bedspread for example instead of a primary red for the bedspread which it would be its day time colour (am I making any sense??!).
OR
are you actually just drawing the character in the room and then the blue night time inky night on a separate sheet and then scanning that and putting one over the top of the other digitally and using a blending mode?
There are many picture books now where light is captured so eloquently (David Litchfield in the Bear and the Piano for example captures light with such sophistication). The way you show light is very very different but equally as sophisticated. I find capturing light really tricky and I struggle with it. So any tips and tricks you can offer on the subject of light would be most appreciated.
Hi Helen,
I am currently working on a self published picture book, and my question is...Does the main character have to be facing towards the page turn on the cover? The image I am using would actually look better the opposite way along with the title. Would this go against the rules of a PB cover? I have an example but unable to post with my question!
Many Thanks
Sandy.
This is a brilliant idea, Helen :) What is your favorite character you've ever created and is there a story behind where this character came from?
I’m working on the sample of a thing, and I find samples really challenging, just because it’s so much about the result, and not the process... I think a good result comes from going through a process, but there’s simply not the time and space to do that in a sample. Maybe there is, I don’t know... it’s always a rollercoaster ride with these things.
Hmm did I ask a question?Do you do samples? How do you handle them?
I think publishers think samples are like going on a date, I think they are more like a fling. Thanks for having this page:)
I really like this question, Adam! I finished a sample last month and really enjoyed working on it, but didn’t get hired for the commission. 😭 So I’m also very interested in any advice on sampling! 😄
I’ve just had another “fling” in the form of an illustration sample, so I second this question! Haven’t heard back from the publisher yet but I’m hopeful! 🤞😄
I'm too new to have had even a fling, but this is horrifying news! I thought once you had a portfolio they like you or don't...ack. Yes, would love to hear more about this.
Hi Helen can you advise me? I have a light box and would like to place watercolour paper over pen drawings on cartridge-like paper below, and to then paint ( watercolour ) within those lines. The problem is I can’t see the lines below through my paper even when it’s thinner. Is my light box not good enough !? or is there a trick i’m not aware of?
Dear Helen,
I am used to photoshop but haven’t been on Adobe for years and am trying to save money and get used to Procreate on my iPad. How do you print from this app please? Do you need to export the file as a tiff and then use something like Affinity Designer or can you print from Procreate? I just want to print a ceramic transfer from my drawing ready for some tiles I have made...
Sincerely confused,
Amanda x
Dear Helen,
Can you please share a bit of your experience on work-for-hire agreements for picture book projects?
I have a question that has been dogging me recently about what the consumption and creation of art does for us psychologically. I think it came to mind after spending many months spending many hours on art. And then wondering why am I doing this, or more specifically what might be happening to and for me psychologically by doing all of this art. You post about your wolf dream was so very interesting to me. And somehow relates (in my mind) to my question. I just posted today on my little Substack the larger context of my question. But figured I'd ask it simply here. What do you get out of arting in all its forms?
Hey Helen
I've been interested in drawing light/capturing light in my work. Like a dark room with light falling onto a character (I've not yet tried this), or light streaming through a canopy in a forest (I've tried this with a modicum of success). In your post about samples you showed one of your drawings of a girl in bed at night time (so so nice). But how did you do this? Did you:
colour the whole image first (the bed, the girl, the dog, etc using your normal colour palette) THEN cover the whole illustration in blue for the nighttime darkness and just see what happens to the original colours (the bed, dog etc - their colours automatically darken as the blue is washed over the top)
OR
are you colouring up the room in night time colours so that they automatically look like they are filled with darkness cos you've chosen say a maroon red for nighttime bedspread for example instead of a primary red for the bedspread which it would be its day time colour (am I making any sense??!).
OR
are you actually just drawing the character in the room and then the blue night time inky night on a separate sheet and then scanning that and putting one over the top of the other digitally and using a blending mode?
There are many picture books now where light is captured so eloquently (David Litchfield in the Bear and the Piano for example captures light with such sophistication). The way you show light is very very different but equally as sophisticated. I find capturing light really tricky and I struggle with it. So any tips and tricks you can offer on the subject of light would be most appreciated.
Many thanks and kindest regards
Sabina x