The Creative Process: From Concept to Final Illustration”

"Do you just get up in the mornings and draw the random things described in a text to create a list of illustrations for a book?"

I was asked this lately. And then I tried to explain :) And then I decided to write it here too :)

How do I create my illustrations? - By collecting the feelings first.. not just the visuals but the feelings.

Every illustration begins long before the sketch makes its way on to paper - for me it starts with the hunt for feelings and senses.

The sketchbook work is very important but it comes secondary - way after the moodboard. Because the whole purpose of drawing is creating an atmosphere for a reader which can not exist without involving feelings.

 I can not explain but let's try: let's assume there is a need to make an illustration for a scene about an anxious desire of a character to bring home a thing he/she found, to show to someone. First thing first, we would want to get to the details of their experience (touch, smell, hear - all counts). For example there is a density of a forest, loud birds (or the birds that stopped being noisy astonishingly watching); too long distance, perhaps, stepping on a spiky branch, trying to run making steps as big as possible. They could have a fear of darkness, fear of being lost etc.

Then the emotions translate into a scene and the visual elements come to play - a thick forest, exaggerated trees, the winded path disappearing in a distance, a bramble branch crossing the path, big leapy step of a character's pose, their face looking up to the sky where the sun rays are stretching down but a cloud is ready to cover it..

Then some extra characters might come - the birds with shocked face expressions, a disturbed mouse poking from the grass...

This is how the physical world takes shape from inner mood.

Once the imagination gets clear on feelings, I start sketching. Thumbnails and composition become a tool to translate emotion into shapes and rhythm.

For example exaggerated trees step in for tension; a disappearing path shows uncertainty, tilted angles scream danger etc.

The next step is refining drawing, concentrating on a character itself - posture, gestures, face expressions. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes but more often - numerous attempts to find the right way.

Choosing colors is a very important part.

Colors brilliantly reflect the moods and tell the story of emotions in an illustration.

For example, cool shadows bring attention to loneliness, warm palette - to coziness and safety. The light and palette play huge role on guiding us through the events on the pages from start to finish.

Finishing and Knowing It’s Done is a big deal :) It is very easy to be lost in the process of perfecting the illustration "ad nauseam" even after the final rendering has been completed. And then the next realm of work needs to be done - scanning, digital clean up, color balancing, formatting - getting ready for printing and sending the files to an Author.

Everyone has their own flow of their creative process. In most cases it is far beyond the technical construction of a page. It is all about inviting the reader into a world filled with events and feelings; about making illustration  art not just a decorative element along the text, but a reflection of the feelings suggested by a story. Its purpose is in enhancing the narration rather than repeating the words in visual form.

Hope you have got a bit of an idea on what it takes to draw an illustration and why, sometimes, it takes a bit of time (and effort). Thank you for reading!

Have a beautiful day!

Yulia

If you want to see more storybook illustrations you can do it

HERE