Are you an artist thinking about illustrating picture books?
Here are a few tips.
Keep a creative notebook and draw regularly.
Your notebook can be paper or digital; I have both. Don't get so seduced by the search for the Perfect Notebook (I speak from experience here) that you postpone actually drawing.
Your priority should be drawing for yourself, NOT for sharing publicly.
This tip is also from experience. I find that when I'm drawing something that I know will be publicly shared, it changes how and what I draw. Nothing wrong with this in itself, of course, but I'm less likely to experiment or push myself beyond my comfort zone.
If you're not already, figure out how to get comfortable with the act of drawing.
If you fall into this category, it's even more important for you to keep your sketchbook private. Your goal in this private sketchbook should not be to improve your technique but to become comfortable with the act of drawing. Draw in whatever way you can. It doesn’t have to be realistic. Embrace your inner child, and don’t worry about making mistakes. When you’re having fun with art, there is no such thing as making a mistake. Don’t erase or aim for perfection.
Practice drawing from reference.
Sketch from life as often as you can. Try drawing from reference photos (be aware, however, that translating someone else's photo into art may still violate copyright laws).
Don't always draw from reference.
Try drawing from images and memories in your head. Don’t underestimate stick figures – you can convey SO much emotion and action through a stick figure, and can be a useful exercise in conveying gestures (tip: try avoiding straight lines).
Avoid drawing the same things over and over in exactly the same way.
Try different angles, different styles, and experiment with color.
Read many, many picture books.
Make sure you include books published in the past five years and by different traditional publishing houses (if you are pursuing that route). There is nothing wrong with author-publishing (aka self-publishing); there are many excellent author-published books by experienced authors and illustrators. However, there is a higher percentage of badly designed books with bad art; until you are able to tell the difference, be aware of what you feed your creative brain.
One of the (many) reasons for familiarizing yourself with what picture books are already out there is that you’ll see what kinds of characters and settings appear in children’s books. You may LOVE drawing happy children from the shoulders up and looking directly at the camera, for example, but you’ll need to expand your repertoire if you want to illustrate children’s books professionally. Ideally, you’ll be able to draw a wide variety of children in various positions with different emotions, interacting with other characters and their environment.
So to add to my above advice: After reading a picture book for pleasure, re-read it to ANALYZE. Examine the art. Study how art complements and enhances the text and vice versa.
Q. So how do YOU develop your illustration style?
Some illustrators naturally find their illustration voice. I didn’t.
I feel like I’m still looking for mine, though I’m told I have one, that some people out there can recognize my illustration style just from my art.
However, here’s what I have learned about developing one’s illustration style for illustrating picture books, at least based on my own professional experience during the past decade:
Practice drawing the same object/scene with different styles. If any styles appeal to you AND you are comfortable with the process, try drawing other objects and scenes with that style. This is also a valuable exercise for those who are used to drawing in a realistic style but want to experiment with others. Another tip for creative brainstorming: When drawing from real life or a reference photo, play around. Don’t get bogged down in details.
Choose an illustration process that is fun for you and that is easy to replicate. For example, you may have a stellar sample in your portfolio that showcases one of your illustration styles. If you can’t reproduce it throughout many picture books under a reasonable deadline, however, consider playing with that particular style in private but not presenting it as a potential style you’d use for picture book projects.
Don’t get obsessed about finding your “definitive” illustration style. If your experimental play is becoming stressful or a mechanical chore, you need to try a different approach. Don’t feel compelled to try every style, process, or media. Be wary not to let experimental play become a reason to procrastinate. Try one style at a time and see how it feels to you.
Figure out your strengths. If you’re unsure, ask someone you trust, and ideally someone familiar with you as a person AND who is familiar with the industry. Good critiquing takes time and effort, however, so I also advise against cold calling/emailing (e.g., “Hey, you don’t know me at all, but I admire your work, could you take a few minutes and take a look at my work and offer me feedback?”). Join your local SCBWI regional chapter and attend events, get to know other illustrators, and sign up for critiques from industry professionals. In Canada, you can also check out CANSCAIP. When you DO get critiques, be aware that so much is subjective — what appeals to one art director or agent, or editor may not appeal to another.
REMINDER: Always make time to play.
Don't be in such a hurry to get published that you don't make time to experiment and play. Also, don't always feel compelled to share everything on social media, especially if you tend to get easily discouraged, and especially if you are experimenting with a new style or new media.
Good luck, and have fun with it!
Find out more about Debbie at DebbieOhi.com (which includes her Creating Picture Books resource), or browse her social blogs.