Children's Publishing Blog: Carla's Picture Book Adventure

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Viewing Blog: Carla's Picture Book Adventure, Most Recent at Top

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The journey of a not-yet published children's writer/illustrator from the very beginning. My journey began in April 2009....Even I'm curious to know what the future holds! Well, stay tuned and we'll find out together.

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By: Carla, on 12/15/2010
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TESTING

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2. It's been a long time...

By: Carla, on 1/8/2010
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I do apologize for waiting sooooo long between posts. I begin taking my first class to complete my illustration degree so, hopefully, I'll be posting more often.

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3. Painting: Learning from the Masters

By: Carla, on 11/19/2009
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It's no secret that I am a self-taught artist who struggles with building volume using watercolors (and all other paints). So, I've decided to learn from the masters...of children's book illustration, of course. I am starting with Mary Englebreit. I've always enjoyed her work and decided to do this value study of her interpretation of Goldie Locks. I have free-hand copied her character. Creating a perfect line drawing is not my goal. My main goal is to practice building form using graphite, which is something I'm not accustomed to but seems to be a prerequisite to learning how to paint. Later I will attempt to complete this project with watercolor and colored pencil. Stay tuned...

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4. Learning something new...

By: Carla, on 10/23/2009
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This is a project that is due this week in my design fundamentals class.

While drawing this bowl of fruit (which is still a work in progress) I had an epiphany. If you notice that my line drawings are pretty decent for a self-taught artist but when it came to creating volume with watercolors they remain flat and bland. But now I have a better understanding of how volume is created. First chance I get I will re-paint one of my earlier line drawings and apply my new skill. Until next time...

Carla

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5. New Student

By: Carla, on 10/17/2009
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This composition is inspired by one of my favorite jazz pianist.

When it's turned this way it looks like a woman playing a saxophone.

It’s been a while since my last post but it’s for a good reason. I have been investing in my craft by returning to college as a graphic design major. You may be thinking “Shouldn’t she be majoring in illustration?” Well, I’ve decided to be an online student and money is definitely a factor. The only online illustration BFA program cost $ 740 per unit. So I chose a graphic design program that only charges a little over $ 300 per college unit. My ultimate goal is a BFA, however I have enrolled in the two-year program so that I can celebrate half way through my commitment. I am currently enrolled in two classes and one teaches the fundamentals of design. I have learned much about composition and inspiration. I am also learning about typography, the use of color, and other design elements. Earning my degree in graphic design is a great way to begin my career as a children’s book illustrator. Until next time…

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6. Super-Duper Skills

By: Carla, on 9/8/2009
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7. Same ambition, new hobby

By: Carla, on 9/5/2009
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Bought my first watercolor-journal (please excuse those typos). Fun, fun, fun! I still have the same goals of becoming a children's illustrator and I believe that filling this journal with random sketches will help me strengthen my drawing skills. The first one is my first landscape EVER...I'm having a lot of first and it's about time. I enjoy feeling challenged and having hope of becoming better at whatever I desire to become better at. That thing you see under the second sketch is my cat's paw. Her name is Reese (Ree-cee) and she loves to chase the light in the scanner.

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8. Breaking new ground

By: Carla, on 9/2/2009
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Thanks Vanessa and Eric and everyone else for your encouraging words. The best thing about starting from rock-bottom is that there's only one way to go: UP!

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9. Stretching

By: Carla, on 8/31/2009
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Detail from work in progress sketch:

Whew! In my personal opinion I have come a long way. But there are many miles that are still ahead of me. And from what I understand life (and learning) is a journey that never ends. I can only doodle so much so now it's time for me to STRETCH into the next phase. The above is a part of my first illustrated scene ever. Am I nervous about sharing this with you? Most definitely! But it's all part of my journey and I will continue to remind myself that I will not always be an amatuer if I continue to practice and push myself to be better.

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10. Practicing my craft...

By: Carla, on 8/29/2009
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11. Queen with color

By: Carla, on 8/29/2009
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12. New Header!

By: Carla, on 8/26/2009
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Check out my new header that I designed. I plan on doing something to that "blank" spot and then adding watercolor. Stay tuned...

Note to self: make it bigger!

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13. Day 5: Enters the Lions

By: Carla, on 8/26/2009
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The story I chose to illustrate has flesh eating lions!

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14. Big Hair

By: Carla, on 8/25/2009
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In case you haven't noticed, I love big hair on my characters. Below is what I got from my preliminary sketch of the stressed queen:

This is what she looked like off the top of my crazy imagination:

I will take my time with painting this one, planning the color scheme out and working it over and over unil I'm satisfied with the final outcome. This is sooooooo much fun!

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15. Days 3 and 4

By: Carla, on 8/25/2009
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Here's a very basic sketch of the narcissistic princess-daughter that has the mother so stressed. Not sure whether her hair she be worn up or down. Next character sketch: the Lions.

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16. Day 2: more character study

By: Carla, on 8/23/2009
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That stressed mother that I wrote about on my last post happens to be a queen. She is on her way to seek advice from an unfriendly source. I will begin another character sketch tomorrow of a different character in this story.

I have never painted with acrylic before so I may try to paint my illustrations with that medium. I am having fun with this project.

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17. Day 1

By: Carla, on 8/22/2009
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Here is a sketch that I drew of the stressed mother of the fairy-tale that I chose to illustrate. Let's see if, after I have posted a few more character sketches, anyone is able to guess which tale I'm illustrating.

It's not anything as common as Cinderella or Little Red Riding hood. Instead, I chose to illustrate a story that I had never heard before. This will allow me to work without any "prejudices" formed about what a particular character should look like. I began to read this particular story and fell in love with the pictures that formed in my imagination.

This will be my first ever children's book illustration, even if I am commissioning myself. I do not doubt that this will be a challenge but I really need to be challenged. I have learned that unless there is a little discomfort in my life, a struggle of any size, I cease to grow.

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18. Ready for a new challenge

By: Carla, on 8/22/2009
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Since April I have learned a lot about illustrating for children. I have taken the huge challenge of applying color to my sketches. Now I am ready for a new challenge. I am ready to start showing scenes of people interacting with one another. I guess I'll try illustrating classic books like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Let's see how this turns out.

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19. Dancing