{"id":3042,"date":"2026-02-20T18:21:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbaramarini.com\/designing-a-childrens-picture-book-the-storyboard\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:08:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:08:39","slug":"designing-a-childrens-picture-book-the-storyboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbaramarini.com\/en\/designing-a-childrens-picture-book-the-storyboard\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing a Children\u2019s Picture Book: The Storyboard"},"content":{"rendered":"

How <\/span>much <\/span>work <\/span>goes <\/span>into <\/span>creating <\/span>a <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>or <\/span>a <\/span>children\u2019s <\/span>book?<\/span><\/strong>
What <\/span>are <\/span>the <\/span>different <\/span>stages <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>process?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Let\u2019s <\/span>explore <\/span>it <\/span>together <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>article \ud83d\ude0a<\/span><\/p>\n

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If <\/span>you <\/span>prefer <\/span>listening <\/span>instead <\/span>of <\/span>reading, <\/span>here\u2019s <\/span>the <\/span>related <\/span>video <\/span>on <\/span>YouTube:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Video<\/a><\/p>\n

Where <\/span>does <\/span>the <\/span>idea <\/span>come <\/span>from?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s <\/span>start <\/span>with <\/span>how <\/span>the <\/span>idea <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>born. <\/span>Of <\/span>course, <\/span>this <\/span>is <\/span>very <\/span>subjective, <\/span>so <\/span>I\u2019ll <\/span>share <\/span>my <\/span>own <\/span>way <\/span>of <\/span>working, <\/span>which <\/span>might <\/span>also <\/span>inspire <\/span>you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I <\/span>make <\/span>extensive <\/span>use <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>sketchbook: <\/span>I <\/span>draw <\/span>and <\/span>paint <\/span>in <\/span>it <\/span>often, <\/span>even <\/span>without <\/span>a <\/span>specific <\/span>commission <\/span>or <\/span>request <\/span>from <\/span>a <\/span>client. <\/span>I <\/span>do <\/span>it <\/span>frequently\u2014<\/span>though <\/span>not <\/span>every <\/span>day <\/span>as <\/span>I <\/span>would <\/span>like \ud83d\ude0a\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>I\u2019ve <\/span>realized <\/span>that <\/span>having <\/span>this <\/span>archive <\/span>of <\/span>sketches <\/span>often <\/span>gives <\/span>me <\/span>a <\/span>starting <\/span>point <\/span>for <\/span>future <\/span>projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From <\/span>time <\/span>to <\/span>time, <\/span>I <\/span>go <\/span>back <\/span>through <\/span>my <\/span>sketchbooks <\/span>and <\/span>find <\/span>an <\/span>illustration <\/span>that <\/span>stands <\/span>out <\/span>to <\/span>me <\/span>in <\/span>that <\/span>particular <\/span>moment\u2014<\/span>one <\/span>that \u201c<\/span>speaks\u201d <\/span>to <\/span>me <\/span>more <\/span>than <\/span>the <\/span>others <\/span>and <\/span>sparks <\/span>a <\/span>narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From <\/span>that <\/span>first <\/span>sketch, <\/span>other <\/span>illustrations <\/span>are <\/span>developed, <\/span>eventually <\/span>forming <\/span>the <\/span>sequence <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>book. <\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>exactly <\/span>what <\/span>happened <\/span>with <\/span>my <\/span>latest <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>\u201cMa che brutta giornata<\/span>!\u201d<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>published <\/span>by <\/span>Edizioni <\/span>Il <\/span>Ciliegio (<\/span>here <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>find <\/span>the <\/span>link <\/span>where <\/span>I <\/span>present <\/span>it <\/span>and <\/span>here <\/span>a <\/span>video <\/span>on <\/span>my <\/span>YouTube <\/span>channel).<\/span><\/p>\n

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(<\/span>Update <\/span>February <\/span>2026: <\/span>the <\/span>cover <\/span>illustration <\/span>was <\/span>selected <\/span>for <\/span>Annual <\/span>26, <\/span>the <\/span>prestigious <\/span>publication <\/span>celebrating <\/span>contemporary <\/span>Italian <\/span>illustration \ud83e\udd29).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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The \u201c<\/span>key <\/span>illustration,\u201d <\/span>the <\/span>very <\/span>first <\/span>image <\/span>created, <\/span>was <\/span>born <\/span>during <\/span>the <\/span>Covid <\/span>period. <\/span>We <\/span>were <\/span>all <\/span>confined <\/span>at <\/span>home, <\/span>and <\/span>thinking <\/span>about <\/span>children <\/span>stuck <\/span>within <\/span>four <\/span>walls (<\/span>including <\/span>my <\/span>own <\/span>kids), <\/span>I <\/span>felt <\/span>the <\/span>need <\/span>to <\/span>put <\/span>those <\/span>emotions <\/span>onto <\/span>paper. <\/span>That\u2019s <\/span>how <\/span>the <\/span>very <\/span>first <\/span>illustration <\/span>came <\/span>to <\/span>life: <\/span>a <\/span>sad <\/span>child <\/span>looking <\/span>out <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>bedroom <\/span>window, <\/span>which <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>also <\/span>find <\/span>in <\/span>my <\/span>portfolio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Barbara<\/p>\n

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And <\/span>from <\/span>there, <\/span>I <\/span>tried <\/span>to <\/span>tell <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>following <\/span>illustrations <\/span>how <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>possible <\/span>to \u201c<\/span>escape\u201d <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>bedroom <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>reading.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/article>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Libri \"Albo<\/p>\n

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Other <\/span>times, <\/span>the <\/span>idea <\/span>comes <\/span>from <\/span>watching <\/span>a <\/span>film, <\/span>visiting <\/span>an <\/span>exhibition, <\/span>looking <\/span>at <\/span>a <\/span>particular <\/span>holiday <\/span>photo, <\/span>or <\/span>even <\/span>just <\/span>listening <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>song.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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As <\/span>several <\/span>illustration <\/span>teachers <\/span>have <\/span>told <\/span>me <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>years <\/span>during <\/span>the <\/span>courses <\/span>I <\/span>attended <\/span>to <\/span>specialize <\/span>in <\/span>children\u2019s <\/span>illustration, <\/span>an <\/span>illustrator <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>multidisciplinary <\/span>figure: <\/span>they <\/span>must <\/span>tell <\/span>a <\/span>story <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>voice, <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>draw. <\/span>That\u2019s <\/span>why <\/span>curiosity <\/span>toward <\/span>other <\/span>artistic <\/span>disciplines <\/span>is <\/span>essential. <\/span>In <\/span>many <\/span>ways, <\/span>illustration <\/span>has <\/span>more <\/span>in <\/span>common <\/span>with <\/span>cinema <\/span>than <\/span>with <\/span>painting, <\/span>because <\/span>it <\/span>involves <\/span>telling <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>a <\/span>single <\/span>scene, <\/span>but <\/span>a <\/span>scene <\/span>within <\/span>a <\/span>sequence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For <\/span>example, <\/span>the <\/span>next <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>I\u2019m <\/span>currently <\/span>working <\/span>on (<\/span>spoiler \ud83d\ude0a) <\/span>was <\/span>inspired <\/span>by <\/span>a <\/span>film, <\/span>where <\/span>a <\/span>specific <\/span>setting <\/span>and <\/span>certain <\/span>characters <\/span>sparked <\/span>the <\/span>initial <\/span>idea <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This <\/span>is <\/span>what <\/span>happens <\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>when <\/span>I\u2019m <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>books <\/span>I <\/span>design, <\/span>but <\/span>also <\/span>when <\/span>I <\/span>illustrate <\/span>texts <\/span>written <\/span>by <\/span>other <\/span>authors. <\/span>The <\/span>inspiration <\/span>for <\/span>settings, <\/span>characters, <\/span>and <\/span>atmosphere <\/span>develops <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Characters \u2013 <\/span>Character <\/span>Design<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Whether <\/span>I\u2019m <\/span>working <\/span>on <\/span>my <\/span>own <\/span>story <\/span>or <\/span>illustrating <\/span>someone <\/span>else\u2019s <\/span>text, <\/span>I <\/span>always <\/span>start <\/span>by <\/span>defining <\/span>the <\/span>characters, <\/span>which <\/span>I <\/span>believe <\/span>are <\/span>essential <\/span>in <\/span>establishing <\/span>the <\/span>overall <\/span>atmosphere <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>book.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Do <\/span>I <\/span>choose <\/span>to <\/span>use <\/span>anthropomorphic <\/span>animals?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Or <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>character <\/span>a <\/span>child, <\/span>a <\/span>teenager, <\/span>an <\/span>adult? <\/span>Even <\/span>age <\/span>helps <\/span>define <\/span>the <\/span>mood <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Then <\/span>there\u2019s <\/span>clothing: <\/span>vintage <\/span>or <\/span>modern? <\/span>And <\/span>what <\/span>about <\/span>colors? <\/span>All <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>elements <\/span>are <\/span>already <\/span>conveyed <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>character <\/span>design.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here <\/span>are <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>examples <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>character <\/span>I\u2019m <\/span>currently <\/span>developing <\/span>for <\/span>my <\/span>next <\/span>picture <\/span>book, <\/span>based <\/span>on <\/span>a <\/span>text <\/span>by <\/span>another <\/span>author.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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For <\/span>this <\/span>reason, <\/span>after <\/span>carefully <\/span>reading <\/span>the <\/span>text, <\/span>I <\/span>try <\/span>to <\/span>give <\/span>my <\/span>own <\/span>interpretation <\/span>starting <\/span>\u0570\u0565\u0576\u0581 <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>main <\/span>characters.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Remember: <\/span>an <\/span>illustrator <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>someone <\/span>who <\/span>draws, <\/span>but <\/span>an <\/span>author\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>co-<\/span>author\u2014<\/span>because <\/span>their <\/span>illustrations <\/span>bring <\/span>a <\/span>personal <\/span>interpretation <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>text.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s <\/span>why, <\/span>when <\/span>I <\/span>work <\/span>on <\/span>texts <\/span>written <\/span>by <\/span>others, <\/span>I <\/span>immediately <\/span>discuss <\/span>the <\/span>characters <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>or <\/span>publisher, <\/span>so <\/span>we <\/span>can <\/span>start <\/span>off <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>right <\/span>foot. <\/span>And <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>tells <\/span>you <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>beautiful <\/span>and <\/span>exactly <\/span>what <\/span>they <\/span>had <\/span>in <\/span>mind\u2026 <\/span>it <\/span>makes <\/span>you <\/span>incredibly <\/span>happy! \ud83d\ude0d<\/span><\/p>\n

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For <\/span>character <\/span>design, <\/span>I <\/span>rely <\/span>heavily <\/span>on <\/span>my <\/span>sketchbook <\/span>and <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>use <\/span>of <\/span>simple <\/span>shapes: <\/span>triangles (<\/span>for <\/span>more \u201c<\/span>villain-<\/span>like\u201d <\/span>characters), <\/span>circles (<\/span>for <\/span>softer, <\/span>kinder <\/span>ones), <\/span>and <\/span>so <\/span>on.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>phase <\/span>I <\/span>really <\/span>enjoy: <\/span>short, <\/span>big, <\/span>tiny, <\/span>slim, <\/span>tall\u2026 <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>extremely <\/span>creative!<\/span><\/p>\n

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You <\/span>can <\/span>see <\/span>an <\/span>example <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>sketches <\/span>I <\/span>made <\/span>to <\/span>design <\/span>Commissioner <\/span>De <\/span>Ghiris, <\/span>the <\/span>main <\/span>character <\/span>of <\/span>another <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>I <\/span>illustrated, <\/span>published <\/span>by <\/span>Errekappa <\/span>Edizioni.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"moodboard<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"moodboard<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"moodboard<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"moodboard<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"moodboard<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

For <\/span>poses <\/span>and <\/span>expressions, <\/span>I <\/span>often <\/span>use <\/span>reference <\/span>photos <\/span>of <\/span>family <\/span>members, <\/span>asking <\/span>them <\/span>to <\/span>pose <\/span>like <\/span>actors \ud83d\ude0a<\/span><\/p>\n

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In <\/span>my <\/span>opinion, <\/span>the <\/span>character <\/span>plays <\/span>a <\/span>key <\/span>role <\/span>in <\/span>defining <\/span>the <\/span>mood <\/span>we <\/span>want <\/span>to <\/span>convey <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>book.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If <\/span>you\u2019d <\/span>like <\/span>to <\/span>see <\/span>how <\/span>I <\/span>create <\/span>the <\/span>very <\/span>first <\/span>character <\/span>sketches <\/span>using <\/span>basic <\/span>shapes, <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>watch <\/span>these <\/span>short <\/span>videos <\/span>on <\/span>my <\/span>YouTube <\/span>channel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Character<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \"Character<\/a><\/p>\n

Storyboard<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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At <\/span>this <\/span>point, <\/span>I <\/span>move <\/span>on <\/span>to <\/span>creating <\/span>the <\/span>storyboard. <\/span>The <\/span>storyboard <\/span>is <\/span>made <\/span>up <\/span>of <\/span>many <\/span>small, <\/span>quick <\/span>sketches <\/span>that <\/span>represent <\/span>the <\/span>double-<\/span>page <\/span>spreads (<\/span>openings) <\/span>which <\/span>will <\/span>accompany <\/span>the <\/span>text.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In <\/span>the <\/span>initial <\/span>phase, <\/span>I <\/span>use <\/span>very <\/span>tiny <\/span>sketches <\/span>because <\/span>I <\/span>only <\/span>need <\/span>them <\/span>to <\/span>get <\/span>an <\/span>overall <\/span>view <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>book\u2019s <\/span>layout. <\/span>In <\/span>the <\/span>image <\/span>you <\/span>see <\/span>below, <\/span>the <\/span>full <\/span>format <\/span>is <\/span>an <\/span>A3 <\/span>sheet <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>first <\/span>sketches <\/span>for <\/span>\u201cMa che brutta giornata<\/span>!\u201d<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Some <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>illustrations <\/span>you <\/span>see <\/span>here <\/span>didn\u2019t <\/span>even <\/span>make <\/span>it <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>final <\/span>book.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Storyboard<\/p>\n

Storyboard<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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For <\/span>me, <\/span>the <\/span>storyboard <\/span>phase <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>creative: <\/span>one <\/span>single <\/span>text, <\/span>but <\/span>endless <\/span>ways <\/span>to <\/span>tell <\/span>it!<\/span><\/p>\n

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At <\/span>this <\/span>stage, <\/span>I <\/span>decide <\/span>how <\/span>to <\/span>divide <\/span>the <\/span>text <\/span>into <\/span>scenes, <\/span>which <\/span>moments <\/span>to <\/span>emphasize, <\/span>the <\/span>rhythm <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>book, <\/span>whether <\/span>to <\/span>use <\/span>spot <\/span>illustrations, <\/span>single <\/span>pages, <\/span>or <\/span>double-<\/span>page <\/span>spreads, <\/span>and <\/span>which <\/span>emotions <\/span>I <\/span>want <\/span>to <\/span>highlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>the <\/span>moment <\/span>for <\/span>cutting, <\/span>removing <\/span>pages, <\/span>rearranging <\/span>the <\/span>sequence, <\/span>and\u2014<\/span>very <\/span>importantly\u2014<\/span>counting <\/span>pages <\/span>to <\/span>make <\/span>sure <\/span>everything <\/span>fits <\/span>standard <\/span>picture <\/span>book <\/span>formats: <\/span>24, <\/span>32, <\/span>40 <\/span>pages, <\/span>etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Then <\/span>I <\/span>move <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>larger <\/span>scale, <\/span>creating <\/span>a <\/span>more <\/span>refined <\/span>storyboard <\/span>with <\/span>bigger <\/span>sketches\u2014<\/span>for <\/span>example, <\/span>two <\/span>spreads (<\/span>two <\/span>double <\/span>pages) <\/span>on <\/span>an <\/span>A4 <\/span>sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I <\/span>begin <\/span>to <\/span>better <\/span>define <\/span>the <\/span>drawings <\/span>and <\/span>think <\/span>more <\/span>carefully <\/span>about <\/span>pacing <\/span>and <\/span>framing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For <\/span>many <\/span>illustrations, <\/span>I <\/span>experiment <\/span>with <\/span>different <\/span>compositions <\/span>and <\/span>viewpoints: <\/span>cropped, <\/span>rotated, <\/span>front <\/span>view, <\/span>bird\u2019s-<\/span>eye <\/span>view, <\/span>zoomed <\/span>in, <\/span>and <\/span>so <\/span>on.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s <\/span>very <\/span>useful <\/span>to <\/span>study <\/span>composition <\/span>by <\/span>simplifying <\/span>sketches <\/span>into <\/span>large <\/span>black <\/span>and <\/span>white <\/span>areas. <\/span>This <\/span>stripped-<\/span>down <\/span>approach, <\/span>without <\/span>details, <\/span>helps <\/span>evaluate <\/span>the <\/span>effectiveness <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>composition. <\/span>I <\/span>also <\/span>take <\/span>inspiration <\/span>from <\/span>photography (<\/span>I <\/span>love <\/span>the <\/span>work <\/span>of <\/span>Fontana <\/span>and <\/span>Robert <\/span>Doisneau) <\/span>as <\/span>well <\/span>as <\/span>films <\/span>and <\/span>TV <\/span>series\u2014<\/span>directors <\/span>and <\/span>photographers <\/span>have <\/span>already <\/span>carefully <\/span>studied <\/span>their <\/span>framing <\/span>choices, <\/span>which <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>a <\/span>great <\/span>learning <\/span>resource.<\/span><\/p>\n

Refining <\/span>Pencil <\/span>Sketches<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Once <\/span>the <\/span>initial <\/span>sketches <\/span>are <\/span>defined, <\/span>I <\/span>move <\/span>on <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>final <\/span>pencil <\/span>drawings (\u201c<\/span>clean <\/span>sketches\u201d), <\/span>still <\/span>in <\/span>black <\/span>and <\/span>white <\/span>but <\/span>with <\/span>more <\/span>detail, <\/span>clean <\/span>lines, <\/span>and <\/span>shading.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I <\/span>scan <\/span>my <\/span>hand-<\/span>drawn <\/span>sketches <\/span>and <\/span>refine <\/span>them <\/span>digitally. <\/span>For <\/span>this <\/span>phase, <\/span>I <\/span>use <\/span>Clip <\/span>Studio <\/span>Paint, <\/span>which <\/span>has <\/span>a <\/span>very <\/span>realistic <\/span>pencil <\/span>tool <\/span>and <\/span>allows <\/span>for <\/span>faster <\/span>adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n

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These <\/span>refined <\/span>sketches <\/span>are <\/span>what <\/span>I <\/span>send <\/span>to <\/span>publishers <\/span>for <\/span>project <\/span>evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Storyboard \"Storyboard<\/p>\n

They <\/span>are <\/span>essential <\/span>to <\/span>get <\/span>approval <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>or <\/span>publisher <\/span>before <\/span>moving <\/span>on <\/span>to <\/span>color, <\/span>since <\/span>making <\/span>changes <\/span>after <\/span>coloring\u2014<\/span>especially <\/span>with <\/span>traditional <\/span>techniques, <\/span>but <\/span>also <\/span>digitally\u2014<\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>much <\/span>more <\/span>complex.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

That\u2019s <\/span>why, <\/span>when <\/span>presenting <\/span>a <\/span>project, <\/span>I <\/span>usually <\/span>create <\/span>only <\/span>2\u2013<\/span>3 <\/span>fully <\/span>colored <\/span>illustrations. <\/span>This <\/span>way, <\/span>if <\/span>the <\/span>project <\/span>is <\/span>accepted, <\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>still <\/span>room <\/span>to <\/span>adjust, <\/span>rearrange, <\/span>or <\/span>edit <\/span>the <\/span>sketches <\/span>before <\/span>finalizing <\/span>everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coloring <\/span>the <\/span>Final <\/span>Illustrations<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Once <\/span>the <\/span>sketches <\/span>are <\/span>approved, <\/span>I <\/span>move <\/span>on <\/span>to <\/span>coloring <\/span>2\u2013<\/span>3 <\/span>final <\/span>illustrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I <\/span>start <\/span>by <\/span>defining <\/span>the <\/span>color <\/span>palette, <\/span>which <\/span>I <\/span>consider <\/span>fundamental <\/span>for <\/span>expressing <\/span>the <\/span>atmosphere <\/span>and <\/span>emotions <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>book.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In <\/span>\u201c<\/span>What <\/span>a <\/span>Terrible <\/span>Day!\u201d<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>I <\/span>intentionally <\/span>used <\/span>a <\/span>monochromatic <\/span>blue <\/span>palette <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>first <\/span>pages <\/span>to <\/span>convey <\/span>sadness, <\/span>loneliness, <\/span>and <\/span>boredom. <\/span>Then, <\/span>gradually, <\/span>I <\/span>introduced <\/span>more <\/span>colors, <\/span>following <\/span>the <\/span>emotional <\/span>rhythm <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>story.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In <\/span>this <\/span>case, <\/span>color <\/span>choices <\/span>were <\/span>central <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>entire <\/span>concept, <\/span>but <\/span>in <\/span>general, <\/span>selecting <\/span>the <\/span>right <\/span>palette <\/span>is <\/span>always <\/span>crucial <\/span>for <\/span>communication. <\/span>When <\/span>working <\/span>with <\/span>an <\/span>author <\/span>or <\/span>publisher, <\/span>this <\/span>choice <\/span>is <\/span>shared <\/span>early <\/span>on\u2014<\/span>especially <\/span>when <\/span>I <\/span>use <\/span>traditional <\/span>techniques <\/span>like <\/span>watercolor <\/span>and <\/span>gouache.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve <\/span>also <\/span>created <\/span>several <\/span>videos <\/span>on <\/span>my <\/span>YouTube <\/span>channel <\/span>where <\/span>I <\/span>explain <\/span>how <\/span>I <\/span>build <\/span>my <\/span>color <\/span>palettes.<\/span><\/p>\n

How <\/span>to <\/span>Submit <\/span>a <\/span>Book <\/span>Project <\/span>to <\/span>Publishers<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

So, <\/span>what <\/span>do <\/span>you <\/span>actually <\/span>send <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>publisher?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I <\/span>usually <\/span>prepare <\/span>an <\/span>email <\/span>including:<\/span><\/p>\n