#illustrationtwo

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Children’s Books  Project Summery

Over the course of the children’s book project I have definitely found it the most challenging to date. I have a massive interest in children’s picture books however until this project I hadn’t been so aware of what makes a successful children’s book successful and what devices are commonly used. I tried to take all this on board and apply it to my own practice.

Difficulties with characterisation 

The biggest challenge I had throughout this project was figuring out how to make my characterisation successful. I struggled initially to find a way of working that was visually interesting yet that would still appeal to children. I decided to try and use textures and shapes to create my characters, which made my simplify my designs, so that they were more appropriate for the target audience. This didn’t really click until near the end of the project, and I think in terms of my general practice  is yet to be resolved. However this project allowed me to make a good start and forced me to approach image making in a different way. 

Using Warmer Colours 

Another issue that I had to resolve was my colour palette, as the initial colours I was using were too dark and dull for a children’s book so I tried to use brighter and warmer colours, this was very challenging for me at first as I was trying to combine odd colours, which I quickly found wasn’t working. I also found it really difficult applying colour digitally, and using digital process in general in such a major way throughout the project, as my digital skills are poorly lacking. However, the positive is that it has forced me to approach image making in a different way and resolve issues in my practice generally. The collage and practical side to the project I really enjoyed, and if I try using textures in this way again I will try to apply colour practically as apposed to digitally, as I think it will suit my way of working much better, also I will be able to see instantly how a colour will look when it is applied, instead of having to work out what it will print like. 

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Research: The Dinner That Cooked Itself

Whist using textures to create my imagery, I decided to have another look back at this books my Nobrow, as I think the illustrations are beautifully done using textures, but showed the potential for how using simple shapes can create beautiful characterisation. 

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Research: Hattie Peck

This is one of my favourite books I came across from my research, I love the designs of some go her pages, I picked it  up really cheap as well which is a bonus!

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Initial Character Developments 

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Children’s Book cover design

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Illustration Two 

Children’s Picture Books

Using Textures

After the second tutorial Mike suggested that I try and use more textures to create my imagery so I began to collage and scene together with texture and photographs. I found that adding photographic elements like the nuts and bolts made the images far more interesting. As I was really struggling to find interesting ways to use textures to create the scenes, so I thought experimenting with collage would give me more options in my image making. It is a technique that I have used before for my ReNarrative project, and it something that I really enjoyed so it made making images for this project a bit easier for me. The collage stands out against the texture, which for children’s books  is important as there needs to be an element that stands out and holds their attention.

Making these physical collages was my favourite part of the project, as soon as I tried applying a digital process to them that was were it became really difficult more me. However this project has made me a lot more competent on Photoshop and forced my out of my comfort zone, which in the long term is a positive thing.

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Illustration Two

Children’s Picture books Final Images

Here are a selection of my final images for the children’s book project, I tried to take on board the advice Mike gave me about my colours, I tried to pick colours that were warmer and brighter. I also changed my approach to making and started using textures to create the entire image. I think that the changes I made to my approach were definitely an improvement. However the technique still needs a lot of work, Im not entirely happy with all the images and would make alterations If I had the time.