The Children's Book Ilustrators Group (CBIG) presented us with an interesting project—we would choose a favorite children's book and they would create an illustration inspired by that book!  Rebecca, the Children's Librarian at Jefferson Market, chose The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame and The Magic City by E. Nesbit.  The resulting work is on display in the library.  Here is an interview with some of the illustrators—on their process, their favorite books and writers and their visit to Jefferson Market Libray!

What inspired you about the book you chose to illustrate?

Tell me about your illustration process.

 

DONNA MISKEND: First I sketch out the individual pieces. Here I used the candlesticks, vases, and other objects I have in the house, just like Philip in the story. I have a file of reference material from newspapers and magazines and used my own photos of people in costumes. I often scan my sketches into the computer, adjust the size and then use the print out as a workable sketch. In this illustration there is a border, so I arranged the sketches under tracing paper and cleaned up the outlines. Then I transferred the entire drawing from the tracing paper to watercolor paper. I used a sepia brown colored wash for the base, and built up the colors using watercolor paint. I also used colored pencils for some of the detail.

JENNIFER MERZ: I use brown paper bags (yes, the kind from the supermarket!) to roughly 'sketch' my pictures first.  This process gets me in tuned with all the tactile supplies that I use for my finished collage illustrations.

 

LAURA GOETZ: My illustration process varies depending on the project, but I begin with a pencil drawing.  I develop the sketch using tracing paper that you can see through, so I can retrace and move, add or take out elements in the picture.  Sometimes, I do a small color rough. Then I transfer my final tracing on to watercolor paper and paint the final art.  I often base my characters on people or animals I know.

 

DIANA TING DELOSH: I use ink and watercolor paints. My process is very basic: read/review the story or illustration specs, ruminate, research, doodle thumbnails, sketch and sketch on tracing paper until it looks right, transfer onto watercolor paper, ink, plan the color and paint. First I put in all my shadows using either a blue-black or sepia color. Then I start with the thing I'm most nervous about painting or sometimes I just start from the item on the bottom left. I'm right handed so I work from left to right so as not to smudge my art. I use a hairdryer to help dry areas if I'm in a rush. Backgrounds are usually painted in last.

 

CLAUDIA CARLSON: I draw on paper, scan the pencil drawing into my computer and use a wacom tablet with digital pen in photoshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEEZA HERNANDEZ: It's completely experimental. I look for ways to fuse line, texture and color in interesting and engaging ways. I will work with pencil, paints (mostly acrylic), paper, collage, and printing inks but I’m happy to use photos, used packaging and fabrics if I think it will work in the piece somehow. It's different every time I work on an illustration and that's why I love it so much.

 

MARILYN PAPAS: I followed my best rough sketch as a guide. For this illustration I used photos and old wood cuts from reference such as magazines and Google images. I invented the dragon based on a seahorse which shows in it's face and snout.

 

CLARE PERNICE: I go to the library and get out research material. I got out many books on dragons and learned that there are all different types. I sketch and make notes and compile a list of characteristics that will help with the drawing. Once I come up with the character in pencil I then test out some colors. Then I draw him on quality paper. My finished dragon is in shades of aqua pastel. 

 

MAXINE LU: My illustration process starts with a pencil drawing. I scan the pencil drawing into the computer, cleaning it up with an eraser tool in Photoshop. Then I add color in the computer. I print out the final piece.