New illustrations

 

2018 - Week 2 - Class 1 - Homework

1) Continue your character studies – consider style from realistic to simplified - where does your preference lie?

2) Create a line-up (rotated view) in b/w of one of your main characters

3) Continue work on your storyboard

4) LOOKY BOOKS: Pinpoint light direction on existing titles – find the most unusual light source you can (1 good example is fine)

5) Read Nodelman, Chapter 9: The Rhythms of Picture-Book Narrative

6) Reminder: The book title or illustrator you want to use for your final presentation will be due next Thursday

7) Continue working on break-up of text

2018 - Week 1 - Class 2 - Homework

1. Choose 1 title that speaks to you on a character level, 1 title that use page turns to strong advantage, and 1 title that speak to you on a composition level, to share in next class. Concentrate on layout and size of book as well. 

2. Create three storyboard sketches from the manuscript you’ve chosen to work with

3. Create 5 sequential illustrations collated on one page in a graphic novel-like layout, telling a simple wordless story with the theme: “I DID IT!”

4. Read Chapter 6 – Perry Nodelman “The Depiction of Action and the Passing of Time”

5. Read the articles I gave you

6. Reminder: The book title or illustrator you want to use for your final presentation will be due next Thursday

7. Continue working on break-up of text

2018 - Week 1 - Class 1 - Homework

I hope you enjoyed your intro to Picture Book Design today! Here is your homework for Thursday:

1) Draw the golden spiral/rectangle on some tracing paper. (I'll want to see this.) Browse some picture books placing your golden spiral/rectangle on top to see how it fits and if it works with the artwork you've chosen. Become aware of the golden spiral/rectangle in existing compositions.

2) Create 3 value studies of existing book covers - about 3"x5" each. Be sure to bring the books with you to the next class!

3) Read Perry Nodelman's Words About Pictures -
     Chapter 2: Format, design, visual features
     Chapter 5: Visual weight and directed tension: The relationship of visual elements to each other.

4) Bring in a book for LOOK AT BOOKS (can be one you are using for your cover study): How are the elements of design leading your eye around the page? How does the artist's choice of format, size, framing or full-bleed illustrations give the viewer different experiences?

5) Start collecting shoe boxes or small cardboard containers that can be destroyed. (They can go under the art supplies table.)

6) I’ll ask for your chosen story at the beginning of class. You will have until the end of class to change your mind.

7) Choose your illustrator or book to feature in your end-of-semester presentation (which will be about 20 minutes).

2018 Class Welcome

Welcome to Picture Book Design - 578 and 578s! Your homework assignments will be posted here each day and the videos and resources we discuss can also be accessed here. Think of this as our online hub.

2017 - Week 5 - Class 2 - Homework

Work on finishing your cover illustration (can be line art, value rendered, or in color - but needs to be an image that would be finished enough to be taken to color, not a sketch-in-progress)

Finish Storyboards

Finish one color interior spread

Finish two final line drawings from interior (one of those can be the image you take to color, but it would be better if they are two other images)

Finish scanning all art for dummy with text applied (ready to print)

2017 - Week 5 - Class 1 - Homework

2 1/2 size color comps of your realized cover design (1 or 2 designs)

Lookybooks: 2 book covers that rely heavily on type treatments

Storyboard to dummy size - lay in type to size

Keep working towards one color interior final (if you need to go back and do value/character/light/color studies to accomplish this, do so)

2017 - Week 4 - Class 2 - Homework

Finish Storyboard

Complete and fully render one interior final piece at full size

We will go over Chip Kidd's GO in Lookybooks

2017 - Week 4 - Class 1 - Homework

Lookybooks: Pick out books to evaluate for continuity of color palette, design, style, plot movement, etc. (You can pick out one that's doing this exceptionally well and/or one that's doing this poorly.) Continue working on storyboard, media studies, etc.

2017 - Week 3 - Class 2 - Homework

Create half-sized color/media studies (2 to 3) for one spread of your choice to determine your final medium of choice (or one that you’d like to experiment with)

Finish 2 final interior black and white drawings to full size (ready to be rendered drawings)

Continue tightening up storyboard

Lookybooks: Go over your mentor books more – reexamining color/layout/proportion. Share on Tuesday. Also: Select two books that have artwork rendered in ways you admire and/or hope to achieve

Bring your computer to the next class!

2017 Week 3 - Class 1 Homework

Lookybooks: Bring a book and discuss its style and how a different style might have changed the meaning of the story.

Watch Will Terry's "Am I Good Enough to Become an Illustrator?" (link is also in the Hollinzeen video list).

Pick 2 illustrations from your storyboard and create half-sized black and white finished sketches in full value, planning out your light source(s) and using other discussed design choices to carry the viewer's eye around the page.
Note: Making a black and white copy will help you figure your values when you go to final color.

Read Nodelman, Chapter 9 to go over in Thursday's class

Continue working on your storyboards, characters, and color studies.

2017 Week 2 - Class 2 Homework

Continue developing and refining your main characters - try to have them nailed down.

Make clay models of your main characters

Build a model set to place your characters in for photography purposes

Draw a line art version of your characters - make 5 copies to use for color studies

Choose 2 to 5 books that have the color palette you have in mind for your book (you can use the color palettes in these books for your character color studies)

Keep working on and tightening up your storyboards - move to the larger storyboard template

Read Perry Nodelman, Chapter 3

2017: Week 2 - Class 1 Homework

Continue your character studies - consider style from realistic to simplified - where does your preference lie?

Create a line-up (rotated view) in b/w of one of your main characters (like the handout example of Hugo from SOAP).

Continue work on your storyboard

Looky Books: Pinpoint light direction on existing titles - find the most unusual light source you can

IMPORTANT: For next class - Bring a flashlight, camera, and shoebox (or cardboard, white poster board and boxes), and sculpting tools to class.

Your final project book title or illustrator is due Thursday.

Continue reading assigned texts.

2017: Week 1 - Class 2 Homework

Lookybook: Choose 2 titles that speak to you on a character level, that use page turns to strong advantage, and 2 more titles that speak to you on a composition level, to share in next class. Concentrate on layout and size of book as well. (4 books total)

Create three storyboard sketches from the manuscript you've chosen to work with

Create 5 sequential illustrations, telling a simple wordless story that you make up, with the theme of, "I did it!" - Keep in mind altering the perspective and employ black and white sketches or value studies

Read Chapter 6 - Perry Nodelman, "The Depiction of Action and the Passing of Time"

Final presentation book title or illustrator will be due next Thursday

Continue working on break-up of text

2017: Week 1 - Class 1 Homework

Create 3 value studies of existing book covers - about 3" to 5" wide or tall.
Note: Be sure to bring the chosen books with you to class on Thursday!

Finish your value scales and practice drawing motor skills - with both hands!

Read Words About Pictures by Perry Nodelman
     Chapter 2: Format, design, visual features
     Chapter 5: Visual weight and directed tension: The relationship of visual elements to each other.

Looky Books: Bring a book with a cover that intentionally directs your eye. Choose a book we haven't discussed already.

Start saving/collecting boxes/cardboard for model-making.

Week 5 - July 19th - #9 Class Homework

1) Lookybook: Pick out two books whose covers have text that you admire (with your own book in mind).

2) Complete two half-sized color studies of your cover, concentrating on value, color usage, and shapes. Do not refine text at this point – think of it as a dark or light shape.

3) Make considerable progress on your zine or flip book

Week 4 - July 14th - #8 Class Homework

1) Lookybook: Pick out three covers you think work especially well

2) Complete one final color interior – full size

Week 4 - July 12th - #7 Class Homework

Lookybook: Pick out books to evaluate for continuity of color palette, design, style, plot movement, etc.

Be prepared to show considerable progress on your stage of creation (i.e. storyboard, 1/2 size color study, black and whites, zine, or flip book)

Week 3 - July 7th - #6 Class Homework

1. Finish 2 final black and white interior drawings, can be in various media

2. LOOKYBOOKS:
   a. Select one book that has artwork rendered in a way you admire
   b. Select one book that has artwork rendered the way you hope to achieve.

3. Continue exploring ½ size media studies

Week 3 - July 5th - #5 Class Homework

1) LOOK AT BOOKS: Bring a book and discuss its style, and how a different style might have changed the meaning of the story.

2) Pick 1 illustration from your storyboard and create a half-sized black and white finished sketch in full value, planning out your light source(s) and using other design choices to carry the viewer’s eye around the page.
Note: Making a black and white copy will help you figure your values when you go to final color.

3) Start reading Nodelman, Chapter 9