Working on picture book roughs

I’m working on the roughs for a new picture book. It’s a process I enjoy, and definitely very different to the hours that I spend stitching. 

When I sit down to sew, most of the truly creative work for the artwork has already been completed. With the process of sketching roughs, it’s all creative effort. Interpreting the manuscript in a way that is interesting and engaging, true to script, but perhaps with an extra storyline, and still true to my own style.

One of the big challenges is staying open to alternative page layouts and ideas in the early stages. It’s so easy to get caught up with a first idea, without exploring others. This is where I have loved working with an editor, who is able to see and consider the rough illustrations from a more unbiased perspective, and offer fresh ideas.

This current book is sort of an ode to parenthood, and the nature of the manuscript is such that as the illustrator, I have a lot of scope for telling a story beyond the text. This has been a fun challenge that has involved a lot of back and forth between myself, the editor and the author to get the story to flow as well as we possibly can. That also means that my editor gets to ‘kill my darlings’. I’m glad I have her for that task!

One of my favourite ways to focus on the work in a more deep way is to take my iPad and Apple Pencil out to a local cafe. At least there I can’t procrastinate by putting on a load of washing, wiping down the kitchen or rearranging the lounge!

I look forward to sharing some actual drawings for the book when I can!