Interested in purchasing art work? Please leave a comment with your email address. I'll contact you. Illustration work is available at ASA "Style File."

Monday, April 15, 2013

Research for Picture Book Illo

Hi, Friends, how have you been? Picture book projects occupy me. But what a surprise! An old uni friend visited my place whilst her temporary staying in Sydney. Today, the friend is a linguist doing research in a field work. Her team is making a picture dictionary for the researched language. Validity and reliability of visual information is crucial for both picture book illustration and academic use.

Regarding research, creating a children's picture book is nothing different from the linguistic work mentioned above. Based on a deep text analysis, data collection starts for pictures. Gathered data will be categorised and critically analysed for use. I know many famous illustrators did/do research for YEARs to create a picture book. 


Think of this ;  if an illustrated picture should give inappropriate information such as too much generalised or stereotyped one. Yes, it's important to be aware of responsibilities of pictures. Thus, research for pictures is necessary and essential.  


So, Friends, your research skills and academic background are great strengths to approach publishers and to work on projects.
My linguistics and sociology study definitely helps my illustration work. I've won Editors's trust in me. I always submit a text analysis for Editor/Publisher like an academic research essay. Then, Editor and I will discuss about a project and pictures more and profoundly. 

This post might sound hard, but good children picture book illustrators are all good researchers with good writing skills -- is so true and not well known. In clear writing, Illustrator logically convinces Editor of her text analysis and greatly enjoys discussions over a text. 

Back to the light topic, my dear linguist friend. Unexpectedly, my experiences as a picture book illustrator helped her! An illustrator pointed out a linguist's blind spot. The linguist would contact the team. Very happy! I heartily hope their project, too, will go well. After a long chat, the friend and I went to a beach for swimming. In turn, she helped me revise roughs for the education picture book project. With her help, I could reorganise roughs in a few days before a due date, this Monday. Yey!  
In addition, "Friends Make Our Life a Party!"  -- is also true!! Hahaha!

Friends, Happy Painting!










Share/Bookmark

34 comments:

  1. Me encanta tu retrato del chico con la guitarra!Un abrazo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gracias, Tina! Me encanta demasiado, ese guitarrista más. Saludos, Sadami

      Thanks, Tina!! Me, too, love that guitarist most. Cheers, Sadami

      >>>Tina said...
      I love your portrait of the guy with the guitar!A hug

      Delete
  2. I swear there are times I come to your blog attracted by one of your paintings, like your guitar player here,and without even noticing I end up mesmerized by the words, you've made a very important point in here Sadami.
    Hope you hear some feedback on those roughs soon, way to go!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Teresa,
      Thank you! I love the guitarist, too.
      Sadly, prejudice underestimates picture book illustration work. In fact, it requires huge energy, quite intellectual activities, very sophisticated art skills and hard work! I'd more people to know that often years-long research creates a picture book.
      Kind regards, Sadami

      Delete
  3. Hi, Sadami:) Long time - no see;)
    Thanks for visiting my blog again. As you saw, I haven`t spend much time blogging lately....but I still make things:)I spend some time at the net, as well, at Pinterest, getting inspired by other peoples work. You are welcome to visit my boards there: http://pinterest.com/annelandaaserik/

    Yes, it is spring in Norway now:) - and I am ready for it! The temperature this winter has been about 5-10 degrees below zero from november to april.....really cold!!
    - but yes, I hope to be creative even though it`s getting warmer;) Have fun in your winter, Sadami:)I`ll think of you down under:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Annepa!! I'll visit your pinterest. We're still enjoying beach swimming like in summer, but it certainly moves onto autumn.
      Your place sounds very cold. Enjoy lovely spring. Be creative.
      Well... your work tells me how slim you are!!
      Cheers, wink,wink Sadami

      Delete
  4. It is very interesting to hear your thoughts on being an illustrator on books, being very serious and then lo and behold, off you go swimming with your friend and having fun. You have your life just about right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Polly, thanks millions! Sadly, prejudice underestimates picture book illustration work. In fact, it requires huge energy, quite intellectual activities, very sophisticated art skills and hard work! I'd more people to know that often years-long research creates a picture book.
      But of course, we need balance between deskwork and life! Surely, I enjoy swimming and move a body.
      Cheers, Sadami

      Delete
  5. I agree with you about text, it makes the viewer see what you want them to see. (am I right?) Love your drawings, you capture people so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ann,
      Yes, that's the point! So, we, illustrators, editors and publishers have responsibilities for readers. Very happy to know you love my work.
      Kind regards, Sadami

      Delete
  6. I love looking at your sketches of people, Sadami. the expressions on their faces always tell stories.
    Have a wonderful and productive week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Blaga, thank u! Yes, I'll have a productive week -- in another word, chasing up a deadline?! You, too, have a wonderful week.
      Cheers, Sadami

      Delete
  7. What you do sounds so exciting, Sadami. I would love to be given an assignment for a picture book, or a book cover. The research the planning, the collaborating of ideas... it all sounds magical to me. Your paintings here are wonderful, I like the musician best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Katherine,
      Thank u and very happy to know we share the view.
      If you like, you can approach publishers. Check a "submission" section at a publisher and try it with a CV.
      Illustration requires huge energy, quite intellectual activities, very sophisticated art skills and hard work. I'd more people to know that often years-long research creates a picture book.
      Kind regards, Sadami

      Delete
  8. very beautiful sketches/painitngs..your paintings of people are always so lively!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your people sketches are wonderful, I love the expressions on the chess players' faces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Judy, thank u! I love us, people!! Best wishes, Sadami

      Delete
  10. All pictures are gorgeous, Sadami, and they reveal your high expertise in drawing. The man with the guitar and the chess players are my favourites. Congratulations. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Albert, thank u so much! You, too, create wonderful work. Keep it up and make us happy! Cheers, Sadami

      Delete
  11. Always a pleasure to visit your blog, Sadami, and I always learn something as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Carol, thank u very much. Your blog is wonderful, too. Keep up wonderful work. Best wishes, Sadami

      Delete
  12. Beautiful work, Sadami - and what professionalism you have! It must be a pleasure for any Editor to work with you. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Pat, you'er soooo sweet!!! You know my crazy busy situation. Thank you for cheers that allowed me to overcome these difficulties.
      xxSadami

      Delete
  13. What beautiful work, Sadami! I'm so happy I stopped by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Carol, thank u so much!!! Cheers, Sadami

      Delete
  14. Fantásticos bocetos, me encanta como reflejas las actitudes de los modelos, son auténticos, saludos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola, Francis, thank you very much! Usted, también, captura un estado de ánimo y la luz de un paisaje! Esperamos su próxima!!
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Hi, Francis, thank you very much! You, too, capture a mood and light of a landscape! Look forward to your next!!
      Best wishes, Sadami

      >>>Francis said...
      Fantastic sketches, I love how you reflects the attitudes of the models, they are authentic, greetings.

      Delete
  15. Dear Sadami, I had little time to follow the blog friends, but tonight I have time and read your post is as always interesting.I admire your art beautiful,loose and careful from the psychological point of view.
    The text and illustrations mutually reinforce one another ... it's amazing the power of images in the minds of children. The past month I held my granddaughter of 30 months, here at home, while my daughter organized the move from Geneva to Warsaw. The child was homesick for mom and dad and sister, then she asked me to paint them.
    I painted simple figures and the painting remained in the study on the stand. Every time we passed near this door, Beatrice said that in that room there were mom and dad and sister and it was quiet.
    For the children, look at images has a very deep meaning, the words related to the pictures, too. A great work that you do and do your colleagues, whom I admire when I hold books for children to read and comment along with Beatrice!
    Warm regards,Rita.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Rita,
      Thank u very much for sharing the wonderful story and the encoruagements. I heartily hope Beatrice will have a good time with you by your paintings. Children love pictures even in an extraordinary and hard contex. (*I did research on children in Nazi concentration camps. Yet, in such a difficult situation, they created drawings and poems... Very toughy and moving. I went to their exhibition in Sydney several yrs ago.) Good pictures tell stories.
      Unfortunately, picture books tend to be undervalued in socity and art. In fact, picture books have highly sophisticated art techniques that convey messages/themes in varied genres/texts from entertainment, education to literture. It's amazing.
      I'm a life long learer for picture book illustration.
      Best wishes and kind regards, Sadami

      Delete
  16. Dear Sadami, Little we imagine the troubles illustrators, editors and publishers go through when they are planning a new picture book. It's so easy to flip over children's books when you see them in the bookshop or the library. You made me aware of it and now I look at them from another point of view. Excellent sketches (as usual) :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Anna, Thank you! Indeed, our manmos efforts are not known. So, not only art techniques, but also good academic background and research skills are essential. BTW, keep up your adventure and new approaches!!
      Best wishes, Sadami

      Delete
  17. Hola Sadami, estás en un buen momento y yo me alegro mucho por ti. Tus retratos son muy hermosos, captas a los personajes tal cual son, aún diría más parecen que tienen vida!!
    Un afectuoso abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola, Sonia, muchas gracias! Siempre estás cuidando de mí. Mantengamos disfrutando de dibujo!!
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Hi, Sonia, thank you so much! You're always caring for me. Let us keep enjoying drawing!!
      Best wishes, Sadami

      >>>Sonia said...
      Hello Sadami, are in a good moment and I I'm glad for you. Your portraits are very beautiful, you get characters such which are, I would even say most seem to have life!
      An affectionate hug.

      Delete