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Monday, February 8, 2016

Storyboard of Picture Book Illustration

I'm working on storyboards for two different stories. In this post, I'll chat over a sb and its structure. What is a storyboard? It displays a design, pictures and the visual information flow of a story. As well as visual information, a storyboard shows available resources of a project such as pages. Regarding design, it often shows a position of a text in a picture bookAn illustrator plans out ideas on papers and shows them to third parties in a storyboard. A sb is very important to examine if illustration works or not. An editor and an illustrator discuss about a sb lot. An illustrator works hard to create a good sb. 

If a good storyboard is done, I feel a half way through in a picture book illustration process. One storyboard is nearly done. I've already recreated the sb for several times. Now, an editor gives me, "Good!" to all images. (Oh, hurray!!) The editor and I are having a chat over an imprint and a title page. 
What is an imprint page? Good question. An imprint page/copyright page shows a bibliographical information about a book : ISBN, a publisher, a published year, an author, an illustrator etc. Let's chat over a structure of a sb. 
Moon endpapers
This is a common storyboard structure. A picture book has 32 pages (some picture books are less than 32 pages). In 32 pages, an imprint page, a title page and a half title page (such as dedication) could take 3 pages. Sometimes a story starts on page 3 and others start on page 4 or 5 and ends on page 31 or 32. An imprint is not always at the beginning in contemporary picture books. 
Storyboard Template 
Contemporary picture books have varied and unique presentations of an imprint and a title page. For example, my "Moon" used endpapers for a story and an imprint page. See above. (*Endpapers paste the content of a book to its book covers). First, we decided how many pages to be used in the Moon. "Maximum pages" was chosen. It meant 32 pages plus endpapers. Publisher Helen gave me ok! In the Moon, endpapers have a dual meaning for readers. It shows the introduction of a story and the ending or the "post script" of the story. Max's father is either going away or coming home. It's fun to design where/how an imprint and a title page would be allocated in 32 pages. I love to look at other illustrators' storyboards and study about them.  
                      This is my first image of imprint pages in a sb and rough (black and white). 
I developed this colour rough. Then, I worked on A2. 
Back to the sb currently I'm working on. Now, I'm doing character design and "rough." One big name taught me regarding a sb and rough, "That's the time I have freedom most. I can change images and enjoy creating picture books." Yes, that's true. I will develop good black and white and create a beautiful colour rough. That's the way we struggle and have joy in it.

Page division and making a solid story board is a first big task in the process of making a picture book. If you're interested in the process of illustration a picture book, I'd update my work from time to time. I'm a very busy bee now. 
Friends, Happy Painting!   


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14 comments:

  1. A lot of work goes into these Sadami. Thanks for sharing. (are you on facebook or twitter?)

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    1. Thank you so much, sweet Ann! No, I'm not on them. I'm considering facebook.
      Best wishes and kind regards, Sadami

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  2. Hello, busy bee!! I had no idea how a picture book comes together - thanks for telling us how the process goes along and what it included at each stage. I cannot imagine the pressure of this type of work but know you want to do it and you will - and you have, because Moon was your debut and now it's time for you to fly with another and another!! Take care of yourself, relax sometimes and swim and have a glass of wine :)

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    1. Yey, you, too, busy bee! Rhonda, you're so kind. I'll take it easy and do my best work for each opportunity. You, too, please take care and enjoy your life and painting.
      Best wishes, ((Hugs)) Sadami

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  3. Dear Sadami - thank you for sharing your process. I have often wondered how an illustrator works getting things to fit with the story. Such an interesting insight on the sb. So glad you shared. Have a super week. Hugs!

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    1. Dear sweet Debbie, thank u so much! If you like, you can try to create a storyboard. A good one can show a story without a text. You, too, have a wonderful week.
      ((Hugs)) and big smile, Sadami

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  4. Oh, Sadami, qué interesante es todo lo que nos explicas de cómo se hace una ilustración. Es muy educativo. No sabía el proceso.
    Me encanta esa vista aérea.
    Un abrazo

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    1. Muchas gracias, dulce Joshemari! Estoy muy feliz de saber que disfruten el conocimiento básico y esencial de la ilustración libro de imágenes. Usted, también, mantenerse al día maravillosos paisajes y la arquitectura. Los amo a todos.
      Los mejores deseos, Sadami

      Thank you very much, sweet Joshemari! I'm very happy to know you enjoy the basic and essential knowledge of picture book illustration. You, too, keep up wonderful landscapes and architecture. I love them all.
      Best wishes, Sadami

      >>>>Joshemari said...
      Oh, Sadami, how interesting it is all that we explain how an illustration is made. It is very educational. I did not know the process.
      I love this overhead view.
      A hug

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  5. I'm VERY interested in knowing about all this. Thank you for sharing everything! ☺

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    1. Dear Catharina, Thank u for visiting my blog and very happy to know you enjoy the content. Best wishes, Sadami

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  6. Congratulations to both the Anns -- you are indeed lucky and blessed :) I loved reading about your storyboards- so fascinating! I did a board for my story and is struggling to polish it as I am working solo without the helps of any editors or art directors! It is a personal project but I may have gotten way over my head :) Please do post updates I am so interested in knowing more ! Thanks for so generously sharing!

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    1. Thank you, Meera! The two Anns, Helen, other big names are so generous and dearing an emerging illustrator, me. Me, too, learning lots right now. I hope you will get someone in publishing industry to check yours. A sb is so important. My small dummy of Moon convinced another famous editor at an educational conference. At once, she asked me to illustrate their educational picture book. Then, I worked on it. My picture book dummy got me another job opportunity. Create a good sb and a dummy. It's the way to success. I look forward to your sb. Meera, you can do it! Best wishes, Sadami

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  7. complicated....but you make sense of it! beautiful painting

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    1. Thank you so much, Celeste! You're a hard worker, too. Best wishes, Sadami

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