The Art of The Line in a Picture Book Dummy - Patricia Keeler

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I've always created dummies in pencil, (digital notwithstanding), because dummies are just sketched ideas. Since the story and art will probably be changed, any effort more than a loose sketch is probably not the best use of my time. I might have a couple of finished color images from the dummy, but they would be included separately. All this makes perfect sense.

But I also know how hard it is to sell a picture book. I might have a great art with brilliant writing, (kidding), but I still need to show it in the best possible way. Pencil sketches may be fine, but using the same amount of time, are they my best sketching tool?

Before finalizing your dummy for an editor/art director it's possible to analyze the art and story to decide what drawing tool would best work for the sketches.

If you are not doing backgrounds — just focusing on an animal or child for the dummy — you might consider using a brush pen. That's because in one stroke, the line can vary from thin to wide. This can make a simple image pop.

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I love my Pentel Arts Pocket Brush pen. Look at the fine point and the fat top! It takes an ink cartridge just like a fountain pen.

I haven't had the courage to try this for an entire dummy, but I've seen dummies created with Prismacolor's Col-Erase — erasable colored pencils. The dummies were created using a single color. It may be subjective whether the editor/art director thinks using color to create a dummy is appropriate, but the dummies created in color that I saw, have stayed in my mind for their unique look.

©patriciakeeler

Another interesting drawing tool I've seen used is a wide graphic pencil. This seems to work well with dummies that have a lot of trees and grasses, or rows of buildings. This seems to soften a busy landscape.

©patriciakeeler

Children's book illustrators are expanding artistic possibilities in every step of the book creation process. However book dummies are not often shared publicly because author/illustrators don't want to present an idea before it's time. 

But the look of a book dummy is evolving. Now artists are creating more original dummies while working within the 'just-sketches-please' parameters. If using a certain drawing tool to make your dummy doesn't take any longer than using a #2 pencil, why not create with panache?

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represented by Liza Royce Agency www.lizaroyce.com

Babies and Bookmaking

One of the strangest sensations is to feel your impending deadline. I don't mean that figuratively. As I sit at my drafting table, working on final art for my second picture book, I am getting kicked constantly from the inside. I'm 25 weeks pregnant with a little girl. I am thrilled to welcome her into the world mid-March or early April. (Due date is April 1st–April Fool's Day, of course!) But as I rush to complete my work, I am aware of the joyous upheaval awaiting me soon.

I'm already mom to a wonderful and funny 14 year-old son. He has been so much fun to raise–and gave me the idea for my first picture book, RENATO AND THE LION (Viking, June 2018). But I clearly remember the sleeplessness of the first six months of his life. Because of this, I am starting to panic a little. I want to give my agent a few more book dummies in decent shape before my daughter is born, before I lose track of day and night. As I write this, I'm feeling my daughter's tiny feet kicking with surprising strength. 2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. And in the general due date timeframe, it is likely she will be born an Aries. I'm in for one strong little girl-if you take stock in that sort of thing. Thank goodness, of course. But... there's still so much more to be written and drawn before she arrives. 

On twitter yesterday, I came across an illustration by Renée Kurilla (below, center) that I loved. She drew a baby asleep in a carrier as she continued to sketch. It struck me that there are probably a lot of artists and writers out there trying to continue there work while providing childcare to young 'uns. It gave me hope that although my son was a firecracker and needed to be on the move constantly, there are babies that might just sleep and allow for an hour or two of work. *crossing fingers!

So I'm opening this blog post up to the parents who juggle care with their careers. Any tips, tricks or advice to share? I have parenting experience, but not with books to make and promote at the same time. So creative community, what's your secret to nurturing both?

Illustrations by Renée Kurilla