Drawing character sketches | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

Today is Day Six of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…I’d forgotten how difficult it is to do a blog post every day. But I’m loving that it is giving me an excuse to read a picture book every day. If you click on this link, you’ll be able to see what books everyone else is reading: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/day-6-imogenes-last-stand-by-candace.html

Right before I moved from Colorado, I had the opportunity to attend an indie bookstore event for author/illustrator Peter Brown. Not only did he read his newest book, but he also interacted with the audience as he demonstrated how he drew the main character, Mr. Tiger.

Title: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Author and Illustrator: Peter Brown

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Date: 2013

Word Count: 220 estimated

Top Ten Element: Character and Plot and Pacing and Dialogue and Conflict and Theme and Beginnings & Endings and Word Play and Patterns…I think the only element missing is Rhyme Continue reading →

Do you ever feel you don’t have time to do anything – because you are too busy doing everything?

I’m feeling that way this month. I’m participating in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) – reading inspiring daily posts from authors and illustrators on Tara Lazar’s blog and trying to come up with at least one sparkling spark of an idea for a new picture book story. It’s going pretty well…I’ve got way more than 15 ideas – and the month is only half over.

I’m also taking Mira Reisberg’s Illustrating Children’s Picture Books because I had a crazy idea that maybe one day I might be able to illustrate my own stories!!!! Last week I had to create thumbnails for one of my stories – a kind of a storyboard with a small sketch for each scene. This week I had to develop some character sketches for my main character, a little boy who wants to catch a bug to be his pet. I’m putting my work up here to encourage every person who reads this post that it is okay to try things that are out of your comfort zone – you won’t break the world, your computer, or yourself – and you just might discover something that you love doing!