Storyboarding a Children’s book.

We Draw

When storyboarding a children’s book the first stage is to get inside the originator’s mindset by thinking through the final story draft. It has to be the final draft with a storybook so that the words and design fit as one. Sometimes we are asked to just produce illustrations leaving the design to the publishing house.

With a music vid. storyboard the imagery we visualise overlaps with sound so the fit is a timing one.

Cover designs can be an image repeat from inside a storybook but as they have a distinct function to sell the title, they are often produced as one offs along with point of sale images.

Stories arrives by email in plain text format showing page breaks so we know which paragraphs appear on each page and any specific design requests. The final draft comes from a publishing house editor, a book packager or sometimes an author.

The first step is for us to send back a simple thumbnail storyboard. Changes around this thumbnail stage continue until the full team are happy to press on.

Each thumbnail is developed to produce a sketch storyboard and here’s an example of one produced by artist Peter Scott M.A. for the story Arthur the Artist.

The story, ‘Arthur the Artist’  is copyright of one of our clients, Andrew Segal, of Village Folk Books,  author of:

arthur thumbnails0001 arthur thumbnails0002 arthur thumbnails0003 arthur thumbnails0006 arthur thumbnails0007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Grant.

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Whitton School goes BIG on UK ARTS WEEK

Projects and Ideas

The very Image of LearningBIG ARTS WEEK at Whitton School, resulted in ‘oodles‘ of pencil sketches, heaps of questions about technique and career opportunities, and the production of a series of illuminated illustrations – all in readiness to celebrate the School’s 300 years.

History can feel a bit ancient at times but the Whitton School History Books will, from this day, hold an unforgettable collection of amazing work produced over this art week with artist in residence, Grant.

All the work of the pupils over the week-long art workshop (designed by Peter Scott M.A.) will be compiled in a updateable ring bound folder and placed for everyone to see in the school’s reception area – maybe for the next 300 years!

In the words of one Student, Abigail Green :

“I really enjoyed doing this project and thinking that it might be around in 300 years time. Thinking of the people reading it in 300 years that might be thinking of those people who made it is really interesting. If anyone in the year 2304 reads this, think of us”.

“I only hope that before the year 2304 arrives, all educationalists will promote the value of teaching pupils to culture their creative outlook. Without the ability to imagine that extra mile, horizons, to many, can seem too far off and daunting. Those able to visualise the path ahead, with its potential obstacles, are better prepared from the outset and more fully equipped for the journey forward” said Grant.

(Grant has worked with Peter Scott on the Image of Learning project, Museum in the Classroom and the ebrain. He now works with World of Water, an educational charity dedicated to sharing knowledge about good water use through research, storytelling and round table discussions)

Further reading:
Full work history, bios and ways for your school to learn more at the World of Water site

 

Posted by Grant.

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