illustrating for a friend

A friend was putting together a small prayer book for her church and asked if I could do seven illustrations for it. First, I looked through old sketchbook journals for things I could use.

 

Then I re-sketched each on some 200 lb. watercolor paper in a lightly penciled-in frame, so all the illustrations would be the same general size.Three of the illustrations were new, not from previous sketches.
Next I chose the paints I would use. I removed the tray from my studio palette, leaving just the chosen paints in the tin with all that mixing area. (I never even used the yellow!)

 

 

 

There are seven different prayer focuses in the prayer book with one illustration to go with each: thankfulness, healing, help in difficult times, children, the military, God's perfect will, and hope. These books and the same prayers on an overhead will be used in my friend's church for weekly prayer meetings open to anyone in the community who wishes to drop in for a short bit of time.

illustration palette trial

I found an on-line article about paints used for illustrating children's books --- which colors are closest to those used by printers. Several on the suggested list I already have; I tried mixing substitutions for those I don't.

I illustrated a children's book for daughter-in-law Misty early this year. Printing it is on hold while she works at getting a foundation set up that will pay the printing costs. (The book's purpose is to help children in abusive situations)

I have often wondered how the illustrations will look in print. These colors do seem much brighter than those I did. When our vet, Dr. Beth, gets time to write the little books she asked me to illustrate, I think I'll try this set. But first, I'll play around with them . . .

The recommended paints (all Daniel Smith) are:
rhodonite genuine
perinone orange
hansa yellow medium
permanent green light
amazonite genuine
manganese blue hue
ultramarine blue
imperial purple
quinacridone gold
quinacridone burnt orange

Rose & Kawliga

Just when I am full of doubt regarding my ability to illustrate books written by others, an unexpected thing happened.

I have not yet turned these illustrations for Misty's book over to her -- I'll do so in Texas in a couple of weeks. I don't think she has seen the finished pages I posted privately for her. My mind has been full of doubt as to their quality --- If there was plenty of time, I would probably re-do the whole project completely differently.

Then yesterday, our veterinarian dropped by to check Maxwell out and give us a health certificate to travel. He is going with me to Texas next week and will be given to 4-yr old Jayna as a surprise. She has been begging for him to come visit her ( . . . "and can he stay a L-O-N-G time?").

(Yes, our vet makes house calls! She is soon breaking ground on her new clinic; meanwhile, she makes house calls on her patients.)

Anyway, after finishing with Maxwell, Dr. Beth asked me about my illustrating. I thought she was only being polite. But she then said she was wanting to write a series of books for children visiting her clinic. "Uh oh," I thought.

I told her that first maybe she should look at what I've done for this book. And showed the illustrations to her . . . . She said YES, she DOES want me to illustrate her books, as soon as she researches publishing options.

I'm still in shock.