Friday 24 July 2009

Illustrating a Picture Book: Bears on the Stairs Cover Ideas


I have been working on the cover, end-papers and title page for Bears on the Stairs, while I wait for my feedback on the rest of the roughs.


This was my first idea for the cover. The Editor liked the two lower bears, but wasn't keen on the big one 'batting' the title text. This is my re-draw:


For the endpapers, I though one big picture might be fun, rather than the little spot repeats of characters that I often do. I don't know yet whether we will have full colour or just single colour, but this is my idea:


If it's single colour, I think just the linear drawing would work quite well, maybe reversed out, as white line onto a strong colour.

6 comments:

Jill said...

I like the second cover rough - upstairs bear is sharing the joke with us, the reader

Unknown said...

Hi! I stumbled into this website while googling a song I heard on the radio tonight by an obscure band, "The Fastest Group Alive", and their song about bears. There's a part about "bears on the stairs". You should give it a listen, it's hilarious! I haven't been able to find much on them, but this link to their song is a gem:

http://whereikeepmystuff.com/thebears.html

By the way, I like your sketches!

Edrian said...

I love the first book cover, but I can see why and editor would want something less edgy. Great alternative with option two...and a great idea for the end.
Thanks for sharing your process. I'm really enjoying every post.

Edrian | Visit my blog

dawnbach said...

They look like very cheeky bears!!!! The upstairs bear in the second rough could be doing something or dangling something above the one pickin his nose??? I love em, they;re brill. I met you a couple of times in North Wales on your school tours, and enjoyed it more than the kids I think!!!! I was doing a childrens illustrator degree at the time, and you were very helpful, thanks.

Dawn

Lynne the Pencil said...

Hey Dawn! Well 'hello again' then! Like the dangling idea - I will give it thought...

Joanna Dover said...

Cover and end papers looking totally fab!