Wednesday 25 May 2011

Thank Goodness! (But There's Still More...)


I am well and truly frazzle-brained after that marathon but, finally, all the digital cut-outs for Baby Goes Baaaaa! are now done. Phew. It took longer than usual, because every single page needed doing, rather than just the odd image here and there.


However... just when I thought it was all over, I remembered there are a couple of illustrations that need incidental text adding, like the paint pot you can see in this rough of page E, F, G. As any illustrator knows, you never draw wording on your illustrations, because of co-edition translations, but that means overlays are required, so the words can be printed on afterwards.

There are two little pots with wording on: one for the paint above, another for the anteater's sticky treacle (which I think will be syrup in the US):


Now, for most sensible people, who don't work in pastels, overlays are not something they need worry about: the designer is quite happy to take care of it. But, pastel illustrations look a bit weird with standard, hard-edged fonts on top - the wording floats above the surface of the drawing.

So, like the control-freak John is always reminding me I am, I do my own overlays...


...hand-drawing the text in Corel Painter...


...so they have an identical texture to the rest (I scan in my textured pastel paper, so I get identical marks). Glutton for punishment? Definitely. Worth it though.


If you too are a glutton for punishment, there is more about how I do the overlays on this post from when I was at this same stage with Bears on the Stairs.

7 comments:

Vivien said...

I love the anteater with the treacly mess, and it will be a delight to children!

Aisling Kiernan said...

I love your anteater and find the whole process fascinating and will view my childrens' story books with so much more respect now. Thank you for your generosity in sharing how you work. Amazing

Anonymous said...

Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post!
It is the little changes that produce the most important changes.

Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

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Lynne the Pencil said...

So pleased that you have found my information interesting and helpful guys. That's what I aim for, but I never know for sure if all this detailed documenting of my processes is of use to people. So glad to hear that I am hitting the spot :-)

Anonymous said...


First of all I want to say awesome blog!
I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if yoou do not mind.
I was interested to find out how youu cener yourseslf 
and cloear your thouhts prior to writing. I've had a ough time clearing mmy thoughts iin getting my ideas 
out there. I do enjoy writing but it just seems like thhe first 
10 to 15 minutes tend to be wasted just trying too figure out hoow to begin.
Any recommendations orr tips? Appreciate it!

Lynne the Pencil said...

Good question. When my brain isn't working, or won't focus properly, I find a bit of exercise helps. A brisk walk round the block, or 10 minutes of bopping to some bouncy music before you sit down to begin, can work wonders. Choosing where you write is important. Create a cosy corner exclusively for writing - somewhere free from associations which will distract you.