ShmoopTube

00:04

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:13

As we all know, every book is better with pictures. [Boy reading a book in a library]

00:17

Just think how much more interesting a scientific journal would be if there were cartoon bunnies

00:21

hopping across the pages.

00:23

Okay, so illustrations might not always be appropriate… [Guy looks upset]

00:26

…but much of the time, they help to clarify something visually, kick-start a reader’s

00:30

imagination, or just break up the monotony of all those dang words. [Girl falls to sleep because the book is so boring]

00:35

So…how do illustrators…illustrate?

00:38

What makes them more than just glorified doodlers? [Guy holding up a stick man drawing]

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Well, first they read through the text of a story and decide which scenes to illustrate.

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They can’t illustrate every single detail or scene, obviously, so they choose the ones

00:49

that would make for the best illustrations. [Woman flicking through a book]

00:51

Next, they form a plan of action.

00:53

They clearly outline the steps they want to take in order to create their illustrations. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

00:57

They start by making a dummy.

00:58

No need for the guy in the dunce cap to take offense…it’s just another word for a model. [Guy with dunce cap looks upset]

01:03

Something like…a practice book.

01:04

They use pencil to make sketches, so they can go back and change their mistakes if needed.

01:08

Except for the ones who are really full of themselves [Guy drawing with a sharpie]

01:11

Remember when you learned about character perspectives?

01:13

Well, illustrators have to decide on the point of view for each illustration as well.

01:18

Should the picture be drawn from the character’s point of view, or should the picture show

01:21

the character in action?

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Should it show multiple characters, or only focus on one? [Different illustrations being shown]

01:26

Should the sun have a smiley face on it?

01:27

All important decisions.

01:29

Often an illustrator will use a model to help them draw how a character feels.

01:33

Guess how this character feels.

01:35

Everyone needs good feedback on their work.

01:38

Just like you show your work to your classmates and teachers, illustrators show their work

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to the editor, and to the designer at the publishing company.

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They get feedback and make changes as requested. [Guy drawing with a pencil instead of a sharpie now]

01:48

They will literally go back to the drawing board.

01:50

The editor’s job is to decide if the pictures really tell the story… [Editor looks annoyed that the illustrator has made a drawing of their own bathroom]

01:53

… while the designers can also make suggestions, and is responsible for choosing the type and

01:57

wording for the cover of the book.

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It’s on the illustrator to decide how to complete the final drawings, and what tools

02:03

they’re going to use to get achieve their vision.

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They choose what kind of paper to use, whether to use paint or crayon, and so on.

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Most of them steer clear of finger paints. [Guy shows the editor a messy painting]

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Once the cover is done…it’s time to party.

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Illustrator-style.

Full Transcript