One more from the dummy...

For the dummy I like to keep the sketches rather loose.  I may want to leave a lot of the line work in this one as well.  The thick and thin lines add so much movement to the piece.  This is one half of a double page so there is no text needed here.

New dummy under construction

Since I have sent out the dummy I worked on for most of the last few months, I will begin this second one while I wait patiently for some type of response on the one I just sent out.
Here is a quick sketch ... but I can't give away the story. I will say that there is a surpise ending that just cracks me up.  If the sketch looks familiar, and it might, that is because I have been coming and going with the manuscript for over a year now. I finally love it, so the dummy will come next.  At some point this story will find a home.

And now for something completely different

©Ginger Nielson

This is a scene from a dummy I have been juggling for a year or more. I have changed the story but the characters remain the same, they just keep asking for script changes.

Dummy up...

I have considered several styles of dummy for presenting to publishers. In the past I have done the labor intensive stitched kind, with heavy board covers and also the double stick adhesive type as well as accordion folds and taped together versions. For the book I am working on right now I used a new system that suited the style very well. Since I am able to hand deliver this one, it won't matter that it is a bit heavy. I took an older sketch book with hard board covers and used it as a base. Then I glued each page into the book on the empty pages. I had just enough leftover sheets in the sketch book to accommodate the dummy.

Although this wouldn't be the best choice for one that I mailed on spec, it is a great way to showcase the sketches for this particular project. I was even able to slip a DVD with the PDF for the sketches into the book. The images are blurred for privacy of the publisher, but you get the idea. I liked the way the presentation turned out.




Because I have a nice new wide body printer I can actually print out the spreads up to 13 x 19 inches. I can make a dummy with those as well as this kind where I have to cut the pages apart to put them in order. Maybe variety is what I like when it comes to dummies. *:)

Do you have a favorite way of creating a dummy?

Continuing with the Fold out book

Sometimes we may take on a project that expands in ways we didn't realize beforehand.

At any rate, I will continue with my revision of the original story about the little elephant. As a fold out the number of illustrations has MushROOMEd from 34 pages (including the front and back covers) to around 44 with all the flaps and fold outs. It is fun, and I know I will be happy with the end result.

It is also a LOT of work.

On the bright side, if there is one, *:) work is so slow right now that I have time to give this project my full attention and as I do things are looking better.

Here are some examples of the older version and the newer version. It is a bit softer, more tuned to the youngest market and hopefully more interactive with the fold out surprises I have introduced.

This is the older half finished version.

This is the newer sketch

And this is the newer finished painting.

All images © Ginger Nielson

Although you may not see much difference ... the changes are there. Lighter water with more sparkle and different ears that look more like a real baby elephant's ears. Also I simplified the background. This is actually only one half of a full page spread.

The Road less Taken... or the Crossroads

I have come to a conclusion about the book dummy I an currently creating. A new style popped up while I was doing some character sketches and color studies. What does this mean? It means I am going to redo the entire batch of sketches I have done so far and redo the one or two finishes that I was planning on including. The style is looser and easier, but for me to create this same style page after page is going to be a bit of a challenge.


But it will still be fun! And as long as it is, I will enjoy this journey.

Patience and Perseverence

Having sent out my dummy and facing the long wait for any answer...any kind of answer, I have started work on the OTHER story I was working on before this last story crowded its way into my brain.

The sketches for this one are taking a new turn... slightly more of an edge to these. I am not an 'edgy' illustrator, so to you my edge may seem a bit more rounded *:)

This is a study for one of the spreads in the book. I'll spend some time defining the characters and then strive to keep them consistent throughout the book. Occasionally I'll do a thumbnail color study to use as a reference later. Sometimes I toss these out in favor of another color combo.

One step at a time

Scientific tidbit:

When an elephant raises it's trunk it is threatening or intimidating a predator or intruder... as if to say.."You better get out of here."
When an elephant lowers it's trunk and runs at you.... "YOU'd REALLY Better Get Out of HERE!"

I am moving very slowly along the last few spreads of my dummy. The story is finished...somewhat. I have a habit of working inside out. That is, I write, then draw then maybe change a word, a line a paragraph, and that affects the drawing a bit.

This way works for me, although it may not seem even sane to others. Having the control over both the manuscript and the illustrations is a blessing and a curse. So far, as one of my artist friends pointed out, there can be multiple changes to a sketch or painting before we see it as done.

This particular sketch depicts two paragraphs from my story and it has changed several times since I first began to visualize the moments and movement. Now I think I am happy. The text changed along with the illustration... as often happens when one has Ultimate Control...but I am moving on to the last three spreads. Maybe by this fall I'll be able to say, Dummy done! Then what?

Sneak Peek

©Ginger Nielson 2009

What I am working on now is so much fun! My own story that will soon become a finished dummy and then who knows. Here is a sneak peek at Aunt Tallulah. Her sketch is done and I have only started the painting in Painter X. I have some time now so I am really enjoying every stroke I paint.

Tallulah is an interesting character to work with. She is hospitable, generous, colorful and loves loves loves to bake goodies and serve tea. In fact I would love to go to her house today. Maybe the sun is shining wherever she is! And Yes, she is based on a real life character I knew and loved as a child. Her sister is just as colorful and interesting as she is, and there will be a sneak preview of Beulah in weeks to come.

Paper vs Paper

I usually print out my dummies on fairly good presentation paper. This dummy was a bit different and since the double page spreads were so large I wanted larger paper to print them on. I have good photo paper, but don't want to use that for a dummy. That kind of paper is great and best reserved for a couple of finishes to show to a publisher. But I needed to use larger paper to get the whole spread on one sheet.

So I experimented with papers I had on hand and used a couple of types for printing the dummy. I had a ton of older rag based drawing paper and tried one color copy on that. WOW!

© Ginger Nielson 2009

illustration printed on older drawing paper with a lot of texture

The texture that resulted was something I absolutely loved. Compared to the expensive premium paper that I usually use for a dummy, this paper has such character. I have noticed in some of my favorite picture books that the paper has a wonderful "tooth" to it. This old drawing paper really is "toothy." But it is far to flimsy to use for a dummy.

© Ginger Nielson 2009

illustration printed on good quality matte photo paper

I don't know if it will show up on the blog, but here is the other of the two photos. The presentation paper from Epson is top of the line, but the colors and lines blend a bit too much. The rag paper is not great quality but I loved what it did with the color and the texture. With this print a lot of the texture that I had painted did not show up well. So my search continues.

Somewhere in between these two I will hopefully find the perfect paper for this dummy. And I will find the perfect paper for the finished pieces that I will want to show.

Think I finally have this one ..

©Ginger Nielson 2009

I did decide I wanted to paint the final sketch for this one...but will most likely keep the other illustrations in sketch or line form for the finished dummy. This may or may not be a "good" thing, but right now I have got the TIME to work on this. Illustrators out there will know what I mean for sure. *:)