BIG NEWS.... THE BOOK IS OUT

And it is now on Amazon.com as well.

The book I illustrated written by Barbara B Slater through the design director, Carol Pentleton, at the Digital Artist is finally OUT!

"When Wishes Come True" is a wonderful story of love and friendship between two creatures that wished for something different in their lives. When they find each other, a beautiful story unfolds that will capture your heart, and make you laugh and cry .... sometimes all at once. The reviews are worth reading as is Barbara's bio which details her many talents and gives one insight into her generous soul.

As happy as I was with the reviews, I was even happier to have been a part of this beautiful gem of a story.


“When Wishes Come True” , currently available on Amazon.com includes a section titled “Suggested Discussion Questions and Activity Guide” as well as an “Interview with the Author.”

From Amazon a short blurb:
"Make a Wish...It Could Come True.

When Penelope PeaHen and Oliver Owl decide they want to improve their lives, they each make a wish. Unlike most of us, however, they both do something about making their wishes come true. This is the story about how two most unlikely special friends found each other, and themselves."

SHAMWARI

Shamwari means friend in Africa.
This morning I received a beautiful photo from a "friend" in South Africa. Brettell Hone is the author of the book I illustrated that is out now. "My African Bedtime Rhymes" and he is also a great humanitarian. One of his recent projects involved working with the children of the Appel Farm school in his region presenting a play.

From the photo I chose a composite of several children to create "Shamwari." I had such fun doing this, because the children are so full of delight and energy. Brettell says they have "radioactive" energy and I can just imagine as a former teacher what it takes to corral that energy into positive action.

I am so happy to have been involved in Brettell's book and look forward to hearing more about the children from the Appel School.


They are rehearsing Edward Lear's "The Owl and the Pussycat" to get into the mode of learning to recite rhymes. Later they will move on to more difficult works.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CRAVING

©Ginger Nielson

Quick morning sketch

More in the Skater Series

Another image of skating. Earlier image can be viewed below.
What I want to do is combine these two and maybe another into one larger piece.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ ADAPT II

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Creating a Dummy Book for Presentation

The hard part is not the putting together, there are so many variations. The HARD part is thinking through the illustrations, creating a storyboard and actually getting all the sketches done.


I like to use an adhesive strip type glue, white artists tape and presentation paper that allows you to print on both sides.


So, assuming all that is done and you have the requisite 32 pages with front and back cover, you need your pages and your tools and a space to work.
( Note: in some cases the publisher will allow more than 32 pages... a multiple of 8.)

Using good presentation paper that allows you to print on both sides of the paper is a plus. It saves paper and makes a lighter product overall.

When I put a dummy together for a publisher or editor, I use only printed reproductions of the artwork. I usually print them onto a paper that allows for at least one half inch of white space at the spine edge. That area is for gluing and then taping the finished papers together.

Once I have the sketches and several finished paintings printed out I use an adhesive glue dispenser to join the back edge of each page to the next.

When all the pages and the cover are glued at the spine side in this way, I enclose the entire spine with Art Tape to hold the booklet together.

A 32 page picture book dummy will consist of two signatures, or sections of 16 pages each. In the dummy that translates to two sets of eight sheets of paper printed on both sides and joined to each other.

Since I am glueing the pages to each other at the spine and then taping over that extra edge I won't be stitching the dummy together.

Next I make a cover. The cover is simple for a dummy that I plan to mail. I use bristol board as a backing and glue the cover images to a front and back cover piece. I lay the two of these flat and leave about a 1/4 inch space between the two covers and run a strip of tape down the empty space. Then I turn it over and lay the finished dummy right on the tape.

Closing the book and leaving it closed for about an hour usually insures that the cover will stay put. I can always add some white glue if it doesn't want to hold.

I will always print out one or two finished illustrations on good presentation paper that are separate from the book.
Hopefully if the book is enjoyed the editors will have these loose images to pass around. You need to be sure all of these are labeled on the back.

I put my label on the back of the dummy,

prepare the accompanying manuscript and I am ready to present the finished work to a publisher for consideration.