This project is my first attempt at creating a children's book, as part of my Master's studies at Nottingham Trent University. It has also been nominated for Apila’s First Printing Award 2025, an international illustrated book contest. It consists of 32 pages total, including the front and back covers.
The book was entirely written and illustrated by me, using Procreate, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Indesign.
process
IDEATION
After writing the story itself, I tried figuring out what I wanted my book and characters to look like. At first I wanted it to be a black single layer on top of colourful, moody backgrounds but the scenes were too complicated for that to work.
After writing the story itself, I tried figuring out what I wanted my book and characters to look like. At first I wanted it to be a black single layer on top of colourful, moody backgrounds but the scenes were too complicated for that to work.
experimentation
It took a lot of research and experimentation to find the style i was looking for. I ended up liking a faux-watercolour and crayon look for this project.
It took a lot of research and experimentation to find the style i was looking for. I ended up liking a faux-watercolour and crayon look for this project.
storyboards
The most difficult part of the project was definitely the storyboards, mainly figuring out interesting compositions that did not clash with the text arrangement, and trying to fit the story into a limited number of pages. This process took many, many iterations.
The most difficult part of the project was definitely the storyboards, mainly figuring out interesting compositions that did not clash with the text arrangement, and trying to fit the story into a limited number of pages. This process took many, many iterations.
