You’ve had many ideas brewing up in your head for quite some time. It’s an amazing story, one about lands far, far away, full of magical creatures. You had been wanting to write it for the longest time. The thought of having a book of your own made you feel excited. Now it’s finally become a reality.
You’ve poured your heart and soul into it. Every single scene and character is very close to your heart. You just know the readers are going to love it. Since you’ve worked so hard on it, you want it to touch hearts. The best way to do it? With pictures!
Picture books take storytelling to a whole new level. They’re more than just pretty drawings. With them, stories come to life. They’re doors to whole new worlds that readers want to live in. Since you’ve already built one with your words, it’s time to bring it to life with colors, shapes, and emotion.
If you’re new to making illustrations, don’t worry. We all start from somewhere. Luckily, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about illustrating for picture books.
The Magic of Illustrations in Picture Books
Making drawings is an exciting job, but not the easiest. Yours should speak on behalf of the book; that’s the entire point of a picture book. These tell tales without saying anything directly.
Don’t let this scare you, though. You don’t have to be a professional children’s book illustrator to get the job done. With the right tools and strategies, you can make a picture book that makes reading sessions magical. You might say
“I don’t even know where to start.”
We’ve got your back. Here’s what you need to do
Ask the right questions.
Before you do anything, set a clear direction for your design process.
“How do I know what will work best for my book?”
Ask yourself these questions.
- What are the main themes of the book?
- What’s the overall mood I should convey?
- Are there any defining moments in the story?
Answering these is going to give you an idea of how the pictures should look. Remember, your words tell stories, but drawings take them straight to the reader’s hearts. Carefully read through the document, and see what needs to be emphasized the most.
Who’s on the other side?
Now that you’ve got an idea of the story, you should know who’s going to read the book. Picture books are popular in children’s literature. Readers from different age brackets prefer different illustration styles. Don’t worry if you’re confused. Here’s a little breakdown to make the decision easier.
| Illustration type | Why it’s loved | Who loves them |
| Watercolors | Whimsical and nostalgic vibe | 4 to 8 year olds |
| Modern | Dramatic and colorful look | 5 to 10 year olds |
| Comic | Looks playful and lively | 3 to 7 year olds and Adults who prefer anime-style drawings |
Know which road to take.
Before you start designing images for your story, know how it plays out. If you’ve written it yourself, you already have this part figured out. In case you’re illustrating someone else’s book, read it carefully.
Make a small storyboard, this will show the sequence of events. Drawing without this is like going on a road trip without a map. You’ll take all the wrong turns and waste a lot of time.
Start small
Make doodles or rough sketches of how you want the illustrations to look. You can do this while reading the book. Jot down all ideas that come to your mind, or draw them. This will give you a point to start from.
“My doodles are all over the place and look messy.”
That’s nothing to worry about. You’re going to refine them later anyway. The point is to get started. Your sketches are the beginning of your illustration journey. They don’t have to be perfect.
Ideas in little boxes
Once you’re done making sketches, make thumbnails for them. These will represent each page of your book, and the kind of drawings they will have. Picture books mostly contain 32 to 40 pages. Plan out what part of the story each one is going to explain.
This is also going to help in figuring out the page layout and turns. You can always change things around if something doesn’t sit right with you.
Colors, shades, and much more
Take your rough sketches and fill them with colors. Keep the main theme in mind. A horror story can’t have bright and vibrant colors. On the other hand, a moral story for children can’t have dark and gloomy images.
Add shade and texture for depth. Use contrasts for emphasis. Once you’re done, remove the sketch lines. This can be done on both paper and digital tools.
The beauty lies in balance.
Now comes the most important part: deciding where the text should go. Picture books are all about… well…pictures, but the words are just as important. Create a balance between the text and visuals.
Place your text in spots where it can be easily read. They should enhance the story, not repeat the message the image is already conveying. Make sure there’s enough white space so the overall layout doesn’t look overwhelming.
Finishing touches
You’re done! You’ve made it to the last step. Now it’s time to take a step back, look at the illustrations from afar. Ask yourself if they’re what you had imagined before you began drawing. Do they convey the right emotions?
If the answer’s no, then start editing. Change things around until you’re satisfied with the designs. Download it if you’re working with a digital tool, and you’re good to go.
And there you have it! Your very own picture book! Now all you have to do is contact picture book publishers UK to get it printed!
People Also Ask
- I’m not a professional artist. What should I do?
You don’t need to be a pro at illustrations. All you need is the right tools. Start small and keep practicing. Your story deserves to be told well, and told by you.
- What if I’m not comfortable with digital tools?
Nothing to worry about. You can do it the old school way with pencils and paper. Just take photos of them to upload to digital tools to edit further.
- I’m out of ideas. Where should I begin?
That’s completely fine, you can look for inspiration. Look for an art style that speaks to you. Read the story carefully and try to imagine the scenes. It’ll give you a clearer idea.
Wrapping Up
Illustrating for your picture book is more than just adding images. It’s about bringing life to your story. Every line, every shape you draw takes you closer to making your dream come true. If you haven’t done it before, it doesn’t mean you can’t try now. Don’t be afraid to take new paths and make mistakes. You’ll learn along the way. Remember, no one can be perfect on the first attempt. All you have to do is keep going until you have the illustrations that speak to your readers.