Important Tips for Creating Book Illustrations

For young readers, creative illustrations are fascinating. Book illustrations help get a message across to the readers and transform a simple story into an interesting one. If you have an engrossing story to tell but have no idea how to get started with good illustrations, then you have come to the right place. Here are some essential tips for creating attention-capturing illustrations!

5 Things to Remember When Creating Book Illustrations!

Look at the Bigger Picture

Every book has a concept. It’s easy for writers and illustrators to get lost in the details and forget to look at the bigger picture. Understanding the story concept will inspire ideas for the illustrations to help you work better for the theme. Good illustrations are those that encompass the meaning behind the story and enhance the extent of your words. Hence, ensure that the text is aligned with the pictures and doesn’t work against the text as it can confuse the young reader.

Decide on an Illustration Style

The style and technique that you choose should blend well with the story. Decide whether you want to keep your children’s book illustrations modern or classic for a proper flow. Modern illustration techniques use gradients, geometric patterns, colour blocking, and more advanced methods to make your book illustrations edgy and appealing. On the other hand, classic illustration techniques such as pencil drawings, black and white, watercolour, and more, are ideal for depth and detail.

Create a Moodboard

Whether you are doing the work yourself or thinking about hiring a professional, a mood board is a great way to explore design concepts and ideas. It is a collection of images, material samples, colour palettes, and more that will guide you in your work. Before you start your artwork, having a mood board will effectively help you collaborate with the design team. It will act as a prototype piece that shows the structure and visual hierarchy of all your book illustrations in one place.

Focus on the Book Cover

The cover of your children’s book in Toronto is the focal point of your story. Hence, you have to brainstorm for better ideas. Let’s dive into how you can create the perfect illustrations for your children’s book front and back cover:

• Consider the book layout. Choose whether you are going to opt for an ebook or a traditional paperback. The printing and illustration process of both formats can be different.

• Figure out what needs to be emphasized. The front cover and back cover should include the focal element of your story. It may be the main characters or an abstract idea.

• Decide on the dimension and fonts of the cover. Getting your typography right with a good resolution is critical to send your message across.

Remember that Less is More

Some illustrators get carried away and over-complicate the concept for your readers. One of the most fundamental design philosophies is to opt for simplicity. If you look at all the characters that children love, you will find they have simple shapes. Look at Winnie the Pooh, Dr. Suess, Hello Kitty, and more. They all have simple silhouettes that are relatable. Hence, for the best children’s book illustrations, ensure that the drawings are simple and relate to the audience.