Work shown on this page is from Rick and Dad Go Camping, a story in a reader from Houghton Mifflin School Division.

When I make an illustration I begin with the sketch. Sometimes I use photographs to see exactly how a place or an object should look. For this sketch I looked at pictures of trucks.

I usually work with layers of tracing paper so that I can move pieces around and see how an image works without having to do too much erasing!

I start with very loose drawings-- almost like stick figures. If I like the loose drawing, I put another piece of tracing paper on top and make the drawing clearer and more detailed.

 

When the sketch is almost the way I want it, I scan it into my computer where I change the drawing even more. In this sketch I made the truck smaller so it would look farther away.

Then I send the drawing in to my editor. Sometimes I email it in straight from my computer.

If the editor likes the sketch I can start the finished painting. I use a light table to transfer the sketch to watercolor paper.

 

Before I start painting, I shade a computer printout of the sketch with pencil. This helps me to see where I want the darkest and lightest parts of the painting to be.

Sometimes I do a small watercolor sketch as well-- just to test how certain colors will look together.

When I'm ready, I wet down the watercolor paper with the finished drawing on it. I staple the paper down to a board and let it dry. This keeps the paper nice and flat while I paint.

When the paper dries I put tape down to mark the edges of the painting. I use drafting tape because it will peel off when I'm done without tearing the paper.

Then I begin painting--

I start very light and add layers of paint until...

 

 

 

 

 

... it's done!