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Marcellus Hall
CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATION
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Illustrating for Abrams a children's book about a teacher and her students traveling the world.  Below are steps in the process of illustrating a 2-page spread.  Chad Beckerman is the art director.

Sketch (on 9x12" sketch paper) keeping in mind where two lines of text will be and the "gutter" (where the two pages meet)

Sketch 2

Sketch 3

Sketch 4

Sketch 5

Sketch 6

Sketch 7 - the chosen sketch.

Reference

Color study

Enlarged line drawing on 20x10" vellum


Re-drawing vellum image onto Arches 140lb cold-pressed watercolor paper using graphite transfer paper

Graphite drawing on watercolor paper

Applying waterproof brown "Calli" ink with No.2 Utrecht 228 Series Sablette brush

Adding dark blue lines - a mixture of Dr. Ph Martin's concentrated watercolor, Speedball Super Black India ink, and water

Applying masking tape to the sides and a thin layer of yellow watercolor to specific areas

Adding masking fluid to areas that will stay white (like the whales' eyes and certain waves) (masking fluid is rubbed off later with an eraser)

Brown watercolor on the boat

Practicing skies

Sky

Water

More water (wet on wet)

Whale

Other whale, teacher, and students

Erasing masking fluid, adding white gouache highlights, and darkening the whale - done for the time being... 12 or 13 more spreads to go
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