3 Tips for the Illustration Phase

I have the upmost respect for illustrators. That is a skill I wish I had. Even my stick figures need a little work. I am still someone who draws the sun in the corner of the paper as if it can’t be located anywhere else. During the illustration phase I was under the assumption that I would receive the images in color instead of black and white sketches. It took me a while to adjust to seeing black and white images. I mean I dream in color. This phase was difficult for me because even though I saw the characters and scenes in my head I didn’t know how to describe it. Below are some tips that helped me during the illustration phase.  

·       Dual monitors- I consider attention to detail to be the most important skill during the illustration phase for the author. Dual monitors were essential during this phase. I would have the story on one screen and the images on the other. This helped me see if the illustrations and the story aligned. This also helped compare new illustrations to the older ones.

·       Bullet points- Using bullet points helped me when communicating with the illustrator. I used bullet points to call out changes and to identify which character, scene, or image I was providing feedback about. When I would receive changes, I would continue to use this bullet point list to cross off what changes were made, and which changes were still outstanding.  

·       Similar images- I used stock photos and Google images to look for similar images that matched what I saw in my head. Then I would provide that image as a reference point for the illustrator. This was a tremendous help when it came to describing my characters.

And remember if the sketches are beautiful just imagination when you see the final product!