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This is the fun part for me, while it can be the long impatient wait for you.  Every now and then I will  send you bursts of surprises in the form of ideas and finished art pieces.  Think of it like this:  How long did it take for you to develop the words for your book?  Now remember the old adage: "A picture is worth a thousand words" .  Please be patient with the process--I will create your book's world for you visually--I just need time to do so.

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STEP 1:  CONTACT ME--COMMUNICATION

THIS CONCERNS PAGE 2  "WHAT I NEED FROM YOU"

        This is a bit of a rehash but--you need to contact me so communication can begin.  You will need to know from me how much my contribution to your story will cost, and how long that contribution might take for me to finish.  MOST IMPORTANTLY:  We will have to do a lot of talking so that I understand your story  and your vision of it thoroughly.  My job  at this stage is to develop your vision without you possibly having one beforehand.  If you do already have a vision, then the communication step of the process goes a lot quicker .  I'm just as interested in your thoughts about your story as the story itself.  Your thoughts are how I will translate your vision to the page.

         I can't stress enough how important this step is.  No matter how beautifully I create my version of your story--if it doesn't match your vision--I have not done my job, and you will not be happy with my illustrations. My goal is for you to be ecstatic!!

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STEP 2: DEVELOPING THE ILLUSTRATIONS

EVERY  BOOK  IS  UNIQUE--EVERY  ILLUSTRATION  SHOULD  SHOW  THAT

Remember in school when we had to analyze the meaning behind the story and what the author was trying to portray indirectly?  Well, I will have to spend some time working through your concepts, your story's subliminal moods.  My illustrations have to match those things within your story to work seamlessly together as a whole. 

The development stage can sometimes take longer than actually  creating the final illustrations.--but it can only happen with regular contact between us, and your  frequent feedback .

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 Process of the Developmental Stage:

***Hit the titles for my Process Examples***

• Character Design--I will experiment with different styles and looks in trying to determine the right look for your characters.  I will have to draw them from every angle so that they look consistent throughout all my illustrations. 

• Environments and Style Tests--A lot of my time will be spent creating your world behind your world.  I might even have to draw maps to maintain consistency  throughout the scenes in your story.  As to the style tests, I use a variety of media: acrylics, oil paint, charcoal, chalk pastel, and computer generated art.  The media I choose helps create the style that makes your story come alive.  I have to experiment with the character design and the media to create the mood of your book.

• Storyboard--Finally, after the characters and their environments are ironed out, I create a sheet of "thumbnail sketches"--tiny , very simple drawings of each page of the story.  I will make a few of these, changing up view points until we eventually end up with a plan you like for the whole book.  I will be communicating with you during this whole process 

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STEP 3. ILLUSTRATION

I will have all the developmental stages of your book completed by now.  I will be getting my mediums out to play with and begin the final illustrations of the story.   I start this step by drafting the final sketches, making revisions if necessary (all with your feedback ).  Your feedback is very important.  If you don't like something about any of these final sketches it is easier to fix them before I've added the medium than after.  It is also cheaper.

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Once you've approved the final sketches, you get to relax and wait for me to finish the illustrations.  Depending on the medium you've chosen, the style of the book, and the detail amount in the illustrations, the time you wait could be one month or up to five.  I will send you updates and illustration examples so you can make video trailers or promo fliers.

 

Now we are done...sort of.

 

  NEXT PAGE--WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

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