I started watching Tom Froese’s class ‘The Style Class: Work out your illustration style in a daily project’ (on Skillshare) rather as (informative) entertainment, not intending to “take” the class. And I was not disappointed, as it is both interesting and untertaining :)
But I also like a lot the idea of the class project as a “workout”. I thought I could take the class’s prompt, i.e. come up with my own A-Z list of words on a specific theme, in order to work out my “style” of illustrating for children’s books, more specifically for chapter books or illustrated novels (“middle grade” books). This is what Tom calls the “context”.
As for the technique, on the one hand I really like to draw traditionally, but on the other hand I think it is not realistic to do so for that market. I may try both in the “pilot” phase of the project though; I think that phase, where you make the first few illustrations, should be a good way to find out which solution feels better. For me, that’s the whole idea of the workout: trying out things, rather than just thinking about them ;)
In any case, the materials I will use or simulate digitally are coloured pencils, pen or/and brush and ink, and ink/watercolour washes.
I was thinking of trying out hybrid methods, with scanning out textures, i.e. basically some kind of digital collage. But as I was about to write that down, I realised that, as much as I love and admire how Jon Klassen or Steph Fizer Coleman or many other artists do that, also in the children’s book world – this is not my thing 😅️. I guess I want to make a picture as a whole, not make a plan, make pieces, and put them together… Maybe experimenting with collage will be for the next “style” project! :)
Also, I’ve come upon the collection “Kleiner Roman” by Tulipan Verlag (indirectly via my “inspiration case study” research for the class :)), which inspired me to make 2-colour illustrations. I think I’ll still use black and white (and grey), with a single colour accent (not yet sure whether always the same or varying).
As for the theme, it will be “Camping im Harz” – the project will be in German :) – a topic I’m quite familiar with 😁️. My idea is to come up with characters – a family – and use them in the illustrations :)
I may want to use some of the illustrations in a calendar / portfolio I’m working on together with my friend Ina, which will have landscape-format illustrations, so I think I’ll make the illustrations with that orientation in mind (which is not usual for me!).
And I want to make a cover in colour for the project, maybe after the “pilot phase” or a bit later.
Also, I’m thinking of making a zine with the illustrations (and maybe some of this preliminary / process stuff?). Maybe in risography printing, which I’ve been interested in for ages but did not yet have an occasion to use? Or maybe the zine in traditional (digital) printing, and postcards (posters?) in riso :)
But I’m getting ahead of myself! 😅️ Now onto that list of words!
After some more crossing out, scrawling and circling, my final list is:
Abwaschen | Borkenkäfer | Camper | Dampfzug | Einkehren | Fuchs | Gebirgsstelze | Hexen | Imker | Jucken | Kanu | Mühle | Nadelhölzer | Ost / West | Pause | Qualm | Rotes Höhenvieh | Stand-Up Paddling | Toilette | Unwetter | Vollernter | Wasseramsel | X | Yeti | Zipline
…and the title of the project / zine is: “Camping im Harz – von Abwaschen bis Zipline” 😊️.
The idea for the zine is to include French and English translations – not necessarily beginning with the considered letter, as that would be too difficult!
Here’s what the list looks like in English:
Do the dishes | Bark beetle | Camper | Steam train | Stopping off at an inn |Fox | Gray wagtail | Witches | Beekeeper | Itchy | Canoe | Mill | Conifers | East / West | Break | Fumes | Rotes Höhenvieh (a breed of cattle) | Stand-up paddling | Toilet | Bad weather | Harvester | White-throated dipper | X | Yeti | Zip line
Next step: Create a “pilot set” of illustrations!