2.2: Crafting Dynamic Narrative Illustrations--A Checklist
- Page ID
- 354250
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Telling a story with an illustration–getting the audience to believe the action and emotion of a page–can be difficult at the beginning, and it’s worth sketching several thumbnails to take into account story, action, composition, value, and more. It always pays off to think through your illustration in several ways, not resting on your first idea.
Learning Objectives
- Put into practice various visual elements that should exist in a narrative illustration
- What type of illustration do you need for this scene? A spot, a splash, or a spread?
- Who are your characters in this scene? Are they recognizable? Are they age-appropriate?
- Does the illustration match the information in the text? Check to see that character descriptions, environment, season match the story.
- Does your image add to the story or repeat exactly what’s in the text?
- What is the action taking place?
- Are there emotions the viewer should be able to read? Are the emotions clear? Perhaps have a second viewer weigh in on what emotions they read in your characters.
- What’s the mood of the page? Are there visual elements in expression, atmosphere, or setting that can add to this mood?
- Have you chosen to illustrate a pivotal moment in the narrative?
- Where is the action taking place? Is the location described in the book, or must you invent this? Is it appropriate believable to the story?
- What time of day or night is it? Consider how lighting will play an important role.
- Will color play a role in the mood of the illustration? Will the lighting affect the color? Does the color palette work with other illustrations in the palette?
- Don’t forget the rules of composition. Is your eye led to the most important part of the page? Have you considered line, tone, form, value, scale, rhythm, pattern, camera angles, and perspective?
- Lastly, check that your picture is communicating what you want it to communicate. If so, proceed to the final drawing!
before turning in your work:
Once you finish the work, you should double check that you have done exactly as asked.
Specifications
- Is the finished work the required dimension? If a precise inch or even pixel dimension has been given, be sure to meet it exactly, or your illustration will not work the way you have planned.
- Does it include the proper trim? If a spread, have you included room for a gutter, if needed?
- Has it been scanned to the proper resolution (300 dpi for print, 72 for web?)