Children's Book Illustration: Step by Step Techniques : A Unique Guide from the Masters (Pro-Illustration Series)

Rating:
Summary: Splendid Introduction into Children's Book Illustration
Review: I bought this book some time ago and I am still pleasantly surprised by the quality of it. Anybody who wants to know the technical details in the field of Children's Book Illustration is very well served. Lots of practical ideas and as a reader you can look over the shoulder of some of the best artists in this field. The layout is also quite intriguing, there being for every artist a step by step list of how he works. The comments are accurate and helpful for someone who wants to start illustrating himself.

Rating:
Summary: Splendid Introduction into Children's Book Illustration
Review: I bought this book some time ago and I am still pleasantly surprised by the quality of it. Anybody who wants to know the technical details in the field of Children's Book Illustration is very well served. Lots of practical ideas and as a reader you can look over the shoulder of some of the best artists in this field. The layout is also quite intriguing, there being for every artist a step by step list of how he works. The comments are accurate and helpful for someone who wants to start illustrating himself.

Rating:
Summary: See how the Pros do it...
Review: This is a very slick, handsome book that details the process of illustrating children's books from the point of view of the professional illustrator.

I especially like how each artist is profiled. A single picture from a project is selected, and we see in about twenty steps how the work was done; from the initial concept all the way through to the finished piece. Then we have a few pages at the end of the artist's profile showing other work they have done in both the children's book arena and the commercial illustration market.

By going step-by-step, we get to see how a picture book is illustrated right from the start. We see concept sketches, research materiels and how they are used to shape the details in the images, and then the techniques of the artists as they work through to competion. We also gain insight into the creative process in the artist's mind, as each one explains why they choose to do a certain thing in a certain way.

Although I personally like to stick to watercolor or line & wash, several different techniques are highlighted here. Besides watercolor, gouche, collage, colored pencil, and even computer illustration is represented. Besides being interesting in their own right, seeing the different styles and techniques can offer up new ideas if like me, you prefer just one medium.

This is a great way to learn the craft, and how it works. If there was anything disappointing about the book, it would have to be the seemingly short length of it. I also would have liked to have seen master watercolorist Jon J. Muth profiled. Otherwise, this is a wonderful reference for the artist who is serious about becoming a picture book illustrator.