Learning Children’s Book Illustration #MFADays (2 of 3)
This 2nd #MFADays post (1st post here) showcases a children’s book cover assignment — one of MANY children’s book illustration-themed assignments over the course of my grad school journey 👇🏽
Although this cover assignment didn’t require the students to author an accompanying story, I found it nearly impossible not to write one; if not for an actual grade then wholly for myself … perhaps for future use one day 🙏🏽
As my cover design suggests
My story features Rosita Clemente (lower right) and her jibarito sidekick, Juan Pablo (lower left), in a coquí-themed adventure.
- Don’t know what a “coquí” is (shown sitting on Rosita’s lap)?
I gotchu. - Or where the “isla del encanto” is located?
Hint: It’s in the Caribbean. - And don’t have a clue about what a “jibaro” could possibly be?
Think “rural.”
The Rosita, Juan Pablo, and Coquí characters feature diverse visuals and inclusive themes
… not just because our instructor encouraged us to pursue such themes but ALSO because I myself wanted to work on a vibrant a story inspired by my own place of birth 🇵🇷 — this cover design assignment helped me overlap those two objectives.
The original design (see grayscale drafts above) from 2020 has been dramatically updated
But even with my latest round of steep updates, now four years later (2024) — which includes reworked characters, updated color palette, and new titling — I’m not sure I’d keep this same design concept should I ever move forward with my story (and I do plan move forward with my story to at some point).
That’s because at the time I created these characters and cover as part of an assignment, I was still a developing MFA student learning about editorial illustration, and more, and so I wasn’t as able nor as prepared to execute my visual ideas or narrative vision then as compared to now.
Still, I believe I’ve created a strong foundation to visually leverage, whenever I’m ready.
Additionally, this cover assignment was ANOTHER huge step towards my realizing I was partial to mixed media.
Some of the mixed media details in creation of my cover design include:
- fortress
The entire fortress structure was originally painted on thick, cold press watercolor paper using gray and blue watercolor and splashes of salt to create a rough cement-like texture - Juan Pablo’s hat
I hand-cut this character’s hat out from a manila folder - Rosita and bird
Their forms and shapes were also cut outs (I created from thick card stock) I later digitized
I was learning then and I’m still learning now
Though I learned a lot about children’s book illustration during my MFA days, graduation didn’t end my learning journey and I still consider myself a student today.
As such, I continue learning about illustrating narratives for little readers by:
- following specific artists,
- keeping abreast of trends,
- attending virtual classes and industry events,
- and furthering my practice as much as I can.
Yours in mixed media,
