An Illustrator's Process - Character Sketches

 

I love sketchbooks.

When designing my characters for a new picture book it’s wonderful to just play – sketch, doodle, plan out details.  I also make notes to remind myself later of ideas I’ve come up with.  It’s a good place to keep track of pertinent research references, too. 

I experiment with wardrobe, animals, houses, whatever might be used in an illustration.  I like to plan the characters, even before the thumbnails and dummy designs.