ONE
Create a colouring book PAGe FOR kids TO dive in and explore!
under the sea
What do you see when you look at the sea?
A seagull, a bit of seaweed, a broken seashell,
A calm blue desert – or a storm of crashing waves!
And if you were to look beneath those waves?
what would you see …
go with the flow
“What would you see?” Each student will write and illustrate their own spread in response to that question. Consider telling a story that would interest young children and designing characters kids would enjoy spending time with as they colour.
Beyond storytelling consider the activity of colouring and how your design can influence the experience using pattern, movement, and composition. Research marine fauna to develop characters of your own design, and explore ocean flora to dream up a world for your characters to inhabit.
The video below shows student examples. (2 minutes 23 seconds)
get in line
A colouring book page is an excellent opportunity to focus on your line work. Traditionally colouring books have a thick cartoon line, but is that a fixed rule or just a habit?
Line weight and the character of line can be used by an artist to control not only the visual elements of an image but the visual communication of an image. Line can be used to establish mood, style, and enhance the emotive qualities of your visual storytelling.
The video below discusses some examples. (2 minutes 46 seconds)
into the deep end
A short deadline for this project reflects a real world project timeline and is to transition students from an academic to a professional creative mindset. Students will have to use time effectively and make decisions quickly.
Deliverables:
PDF digital file / 300 dpi / .25 inch bleed
17 inch x 11 inch spread (two 8.5 inch x 11 inch pages)
Choice of any B+W medium including digital and/or traditional
must include text (avoid gutter)
Due in 2 weeks
week one – comprehensive rough
week two – finished art
It’s not all kids stuff
From a professional perspective a colouring book is a strong and viable illustration medium. Publishing for children remains a healthy market for illustrators as digital experiences have been unable to replace the intimacy of the analog experience.
And colouring books as an illustration medium can also be used in other communication industries. Advertising, corporate, nonprofits, and others use this technique to communicate to young audiences all the time.
Because black and white drawing fees tend to be lower, working quick and efficiently is important. The video below discusses some digital techniques that could help. (4 minutes)
