tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post1070285471622260408..comments2023-11-03T11:07:24.965-04:00Comments on Adam Rex: How I Make a Picture BookAdam Rexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613641218929467577noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-36244878591862873682014-09-08T12:19:42.869-04:002014-09-08T12:19:42.869-04:00The library scene probably took me more than 4 day...The library scene probably took me more than 4 days, Don, but it's a good guess as to my average.Adam Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613641218929467577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-90627619256186554932014-09-08T10:42:37.512-04:002014-09-08T10:42:37.512-04:00How much time does it take for you to complete an ...How much time does it take for you to complete an illustration, such as the library interior? I realize that depending on the subject matter, all timetables are different, but do you give yourself, say 4 days to complete a color illustration when budgeting time? (I'm just throwing a number out there.)Don Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192789196242015249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-59908894760344855782014-06-06T14:42:38.911-04:002014-06-06T14:42:38.911-04:00SpacemanMike: Well, the author does WRITE the thin...SpacemanMike: Well, the author does WRITE the thing. Those who think little of that step should definitely try it themselves.<br /><br />But your outline is basically correct. The author is asked to sign off on the illustrations and illustrator, but may very likely be overruled by the editor.<br /><br />I've never heard of a case where the illustrator proposes a book but does not write it, but I have no doubt such a thing has happened.<br /><br />Authors and illustrators have successfully proposed books jointly, but this is discouraged. Especially if you're new to the business. Authors are encouraged to write their manuscripts and let the editor match them with illustrators, and illustrators with no ambitions to write are encouraged to send portfolio samples.Adam Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613641218929467577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-15288493783039850922014-06-06T14:22:51.451-04:002014-06-06T14:22:51.451-04:00Is this the usual process for writing an illustrat...Is this the usual process for writing an illustrated children's book?<br />1. Author proposes book to publisher<br />2. Publisher sends manuscript to illustrator<br />3. Illustrator lays out and paginates book<br />4. Author and Editor sign off on layout<br />5. Illustrator executes book (with lots of additional assistance from the publisher)<br /><br />Does it ever go the other way, where the illustrator proposes the book? Do authors and illustrators conceive of a book together and then go to the publisher with a joint proposal?<br /><br />It seems like a lot of the real work of the book falls on the illustrator and I wonder why we privilege the author.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />MikeSpacemanMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963651151531402724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-43332623801090934902014-06-06T13:27:45.104-04:002014-06-06T13:27:45.104-04:00Thanks for the wonderful insight into your process...Thanks for the wonderful insight into your process.<br /><br />Out of geeky curiosity, what's the rational for the 32 and 40 page limit? Does it have to do with printing and cutting large sheets of paper?<br /><br />Also, I've given high praise to Chu's Day on my book review blog, http://bibliopapa.blogspot.com/2014/06/chus-day.html<br /><br />Check it out!<br />MikeSpacemanMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963651151531402724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-61384896207955532932014-03-06T20:58:41.062-05:002014-03-06T20:58:41.062-05:00This makes me ridiculously happy for some reason.This makes me ridiculously happy for some reason.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-81092603375270426982013-10-31T15:04:15.875-04:002013-10-31T15:04:15.875-04:00I really enjoyed reading your process. Thanks.I really enjoyed reading your process. Thanks.JohnFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294886206454693626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-79699942033235569262013-06-26T22:59:38.365-04:002013-06-26T22:59:38.365-04:00Loved reading this post! I'm a children's ...Loved reading this post! I'm a children's book author, so it's fun to see if from the illustrative side. Gorgeous illustrations, by the way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15685084666769632206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-46903342918791384682013-06-25T12:55:12.706-04:002013-06-25T12:55:12.706-04:00I was discussing this little gem with a friend of ...I was discussing this little gem with a friend of mine today. So I was pretty happy to see you posted your 'making of'. The only thing I'm still not clear on, is this, did you finish it with paint or digitally?<br /><br />On a side-note, the reason I was discussing the book with my friend today, is because I was writing a little message to my newborn niece. The text is actually longer than the text in the book so maybe it isn't such a 'little' message...<br /><br />The people who have seen the book so far are in love with the illustrations, so I hope that it will inspire my little niece as she grows up as well.<br /><br />If you want to read my message, it's here http://juliesmits.tumblr.com/post/53850104267/just-a-little-something-i-wrote-for-my-niece-who<br /><br />JulesJulie Smitshttp://www.juliesmits.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-75556179319599456432013-06-18T12:35:46.424-04:002013-06-18T12:35:46.424-04:00Thank you! Illuminating, informative, and fun to ...Thank you! Illuminating, informative, and fun to read!Ellen DeCarlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13098822221200808809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-87401405127412667382013-05-19T11:03:09.586-04:002013-05-19T11:03:09.586-04:00Wow- Thanks for sharing your process. Wow- Thanks for sharing your process. David Derrickhttp://www.davederrick.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-27556978001638111382013-05-03T16:45:50.052-04:002013-05-03T16:45:50.052-04:00Stellar post. Thanks so much for sharing!Stellar post. Thanks so much for sharing!Celia Marie Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00707109268050716260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-30089435137875420972013-05-03T11:21:14.724-04:002013-05-03T11:21:14.724-04:00Thanks, Johnny! Good to hear from you.Thanks, Johnny! Good to hear from you.Adam Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613641218929467577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-3506979513818278232013-05-03T11:15:36.779-04:002013-05-03T11:15:36.779-04:00Brilliant post Adam... beautiful artwork, and ther...Brilliant post Adam... beautiful artwork, and there are so many comments in there that seem to mirror my picture book experience too.<br /><br />Love the book by the way, I got myself a UK copy a few weeks ago!jonny duddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04482365146254577571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-35821127213119110422013-04-25T13:43:32.393-04:002013-04-25T13:43:32.393-04:00Love your elephants, love it all actually especial...Love your elephants, love it all actually especially your wonderful drawings.<br />Yes to everything you said, especially the self flagellation hair shirt late part. No matter how carefully I think I plan I'm always late and sleep becomes nothing more than an occasional exercise in which I dream of painting.<br />Thanks for the show & tell.Wendy Edelsonhttp://www.wendyedelson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-29324031376078694042013-04-22T14:15:08.574-04:002013-04-22T14:15:08.574-04:00I love the sketchbook drawings. They're better...I love the sketchbook drawings. They're better than the finished illustrations. Well, okay, no, the finished illustrations are amazing. But the sketches are better than <i>my</i> finished illustrations. Could we see more pages from your sketchbooks?Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616847561066820280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-19638394962597262042013-04-20T22:02:38.422-04:002013-04-20T22:02:38.422-04:00This is excellent. Interesting, funny, reassuring....This is excellent. Interesting, funny, reassuring. Thanks for giving us a peek behind the scenes.nicole j. wroblewskihttp://shecanliftahorse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-63461784905195190252013-04-19T14:26:17.543-04:002013-04-19T14:26:17.543-04:00Sir, you are the man. Love seeing your process and...Sir, you are the man. Love seeing your process and your work is just jaw dropping! Seriously! Neil Gaman? Awesome!Michaele Razihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776334691589067620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-34419652115905596412013-04-18T13:21:36.633-04:002013-04-18T13:21:36.633-04:00All joking aside, that's pretty much where I&#...All joking aside, that's pretty much where I'm at now. I thought as I progressed in my career, It would get easier to gauge the marathon that is children's book making. But no matter how much time I tell the publisher I need, I find myself behind as I round the last corner of any project. <br /><br />It's reassuring to know it still happens to illustrators who have the talent and career I'm striving for.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12037402204197088483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-10611614184473637092013-04-18T12:49:24.743-04:002013-04-18T12:49:24.743-04:00I ALWAYS made my deadlines back when I was doing w...I ALWAYS made my deadlines back when I was doing work for hire, Adam. But those only required me to gauge how many Magic cards I could do in a month, or whatever.<br /><br />I just don't seem to be able to guess how long I need to do a whole book, despite how many I've done at this point.Adam Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00613641218929467577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-15800830491342227992013-04-18T08:54:50.128-04:002013-04-18T08:54:50.128-04:00I always love process posts so thanks! I appreciat...I always love process posts so thanks! I appreciate your candid description. I know this sounds strange, but it's reassuring to know someone with your talent still has doubts upon submitting their art. How DO you get your PDF scans so clear?Sean Scanlonhttp://sean-scanlon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-59971590727860106262013-04-18T07:51:42.418-04:002013-04-18T07:51:42.418-04:00I love the part about meeting your deadlines (or n...I love the part about meeting your deadlines (or not, rather). Is it a good thing to hear fellow CB illustrators also struggle in this department? Or does it just confirm the stereotypes that all artists are lazy, extremely unreliable, and strikingly hansom? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12037402204197088483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7058774462027111667.post-1763537008040682242013-04-18T06:37:17.540-04:002013-04-18T06:37:17.540-04:00Thanks for posting your process, Adam. I'm ama...Thanks for posting your process, Adam. I'm amazed at how refined the PDF document is that you send to the publishers. I need to up my game!Chris Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16461933992986384385noreply@blogger.com