Thank you for watching, I hope you found this interesting and helpful! Do you dream of illustrating children's books, and what is the perfect project you would love to get? Comment below and let me know!
@@azakiahofficial7852 I do sometimes! In fact I'm working o a self-published book right now :) It all depends on if the project is interesting, if I'm available and if the client and I can reach an agreement on the terms and rate. Whether it's published professional or directly by the author isn't important to me :)
Hi, thank you for a wonderful video. I am in the process of illustrating my stories for children and this is exactly what I needed. I plan to self-publish, should be a cycle of 5 separate stories/children’s books. Your clear steps are bringing structure, because I feel like I am thinking about everything at the same time and it gets overwhelming.
This video has helped my processes so far as a beginner author thank you for taking the time out of your life show and share very detailed information.
It's nice to see somone actually plan out drawings and stuff. All the other "How to videos" show people making low content books on canvas, sticking together any drawing that are already free to publish a low quality book in under a day. This video is super professional. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful work! I'm in the middle of my first children's book project right now, and I wish I'd found this video earlier to have a better sense of the process lol
@@christins.1481 Hi, it got released, but there were a lot of things I would have done differently. It was a partnership with a daycare that writes songs collaboratively with the kids, and we made one of the songs into a storybook. There are some cute sections, but it could be a lot stronger with the knowledge I have now
When my kids were growing up I created an entire story of a farm mouse and his friends that I would love to illustrate. I also have a story of a wee little princess and her adventures. I would love to see it in finished form for my grand kids. Thanks for the video Ness, it was the first video I have looked at to learn so far.
I work at a german publisher as an editor and it is so interesting, we ALWAYS do the cover first with our illustrators. We need a lot of people to give their opinion on it and it so important, you just need most of the time for the cover.
I love the process of children's books, it's a lot of work but a lot of fun. I'm a self-published children's author/illustrator and am still figuring things out. The market is filled with so many great illustrators too! You're very talented :)
Beginner here ! hii , this video helped me so much , I am currently on my first children's book .It's a book for my nephew and about him going on an adventure with his two doggies in the back garden. I'm really excited to do this for him
You are brilliant, a genius and so disciplined and what a beautiful character you possess. Book is beautiful. I wish you were around years ago when I began my illustrating. Your style is awesome. Good luck with your projects.
1. Character design 2. Cover design 3. Thumbnails. Composition sketch of the book. 4. Interior Thumbnails. Final sketch of the book. 5. Colour test. 6. Interior colours(Final render) 7. Cover 8. Bits and bobs
I just finished writing a children's book. It is about a mischievous elf that often features in the bedtime stories I tell my children ( so it is very close to my heart). I want to illustrate and self-publish but am very unsure about the technical aspects of digitizing my art. Found your video very informative- thank you. 🇿🇦
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on not giving up and finding your starting point. That's the place I'm in trying to find the starting point. I am excited about my first children's book. The story is written in a planner that's 4 years old but the story is about 6 months old. I've been sitting with it not knowing where to go next. Hope you much succes in using your creative skills and gifts. God bless you on your journey for future projects...
Thank you for this video I have illustration one unpublished (in the process) children's book and did not know really what I was doing so this was really helpful!
I would love to do a children’s book about a 5 year old boy and the love of his horse and rodeoing one day. I love the way you explain the process and would love to hear more. Ty
I already have 8 children's books self published and illustrated. I have several new projects I am planning currently. One of them is a Christmas book that I already have the text for and I am planning the characters for right now.
Hi my son has been drawing for the passed year and his drawing are mostly superhero characters and he free style them by just looking or thinking about a character, he is 7 years old and his drawings are immaculate, I'm now in the middle of putting his pic together so it can be published, which brought me here to your site, thanks for sharing 🥰
What a wonderful talent!! It warms my heart to see you supporting your son in this, getting involved with his interests and even looking out for information for him. When I was growing up all the adults around me were only concerned trying to discourage me from this path and trying to find another "real" career path instead. Your son is very lucky!
I really appreciate your work of talking us through your process. So many people send you from video to video to upcoming video instead of just giving the information, so kudos for that!
Just finished illustrating a children's book. Thank you so much for the video!!! Have been working on illustrating informative books in a fun way!!! Can't wait to try your tips.... in my next projects!!!
I love your work! I can't believe this was your for project! This video is the BEST and most informative video I've watched on children's book illustrations. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for the advice, I am poor and working with minimum wages, but drawing ia always my passion, I loved all mi nieces with all my heart, and I can't bought them any good present for their birthday, economical reason etc, and I've been planning on making a simple book with my drawing skills, I hope I can make it, not to fancy, just enough to make them smile. Thanks for the advice
I started of my art journey, drawing pencil portraits of people. But a local author, msgd me and wanted a female artist to help illustrate her children's book. So it waa quite a big change for me, very challenging, but I enjoyed it! I wished I watched this video earlier though. But anyways, now I'm working on illustrations for a second book, working with the same lady. And it's about animals this time . Another challenge 😆 I'm used to traditional art, so I'm water coloring the illustrations and editing using photoshop. Anyways, I'm keen on watching more of your videos! Thank you ❤️
That's amazing Clarissa!! You stepped out of your comfort zone and stepped up to the challenge! It's a very brave thing to do :) Good luck with your second book!
This was very helpful and inspiring me to go forward to doing more illustrations for my childrens books trying to do a book for a 8 member childrens solving mystery in their little town
I am actually creating my own children's book right now. Writing, designing, and painting from start to finish! Using your video to help me along in my process. Learning a lot and can't wait to be done!
This video is really helpful. My friend from high school and I put out our first children's book a couple months ago. I am currently working on the second book (it's a trilogy) and after that I will complete the third one. Your comment about backgrounds is most helpful because it is usually where I get hung up when laying out the page. I am the illustrator and he is the writer so I have the fun of laying out and coloring the pages.
Very helpful! Thank you. Last winter, I wrote a children's book about mermaids actually, for my 2 grandnieces, where they were the mermaids. I illustrated it too. I am not the best artist, but I had a local print shop print it for me. They loved it. I am now working on a 2nd book, for two little boys I know who play a sport. And illustrating it too, and hope to publish this one, and learning all I can about publishing online. I learned a lot from the first book, mistakes to avoid, approach, etc. And now have another idea for a 3rd book too.
@@ArtBusinesswithNess, thank you! I made the story "a day of adventure, traveling to the community mermaid park to play with their best friends, "they had not seen in some time"", and gave the friends the names of my niece's best friends. And the animals and fish they met along the way. I sent 2 extra copies to send to their actual best friends too, so they could see they too, were mermaids! They loved the book too, so I was so grateful! I gave one to everyone in my family as well, and sold a couple to my friends. My boss bought one for his 3 year old daughter, and when he told me the next morning that she insisted he read it to her 3 times before he left for work, I was so touched! So now I am working on another book for 2 little boys I know. I gave a rough draft copy of the illustrations with the wording cut out and glued on each page, so one would have it in time for a Christmas present . He was so surprised! He really liked it too. His grandfather, uncle (my husband) and my nephew are all in it as teammates too! And it turned out that my nephew and his aunt's boyfriend whom he kicks around a ball with, happen to have the same name, Eric, so he can see he is playing with him too in the story, so it just added a whole other layer to the book, for me.
Thanks so much Emily!! Yes haha I've thankfully been able to improve my rates a lot since then! The one I'm doing right now is $4,500 for 12 pages. Things do get better!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess nice! 😊 I’ve always been intrigued by freelance illustration, though I’m not sure it’s something I’ll pursue as a career. I happened to get a lucky connection who hired me to illustrate her children’s book and seeing how much people liked it gave me the confidence to try a picture book of my own. If you look up Cash the Caboose on Amazon you can find it. Anyways, have a great day! Thanks for the video 😊
Thank you!!! I want to illustrate a children’s book for my daughter based on my father’s short story about a bird. But I don’t know where to start. Thank you for sharing your experience 💖
It turned out so well!! I've been playing with the idea of illustrating for children's books but I had no idea where to even begin, your videos are super helpful!!
Thank you James! Feedback from an art director is really helpful because there are SO many things to keep track of in a picture book illustration: storytelling, consistent character design, good anatomy, strong composition, making sure the values are contrasted enough, that the message is clear, that the colors are balanced, that there's enough space for the text, etc etc. It's not at all uncommon to forget something, and then having an issue pointed out is extremely helpful! Feedback from authors is usually less helpful because it is not technical, but rather emotional. You'll often get authors asking you to make changes because "I don't like the color blue" or "the character doesn't look enough like my aunt Bernadette, who the character is based on". These are things that the reader doesn't actually care about and doesn't make a better book, it's just work to make the author alone happy so it's not quite as helpful! Authors don't have the expertise to comment on the technical aspects of course, so when working on a book with a self-published author it is very helpful for illustrators to seek feedback from other artists in order to catch errors that may have eluded them :)
Your video helped me a lot! I'm still a student of sorts,but I have a general idea of what I want to make. It's a very tricky concept, because I want it to talk about loss and grief when you are a child, and how the main character deals with it and finds joy in living again. It probably would be marketed towards older children, because it is a heavy subject, but I want to make it as light and wholesome as possible. I lost my father suddenly and even though I was not a child at the time, I struggled a lot finding the joy me and my dad had together. It's probably going to end up more teen-oriented, because I do not trust myself to actually translate grief to a language children can enjoy without problems, but it's just a project anyway, I'll probably just publish it online. Anyway, thank you for your video 🥰
I think this is a wonderful idea, Julia! And it's definitely possible to adapt this subject for kids! The parents or guardians of children who have experienced loss would be desperate for such books! I suggest to go to the library and read some children's books dealing with heavier subjects to give you ideas of how they treat it!
I love it! I liked how you described the process, and I really like the final result. I've just written a children's book, looking for an illustrator. If anyone is interested, ping me 😉
A friend wrote a children’s book about a lion and a giraffe. He invited me to illustrate it . However, I have no experience. I’m an artist art teacher so I can draw . Tbis was super helpful!
I'm glad it was helpful, hun! This sounds like a fun project and I wish you the best of luck! I have other videos on the process like thumbnailing and formatting, check out my picture book illustration playlist! ruclips.net/p/PLcDSaDyKmuWl7MyJqe4MZObENZIk81gPX
Another wonderful video Ness. I would love to illustrate a graphic novel. I like supernatural and paranormal themes (witches, ghosts, mystical creatures). I'm also really fascinated in folklore from different cultures.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It helps to see it’s not as bad as it looks, to get the FIRST job I mean. Your drawing is very good. And so is the panda ❤️🔥❤️🔥🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Excellent video and great illustrations. Hard to believe that is your first book as an illustrator. I am planning on illustrating my own children’s book about prey mantis’ and their travels though a strange land. Very helpful video. I have made some notes and I look forward to seeing my project come to life.
Although it was my first book, I should mention I was working as an illustrator for a mobile games studio for a few years before that and have a background in 2D animation as well. It certainly wouldn't be fair to compare my work at that point in time to a beginner illustrator (and comparison is the thief of joy at any rate!) I think your idea is fun and unique, I've never seen a book about a praying mantis and that sounds really interesting! Best of luck!!
I love rendering anthropomorphic illustrations . My favorite animals are giraffe, piggy, dinosaur, panda and bear. So I’ll love to illustrate books with these as main characters
Thank you. I am amazed by your first illustration book. Beautifully done, so engaging and clever with the layout design, characters, colors, and background. I am trying to look for illustration work, but don't know where to find it or what to expect. Your video is very helpful in the process of book illustration.
this look amazing!! I had a storybook writing/illustrating competition a few months ago and I rlly wished that I found this video earlier before illustrating (i was incharge of most of the book but mainly illustrations), we hit many problems along the way that i feel that your tips addressed really well!! Great illustration and great book all in all 💜💜💜
This book looks stunning. Thank you for the video. I'm trying to illustrate my own childrens books. I have a series written about a magic bunkbed. However I'm looking at painting and drawing by hand. Fingers crossed I'll get my books finished one day.
Thank you for putting this together. I am at the beginning stages of a book project and was happy that I found your video. I would love to illustrate a story changing your mind.
this was really helpful thank you so much! i do not come from the world of concept art, i do mostly 3d and other 2d personal projects. This really gives you a schedule to work on and for a ''lost artist'' like me this video came in handy!
Thank you for sharing this with us. I have always wanted to illustrate a childrens book. l hope in the near future it will happen. This truly inspired me to try harder to make it happen!
Hello Ness, Thank you for your tell-all experience with the preparation and publication of your first illustrated book. I wish I had your skills to help myself in illustrating a number of [Aesop's] fables I have re-told/re-written in rhyme in Albanian language for the simple purpose of entertainment and proper language use. I think I have something with my work, but, without illustrations, all that I have accomplished is at a standstill. Thank you again for sharing your talent and expertise with the online community and for your enthusiasm in what you do.
Thank you for your reply, Ness. I am a high school math teacher, but at times I enjoy writing rhyming poems. I turned my attention to fables, because I have two little children, whose books around the house I didn't like. So, I have become an "author" just for them, retelling a few of Aesop's fables in Albanian (www.read.gov/aesop/001.html).
@@altingalanxhi7323 That is lovely! The Aesopp Fables are in the public domain, so why not try to contact a publisher with your translations? Publishers are in charge of finding and paying illustrators so if they are interested in your project, they would take care of that part of the problem for you :)
@@ArtBusinesswithNess For now I am interested on illustrations for a publication in Albania. Translating them for a possible publication in Canada or in the States will be another headache. I am checking your website, but, if I understand it correctly, you offer help for up-and-coming illustrators. If you offer classes on how to do the illustrations, I would love to sign up. Than you Ness. You are the best!
@@altingalanxhi7323 I focus more on the business side of illustration (how to make a living with your art) so unfortunately I don't have any classes on how to actually draw. There are plenty of great drawing classes available online though, I'm sure you'll find a good one :)
Nicely done! Currently, I'm illustrating my first book about the sun. But stuck for half a year with the background, storyline, and canvas size. I already finish my characters though and roughly sketch the storyline, but some of the stories are hard for me to interpret it into drawing. thank goodness for your guide. hopefully with the right process I'll be able to finish it.
Hihi I liked the bean too! I'm still hoping to use it sometime in the future on another project! Thanks for watching hun I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😀
absolutely gorgeous! i'm just taking on my first children's book project right now with an indie publisher. i'm incredibly nervous- but this video was the perfect amount of information to make me feel comfortable starting! it feels there are so many moving parts to illustrating a book, but you broke down the process so simply that it's welcoming and not so overwhelming. thank you so much!!
Thank you for watching, I hope you found this interesting and helpful! Do you dream of illustrating children's books, and what is the perfect project you would love to get? Comment below and let me know!
Do you take on self published work!?
@@azakiahofficial7852 I do sometimes! In fact I'm working o a self-published book right now :) It all depends on if the project is interesting, if I'm available and if the client and I can reach an agreement on the terms and rate. Whether it's published professional or directly by the author isn't important to me :)
Retelling myths and folktales for children could be fun.
Hi, thank you for a wonderful video. I am in the process of illustrating my stories for children and this is exactly what I needed. I plan to self-publish, should be a cycle of 5 separate stories/children’s books. Your clear steps are bringing structure, because I feel like I am thinking about everything at the same time and it gets overwhelming.
This video has helped my processes so far as a beginner author thank you for taking the time out of your life show and share very detailed information.
It's nice to see somone actually plan out drawings and stuff. All the other "How to videos" show people making low content books on canvas, sticking together any drawing that are already free to publish a low quality book in under a day. This video is super professional. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! This is how illustrators work :) Hustlers - not so much!
Yes I want to make my own art. I want to know how to put it in the book.
A child making a children’s book? That’s why I know exactly what to do, I’d be the one reading it as the kid. I know what I want
That's wonderful!!
Beautiful work! I'm in the middle of my first children's book project right now, and I wish I'd found this video earlier to have a better sense of the process lol
That's wonderful, congratulations Ambrose!
Hi, so how is your book going now?
@@christins.1481 Hi, it got released, but there were a lot of things I would have done differently. It was a partnership with a daycare that writes songs collaboratively with the kids, and we made one of the songs into a storybook. There are some cute sections, but it could be a lot stronger with the knowledge I have now
Good luck! Let us know how it goes
Gotta start somewhere, right? May you enjoy many more projects!
When my kids were growing up I created an entire story of a farm mouse and his friends that I would love to illustrate. I also have a story of a wee little princess and her adventures. I would love to see it in finished form for my grand kids. Thanks for the video Ness, it was the first video I have looked at to learn so far.
That sounds super charming and would make a great book!
Children story book illustration tutorial in adobe illustrator. I hope you'll like it.
ruclips.net/video/Q09bwRC93lI/видео.htmlsi=YGKufiTheHqTJ9CV
I work at a german publisher as an editor and it is so interesting, we ALWAYS do the cover first with our illustrators. We need a lot of people to give their opinion on it and it so important, you just need most of the time for the cover.
That makes sense!
I most of the time do the cover first too.
I’m trying to illustrate a book I wrote about a little fairy girl. I’ve never tried an illustrated picture book before but I’m excited!
That sounds like such a beautiful project, Emily!
Thanks! 😊 I’ll share a link if it ever gets published 😀
I love the process of children's books, it's a lot of work but a lot of fun. I'm a self-published children's author/illustrator and am still figuring things out. The market is filled with so many great illustrators too! You're very talented :)
Thank you Lexi! Indeed books are such fun projects! Congrats on self-publishing your own, that's amazing!!
Day 1 of my children's book work I did learn from this. Thanks!
Wonderful! Best of luck with your picture book work and I'm glad the video was helpful!
Beautiful! Color is so important in illustration, and this is a riot of color! Fantastique!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
My daughter just asked me to illustrate her children’s book. Your video was very helpful. Thankyou
Aww what a wonderful idea to make a book with your daughter! Best of luck to you two!!
Very helpful step by step! Thank you! Beautiful work!
Glad it was helpful!
That is a beautiful book with a lovely art style. Thank you for showing the process you went through.
Thank you so much, David!
I agree it’s a beautiful book, well done!
Fantastic! Thanks
Beginner here ! hii , this video helped me so much , I am currently on my first children's book .It's a book for my nephew and about him going on an adventure with his two doggies in the back garden. I'm really excited to do this for him
Awww that sounds so fun and cute! Best of luck with your book project!
Beautiful work!! And very interesting overview of the whole process. Thanks for sharing!
You are brilliant, a genius and so disciplined and what a beautiful character you possess. Book is beautiful. I wish you were around years ago when I began my illustrating. Your style is awesome. Good luck with your projects.
OMG you're so kind!! 😭❤ I'm no genius, but it makes me so happy that you enjoy my work. Thank you!!
Thank you., this is so helpful. Children book will be about this in natur which I found intresting.
Nature is such an inspiration and amazing topic for children!
1. Character design
2. Cover design
3. Thumbnails. Composition sketch of the book.
4. Interior Thumbnails. Final sketch of the book.
5. Colour test.
6. Interior colours(Final render)
7. Cover
8. Bits and bobs
Thank you for the great summary!
I just finished writing a children's book. It is about a mischievous elf that often features in the bedtime stories I tell my children ( so it is very close to my heart).
I want to illustrate and self-publish but am very unsure about the technical aspects of digitizing my art.
Found your video very informative- thank you.
🇿🇦
That sounds so cute! Bets of luck with your book!
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on not giving up and finding your starting point. That's the place I'm in trying to find the starting point. I am excited about my first children's book. The story is written in a planner that's 4 years old but the story is about 6 months old. I've been sitting with it not knowing where to go next. Hope you much succes in using your creative skills and gifts. God bless you on your journey for future projects...
Congrats and best of luck with your first book! It's the start of an exciting journey! :)
The book looks so beautiful and adorable, thank you for sharing those tips
Thanks so much!
Thank you for this video I have illustration one unpublished (in the process) children's book and did not know really what I was doing so this was really helpful!
Glad I could help, hun!
I would love to do a children’s book about a 5 year old boy and the love of his horse and rodeoing one day.
I love the way you explain the process and would love to hear more. Ty
That sounds like a wonderful book idea! You should do it!
I already have 8 children's books self published and illustrated. I have several new projects I am planning currently. One of them is a Christmas book that I already have the text for and I am planning the characters for right now.
Wow, 8 books! That's really amazing, congrats! The Christmas one sound like a great idea, best of luck!
Hi my son has been drawing for the passed year and his drawing are mostly superhero characters and he free style them by just looking or thinking about a character, he is 7 years old and his drawings are immaculate, I'm now in the middle of putting his pic together so it can be published, which brought me here to your site, thanks for sharing 🥰
What a wonderful talent!! It warms my heart to see you supporting your son in this, getting involved with his interests and even looking out for information for him. When I was growing up all the adults around me were only concerned trying to discourage me from this path and trying to find another "real" career path instead. Your son is very lucky!
thanks for laying out the milestones step by step. This is really helping me think through a project I'm considering.
I'm so glad you found it helpful, Valerie!
That book is so darn cute. Now I wanna make one!!!
I really appreciate your work of talking us through your process. So many people send you from video to video to upcoming video instead of just giving the information, so kudos for that!
I'm glad you enjoy the video hun!
My dream project is to create a book celebrating Granny's birthday celebration 🎂
Thank you for sharing and taking the time for us.
My pleasure, thanks for stopping by!
Just finished illustrating a children's book. Thank you so much for the video!!! Have been working on illustrating informative books in a fun way!!! Can't wait to try your tips.... in my next projects!!!
Glad it was helpful! Congrats on your books
Thaks for all the helpfull tips! I illustrated my debut childrensbook last year ‘Felix en dokter Groen’ 😊 it was great fun 🎉
That's so wonderful, congrats on your first book!!
I love your work! I can't believe this was your for project! This video is the BEST and most informative video I've watched on children's book illustrations. Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow, thank you! I'm so happy that you found the video helpful!
Thanks for the advice, I am poor and working with minimum wages, but drawing ia always my passion, I loved all mi nieces with all my heart, and I can't bought them any good present for their birthday, economical reason etc, and I've been planning on making a simple book with my drawing skills, I hope I can make it, not to fancy, just enough to make them smile. Thanks for the advice
That would be a wonderful gift!!
YOU DID ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! 🐼🐼🐼🐼
Thank you Dana, that's so sweet!!
Thank you for the video, I just finished writing 6 children's books based on safari life and will like to try illustrating the books myself.
6 books, wow! You don't do things by half, do you? That's amazing!
I started of my art journey, drawing pencil portraits of people. But a local author, msgd me and wanted a female artist to help illustrate her children's book. So it waa quite a big change for me, very challenging, but I enjoyed it! I wished I watched this video earlier though. But anyways, now I'm working on illustrations for a second book, working with the same lady. And it's about animals this time . Another challenge 😆 I'm used to traditional art, so I'm water coloring the illustrations and editing using photoshop. Anyways, I'm keen on watching more of your videos! Thank you ❤️
That's amazing Clarissa!! You stepped out of your comfort zone and stepped up to the challenge! It's a very brave thing to do :) Good luck with your second book!
Hello how are you I’m just starting my children book I’m not done with it yet. I hope I can learn more by watching this video.
You got this! Best of luck with your book!
This was very helpful and inspiring me to go forward to doing more illustrations for my childrens books trying to do a book for a 8 member childrens solving mystery in their little town
That sounds so fun!
Thank you so much for your sharing. This is a big help.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful book and encouraging me to creak my own children book!
Thanks for stopping by hun, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Let me know if you make your book!
I am actually creating my own children's book right now. Writing, designing, and painting from start to finish! Using your video to help me along in my process. Learning a lot and can't wait to be done!
Wonderful!! I wish you the best of luck, hun!
This video is really helpful. My friend from high school and I put out our first children's book a couple months ago. I am currently working on the second book (it's a trilogy) and after that I will complete the third one. Your comment about backgrounds is most helpful because it is usually where I get hung up when laying out the page. I am the illustrator and he is the writer so I have the fun of laying out and coloring the pages.
Wow, congrats on putting out that first book! I know how much work that is and you should be very proud!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess Thanks! I am rather happy with it.
This was very helpful... Thank you very much... Will be doing my first children's book soon, and now I'm more confident thanks to your tips.
Glad it was helpful! Best of luck with your first book, that's so exciting!!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess Thanks much, it's super exciting... It's giving me life.
Thank you for the guide, much love
Thanks for stopping by, I'm glad you liked the guide!
Very helpful! Thank you. Last winter, I wrote a children's book about mermaids actually, for my 2 grandnieces, where they were the mermaids. I illustrated it too. I am not the best artist, but I had a local print shop print it for me. They loved it. I am now working on a 2nd book, for two little boys I know who play a sport. And illustrating it too, and hope to publish this one, and learning all I can about publishing online. I learned a lot from the first book, mistakes to avoid, approach, etc. And now have another idea for a 3rd book too.
That's so wonderful! What a huge undertaking to write, illustrate, print and publish these stories yourself. You are amazing!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess, thank you! I made the story "a day of adventure, traveling to the community mermaid park to play with their best friends, "they had not seen in some time"", and gave the friends the names of my niece's best friends. And the animals and fish they met along the way. I sent 2 extra copies to send to their actual best friends too, so they could see they too, were mermaids! They loved the book too, so I was so grateful! I gave one to everyone in my family as well, and sold a couple to my friends. My boss bought one for his 3 year old daughter, and when he told me the next morning that she insisted he read it to her 3 times before he left for work, I was so touched! So now I am working on another book for 2 little boys I know. I gave a rough draft copy of the illustrations with the wording cut out and glued on each page, so one would have it in time for a Christmas present . He was so surprised! He really liked it too. His grandfather, uncle (my husband) and my nephew are all in it as teammates too! And it turned out that my nephew and his aunt's boyfriend whom he kicks around a ball with, happen to have the same name, Eric, so he can see he is playing with him too in the story, so it just added a whole other layer to the book, for me.
@@camillepotter9580 What a special thing you are doing for your loved ones!!
i am a graphic design student and I have chosen to make a children book about cats for my graduation project and now i am working on it
That's such a cool graduation project! I wish you the best!
I'm so proud of you, Vanessa! Congrats!
Thank you!
your character designs are sooo beautiful
Thank you, that's so sweet!
Also your illustrations are beautiful! You are crazy talented. I hope you’re being paid well for whatever work you’re doing now - you’re amazing
Thanks so much Emily!! Yes haha I've thankfully been able to improve my rates a lot since then! The one I'm doing right now is $4,500 for 12 pages. Things do get better!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess nice! 😊 I’ve always been intrigued by freelance illustration, though I’m not sure it’s something I’ll pursue as a career. I happened to get a lucky connection who hired me to illustrate her children’s book and seeing how much people liked it gave me the confidence to try a picture book of my own. If you look up Cash the Caboose on Amazon you can find it. Anyways, have a great day! Thanks for the video 😊
@@emilythestorier4428 I just looked it up, it looks so great! COngrats on your booK!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess yay thanks!
I hope to one day both write and illustrate a children's book❤such an inspiration this video was so informative ❤
You can do it!
Children story book illustration tutorial in adobe illustrator. I hope you'll like it.
ruclips.net/video/Q09bwRC93lI/видео.htmlsi=YGKufiTheHqTJ9CV
Thank you!!! I want to illustrate a children’s book for my daughter based on my father’s short story about a bird. But I don’t know where to start. Thank you for sharing your experience 💖
That's such a special idea! I wish you the best of luck making your amazing book!
It turned out so well!! I've been playing with the idea of illustrating for children's books but I had no idea where to even begin, your videos are super helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
Absolutely beautiful work! Tell me what kind of feedback from the publisher or author helps you the most when it comes to edits/changes?
Thank you James! Feedback from an art director is really helpful because there are SO many things to keep track of in a picture book illustration: storytelling, consistent character design, good anatomy, strong composition, making sure the values are contrasted enough, that the message is clear, that the colors are balanced, that there's enough space for the text, etc etc. It's not at all uncommon to forget something, and then having an issue pointed out is extremely helpful! Feedback from authors is usually less helpful because it is not technical, but rather emotional. You'll often get authors asking you to make changes because "I don't like the color blue" or "the character doesn't look enough like my aunt Bernadette, who the character is based on". These are things that the reader doesn't actually care about and doesn't make a better book, it's just work to make the author alone happy so it's not quite as helpful! Authors don't have the expertise to comment on the technical aspects of course, so when working on a book with a self-published author it is very helpful for illustrators to seek feedback from other artists in order to catch errors that may have eluded them :)
@@ArtBusinesswithNess Excellent, thank you!
Your video helped me a lot! I'm still a student of sorts,but I have a general idea of what I want to make. It's a very tricky concept, because I want it to talk about loss and grief when you are a child, and how the main character deals with it and finds joy in living again. It probably would be marketed towards older children, because it is a heavy subject, but I want to make it as light and wholesome as possible. I lost my father suddenly and even though I was not a child at the time, I struggled a lot finding the joy me and my dad had together. It's probably going to end up more teen-oriented, because I do not trust myself to actually translate grief to a language children can enjoy without problems, but it's just a project anyway, I'll probably just publish it online. Anyway, thank you for your video 🥰
I think this is a wonderful idea, Julia! And it's definitely possible to adapt this subject for kids! The parents or guardians of children who have experienced loss would be desperate for such books! I suggest to go to the library and read some children's books dealing with heavier subjects to give you ideas of how they treat it!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess thank you! I'll do that. Love your channel!
I love it! I liked how you described the process, and I really like the final result. I've just written a children's book, looking for an illustrator. If anyone is interested, ping me 😉
Wonderful!
Excellent for a first project!! Wow 🤩
Thank you so much! 😊
I actually started my dream Project :)
I am illustrating a smal Book for my Family, about my grandfather and how he lerned to love Nature again ^^
That sounds so wonderful!! Congrats and best luck with your book project!!
Children story book illustration tutorial in adobe illustrator. I hope you'll like it.
ruclips.net/video/Q09bwRC93lI/видео.htmlsi=YGKufiTheHqTJ9CV
A friend wrote a children’s book about a lion and a giraffe. He invited me to illustrate it . However, I have no experience. I’m an artist art teacher so I can draw . Tbis was super helpful!
I'm glad it was helpful, hun! This sounds like a fun project and I wish you the best of luck! I have other videos on the process like thumbnailing and formatting, check out my picture book illustration playlist! ruclips.net/p/PLcDSaDyKmuWl7MyJqe4MZObENZIk81gPX
Thank you so much!
You're so welcome, Maria!
Gorgeous work! Extremely helpful for an absolute beginner such as myself
Thank you so much!
Another wonderful video Ness. I would love to illustrate a graphic novel. I like supernatural and paranormal themes (witches, ghosts, mystical creatures). I'm also really fascinated in folklore from different cultures.
I'm so glad you thought so Kayla! 😊 Ohhh graphic novels, that's a really good one! I bet those themes would make a really popular one, too!
Amazing! My dream project is to make book about self love for children I think it is important! ♥️
It really is so important, wonderful idea!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It helps to see it’s not as bad as it looks, to get the FIRST job I mean. Your drawing is very good. And so is the panda ❤️🔥❤️🔥🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thank you so much, you're very kind!! I'm glad you found the video helpful :)
Excellent video and great illustrations. Hard to believe that is your first book as an illustrator. I am planning on illustrating my own children’s book about prey mantis’ and their travels though a strange land. Very helpful video. I have made some notes and I look forward to seeing my project come to life.
Although it was my first book, I should mention I was working as an illustrator for a mobile games studio for a few years before that and have a background in 2D animation as well. It certainly wouldn't be fair to compare my work at that point in time to a beginner illustrator (and comparison is the thief of joy at any rate!) I think your idea is fun and unique, I've never seen a book about a praying mantis and that sounds really interesting! Best of luck!!
Thank you for your advice! I loved your book! ❤
Aww thank you so much! I'm glad you found the video helpful :)
Children story book illustration tutorial in adobe illustrator. I hope you'll like it.
ruclips.net/video/Q09bwRC93lI/видео.htmlsi=YGKufiTheHqTJ9CV
I love rendering anthropomorphic illustrations . My favorite animals are giraffe, piggy, dinosaur, panda and bear. So I’ll love to illustrate books with these as main characters
That sounds like a lovely idea!
I'm about to finish the illustration for my book that I wrote. It's about a cake monster lol
Cake monster OMG how fun!!
Thank you! I'm about to illustrate my first children's book and I'm a bit lost and nervous. This helps a lot!
OMG congrats!! I'm sure you'll do wonderful!
Thank you. I am amazed by your first illustration book. Beautifully done, so engaging and clever with the layout design, characters, colors, and background. I am trying to look for illustration work, but don't know where to find it or what to expect. Your video is very helpful in the process of book illustration.
Thank you so much Lian! I wish you best of luck in your career
this look amazing!! I had a storybook writing/illustrating competition a few months ago and I rlly wished that I found this video earlier before illustrating (i was incharge of most of the book but mainly illustrations), we hit many problems along the way that i feel that your tips addressed really well!! Great illustration and great book all in all 💜💜💜
You are so kind, thank you Kirakoo
This book looks stunning. Thank you for the video. I'm trying to illustrate my own childrens books. I have a series written about a magic bunkbed. However I'm looking at painting and drawing by hand. Fingers crossed I'll get my books finished one day.
Sounds cool! I’m planning to one about learning basic math for kindergarteners and it’s gonna be like a choose your own adventure kinda thing!
That sounds adorable and so unique!
I love your art style, I only just found your channel today!
Thank you that's so sweet!
Thank you for putting this together. I am at the beginning stages of a book project and was happy that I found your video. I would love to illustrate a story changing your mind.
That's really cool JM, congrats on the book and best of luck!
This is very helpful, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Soooo helpful, thank you! Ideal project would be musical!
That sounds wonderful!! Music and art together :)
Great help. I really like your supportive replies to the peoples comments. I hope you are really successful.
That is so kind Tahi, thank you!!
Nice first video about your first book. Great to see your process and work on this book. Many can learn from it. Cute design and really colourful.
Thank you Michaela, I'm so happy you found it useful 💗
Love your style 👍👍👍👍
Thank you Alexander!
How do I know what size my art file needs to be? I know that it need to have at least 300 dpi but I'm struggling with the right sizes
Wonderful spreads I love the color scheme you did foreach one!
Thank you so much!
this was really helpful thank you so much! i do not come from the world of concept art, i do mostly 3d and other 2d personal projects. This really gives you a schedule to work on and for a ''lost artist'' like me this video came in handy!
I happy you found it helpful, hun!
I'm thinking of starting to build up my portfolio through children's book! nd this helps a lot! thank you so much!
Good luck with your portfolio! If you need help, I actually have a course on this subject.
Love your work! Cannot believe you had a tough time publishing your first book... Such adorable characters!
Thank you, that's so sweet!!
Well done, fantastic job 👍🙂 and awesome video, thank you so much for sharing ❤
Thank you Mags!
I do thankful for you ✨✨
That's so sweet, thank you!
I have a variety of picture book drafts, and I’m no beginner. It is writing half my trained in, but illustrating I’m self taught.
That's amazing that you learned to draw yourself!
Thank you for sharing this with us. I have always wanted to illustrate a childrens book. l hope in the near future it will happen. This truly inspired me to try harder to make it happen!
You can do it, Rhonda!
@@ArtBusinesswithNess Thank you. I'm working on my 1st draft of my children's picture book, its about a Giraffe.
Very nice work and helpful information. I am looking into making my granddaughter some handmade children's books.
Wonderful! Best of luck with your project!
Great vid. Your work is beautiful.
Thank you very much!
thanks for showing how you create, it's inspiring🙂💗🥰
My pleasure 😊
Thanks for the valuable tips on children's books Ness!! - Paul Hultman
Thanks for stopping by Paul, I'm glad you enjoyed the tips!
Hello Ness, Thank you for your tell-all experience with the preparation and publication of your first illustrated book. I wish I had your skills to help myself in illustrating a number of [Aesop's] fables I have re-told/re-written in rhyme in Albanian language for the simple purpose of entertainment and proper language use. I think I have something with my work, but, without illustrations, all that I have accomplished is at a standstill.
Thank you again for sharing your talent and expertise with the online community and for your enthusiasm in what you do.
What a lovely project! So if I understand you are not an illustrator yourself, you are a writer?
Thank you for your reply, Ness. I am a high school math teacher, but at times I enjoy writing rhyming poems. I turned my attention to fables, because I have two little children, whose books around the house I didn't like. So, I have become an "author" just for them, retelling a few of Aesop's fables in Albanian (www.read.gov/aesop/001.html).
@@altingalanxhi7323 That is lovely! The Aesopp Fables are in the public domain, so why not try to contact a publisher with your translations? Publishers are in charge of finding and paying illustrators so if they are interested in your project, they would take care of that part of the problem for you :)
@@ArtBusinesswithNess For now I am interested on illustrations for a publication in Albania. Translating them for a possible publication in Canada or in the States will be another headache. I am checking your website, but, if I understand it correctly, you offer help for up-and-coming illustrators. If you offer classes on how to do the illustrations, I would love to sign up. Than you Ness. You are the best!
@@altingalanxhi7323 I focus more on the business side of illustration (how to make a living with your art) so unfortunately I don't have any classes on how to actually draw. There are plenty of great drawing classes available online though, I'm sure you'll find a good one :)
Love your book and video! Thanks!
That's so sweet, thank you!
Nicely done! Currently, I'm illustrating my first book about the sun. But stuck for half a year with the background, storyline, and canvas size. I already finish my characters though and roughly sketch the storyline, but some of the stories are hard for me to interpret it into drawing. thank goodness for your guide. hopefully with the right process I'll be able to finish it.
Best of luck with your project An, that sounds wonderful!
Beautiful work! I hope to be an illustrator soon! I would love to do whimsical type work with unique creatures!
Creatures are always a win in picture books :D I can't wait to see your books on the shelves
I love the panda bean! Great video Vanessa, very educational and perfectly explained.
Hihi I liked the bean too! I'm still hoping to use it sometime in the future on another project! Thanks for watching hun I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😀
absolutely gorgeous! i'm just taking on my first children's book project right now with an indie publisher. i'm incredibly nervous- but this video was the perfect amount of information to make me feel comfortable starting! it feels there are so many moving parts to illustrating a book, but you broke down the process so simply that it's welcoming and not so overwhelming. thank you so much!!
Hey, can you tell me which software is she using? Please. Thank you :)
Best of luck with your book Hannah, you can do it!!
I used Photoshop for this.
Hi I like to do a kids book and I have view your video and it helps me a lot
I’m glad the video helped! Best of luck with your project!
You did such a great job! Thank you for the tips.
Thank you so much Kat, that's very kind! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!