ILLUSTRATION COURSE

My notes from the 4 week illustration course with Leni Kauffman. “Illustrating for books” - CSM Online course.

 WEEK 1 - Reportage Illustration

- Main project - Illustration for travel guide (3)

3 illustrations of the city of your choosing for a travel guide. It’s reportage illustration so it has to be about observing details and from a real visual reference (not from memory).

References: Monocle Magazine, Tom Haugomat, George Butler, Grace Helmer, Victor Lundy, Anna Bond, Karolin Schnoor, Libby Vanderploeg.

- Sketchbook projet - Sketching people

References: Edith Carron, Lauren Tamaki, Damien Cuypers.

For the skin tones in watercolours: red and ocre yellow for the base and then with some purple you add the shading.

WEEK 2 - CHARACTER DESIGN

- Main project: Create a character design and illustrate it walking, talking, and reading.

Play around to make your character unique. Things to think about: cool/warm, complimentary colours, pastels (more peaceful), low contrast (blend in)/ high contrast (stand out), saturation. TIP: Flip your illustration to find what is out of balance.

References: Manddy Wickens, Qin Leng, Malin Koort, Ramon Nunes, Josh Colley, Lucinda Rogers, Miroslav Sasek

- Sketchbook project: Different emotions.

WEEK 3 - SCENERY

- Main project: Create a double spread illustration - Complex layered scene.

References: Claire Hummel, Loic Locatelli, Jose Luis Agreda, Clarissa Corradin, Becca Stadtlander, Lorena Alvarez, Kim Smith, Sebastien le Divenah, Lizzy Stewart, Benjamin Chaud, Violeta Lopiz.

- Sketchbook project: Book mockup. 4/5 double spread.

WEEK 4 - Q&A

References: Karl James Mountford, Caitlin McGauley, Anna Bond, Chris Turnham, Roman Murador.

AOI: Association of Illustrators

Be confident with your work, shortlist the agencies you like/want to work with, ask other illustrators who are represented by them how it is. Fill your portfolio with work you’re proud of. Draw for yourself, not for others. Draw form observation.