18 things you need to know to illustrate a picture book

a selection of detailed points to use when illustrating a book. you might like to see the follow-up video "18 things you might find useful after you illustrate your book", which gives some details about contracts etc.

[@720zone]

Wow...there are so many youtube channels where folks would ask you to 'buy my course', or sign up, to get the real info. So refreshing to have you freely give out such excellent advise. Very much appreciated; thanks for the post.

[@andypandywright]

i always give info freely - thats how other illustrators helped me! - good luck, martin.

[@humnaali5759]

And in such a concise video! Wow

[@renatafrancesca7103]

best help I've found! clear simple and not just self promotion. I only found the link via another one why didn't you tube suggest this gem straight away?!

[@andypandywright]

thanks for your comment, renata, and glad it was useful for you - martin.

[@andypandywright]

thanks for that, renata; and glad you found the posting - martin.

[@andypandywright]

glad this was useful for you renata - martin.

[@marianaelenis1344]

Hi Martin, this instructions were the best I ever saw at KZbin! thank you so much. very much appreciated.

[@andypandywright]

mariana - thanks for your very appreciative comment, and i'm glad you found my video useful - martin.

[@buttercupsandlegobricks]

I watched this video about 9 or 10 years ago when my oldest child was just a baby, and I had more dreams than time or confidence (that’s still true today). That baby is turning 11 this summer and he has three younger siblings now. Still more dreams than time! But I have built up my knowledge over the past decade and have written more books over the years. I want to begin to illustrate them, with whatever skill I can muster. Thank you for the advice both then and now. :)

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

So much sound advice contained in so few minutes. Thanks for this!

[@olomajka]

micah - glad you liked my video - they're pretty smart animations of yours! - martin.

[@matthewsjc1]

Thank you very much! I'm illustrating my first book right now and need all the advice I can get!

[@andypandywright]

hi jared, and thanks for your reply - i'm glad my video proved helpful - don't hesitate to ask if questions crop up with your first book - martin.

[@matthewsjc1]

+andypandywright Will do. Thank you!

[@beautybyphumi]

It’s 2020. How’s it going?

[@matthewsjc1]

Several publishers were interested, but they were hybrid publishers (pay for some of the cost up front). I wasn’t interested in going that route, because $4,000 and who knows if it’ll get you anywhere. Actually, I ended up going to art school. I have half a semester left before I graduate! Last year I landed a job in the art dept of a great company. It’s not my ideal job, to be honest, but it pays fairly well and is a great step toward where I’d like to be. My wife and I have an almost five year old daughter and we recently found out we’re expecting twin girls, so we’re currently house-shopping. It has been a very exciting and interesting four years! :)

[@sebaceousgland5123]

@@matthewsjc1 This is such a heartwarming read. I'm so glad life is going well for you (it seems like.) God bless :)

[@lindawill5253]

Oh Martin, your video is excellent! I taught kindergarten for many years and l would read "Frankie's First Day" to the class. You have so much knowledge and could make many informative videos. For example: How to develop a character, how to keep the illustrations exciting, etc as well as tutorials on drawing. Please consider making more videos. Thank you so much for this one!!!

[@andypandywright]

really glad that you like my video, linda, and even more that you read "frankie" to your class - that's great! your ideas for future videos sound really interesting too - character development (that can have a double level to include the writer's development), keeping the illustrations exciting (that needs some thinking about) - and i'd have to see my brother again (he does the filming) - to get things started - thanks very much for your reply, linda - martin.

[@charitymoore9897]

I really appreciate all the the helpful and descriptive information you gave on illustration. Thanks!

[@olomajka]

hi charity - thanks for your very positive comment on my video - martin.

[@HMaxTube11]

Very clear and instructive, Martin. It's always best to get information from a practicing professional, and you are exactly that: an accomplished, published pro. Thank you for realizing how clueless most beginning writers are and breaking this down into to the essential elements for all of us. Brilliant concept for a video. I do wish you'd produced it in HD, however.

[@andypandywright]

hi H. Max - thanks for your comment on my video (and sorry about the non-HD format) - it's not so much people being clueless, it's more that a beginner really can't know this stuff (i've even found that it's kept back!) and i was just the same, i knew nothing, but picked everything up over the years - so now i'm glad to help anyone who needs it, and glad it helped you - cheers, martin.

[@suearis2336]

@@andypandywright You are so kind to give so freely. This information is so useful for anyone wanting to write. And the way you explain things, even for young children starting out and interested in putting their own stories to paper, this is a useful resource. Your invaluable advice and knowledge is much needed, and appreciated. Thank You.

[@ConfidenceBuildersTV]

You are the most thorough person on KZbin. Thank you.

[@andypandywright]

hi confidencebuilders - glad you liked my video and noted the time it took to work it all out - it came from listing everything i'd ever learnt about illustration from anybody or anywhere, and it came to 18 points (a few minor extra pointers have since been prompted by viewers questions!) - keep safe during these bonkers times - martin.

[@wildgooseberrydotcom]

Thank you so much for so many great points! I learned many things from your video. I'm also so appreciative of your encouragement at the end and the fact that you had no special training when you started. Thank you for sharing all this and doing exactly what you are meant to do in this world. ~Elizabeth~

[@olomajka]

hi Elizabeth - thanks very much for your appreciative comment and i'm very glad you found it so useful - especially the fact of no special training, which I've found to have no great bearing on being able to illustrate. and I've been very fortunate in being paid for what i'm meant to do - Martin.

[@ashleymorton8506]

Absolutely the BEST and most helpful video I have come across by far. Thank you so so very much for sharing!!!

[@andypandywright]

ashley - thanks for your mighty appreciative comment and glad it was helpful - cheers, martin.

[@Inkdraft]

That was great! There were many tips in there that I had never heard before. Ans I've been following children's book illustrating for years. It was also very, very encouraging to hear that you had no formal training when you got started but that you've illustrated seventy books. Also, I would love to see a video done by you on contracts and finding a publisher. Thank you so much for a great video. Oh yeah, I subscribed and liked.

[@andypandywright]

hi inkdraft - thanks for your complimentary comment and you can find information on contracts etc. on my other video - "18 things you might find useful after you've illustrated your children's book" - i should say that my brother got some contract stuff out of focus and the actual time for the video is only about 10 minutes or so - but otherwise it's quite informative! - cheers, martin.

[@creolekitten]

Thank you so very, very much for this video! You gave us more info for FREE, than I’ve gotten from writing/illustration courses. You are so incredibly generous to do this.

[@andypandywright]

hi kitten

[@andypandywright]

hi kitten - i'm glad that you liked my video, the fact is that I had help for free from some people when I was starting out and so it seems only fair to also give what advice I can for free to you now! hope it helps you with all you do in the future - martin - ps. keep safe during this crazy time!

[@grahamgee7831]

Thank you for this, its like a breath of fresh air to some of the previous "bumble" which I have been reading. With the should and shouldn't does in this area of expertise, requirements and qualifications.. When all I am is a person who loves to illustrate with a line of story ideas Id like to share.. I've been reading stories to my own children for long enough to know what interesting to an audience. Is that so difficult to comprehend in this day and age.

[@andypandywright]

thanks for that very interesting reply, graham, and it's true, there's so much rigmarole clinging on to illustration which is totally unnecessary - i had no training and like yourself just wanted to see stories 'come alive', if they could, with my pictures, and i met two guys doing teacher training in english who had written stories for their classes to read, and they wanted me to do pictures for them - which i did - then later we submitted the stories with illustrations by me and waited for replies - happily successful replies came! - do move on with your story ideas and your illustrations - good luck - cheers, martin.

[@grahamgee7831]

+andypandywright Cheers, I will do

[@angelawelsh3802]

This was the best tutorial I have ever watched on KZbin. Simple language. Useful info - no flourishes thankyouverymuch. I want info not entertainment. Great stuff. Thank you. I've always been an anglophile and you just proved me right.

[@andypandywright]

angela - well, thanks very much for your very positive response, the best info i got when i started was from straightforward people and it made me laugh about entertainment - when i started i found 7 books on illustration in the library and booked them all out - one was a dull looking hardback with 600 pages, no pictures, just a photo of the author (old geezer with glasses) and the other 6 were bright, colourful, flashy and short - well these 6 taught me nothing at all so i reluctantly opened the 600 pager and that book taught me everything i needed! - martin.

[@MyRainbowangel]

Thank you very informative and inspirational as I am a self taught artist also. How do you get publishers to be aware of your work.

[@olomajka]

suzi - thanks for your very positive comment. you can get publishers aware of your work by offering to meet with them at their office to show some of your work. this should be a medium amount of your work to show the scope of it so that they might keep it on file to show authors who don't have an illustrator. you might like to watch my second video on youtube "18 things you might find useful after illustrating your children's book" which deals a bit with this, and especially look into the 'authors and artists yearbook' for details of publishers etc. - martin.

[@zoeticcanvasstudios654]

Wow! That was one of the most helpful list I've heard or read yet. I've been an artist my whole life. The easiest work I thought I'd ever do, turned out to be the hardest thing I ever attempted. Just keeping the character features and coloring consistent in every pose is maddening. Agonizing over going too far... On my canvases, if I want to add lots more detail, I'd go for it. On a children's book, starting out with the quality of a Steamboat Willy and ending up with something as elaborate as Snow White can extend the work indefinitely. Creating on the page is not a good idea. On 27 pages a few extra details per page can add up to days or weeks, or in making the scene too busy. It's all about planning and discipline, I've found. This short video helped my reign in my creative randomness a bit and get things laid out in a more manageable format.

[@andypandywright]

hi zoetic - it's great that you found my posting helpful and i can sympathise as the things you mention happened to me too - as you say, planning is a major factor but you don't need to rein in too much of your creativity now that you've seen the (not too intrusive) boundaries you'll be working under - best of wishes with your story - martin.

[@hazelakela]

Brilliant! Thanks so much for this sensible and comprehensive guide.

[@andypandywright]

heather - glad that you found my video so useful - cheers, martin.

[@bernicewalsh3432]

This is the best advice that I have found on you tube. Getting started is the pits. Until now.

[@andypandywright]

bernice - thanks for your very positive response to my video - and it's great that it's made you more confident to start - so do, it ends up really good fun bringing your book to life - all best wishes with it - martin

[@CrystalMcKenzie]

This is fantastic. I'm so glad I decided to research here before getting started!

[@andypandywright]

thanks for your very positive comment, crystal - martin.

[@andypandywright]

glad you found my posting useful crystal - martin.

[@andypandywright]

glad you found my posting useful crystal - martin.

[@churchviewwishart8873]

Thank you so much for this information.....you are very generous with your advice! I have just finished a little book for my five year old grand daughter. She had an adventure with her dad on a bike ride very recently. So to remind her of the day, l decided to do a little book of sixteen illustrations ( mounted in a plastic display book) and incorporate a story line simple enough for her to read. My ambition, when at school, was to be an illustrator of children’s books....... but life had other demands......it’s just taken me nearly fifty five years to get here!!.....l’ve only now found your advice after l had finished....and yes! All you’ve said is exactly the lessons l’ve learnt following this exercise....your video is five years old...l do hope you read this and know how much l appreciate your advice!

[@andypandywright]

hi churchview wishart - that's a great story you've given me and it took you about the same time as me to learn all the things in my video, but we both got there in the end, and i bet your book for your granddaughter and her bike ride was well worth your time and effort and i'm sure much appreciated by her and her family - many thanks for your inspiring letter - martin.

[@bobwishart8780]

@@andypandywrightmy goodness Martin…you are such a generous consultant to all us ‘would be’ children’s book illustrators! Since l last wrote to you ( 2yrs ago) l have written 3 more little books following your advice. They have been for my young grand daughters but particularly geared for our young autistic grandson. I do all my pictures with the story line, then scan them into my computer then upload them to Vistaprint . It is a very expensive way of getting my little books published but they have given the children such pleasure as the stories always include themselves! I am now about to venture on my 5th book for a young disabled friend of my grandson…..just look what you have started!! ….very many thanks for all your excellent advice and encouragement Martin.

[@andypandywright]

@@bobwishart8780 hi bob - thanks for your comment and it's just great that you've found my video so useful and gone on to write and illustrate 4 books, soon to be 5, all geared personally for your granddaughters and grandson, and, soon, your grandson's friend - it's a splendid idea to involve them all with their own 'selves' in each story and who cares about the cost, it's worth a lot more than money to them and to yourself, and, after all, what do we spend most of our money on - pretty irrelevant but unfortunately necessary stuff - the best of luck with book 5 and any future books - all worth it! - cheers, martin.

[@bobwishart8780]

@@andypandywright lm Bob’s wife …Ruth… he’s the IT guru in our house!… thanks for your encouraging words Martin … lm amazed at your selfless encouragement of others less talented than yourself… l wish you the very best!

[@rebbenful]

Thank you for taking your time to share your knowledge ...GOD bless you :-)

[@andypandywright]

hi rebbenful - glad that you found my video useful - cheers, martin.

[@yingyangmeditation9965]

Putting together my first childrens book. This has helped me so much. Now, I can get my head down and get busy. :) Thank you so much! :)

[@andypandywright]

hi yingyangmeditation - i'm really glad that you found my video so useful and that now you're ready to start your book - my best wishes for your success martin.

[@yingyangmeditation9965]

@@andypandywright Its all good bub. It was very insightful. Just debating on how many pages to use. Thanks again!

[@andypandywright]

@@yingyangmeditation9965 yingyangmeditation - good to hear from you again, if your story is normal length i'd say 32 pages, if a bit shorter go for 24 - cheers again, martin.

[@silmaril17]

Hi Martin, firstly thank you for your great, insightful video. It's great to come across someone who is so selfless in giving others advice! Do you write some of the stories you illustrate or are you purely an illustrator? I ask because since graduating from University I've had several children's book ideas I've wanted to complete and get published, and one that I'm currently working on has a rhyming narrative. I've heard that it's generally best to stay away from rhyme because it's difficult to translate. Do you agree or do you think a story can get published despite this? Many thanks!

[@andypandywright]

hi j carpenter, and thanks for your reply - i have written a few of the books myself, which i really liked, and they did bring in some nice royalties (all mine) though i mostly illustrate for others. the advantages when you both write and illustrate are firstly that all the payment is yours, and secondly, equally important, that you have the total say on everything. i don't see any great reason to avoid rhymes as not that many books go into co-editions with foreign publishers, and children like rhyme - and often rhyme forms an indispensable part of the work. hope this helps - cheers, martin.

[@milambo9276]

How did it go with your books?

[@CherryBlossom-yn7oq]

Who would have thought that 4 years later after this video was publisbed i would be illustrating my first book and this video would be so helpful. Thank you so much for the advice.

[@andypandywright]

cherry - thanks for your very positive comment, i was also surprised how much my video has been used and it's great that it has helped you with your first book - best of luck with it - martin.

[@Somnivers]

Great advice, thank you !

[@olomajka]

hi somnivers - glad you found my posting handy - cheers, martin.

[@suzum5689]

Whoa! What an awesome video! Wonderful tips! Worth watching multiple times.

[@andypandywright]

hi suzu - thanks for your reply and i'm really glad that you like my video and find it so useful - keep safe during these crazy times - martin.

[@johnhal1]

Hi Andy, any tips how to get an agent? Just self published my own book which I've illustrated and written. Book is selling well. I had 200 printed and have almost sold out which is encouraging, been useful market research. I think I need to get an agent, then hopefully a publisher.

[@ItsViolaRose]

+John Halvorsen It sounds like you're doing really well on your own! I'd like to know how you found such a big market for a self-pub!

[@andypandywright]

well done so far, john - agents are listed in the 'writers and artists yearbook' -, though your own sales are good and you could continue this - martin.

[@kirshang]

Thank you So much for this video! I am a new illustrator and just finished (my first) a 15 page children’s book illustration. I didn’t know until somebody asked, (oh that’s your rough?) great now you’re going to actually do the book I had no idea I had to redo it! that I should do a rough. Or the page number limits. You are AWESOME Mr. Wright !!! This was so informative !

[@andypandywright]

muriel - that's very nice of you to say and i wish you the very best with your first book, i also had to make finished pictures out of my rough and i liked the rough so much that i copied it very slowly, making it just a bit smarter as i went - the hard bit was to make the new one look as easy and fluent as the rough. for your 15 page book you only need to include your title and perhaps a blank end page which makes it virtually 16 pages already (i'm guessing that it's to be a paperback) - let me know if you need to know any thing more that might crop up - martin.

[@zaramurray8214]

love your last comment! I needed to hear that today :)

[@andypandywright]

i'm very glad that you liked my posting, zara, especially the last comment - martin.

[@supersteveworld]

Wonderful video. Thanks very much...some great advice :)

[@andypandywright]

steve - i'm very glad you found my video and the advice helpful - cheers, martin.

[@supersteveworld]

andypandywright yes brill thanks :)

[@jackalobowaitthisnameistaken]

Thank you for this!

[@andypandywright]

hi jackson - glad you liked my video - cheers, martin.

[@terrischmitt7367]

Thank you Martin, for your insightful and generous suggestions. So many helpful ideas to consider before diving into the work. Thanks for explaining the glued down pages, mixing enough color for common elements (so that I don't have to remix over and over), starting in the middle, the importance of the comic strip and sketch. Wow, I am glad you shared your experience with us. Thank you! I will share this with my author.

[@andypandywright]

terri - thanks for your very positive comment, and i'm glad that you could take so much from my video - i hope it will prove useful when you collaborate with your author - also i really liked your still life demo with the fruit - martin.

[@pamelamckenzie2685]

Hi there fantastic video I like to know about publishing and contracts thanking youx

[@olomajka]

hi pamela - thanks for your complimentary reply and i'm nearly ready to put on another video about the business side of illustration, contracts etc. - I have to wait a while for my brother to set up his recording thing as before, but it might take a few weeks - martin.

[@deborahcicconi5600]

I loved the simplicity out your explanation on how to illustrate a children's book. Brilliant! Thank you.

[@andypandywright]

deborah - i'm really glad that you found my video useful and wish you well with your own illustrations - martin.

[@kannukanwaljeet1828]

Very helpful ....thanks....the best part is your closing statement, 'I had no training at all" ...encourages people like me....really grateful......xox

[@andypandywright]

kanwaljeet - thanks for your very positive reply and i'm glad that like me you have progressed on your own steam without formal training - i hope you suceed as i did - martin x.

[@verazgonik]

I want to like this video ten times! It really is the most valuable information for newbies in children's book illustration! I can not thank you enough! I hope I'll be able to put all this great advice in practice the upcoming year. Really love this!

[@andypandywright]

hi vera - thanks very much for your highly positive comment and i hope it helps you when you do your own illustrations over the new year - martin.

[@nelhed3587]

Thank you so much for this. I am working on my first book and your advice is far better than what I've seen from so called advanced courses etc.

[@andypandywright]

hi nel - so glad you found my video useful, it is just the synthesis of all i learnt illustrating books over the years - i hope it helps you with your first book and please don't hesitate to write again if anything crops up that you don't know about when you do it - cheers, martin.

[@tatapeping]

I am now finally embarking on a dream of being a children's book author and illustrator so what you've shared is so precious to me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being an inspiration to aspiring ones like me. Love from the Alps

[@andypandywright]

hi tatapepingCH - i'm very glad that you found my video useful especially as you're embarking on your first stage of your dream. i wish you all the very best with your writing and illustration which i hope becomes as inspiring as the wonderful alps - martin.

[@tatapeping]

andypandywright Thank you, Martin!

[@teresawasney7668]

Thank you so much for this information. Really enjoyed this video and found it so informative! My question is what size do I make my illustration cards/pages? Children's books seem to come in so many sizes, should my illustrations determine the size or does the publisher decide that and blow up the illustrations or shrink them down accordingly?

[@andypandywright]

hi teresa - thanks for your query - and if you are submitting work at an early stage the size is fairly flexible, as a guide here are three page sizes i've done: 25 x 19 cm for a portrait format paperback, 26 x 19 1/2 cm for a portrait format hardback and 21 x 18 cm for a landscape format paperback. if it is at a later stage the publisher will normally give the size required quite exactly and your artwork is often done bigger and it is then reduced by the printer to that required page size. this will normally give you 50% extra on each dimension ( so the 21 x 18 cm becomes 31 1/2 x 27cm). the reason for doing the pictures bigger is that it gives richer colours and an overall 'tighter' appearance - yours, martin.

[@donsilva1154]

I found your instruction very helpful. I'm not crazy about your illustrative style (that's not to say I don't think it's good, just not my style); however, I am crazy about the fact that you still create illustrations by hand without the aid of a computer program. Furthermore, I believe you mention somewhere that you are self-taught. Way to go Martin! I'm a police officer nearing the end of my career, and can't wait to start my new endeavor in children's book illustration. You're an inspiration.

[@andypandywright]

hi don - thanks for your honest and appreciative comment - and it's a good point that we don't have to admire a style to learn what we want from it - i learnt just about everything from a collection of random books at the time, and i have to also admit to being totally unable to illustrate with a computer program, with me it's all pencil, pen, brush - in fact whatever comes to hand - i've often wanted to illustrate with coloured pencils but nobody asked for it. i think your experience as a police officer will give you great insight into people's lives and relationships which will find it's way into your work - best of luck with your new project - cheers, martin.

[@mattew1983tube]

Hi Martin, I just wanted to thank you to take the time to film and publish this video and share your knowledge with us. It is really helpful and interesting to watch.

[@andypandywright]

really glad it's been useful, mattew1983tube - cheers, martin.

[@Lyfs-Awsumm]

This was SOOOO HELPFUL!!! Thank YOU! I appreciate you were very clear and on point. I will definitely return to this video as a resource. Thanks again!!😊❤❤

[@andypandywright]

hi hazel - that's great that you found my video so helpful, i'm always glad that someone can use it and i wish you wonderful times with your own artwork - martin xx

[@AnnaMaledonPictureBookAuthor]

I'm not an illustrator and I don't want to become one BUT as a writer it helps to know all this stuff so thank you very much for doing this video. You did a fabulous job!

[@andypandywright]

anna - that's a great reply and i know it'll help you do your stories, one of my authors found this info very handy in planning his books - yours, martin.

[@tnmaxim5109]

Brilliant! Short ans down to the point. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise!

[@andypandywright]

hi t & n maxim - thanks for your comment and glad you like my video - sounds like you're like me, want things explained simply with no waffling and unneccesary padding - and i'm more than happy to pass on everything i've learnt from all the books i've illustrated - cheers, martin.

[@TumpskyandMrsSmall]

Thanks for the info! The tip about being consistent with color is huge. I had painted my self published book and had to recorrect things which took forever. I love that you want to help others and are so very encouraging. Thumbs up to you!

[@andypandywright]

tumpsky and mrs small - thanks for your very complimentary reply and i'm glad you were able to sort out the parts you thought needed it. it's true that i want people to find out straight away the things i picked up over the years - martin.

[@peterkratoska4524]

Thank you. Lots of excellent points. I was asked or commissioned by a friend to do a story book for their grandson (and the supplied the story). Although I have printing background and have laid out brochures and other printed matter - and I stumbled on many of these points myself (like making a series of faces from angles and expressions to have a consistent character. However you have given out other advice that I didn't know or come across yet so this is very helpful.

[@andypandywright]

hi peterkratoska - thanks for your positive reply and i hope my video has given you some useful facts when you set about illustrating your friend's book - if you need any more pointers just write them here and i'll answer next time i'm on - cheers, martin.

[@peterkratoska4524]

@@andypandywright Thank you Andy, I especially like the idea of having a potentially scary element coming in on a left side of a page, as this little story book has some of this. ANd I will definitely use that. Also a kind of cliff hanger, build up on the page before. The other thing is, and you touched upon it is the target age that it is aimed at. Say the book might be more suitable as a landscape for smaller children. Currently this is made for a 3 yr old toddler. not sure if you touched on the typeface and size (in this case the toddler would not be reading it) but still I want it clean and easy to read - say no unusual fonts. If you have any recommendations on that. Finally, this is really my own time management and planning issue. So I do like to draw and sketch but I might end up focusing way too much on the detail of one page (say the city where this child is from) but this is at the expense of delaying the rest of it. Its definitely taking longer than I expected. I did make up a little quick storyboard at the beginning and I realized I need to make the characters a little more cartoony and not so detailed as it would take me forever otherwise. Quite frankly the target audience is not so fussy. How many scenes on a page? Sometimes a couple of things happen in a story in one scene. I'm trying to keep it simple as well. How much time would one expect to spend on making say a 16 or 24 page book? Thanks in advance.

[@andypandywright]

@@peterkratoska4524 hi peterkratoska - i'd go for a simple font, avoiding the 'glasses' g, and having the story set in the child's town is a great idea, even using bus station, city square, hospital etc, as for scenes on one page any number's ok as long as the separation's clear - for the rough of the book i'd say a week at most (can be in colour or not), and when you do the actual book it shouldn't take much longer because you'll often find it's simply better to just tidy up the rough pages - have fun with it! - cheers, martin.

[@redeyejedi5449]

Superb information. I live in China and teach English, and Im always looking for specific stories at a certain level for esl language learners. Its difficult to find good books here to help students improve their reading. So, Ive decided to write and Illustrate my own books. These are great tips and will help me very much. Thank you!

[@andypandywright]

hi jedi - that's great, and doing your own books will mean you can tailor them to suit your students individual needs, a real advantage for them and much more fun for you both - all the very best with your projected stories - martin.

[@Rum8146]

I’m just embarking on this journey from a graphic design background with an enthusiasm for illustration. I’ve viewed quite a lot of stuff on this topic and this one is a real gem...thank you very much for your generous and considered advice 👍

[@andypandywright]

hi steven - glad you found my posting useful and the very best of luck in any illustration work you do - also, keep safe during these crazy times - cheers, martin.

[@hellodenise9612]

I also have a graphics background and am attempting a dream to write and illustrate a childrens book. It seams the natural thing to do with graphic background and my soon to be husband is a printer! Thank you both!

[@andypandywright]

@@hellodenise9612 hi d m - thanks for your reply and it seems to me absolutely tailor-made for your plan to write and illustrate your own story, and with a future husband as a printer it's almost the dream scenario - no-one to please but yourselves! - the very best of luck with it - keep safe during these crazy times - cheers, martin.

[@andypandywright]

@@hellodenise9612 hi d m - thanks for your reply, and it sounds like the perfect start to your book as you are both writer and illustrator and your future husband is a printer - no-one else to please, the whole project solely yours - it's the dream scenario - the very best of luck with it - keep safe during these crazy times - cheers, martin.

[@hellodenise9612]

@@andypandywright Thank you! I am going to need some help I'm sure!

[@MermaidStreet]

Thank you Martin for all the wonderful and generous information. I'm just dipping my toes in. Let's see where it goes! Thanks again.

[@andypandywright]

glad your dip in was a success - martin.

[@lilishang9]

Thanks Martin, after listening and looking at many illustrator's comments, you got right to it, were very easy to understand and your points very helpful. Surprisingly, I've seen your work and have enjoyed your illustrations.

[@andypandywright]

thanks for your positive comment, lili, and glad you like my pictures - martin.

[@TheErbchen]

Thank you so much for this video! I have watched it multiple times during the last year and I found it so very helpful. I also love the slow and concise language of yours! I would love to see a video about what goes into the design of a main character - how do you decide on style, facial features, colouring and what else needs to be considered.

[@olomajka]

hi farbwirbel - thanks very much for your comment and i'm glad you gained so much from my video - as regards main (and other) characters I first of all scrutinize the text looking for any clues (which can be quite obscure and implied) to consider when sketching the person, if the age is unclear I go for the likely age of the reader and the locations often give some valuable ideas (for example for costume when there is a farm setting) - the kind of activities of the characters are also useful guides for how they may look - regarding the style that will largely be determined by the likely preferences of the reader, the publisher and the general tenor of the story (for example colouring more subdued for darker, more dramatic stories etc), but in the end it will be my preferred style that wins out - and yours - you have to like what you're doing! I hope that, in the absence of a specific video, this will be helpful for you, farbwirbel - martin.

[@TheErbchen]

Thank you so very much for your answer! I will keep your advice in mind and try my best!

[@mariarosa-eco]

Best vídeo I've seen! Short, but so much more info than others! Thanxx

[@andypandywright]

hi pedcaju atelie - thanks for your comment and i really tried to condense all the info needed into this short video, - some can be really rambling! - cheers, martin.

[@gina-mariaweigel3821]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a clear manner. Extremely valuable information.

[@andypandywright]

hi gina-maria - thanks for your reply and i'm glad you found my video so useful - martin

[@smilliepencer6487]

I am illustrating my first book and all this information was invaluable! thankyou so much andy!!

[@andypandywright]

hi smillie - glad you found my video useful, and if anything crops up when you illustrate your first book let me know - and all best wishes with it - cheers, martin.

[@rachelpasseri4345]

A very constructive video - I enjoyed watching. I am in the process of writing my first children's book. Your information was very helpful. Thank you. Great narrative voice.

[@andypandywright]

rachel - i'm very glad you found my video useful - and i hope it helps you with your first book. i must say that i thought my voice on the video sounded a bit daft but if you were okay with it, then that's fine - martin.

[@dahliadoom]

This is so insightful! I never realized the nuance and technique needed to write and illustrate a Children’s book!

[@andypandywright]

hi kelcy - i have to admit that when i started i also didn't realize any of the things in my video - i thought you just drew pictures and that was that, which explains how my first attempt was rejected! - but in time i got the hang of it by scrutinising a children's story, reading all available books etc - cheers, martin.

[@janissharkey7174]

Thank you for this helpful information. My husband writes stories for our grandchildren and I print and bind them. For this Christmas I am also doing the illustrations. I wish I had seen your video before I started. I’ve had to do some illustrations more than once because of inconsistencies in color or style. I won’t make that mistake again because you have taught me how to plan ahead and “batch” color elements. Thanks again!

[@andypandywright]

hi janis - i'm glad you found my video useful, even though some details were a shade too late for you to batch the colours! - the best of luck with your and your husband's stories and i'm sure your grandchildren will be enrapt - best wishes, martin.

[@helenashowell1859]

I'm glad I came across your video, Martin! It's full of very helpful information! I'm working on illustrating my sister's children's stories, and your advice is so encouraging. Thank you! :-)

[@andypandywright]

helena - thanks for your nice reply and i'm very glad that it looks like helping you illustrate your sister's stories - it is in fact a real advantage to work with somebody you know well (most of my books have been like this) best of luck with your combined project - martin

[@marklawlercreations]

As I watch this video it is 3yrs old but it is still sharing fantastic words of wisdom taught be experience, I will apply these lessons to the books I am writing & illustrating for my grandsons and then see where it goes. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[@andypandywright]

hi mark - hard to believe that video is 3 years old! and glad it's still being useful - hope all goes well with your books for your grandsons - all the best, martin.

[@wordhog1970]

I was so lucky to find this after just one search. What a useful video! Thank you for the information and advice.

[@andypandywright]

kerry - glad you did! - and glad that you found my video useful - martin.

[@valerierosenbaum6248]

Thank you for sharing. I am attempting to illustrate my own book. Your tips taught me new thoughts and reassured me on other thoughts I thought to do...plastic sleeves..cut an paste for real with the text. Etc.. Thank you!

[@andypandywright]

very glad that you got my posting as you attempt a new book - martin.

[@crowchild182]

Wow not what i expected! Really helpful video! So glad i came by this video!!! I learned a lot of new things, thank goodness haha

[@andypandywright]

crispy - very glad you were pleasantly surprised by my video - i hope it proves mighty useful to you - martin.

[@leocongiu]

Thank you, very helpful advice and nicely presented. You're a good teacher.

[@andypandywright]

hi leonardo - thanks for your comment and i'm glad you found my video useful - (great name, by the way!) - cheers, martin.

[@hartrealmvideo]

Some of the best, most useful information I've seen on the subject. Thank You!

[@andypandywright]

hi heartrealmvideo - thanks for your appreciative comment - and i'm hoping to get to work on the follow-up one soon - cheers, martin.

[@darrenfitzsimons5837]

What a brilliant and helpful video! I’m working on my first picture book. Some great tips, thank you!

[@andypandywright]

hi Darren - glad you found my video useful and all best wishes on your first illustrated book - keep safe in these crazy times - cheers, martin.

[@darrenfitzsimons5837]

And you! Thanks Martin.

[@ericgraham7026]

Thank you Martin. This video was very helpful. I’ve written and illustrated two books to date and have learned a lot from this.

[@andypandywright]

eric - that's great and good to know that my video helped you to do your two books - hope all goes well with your future work - keep safe during this awful virus - cheers, martin.

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

This is an outstanding video on the important things needed to know to illustrate a children’s book. Thank you so much. ❤️ Shirley

[@andypandywright]

thanks, shirley, for your very positive comment on my video and i'm glad you found it comprehensive - stay safe during these mad times, martin.

[@moonbeam9973]

Thankyou Martin.this video is really informative and inspiring. I am a struggling 'traditional' illustrator in a world of digital artists trying to get myself off the ground and this video has given me the strength to keep trying. many thanks :)

[@andypandywright]

moonbeam - that's great that you found my video inspiring and i'm just like you, old school pen, paper and paints etc, so i can easily see what it's like for you in the somewhat impersonal digital world - so i'll say keep true to your natural style and i'm glad you gained some strength from my video - and keep going forward! - martin.

[@christinemacmacleod4880]

Wonderful video. Delightful illustrations. Thank you so much.

[@andypandywright]

hi christine - thanks for your very appreciative comment - keep yourself safe during this mad virus - cheers, martin.

[@dramaticdolls4540]

Thanks for sharing such an useful video. Its the essence of all your experiences. Thank you so much!!

[@olomajka]

hi dramatic dolls - i'm glad you found my video helpful and you're right, it's the culmination of all the stuff I've learnt since my first (tentative) illustration - martin.

[@storytimereadaloudwithjanessa]

Thank you! This is very helpful! Can you please give advice about publishing, editors, and maybe make a video of your entire process from start to finish? Thank you!

[@andypandywright]

hi JM - thanks for your query, the only help i can give about publishing editors (it was the authors who dealt with this side of things) is to get a look at the current "writers' and artists' yearbook" (can be bought or seen in libraries) which gives all the publishers' information - though lately many publishers have a non-submission policy! - and as regards the entire process, i can suggest you look at my other video "18 things you might find useful after you've illustrated your picture book" which gives the (admittedly little) i know about the whole process - hope this helps, cheers, martin.

[@ArtemensiaK]

I am an illustrator myself, but some tips were new. Love those tricks. Nice video

[@andypandywright]

artemensia - thanks for your positive reply, and greetings from one illustrator to another - martin

[@barbramudd9576]

Thank you for this video. I've been illustrating for years, my own and others, I find I can still learn with your video. It would have made things easier if I had seen this a lot of years ago.

[@andypandywright]

barbra - i'm glad that my video is still useful for you after all that time, and hope it still helps with your future work - martin.

[@MoominBetz]

Very informative indeed. Thank you Martin for being so straight forward with things I had not even thought about, i.e: illustrating the middle pages, production line and setting colour out first. Really helpful! :)

[@andypandywright]

glad that you found all the information useful MoominBetz - martin.

[@marciaguerrero3663]

Dear Sir, Thank you very much for your insights and brilliant advice. I was very tentative about writing and illustrating my first children's book. Finding your video made me feel less overwhelmed. With high regards. I would love to know about contracts. Marcia

[@andypandywright]

marcia - thanks for your positive reply and please do go ahead with your first book now, you have all the advantages of being both author and illustrator (nobody but yourself to please) - you can find out about contracts etc. with my other video "18 things you might find useful after you've illustrated your children's book" - i should mention that my brother made that video and some of it is a bit out of focus but the facts are still there - if you need further help write again - martin.

[@andreahardaker8962]

Thank you this was excellent , succinct, chock full of the most important stuff and loved your calm delivery- very helpful to someone who is feeling overwhelmed. I am off to carry on my story and drawing right now. Thank you.

[@andypandywright]

very glad you were pleased with my video, andrea, and definitely no need to feel overwhelmed - it's just drawing not the sistine chapel! - hope your story goes well - carry on! - martin.

[@kylewharyart]

I had a question about a spread page illustration. Do you recommend drawing on one large paper the length of 2 pages? Or, can the illustration be drawn on 2 seperate pieces and put together? Thanks so much!

[@andypandywright]

hi kyle - the normal practise for doing a double spread illustration is to do two pictures which will combine to form the whole picture, but what you do is to extend the left hand page with an extra centimetre of illustration on its right hand edge, then also extend the right hand page with an extra centimetre of illustration on its left hand edge - these two extra bits will be trimmed off when the book is produced, leaving you with the intended illustration you want (you occasionally see a book made without doing this and the double spread doesnt match in the middle ) the main thing to keep in mind is that the extra bits will be trimmed off so they shouldn't be a part of your intended picture - sounds quite complex, doesn't it - if you need any more guidance, kyle, please write again - cheers, martin.

[@kylewharyart]

@@andypandywright I think I understood it hahah! Thank you so much!!!

[@andypandywright]

@@kylewharyart hi kyle - i'm sure you've got it, do write again if you need to - martin.

[@ItsViolaRose]

Thank you so much Martin! I had no idea how complicated this was and you've saved me so much time trying to figure it out!

[@andypandywright]

glad this was useful for you viola and its not as complex as this sounds - try it! - martin.

[@farmerfox3332]

Thank you sir. This is a top shelf and informative video that leads me to where I need to be. Thank you for your passion for the arts and sharing the results of your hard work.

[@andypandywright]

hi farmer fox - glad you found my video useful and hope it fully helps with your projects - cheers, martin.

[@galiagoze]

Mr. Wright, I just love your illustrations!!! I'm writing an illustrated journal about autism. It is to benefit my friends and me about my autism that is not meant to be a "medical book", but interesting, colourful, and whimsical. How do I draw me as a character with a "neurobiological disorder" without it looking like a science book? Thank you!! You are brilliant!!!!!

[@andypandywright]

hi galiagoze, and many thanks for your very complimentary reply - your project of illustrating your journal sounds great and i'm sure would be very beneficial to all who might see it - as regards your character, you could draw yourself in a slightly cartoony way (only slightly) to put across the light, whimsical feel that you want it to have - in this regard you might like to look up "easylearn" books which i have illustrated many times, and in this light style to give you perhaps an idea (see easylearn.co.uk) - and you can be reassured that those who see your book will these days be most sensitive and understanding. i wish you all the very best in this important project and hope it's seen by many - martin.

[@galiagoze]

Thank you so much, Mr. Wright!! While my subject matter is very serious about the challenges of my autism, I would like the illustrations to not be a boring lab rendition of this condition. This journal is for me and my friends. It needs to be light and to the point for an understanding of this subject quickly and effectively. Pictures say a thousand words beyond the text!!! Pictures may prompt recall of information when text is forgotten!!! Thank you again!!

[@titaberredo]

Lovely work and great video, Martin. Many thanks.

[@andypandywright]

really glad that you like my stuff, tita, and thanks for your positive comment - martin.

[@titaberredo]

:)

[@cinema_chic]

Thank you very much for making this video. It's comforting to know you didn't have training since I'll be embarking on the task of writing and illustrating a children's book idea I've had for awhile. Once it's done, the writing and illustrating, how does one submit to places?

[@andypandywright]

chantell - thanks for your positive reply. and before you've illustrated your book idea i'd suggest that you watch my other video on youtube "18 things you might find useful after you've ilustrated your children's book" - this gives you all the information you'll want about how you submit your work - including the fact that you don't need to submit the whole project or even finished artwork to get a reply from publishers or agents - oh, and apologies for the quality of this video - my brother made it! - cheers, martin.

[@kathyshaull3220]

Clear and concise points. Very timely for me. Video bookmarked? Yes!

[@andypandywright]

hi kathy, and thanks for your positive comment on my video, which seems to have arrived at the right time for you - also i really like your 'grief' video - martin.

[@andypandywright]

. . . that is the second one - 'good grief'

[@mwt1975]

Thank you, I'm attempting my book because you made this project feasible to me. Blessings, Marc

[@andypandywright]

marc - that's great, and in fact that's what the video is for, giving people the info they need to make the best possible job of their illustrated stories - all best wishes with yours - martin.

[@joyceherold9950]

Just wonderful...so inspiring and helpful! Thank you so much!

[@andypandywright]

joyce - i'm so glad you found my video useful and inspiring - martin.

[@Pumpkinjewel]

Thank you very much for this video. I'm in the middle of illustrating a book that my friend wrote and it's hard knowing exactly where to begin and if I'm doing it right. This is a very helpful and insightful start.

[@andypandywright]

julie - thanks for your reply and i wish you every success in illustrating your friend's book. keep your friend up to date with all your pictures as you go along and see if any changes are suggested, making your artwork very rough and sketchy to begin with - all the best - martin.

[@katana2665]

Some very good points that I hadn't heard before...Thanks for sharing.

[@andypandywright]

chris - glad my posting was new and helpful - martin.

[@DreamvineStudios]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips Andy! I am in the process of writing my first children's book. I am a fine artist and making the jump to children's book illustration is proving to be more difficult than anticipated. Any tips on finding an illustration style? All of the scenes are already drawn in my head. I see them vividly...just having difficulty getting it on to paper. Thanks!

[@andypandywright]

dreamvine - thanks for your reply and i'm glad that you find my video useful so far. as regards style, i'd fill a few pages with the same illustrated page in as many ways as you can, then perhaps ask somebody very young to see what they think (roughly the age your book is aimed at) - at the same time i'd gather a few pictures from published books and use similar techniques for your illustrations in rough form deciding which seem to suit you and work for you. also i'd make some illustrations on casual things like an old envelope etc and pick out the results you like and "do them properly" as it were. as you are also the writer you can be far more relaxed about what you do and how you illustrate the story - you don't have to please anybody else! - hope this has helped - martin.

[@DreamvineStudios]

Thank you Andy! Appreciate you taking the time to respond. Yes, this helped a great deal! Children's books...such a wonderful niche to belong to. So excited to see where this takes me. Thanks again my friend!

[@buffblondie9215]

Thank you for this. I have already written a book but this is my first go at children books...Thank you:)

[@andypandywright]

glad you found my posting useful. BuffBlondie, cheers - martin.

[@aescougarcheer]

Excellent, and so eye-opening. You raised many points I hadn’t considered. One question, is cold pressed paper considered suitable? I prefer doing my painting on it. Thank you!

[@andypandywright]

hi Jennifer - glad you found my video useful - about your question, certainly cold pressed paper will be fine, and in fact I've used all kinds of stuff, mostly I've painted on white card, (so that it doesn't 'booble up'), about the thickness of a greetings card - and one little detail, there are two different sides to card, one slightly textured and the other more smooth, so for thin lines i'd use the smooth side and for more casual strokes the textured (thin lines tend to spread a bit on the textured side) - hope this helps - keep safe over this crazy virus time - martin.

[@williamcheeks5657]

Hey! My mom has written a children's book and wants me to illustrate it for her. I really would like to accomplish this before its too late. Wish the best for me while I use your advise to finally get it finished. Thanks for the information!!!

[@andypandywright]

kaleb - thanks for your reply - and i wish you all the very best as you get going on illustrating your mom's book - if you come across anything you're not sure about let me know - have fun with it - martin.

[@linettepiwnicki5064]

Thanks so much for sharing your insights; great video!! Happy, peaceful blessings to all!

[@andypandywright]

L.P. very glad you found my video useful, all best wishes too - martin.

[@sherryanderson1642]

This was the best advice I have gotten so far. I have written and illustrated a book. I know that many publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts so what do I do next?

[@andypandywright]

hi sherry - thanks for your comment and the first thing you could do is check the "writers' and artists' yearbook" for publishers who might still accept unsolicited manuscripts and who might suit your work - secondly you could consider submitting to foreign english-speaking publishers (eg. american) - a third option is to self-publish - for this you need some outlet for sales (local shops, libraries etc) and you need a very inexpensive production (self-publishers can find themselves with a box of unsold books!) - one of my writers produced the small book "laughter lines" (shown in the video) at very reasonable cost. let me know if you need further information and good luck - martin.

[@andypandywright]

hi hornwiesel- glad you like it - martin.

[@andypandywright]

hi hornwiesel - glad you like it - martin.

[@andypandywright]

sherry - please ignore the hornwiesel replies - i think i pressed the wrong switch - martin.

[@martialartscoach]

Great video! Simple and brilliant at the same time. Wisdom from an experienced illustrator!

[@olomajka]

hi boxing guy - thanks for your highly complimentary comment - (I need to stay on the right side of a boxing expert!) - martin.

[@elysegambino1597]

Fabulous video- thanks for sharing all of your insights!

[@andypandywright]

hi elyse - glad you liked my video and i hope it proves useful for you - keep safe in these mad times - martin.

[@raquel7123]

Hi Andy.... am glad people are doing extra ordinary stuff out there. I've been working on my children's storybooks for seven years now.. i had no idea where to begin or how to go about it, i had illustrators who would give me headaches and later i decided to learn how to illustrate and now i can do it. Thank you for not being selfish with your experiences. At the moment i want to start illustrating five of my books before i move to another projects. Was just going around to see what other people are doing. The comments below shows how people are interested in this field. Thanks a lot and just wondering do you also play music? because of your photo up there.

[@olomajka]

rachael - thanks for your appreciative comment and your diligence is very impressive. especially with the amount of work you are planning, and i'm glad if my video helped. you're totally right about the music and you can see some of my attempts under 'andypandywright' here on youtube - hope you like them! - martin.

[@raquel7123]

Lovely... so much talent there.. apart from illustrating you play instrument and sing that is impressive. I love it. Apart from me writing children's storybooks and illustrating them, am also a singer song writer, but i don't play any instrument. One question do you have children and has any one followed your steps?.

[@andypandywright]

rachael - there's just me i'm afraid! - my nephew and nieces seem to have benefitted from my showing them art - it's true that art and music often go together - why not put your songs onto youtube, unaccompanied even - martin.

[@raquel7123]

Hi Andy... glad your ok.. sorry for the late reply since i commented here i went underground coz i was doing storyboard and funny enough i have finished the storyboard today and now hopping to start illustrating as from June. Am sure it will take me five months or more since its five books. I asked you if any close person in your life has followed your footstep and its sad that no one has. I would love for me to have children who would have my talent. Anyways... i haven't uploaded my songs yet coz i want to finish this project then enter another project. As a writer its hard for me to juggle different things at the same time coz you know writing needs time and quietness most of the time.When i release any of my songs i would make sure i send it to you.

[@TheMiriamLinnea]

Im so happy I found this video - great to see people still happy to give advice without getting paid for it. Very useful video, thank you for sharing! I have a question regarding the process of getting your drawings into finished book. my plan: use line-drawings & watercolour to make my scetches -> scan them high resolution -> upload my digital scanned files to Adobe Indesign, where I will create the whole book. My question is if I need to use a profesional firm to scan my pictures, or do you think using a normal home-scanner will be sufficient, with the many features adobe ( creative cloud) have included? Are you familiar with Adobe & think my plan sounds ok? Looking forward to hear from you!

[@andypandywright]

hi miriam, and thanks for your kind comment - it's true, that all i found out about illustration was given to me free, so it only seemed right that i should give all i now know freely. regarding your query, i have to admit that i'm no expert on this kind of thing - my publishers always handled everything - but, from what i gather, a regular home-scanner with the features you mentioned sounds perfectly adequate for the job - i know that i sent black and white pictures with an old style basic scanner to my last publisher and they were fine - please write again if you have any more questions - martin.

[@TheMiriamLinnea]

@@andypandywright Thank you very much for the promt respond! I will test with a regular scanner & see if it does the job :)

[@claireseyeviewonredbubble]

I've subscribed. This is really helpful and encouraging. Thank you!