HOW TO ILLUSTRATE A BOOK IF YOU CAN'T DRAW

[@theverseshed]

I've just completed my first book of poetry for children and am about to upload to KDP. I'm one of those bods who finds words easy, but drawing - especially freehand - is a no-no. Spaghetti dipped in charcoal dust and dragged across paper would look better! My solution was threefold. > First I took great care to find genuinely free public domain clipart I could manipulate and adapt. Just as with 'royalty free' you have to be ultra careful with any website that mentions 'public domain', but there are several out there, it's a case of searching for PD clipart that suits your needs/genre/project . . . just make sure that there is some sort of declaration that certifies the images on a website as being genuine freed domain. You may see the tag 'open clipart' associated with many of them. > Second, I went down an unconventional route and used stencils that are sold for anyone to use for any purpose. (animals, plants, characters . . . you name it, and they're out there). I photographed the actual stencils on black card to get the image and then use them or programs like Irfanview and Photoshop to invert colours and generally play with them. > Third, I used simple but surprisingly powerful 2D animation software to combine, manipulate and generally fiddle with images to match them to particular poems. This was effectively like working on a single 'frame' and using that as my 'drawing board.' Also - did you know that you can use Google Image search to check the veracity of a 'free' image? Copy the image and just paste it into the Google Image search - you don't need words, just use the image. That then shows you where that image has been registered or found on the internet, as well as other images similar to it. One last little 'bonus' . . one of the poems in my collection is about a dragon called 'Hamfist Fingazfum.' Shall we say, there's more than an element of autobiographical influence here? He can hold a pencil a pen a brush he can think of ideas that come in a rush he can think in pictures that into words he turns but when trying illustrations everything burns . . . (There's that charcoal dust-dipped spaghetti again!) Thanks Jules for such a useful video.

[@MariliaMDiniz]

I love how natural you sound. I could listen to you for hours and hours.

[@jassy8810]

Exactly why I just subscribed 😁

[@elsieschmaltz6754]

I'm retiring at 62 and I'm in process of writing a book and ilustrations. Wish me luck. You are a wonderful person. Good luck to you, also.

[@JulesMarriner]

Best of luck! You can do it x

[@zanamoss693]

So incredibly helpful! You got me excited, realizing I can totally do this. Thank you so much. ❤

[@bloomingstrelitzia3666]

Thank you very much, Jules! I am an aspiring author in the process of making my first book (self-publishing it). I am doing both the text and illustrations for more creative control, but I am not the most confident in my drawing abilities, so your tips help greatly. However, I know I just need to keep drawing and make it less intimidating for me so that I can make beautiful illustrations without breaking the bank.

[@JulesMarriner]

Keep going- the more you practice, the more confident you’ll get 🤩

[@coachcarenfern]

You are giving me some really good idea for my book Thank you so very much Jules ☺️

[@ARP369]

This video is so encouraging and warmly convincing!

[@chenahotspring]

Exceptionally helpful, thank you so much!

[@JulesMarriner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aliceagogo]

I’m in the long process of #2. I might try photoshop or some other one but I want to try doing the illustrations on paper first. We’ll see how it goes. I’m falling in love with water colors now!

[@JulesMarriner]

Love watercolour! It's my favourite media.

[@soapinabox4559]

Thank you so much, I have been writing a children's book for a several months now, and I finally got to the end. This video gave some great tips on how illustrate, and I am definitely going to use them. 😃😄

[@JulesMarriner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tabireji]

Thank you. This tips have been helpful.

[@greenpaint2266]

please do a video on how to make a manuscript for KDP. I have my story and illustrations but have no idea how to format a manuscript or what software to use. Please help!

[@JulesMarriner]

Great idea, I’ll add it to my schedule.

[@CGFernandesOficial]

This is a great video! I loved it!

[@misaafy]

Thank you for those amazing tips & inspirations. I wanted to make a children’s book for a while, but didn’t knew how to start 💕💕

[@hifiunicorn]

How do you illustrate a consistent character in a variety of expressions and positions from beginning and end so it's cohesive?

[@JulesMarriner]

Hello - I've done a video on this somewhere, trying to find it...it's a good question though. It might be this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mITFeqiAgqhne8U

[@tinyhousebigfarm4471]

Thisas fantastic!

[@johnkelly3557]

Thank you Jules for your individual videos... l am in the position of finishing a set of six books for children... l am looking for a illustrator or the confidence to do my own... l have finished a number of illustrations... but l like your idea of using photos... will let you know which way l choose to go when l finish... John...

[@JulesMarriner]

You can do it!

[@humairanaeempasha2362]

Hi do you have any video on size guides for watercolor children book illustrations? Thanks!

[@JulesMarriner]

No, but I shall put it on the list. My advice is to look at books that you think would fit your story, and measure it. If you are using Amazon, see what guides they have that fit the nearest.

[@humairanaeempasha2362]

@@JulesMarrinerohkay yes that helps - thanks a ton!

[@nullandvoid3228]

Love this! Very inspiring too!

[@JulesMarriner]

Thanks so much!

[@daisy_exists1238]

I'm 10 and I am obsessed with writing. I'm writing a story right now and my Aunt owns a library. She can also publish my book for me and I really want nice illustrations for my book. I really don't know what to do though. So this really helped! (But my story is too short for a chapter book, but too long for a children's picture book what should I do?)

[@JulesMarriner]

Thanks for getting in touch- I think just make the story as long as it is Daisy. Sometimes stories don’t want to be constrained into a picture book, so see what it’s like when you have completed it. Then you can edit it or write more to make it longer.

[@Nicholas-yo7gq]

Such an encouraging video - thank you for giving me a bit more confidence!

[@khadidjamhamdioua9011]

Hi dear, thanks for this helpful video.. I can draw but my problem is in backgrounds... So I think I wanna pick someone's else background and I will add my charachters to it .. is it fine to do that? Or I may face problems with amazon?

[@JulesMarriner]

Hi - you can use backgrounds so long as you have permission from the artist or photographer, or you get ‘royalty free’ backgrounds. You will get into trouble if you just Google something and then use it. Hope that helps.

[@deliamcdowall6132]

Hi Hi Jules, thanks for all your informative videos. They are golden. I deeply appreciate. I am planning an answer to prayers bedtime story book in the 7 to 11 age group. What do you think? Would you recommend that age group? I can not draw so thanks for the idea of using photographs especially royalty free pics. Thanks for your feedback. I look forward to hearing from you. Nanu Nana -:) Bye for now

[@JulesMarriner]

Great idea Delia. For that age group you’d need to write more books Han for a picture book. I’ve got a video on that sort of thing- I’ll dig it out and send you the link.

[@deliamcdowall6132]

@@JulesMarriner Thank you so much Ms Jules.

[@ha_kha2430]

I want to publish my story on an online site, so is it okay if I take pictures out of Google or pinterest and give credits to the artist. If I don't know the artist could I just say where I have it from and that it's not mine? Or is it also illegal?

[@JulesMarriner]

Hi - no don’t do that, you could get in trouble for breaching copyright law. You could find a site that has copyright-free images.

[@ha_kha2430]

@@JulesMarriner Okay and thank you I'll remember that

[@marshmalloww4448]

I have a question after I draw how I can put it on my book? can you please tell us about this point?

[@JulesMarriner]

The short answer is: scan it in and use software like In Design to bring your book to one document. Good question though, I’ll add it to my list of videos to make 😊

[@Supshow8329]

Do you cut your own bangs ? If so how do you do it

[@myblurredlineswrites]

❤

[@adobeblue4360]

this is a list of good examples but you need to show how this software or craft can be used as an illustration. Include actual examples of these. Take the time to show what you are talking about and how it will look when you are finished. Otherwise, you might as well just type up a sheet with your examples and save time.

[@robertnegron6804]

Drawing cannot be taught... that is a natural gift that you are born with, not taught. You either have it or you don't, like singing, that's another gift that can't be taught.

[@rxcklessj]

@@robertnegron6804 I disagree

[@robertnegron6804]

@@rxcklessj you can disagree all you want, talents like drawing or singing are natural gifts and cannot be taught...I mean, you can teach runs and cords and things like that, but you either have a voice or you don't, that you can't teach, the same thing goes with drawing.

[@marlenquiroa6061]

@@robertnegron6804 I think that some People don’t need teaching to draw well but I have seen people learn with structured classes that go over techniques.

[@robertnegron6804]

@@marlenquiroa6061 maybe but I doubt that those people have gone on to have successfully careers at drawing.