by Kirsti Call (and a special guest)
Reading stellar picture books and interacting with the ReFoReMo community has me inspired! I love figuring out what works and thinking deeply about why I like some picture books more than others. Fantastic illustrations are essential and as writers we have to acknowledge their importance. There’s a lot we can learn by studying the interplay between words and pictures. Here are some questions that I ask myself:
1. How does the text alone make me want to turn the page? How about the illustration?
2. How does the text leave things unsaid in a way that allows the pictures to help propel the action?
3. What words infuse emotion into the story and give the illustrator an opportunity for vivid interpretations?
4. How do the illustrations enhance the written word, and how can I apply these lessons to my writing?
1. How does the text alone make me want to turn the page? How about the illustration?
2. How does the text leave things unsaid in a way that allows the pictures to help propel the action?
3. What words infuse emotion into the story and give the illustrator an opportunity for vivid interpretations?
4. How do the illustrations enhance the written word, and how can I apply these lessons to my writing?
As I reflect on illustrations, I wonder what an illustrator would think...so I make a call.
“Hello? Is this the doctor? I have an emergency! Is this Dr. Mira Reisberg?" Thankfully, it is!
Kirsti: What exactly should illustrators consider when transitioning from study to studio?
Dr. Mira Reisberg: The key is to have fun with it and pay attention to what you like or don't like so that you can learn from it. I hope the following reflection questions help:
1. How does the illustrator show emotion through body language, expression, and color?
2. Do they have a recognizable color palette throughout the book that helps convey the overall mood of the books?
3. What does the illustrator do to make her or his contributions fresh and original and do they complement or extend the text? If so how?
4. How does the illustrator mix it up to have different compositions on each spread that play with scale, point of view, balance, and perspective?
Thank you Dr. Mira! After reviewing Dr. Mira's questions, I realize that even those of us who aren't illustrators can benefit from thinking like one. Dr. Mira kind of saved the day, didn't she?
“Hello? Is this the doctor? I have an emergency! Is this Dr. Mira Reisberg?" Thankfully, it is!
Kirsti: What exactly should illustrators consider when transitioning from study to studio?
Dr. Mira Reisberg: The key is to have fun with it and pay attention to what you like or don't like so that you can learn from it. I hope the following reflection questions help:
1. How does the illustrator show emotion through body language, expression, and color?
2. Do they have a recognizable color palette throughout the book that helps convey the overall mood of the books?
3. What does the illustrator do to make her or his contributions fresh and original and do they complement or extend the text? If so how?
4. How does the illustrator mix it up to have different compositions on each spread that play with scale, point of view, balance, and perspective?
Thank you Dr. Mira! After reviewing Dr. Mira's questions, I realize that even those of us who aren't illustrators can benefit from thinking like one. Dr. Mira kind of saved the day, didn't she?
Mira is giving away her course, The Hero's Art Journey. This is an incredible course for anyone who is interested in exploring their artistic self! Thank you, Mira! To be eligible, you must be a fully registered participant, comment on this post, read daily, and keep records of your progress.
Kirsti Call reads, critiques and revises every day. She is a member of various critique groups, and blogs for Writer's Rumpus, Children's Book Academy, and the Institute of Children's Literature. As the published author of The Raindrop Who Couldn't Fall and a homeschool mom, Kirsti coaches revision for children ages 5-18. Her school visits involve interactive writing, singing, and of course, reading for research! Kirsti contributed as a 2015 CYBILS YA Fiction panelist and is proud to be the 2016 ReFoReMo co-coordinator. You can follow her journey at www.kirsticall.com.
Mira Reisberg has helped MANY authors and illustrators get published. She has worn just about every hat in the industry including art director, editor, award-winning illustrator and author, kid lit university professor, and literary agent. Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature. She is also the Director of the innovative online school Children’s Book Academy. Mira will be co-teaching the highly successful Craft and Business of Writing Children's Picture Books with Random House Editor Kelly Delaney in May. To find out more and receive early access click here:http://bit.ly/yourCBAtribe. Mira is also working on an on-demand and in-demand Writing and Illustrating Graphic Novels course that should also be lots of fun.
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