Your Choice - Book Cover
Hand In
- References
- B/W Rough
- Final Illustration on appropriate paper
- Student self-grading sheet: il_grading_sheets.pdf (58K)
Directions
Illustrate the cover of a book you have read and understand. Options are many, but consider a novel by your favorite author, a favorite children's book from your youth, a short story, or a book of poetry. Do Not draw a comic book cover or an anime "manga" style book cover—your portfolio will benefit more from more developed, real drawing styles.
THEME: (The story line and characters in your book). This is decided by the author--not you. You cannot create this illustration from your imagination, you will be creating this illustration to tell the author's story to your audience in picture form. That is your role here-to put a visual image with the author's story.
AUDIENCE: (Who your book be given to, or read to, your "target market"). Picture books for children are typically targeted toward boys and/or girls 0–7 years old. You can focus on just boys, or just girls if your story allows it.
STYLE: (What style of art will you tell the author's story with?). Again, for the most part, the story will decide how your illustration should look. But the illustrator's expertise comes in when we have to decide what the characters, background and elements will look like, what style they will be drawn and painted in, and what type of atmosphere they will be set in. The atmosphere and style could be a serious, realistic style, or a loose, carefree style, or a soft, whimsical style. All styles are good, the important thing is to choose the correct one to tell your story with.
- Elements: Once you have chosen a story/book, and once you have read the story and determined the main plot, characters and setting, choose 2—3 elements to tell the story with. An element could be the main character (animal, person, etc.), or main elements in the story (a garden, cake, barber shop, playhouse, etc.), or the setting of the story (school playground, camp site, canoe trip to the woods, ballet dance at dance classes, etc.)
You must include the book title in your illustration. It must be illustrated. Then, choose 2-3 additional elements to represent the story, theme, main characters, setting, etc. with your illustration. Do NOT include illustrator information (like your name).
- Medium: Your choice
- Surface: Appropriate for your medium
- Size: 9” x 12”
- Color: Full color
- Hours to complete: 15–20 (8 hrs in class, 12 hours homework over 3 weeks)
Student Samples
