Illustration Process – This is My Dad
I am thrilled to have teamed up again with wonderful author Dimity Powell. We have worked together on The Fix-It Man and also At the End of Holyrood Lane.
This Is My Dad is a timely, important and heartwarming look at modern family dynamics. It highlights that families come in all shapes and sizes and they are all worthy of celebration.
With one in four children in the UK living with a single parent, and 90% of those parents being a woman, Leo’s family situation will resonate with millions of children, and provide a valuable insight for millions more.
The Characters
The characters are Leo and Mama.
Leo – proportions, colour pallet, clothes
Mama – hair, height, colours
Roughs to Finals
WORDLESS SPREAD
Description of the blank spread
Rough sketch of wordless spread, not to scale with very wonky walls!
Final rough detailed sketch drawn to 100% final page size (with bleeds)
This is the final finished artwork using the selected colour pallet
PAGE 16 -17
Very first concept sketch for pages 16-17
Trying different ideas
Think I found the correct concept for page 16
100% final book size sketch
Final artwork for page 16-17
PAGES 8-9
first concept sketch for page 8-9
Final rough sketch drawn 100% final book size
Final artwork of pages 8-9
Final Artwork in progress
The Cover and End Papers
Final cover rough sketch and possible design elements
Cover final artwork completed separately
Where is this pattern from?
The final cover for This is My Dad
Written by Dimity Powell illustrated by Nicky Johnston, published by EK Books.
This is My Dad is available March 2022
ORDER HERE
Staying creative,
Nicky x
Great to get an insight into your process, Nicky.
Thanks for sharing. It was really great to see your process (as a newbie to drawing at the grand age of 48) who hopes to one day somewhere in the far future, illustrate a few of her own titles. It was very inspiring.
You know this is one of the BEST parts about magicking up picture books: seeing your words and mind images come to gorgeous reality through shape and form and colour. It’s just brilliant. Thank you, Nicky. xxx
Interesting see the process of these beautiful and tender illustrations, marrying the words with the images and leaving space for no words at all. Artists are amazing interpreters of words and emotions. Great work by artist and author.
I loved this article, it was fascinating and super helpful. And so pretty! Thanks, Nicky!