Tag Archive for: sketch

More Henry sketches

Here's the thumbnail sketch for the opening spread of Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates.  Like in a movie, this establishing shot offers a broad swathe of visual information that tells the reader where the story takes place.  The crew…

Fireflies

I want to warn you ahead of time that I don't have the finished illustration that would normally follow the series of sketches below.  I must have gotten rid of it, or else it's boxed away somewhere in my attic (I moved last November and am…

Circus posters

,
Pete & Fremont and Pete's Disappearing Act are circus yarns spun by the incomparable Jenny Tripp.  Both stories are narrated by Pete the poodle and seen from the point of view of the animals in Circus Martinez. To promote these two titles,…

From the archives—Señor Don Gato

,
Here's a book I did a while ago—Señor Don Gato. Due to a copyright dispute, it's no longer in print.  This project was a turning-point in my style.  I closely studied the work of Diego Velasquez: his palette, composition and lighting. …

Storyboard

Leda writes:  “I'm curious, John, just how detailed your story boards are. Can you post a portion of one?” Here’s a complete storyboard for a coloring book idea I had to promote Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies.  This is only 12 pages;…

Model sheets

Before I start a new project, I read through the manuscript a few times.  My first step is to doodle some aimless drawings—to warm up, I guess—then I begin the serious business of drawing thumbnail sketches in the form of a storyboard. …

Pierre le chien

Besides picture books, I've done a couple of chapter books that were lots of fun for me.  Chapter books are for an older audience (9-12) and the ratio of words to pictures is very different!  There is typically one black & white image…

Prepare to repel boarders!

A pox on't! Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates is finally here!  Just click on the title to get a copy of your own. As Drake said to his men before Nombre de Dios in 1572, 'Blame nobody but yourselves if you go away empty!'

Two Bad Pilgrims’ progress

Here's the big scene from Two Bad Pilgrims, where Francis and Johnny nearly scuttle the Mayflower when they fool around with their father's fowling piece.  First the thumbnail sketch: Then the tight sketch: There was some squeamishness…

Designing a cover for the new Henry

Sponge out your cannons!  Prepare to repel boarders!  Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates will storm bookstores on August 11th! Many eager customers are even now camped out in front of those bookstores, awaiting the big day.  For those…