Innovating in illustration – Robert Frank Hunter and Zoë Aubugeau-Williams, Nobrow
Posted on June 5, 2017The enormously talent Robert Frank Hunter joined Zoë Aubugeau-Williams of Nobrow to talk about the relationship between the illustrator and publisher. Selling and creating is a collaborative process between people in all areas of publishing – here are some of the ways that we all work together.
Next up the very wonderful @R_F_Hunter & @Zjsaw @NobrowPress on the illo-publisher relationship ✨👌✨ #PicHooksConf pic.twitter.com/mUpM8RH1bD
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Afternoon talks at #pichooksconf 🙂 pic.twitter.com/5mXM26brSV
— Maxine Soylent Green (@Emanix) May 20, 2017
Hunter’s journey into picture book publishing started through other illustration work – it could be worth doing different projects to show off your talents.
.@R_F_Hunter actually did not have narrative experience before, but was forced out of his comfort zone by @NobrowPress #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
To start a picture book, drawing roughs can help you imagine how the narrative and layout will work together…
When starting a picture book, use rough thumbnail drawings first – @R_F_Hunter #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/tbDjaIxH2U
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Following the rough thumbnails, @R_F_Hunter will work on simple two tone images #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/43UBXmDEi8
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Love amazing preproduction art from @R_F_Hunter showing his narrative pacing & art development through sketching. #pichooksconf #nobrow pic.twitter.com/4Kz0kzmJTX
— Alex Ashman (@little_pip) May 20, 2017
Look ahead! Hunter also experimented with spot colours before adding colour to his drawings, so he could predict how the book would look after printing.
The nice thing about using spot colours is you don’t have to use them at 100%, which gives a huge colour palette – @R_F_Hunter #pichooksconf pic.twitter.com/EWyAgjiBkD
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
How about using technology to simplify your own art process?
I LOVE this idea! Books typeset in their illustrator’s hand – beautiful @NobrowPress #pichooksconf https://t.co/m017DBbDlo
— Leah McDowell (@TracesofThem) May 20, 2017
How can you use your skills to help promote the book? Illustrators can be valuable beyond the page…
The publisher, agent, and illustrator can work together to make a lot of noise about new picture books – @Zjsaw #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
.@Zjsaw likes thinking about unique ways to promote illustration – animations on insta, riso prints, lit up window displays… #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
It’s important to think about where your picture book might end up…
Indie bookshops are big supporters of off-piste picture books and @FlyingEyeBooks – @Zjsaw #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
This is the first part of a series of recaps from Picture Hooks Conference 2017: Inside Publishing. Click here to read more tweets from the day and interviews with the conference speakers.