Doris & Delores

On Wednesday I had my kids book writing and illustration class. We had to create a 6 page book with words, the layout of the book was to be roughly sketched out, and do one finished illustration from the book. I stayed up until around 2 am trying to finish the finished illustration. Here it is in progress:


It turns out that my instructors didn't like the finished version of the characters, they liked the simple roughed-out version of the characters much better, and I have to agree with them there. I was trying so hard with it, that I tried too hard, I was trying to be all "professional" like the other illustration students here. I was feeling like my rough version was so inadequate, everyone else's was so polished and full of professional technique. Here is the rougher version:


The good news was that everyone really loved the story, I was surprised at this actually, as I waited until I was almost the last person to read it because I just thought my illustrations were so bad. I just need to find an illustration style that works for me and that isn't pretending to be so professional. So I think my style will be to do simple collages for my illustrations. Here is another student's illustration that I really like, and which the instructors thought would be a good, simple style for my illustrations.
Or, I may just find, as my teacher said, that I will only be a writer, and let others do the illustrating. This was actually a relief to hear. But I think I can figure out a style that will work for me.

More simple styles of illustrations which I love (these are actual books):
George & Martha - I absolutely love the quirky stories and excellent illustrations with only 2 or 3 colours:

The mitten: such colours!