Having recently collaborated as editor and artist, I put some questions to talented children’s book illustrator, Jess Leech.
Hi, Jess! Thanks for agreeing to be quizzed about the art of illustrating children’s books. We’d love to know: how do you approach an illustration job for a new book?
I begin by reading the text over and over. I try to imagine all the characters, settings and details as if I'm living in the storybook world. Then I grab a pencil and pen and go for it! I sketch out some rough ideas as part of a page layout grid to plan orientation. This helps me identify each individual item to include in the images from the ground patterns (tarmac, paving, rocks) to the buildings and backgrounds. The most recent book I’ve worked on, Granny’s Big Secret, is composed of over 120 individually drawn items.
Before I start on the final drawings, I make a list of the illustrations and then break it down into the elements required to create each one. This might involve photographing textures, gathering reference images, researching and studying depending on the subjects.
Can you say a little more about your process during our collaboration on the Magical Island Adventures series?
I started working on this first tale in lockdown after the text had been edited by yourself, Claire, so we (author, editor and illustrator) all knew what illustrations were wanted and where in the story they would be placed. I spent many days of summer in our local woodlands and meadow making studies of the plants that would build up the backgrounds. The drawings all came together around mid-Autumn, all 127 parts layered and adjusted to represent how I imagined the story following the author Katie’s guidance. I was delighted to get it almost perfect with only a few minor adjustments needed. Over the past few months, I have worked closely with you and and Katie in creating the final cover image, developing Katie's publishing logo, further images for social media and marketing plus tweaking images to suit the publication guidelines.
How do you think authors can leave room for an illustrator when writing a book?
When Judith Kerr was asked 'What is the key to a good children’s illustration?' she said, ‘I think it should be of something that isn’t in the text so as to add something to the story,’ and this is something I fully believe. If it's something that can be drawn, don't waste words on it. Leave room for the illustrator to describe the setting and the look of characters.
How much information would you like the author to share with you in preparation for illustrating a picture book?
As much as possible! I'm very aware that when an author approaches an illustrator, nine times out of ten, they have already imagined what their characters and scenes will look like. I need these ideas described, everything from skin tone to sock choice shapes and builds a character. Reference pictures are brilliant as is great communication. I ask lots of questions so I can gather a full picture and really get a feel for the book.
What do you wish authors knew about the job of an illustrator?
The first sketch is never our final sketch and it takes time. Illustrating takes time, changes take time. Please remember you've trusted us with visualising your story, it's so much more than just a few pictures and we take that very seriously. We think about how families and children will react when they read your book, how they will discuss the illustrations and how they'll continue the story beyond the book.
Any tips on choosing illustration style?
Your book will have a tone; funny, loving, serious, adventurous, and each of these can be reflected in the style you chose. Think about the age of the reader or who it's being read to. Very young readers need bright bold colours and clear images that are immediately identifiable. Young children will spend more time looking at the pictures than they will listening to the words, so detailed images are great for this age. Young readers need to be kept engaged but not distracted from the text. Older readers need less images but more of a guidance for their imaginations.
Or a colour scheme?
Again, this depends on the genre and mood of your book. A good illustrator will be able to guide you in this. For example, just because a story is set at night doesn't mean it has to be black. Midnight blues and dark greens can be mysterious and enticing. Bright colours indicate fun and subtle pastels can be used to reflect memories. Some of my favourite children's books use simple colour palettes of no more than 5 colours and these are effectively used to highlight the essential elements while backgrounds and layouts are created in monotone. A great way to find what you like and what suits your book is to read plenty of books in a similar age bracket to what you're writing in. Asking parents and teachers can be a great help, too.
So, do you really prefer it when an author gives detailed description of how a page should be illustrated or leaves space for the illustrator's ideas?
In my opinion, this is a very two-way street. I think every reader interprets a book slightly differently. If an author has a rough idea of what they would like portrayed or has elements which are important to them then they should highlight these prior to starting. Personally, I love a bit of both worlds: some guidance but plenty of free rein for my own interpretation.
Which is your favourite illustrated book?
This is such a hard question! I adore children's books; the children's library is my happy place. At home, we're currently reading Matt Haig's The Girl Who Saved Christmas, which I love, the illustrations transport you into the story. As a child I was, and still am, a huge Winnie the Witch fan (you notice something new every time you read them), I adored Jan Pienkowski's The Fairy Tales and dreamt of living in Brambly Hedge’s The Secret Staircase. I have a long list of current favourites too and nearly all of these are chosen because of how my children react when we read them. It's more than just a book, it's an experience.
Any practical tips for self-publishers of illustrated books?
Ask if edits are included in the price and how many. Identify exactly what you want to do with the illustrations before you start to ensure you have the permission to use them as intended. Will they be used in the book exclusively or are you planning products, social media, marketing? Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for changes. Does someone wear glasses, would this person wear their hair up or down? Can we try this sketch mirrored so it aligns to the left?
What other illustration jobs do you do in addition to designing a book?
Alongside creating the cover image and internal illustrations, I can design the book cover incorporating the title text, blurb, barcode and price for you, saving having to hunt for and employ an additional designer. With a background in graphic design, I can also create publishing logos and marketing materials. If you're looking at taking your book further, I can help with editing the illustrations so they're suitable for product production such as prints, colouring sheets and bookmarks. I also love social media and have a passion for effective marketing so am always delighted when clients ask for their characters to be developed so they’re sized and ready for sharing online.
What's your favourite thing about being an illustrator?
Imagining the impossible, the unseen and unknown, then taking it right back to pen and paper and creating it. And inky stained fingertips, the sign of a day well spent.
What's influenced you as an illustrator / designer?
Without a doubt, my biggest influence is my children. They are my biggest critics as well as my biggest cheerleaders. If they don't like something, they say, there's no tiptoeing about. I think each collaboration and client also shapes your path a little too. You learn something on each job, you react to feedback and it changes how you work.
Where can we keep in touch with you and your work?
I'd love you to say 'hello'! You can email me at the_ricketty_desk@hotmail.co.uk, or follow and message me on Instagram and Facebook @TheRickettyDesk. You can see more examples of my work via my website and I sporadically share my musings on my blog too. https://www.therickettydesk.com