Collaborating with the Author as a children’s book illustrator
Interpreting others’ visions is crucial across sectors like filmmaking, designing, publishing, marketing, and translation, where understanding ideas and thoughts is challenging. As a children’s book illustrator, I sometimes struggle to understand authors initially, but see it as a challenge. It’s not just technical skill but balancing writing and illustrating to reflect the author’s imagination. So, how can I work effectively with authors? I ask myself questions like how to serve better, where to improve, what visual references to use, and how my illustrations will affect authors and children. I focus on these when I work.
- Start an open conversation:
Every time I start an open conversation with an author’s client, when I receive a project to illustrate their book. As a children’s book illustrator, I try to understand the authors before I know their content. Sometimes, it helps in my work. Knowing someone well always provides an added advantage when working on their projects.
- Listen to the author:
I always listen very carefully to my writer first. I listen not only to the writer’s words, but also to their tone, metaphors, emotions, expressions, and the pace they use, and try to understand. A children’s book illustrator should strive to form a clear vision, complete with visuals, in their mind about the content.
- Read every line thoroughly and carefully:
I read each line of content carefully and attentively. Sometimes, the author’s point of view is not entirely clear or well-expressed. You must find it by reading each line carefully. In my opinion, a children’s book illustrator’s job is to uncover the deeper content or meaning that the author cannot express with words.
- Understand the “Why and What”:
It is essential to understand the “why” and “what”. Try to understand these patterns,
- Why did my author write this book?
- • What is the purpose?
- • Why do they use this word or phrase here?
- • What is my author trying to convey?
- • What might be my author’s preferences?
- • Create a roadmap:
I always make a roadmap for every project. In my roadmap, every time I put these points,
- Make a storyboard
- Number of figures I need to create for my characters
- Find my visual references
- Drafting characters
- Final output
- Character design:
The most crucial part for me is character design, and I think not only for me, but for every children’s book illustrator. Before I design my character, I clear a few things with my authors,
- Age of all characters
- How would the characters look
- Costumes of characters
- Style preferences
Once I resolved these issues, I began working on my characters. I sketch and draft my characters. I share my draft copy with them to see whether my characters are as they imagined. Sometimes they advised me to make some corrections, sometimes they didn’t.
- Share your opinion:
Sometimes I face a situation where I think that if I do it in an alternative way, it would be more fruitful for my authors. I share my opinion without any hesitation with my author. Like this,
- Here is a way that we could make this more effective…
- Would you mind if I did an alternative…?
- Be the author’s mirror:
Always try to be a mirror of the authors. So “Be the author’s mirror is a powerful way to frame your role as an Illustrator. Don’t just draw, translate your author’s every word, every expression, every motif. Every author has a voice, so echo their voice through your illustration. Reflect with honesty. It is more essential for a children’s book illustrator.
The fundamental principle is to focus on establishing trust rather than merely asserting authority.
• Co-create:
Interpreting the author’s vision transcends mechanical execution; it embodies collaboration or co-creation. An author articulates their ideas through words, while a children’s book illustrator communicates the entire narrative through visual expression. When both voices are mutually valued, a more powerful creation can emerge. Therefore, I continually endeavor to co-create with my authors, sharing my thoughts and ideas to foster innovation.
Be a thought partner, not merely a service provider.
• Credit sharing and celebration:
Upon completion of each project, my author’s client and I jointly celebrate our collaboration. We acknowledge each other’s contributions by sharing credit appropriately. We also promote our work across various social media platforms with proper attribution. I believe that every children’s book illustrator deserves recognition for their illustrations.
• Taking feedback:
Feedback is essential. I solicit and incorporate feedback after every project to enhance the quality of my work.
Final reflection:
Both children’s book authors and illustrators are consummate artists within their respective fields. The relationship between an author and an illustrator must be founded on mutual respect and strength. Both are invaluable assets to society.
–Ananta Mohanta (children’s book illustrator)
If you are finding illustrators for a children’s book, in a world full of children’s book illustrators for hire, choosing the right person matters. Ananta Mohanta stands out among all children’s book illustrators with passion, punctuality, and professionalism. With a strong portfolio of children’s book illustrations, he brings characters to life through his art. For those searching for illustrators for children’s books, his styles offer charm. As a dedicated children’s book illustrator, he understands the magic that each story deserves. Whether you are seeking famous children’s book illustrators or rising talent, or comparing an illustrator’s children’s books, Ananta makes storytelling visually unforgettable.
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