From sketch to story
Every adventure starts with a sketch.
See how Wanda and her friends evolved from early ideas into the finished illustrations you see throughout the book and how each and every story I illustrate is created.
Watch Wanda come to life
“Journal in hand and her bag on her back,
she was ready to go…
once she scoffed down her snack!”
Here’s a little peek behind the scenes at Wanda coming to life in procreate. From rough sketch to final illustration it’s been so fun bringing this cheeky little wombat back into our lives
She needs all the energy for her big adventure to the coral coast!
more videos coming soon
Sketch to final illustration
Behind-the-Scenes Process for Illustrating a Children’s Book
It’s easy to look at a finished children’s book and think, “It’s just drawing pretty pictures…”
But behind every finished illustration is a whole world of research, planning, problem-solving, design and countless little decisions that happen long before the final artwork comes together.
STAGE 1
Research, Writing & Editing
It all starts with research. I gather information, develop the story, write, rewrite and edit — often many, many times — until the words, facts and flow are just right.
STAGE 3
Character Development
Every character needs a personality, not just a look. I develop how they will appear, move, interact and express themselves, making sure they feel consistent and believable throughout the story.
STAGE 5
Colour Palettes & References
Before adding colour, I establish the visual direction. I develop colour palettes, gather reference imagery and work out the details that will help bring each scene and environment to life.
STAGE 7
Bringing the Book Together
The illustrations are only part of the book. I design the pages, choose and format the typography, and carefully position the text with the artwork so everything works together as one cohesive experience.
STAGE 9
Cover Design
The cover gets its own design process — from initial sketches and composition through to the final illustration. It needs to capture the story, attract attention and make people want to pick up the book.
STAGE 2
Storyboarding
Next comes the storyboarding. Tiny thumbnail sketches help me work out the pacing, page turns, paragraphs, composition and where each piece of the story will sit across the book.
STAGE 4
Refined Sketches & Mockup
Once the overall direction is working, I move into more detailed sketches. This is where I fine-tune expressions, poses, composition and layouts — while making sure there is enough space for the text.
Is the composition working? Does the expression feel right? Is the image actually helping to tell the story?
STAGE 6
Final Illustrations
Now the illustrations really start to come together. I build up the final artwork, adding colour, texture, detail, lighting and all those little elements that make the world feel alive.
STAGE 8
Edits and Refinement
Then comes the fine-tuning. Text changes, illustration adjustments, layout tweaks and those “something doesn’t quite feel right…” moments. There are usually plenty of them!
STAGE 10
The Final Details
And finally, all the bits that help turn a collection of illustrations into an actual book: barcodes, blurbs, metadata, marketing materials, website, promotional artwork and everything else needed to get it ready for the world.
So yes, there’s a lot of drawing involved… but illustrating a children’s book is so much more than drawing pretty pictures.
It’s storytelling, research, character design, illustration, graphic design, problem-solving, editing and a whole lot of coffee — all working together to bring a story to life.
