Here is a window into my process creating the Multilit reader series illustrations. Below are very rough sketches which were the starting point through to approval sketch and then full color printed image. The "very" rough pencil sketches were snapped with my iPhone and used as a guide to redraw in photoshop on a wacom cintiq. This project required a lot of illustrations over a short period of time so using a digital process was invaluable. What I love about working digitally is having the layers and being able to cut and past to move things around. It is also a lot quicker to color digitally and the process works well if you set your color palette at the start of the project and pretty much stick with it. I use the Adobe library tool to keep track of colors and graphics.

Recently I completed (well sort of) my second Lilla Rogers, Make Art That Sells Illustrating Children's Books course. I thought the second time around I would be very prepared and stylistically nail all of the five week assignments - Character, Emotions, Poses, Environment and Cover. I'm not sure if it was the detox diet I was on during the course or just letting life get in the way of concentration but unfortunately I did not do the course justice this time around. Each of my assignments were stylistically different which was the exact opposite of what I was hoping for. Since the course finished I have been reworking my assignments. Pictured is an image combining the Emotions and Poses weeks. My take away from the course is that whilst I can draw in many different styles my challenge is to maintain stylistic consistency. Lilla Roger's course are a fantastic way to improve as an illustrator. Whilst you may feel you do not do your best work during the course you will definitely reap the benefits as time goes by. After completing the first Illustrating Children's Books course I was lucky enough to get an illustration contract working on a Children's Learn To Read series for five months. It was such a joy!