art is fun but not easy...

[astridv]

I finished the coloring of the cover page I've been working on, more or less. Normally I know if a piece of art is working but I've stared at this page too long, I just can't tell. About half of the page features a little creek. I'm usually good with water but here I'm stuck a bit. I'm reasonably sure it needs only a few effects for finishing touches, but it's like the final image is in the corner of my mind and I can't focus on it. I think I'll go through all my comics and look for inspiration.

This is neither commissioned work nor fanart... first time in ages. This is a kids book project of my own which I intend to shop around soon and I feel like it has to turn out 100% perfect. I'm way more relaxed when I'm working for a client.

Also a tad worried because it's a pop-up book, and I imagine those are a hard sell. It can't be a coincidence that most of the pop-up books I've seen here were licensed from the US or UK. I love what I got so far, and designing the 3D elements was the most fun and satisfying work I've done in a long, long time. I feel like this is my *thing*. Even in high school I was mostly tinkering in 3D, the only drawings I did were in class. I drew through all my classes. But at home I made models.

Anyway, so I love the pop-up thing but now that the dummy is almost complete, I'm thinking that before I send it out, I might also write an alternative version of this story that would work in good old 2D. Because ultimately I want to illustrate one of my own kids stories for once.

---

Also, my back hurts because I sat hunched over my desk and it's been raining all day and I haven't had any workout today and bleh, weather, either go all-out winter or springy, please. Not... this!

Found a download for Hansel and Gretel which dl'd super-fast, and the picture isn't half bad either. But the sound is awful and it's not full length. Now I'm torn because this movie is exactly what I want on this rainy day, but I don't want to waste my first viewing on a bad copy.

I shall be patient. (But the opening credits rock, I can already tell.)

Wow, that got rambly. :D

Comments

[ratcreature]

3D pop-up books are fun. I can imagine that they might be even harder to sell to a publisher though, because the production cost must be higher, and thus perhaps riskier if it doesn't do well, but a high cost print run was made. So maybe they only want already "proven" ones, that already sold well elsewhere?

[astridv]

That's what I'm thinking.

The production costs have to be considerable. I have some pop-ups so elaborate, I can't imagine how they can sell them for as little as $16.

That's the thing, as an illustrator I'm not privvy to the calculations that go on behind the scenes... I simply don't know. It's a different world for me.

I actually wouldn't be averse to trying self-publishing for a change... but not with a pop-up book. I just can't see the numbers working out.

[yhlee]

I wish you luck with the pop-up book. I loved those as a child, although I don't have any anymore.

Also, I adore your icon. =)

[astridv]

I love them too. I actually buy them because I still feel the same fascination for them. I just love papercraft.

The icon is from pentapus's latest batch, she's great.

[yhlee]

One of my favorite examples of papercraft is the artwork that I saw in this book (Mongolian Folktales). Silhouette artwork cut out freehand with scissors. It's stunning.