Key Elements of the Illustrative Process A book illustration is not just a simple drawing that is conjured simply out of the artist’s will, nor is itthe monopoly of thoughts of the illustrator and how he understands the manuscript. It is rather quite an elaborate process to produce something that will aid the reader and make it a better reading experience. After all the technicalities in the production process, it is now the responsibility of the illustrator. Needless to say, the skill of the illustrator is the key in the illustrative process for he bridges and depicts the significant part/s of the story and at the same time it also has to convey another story for the reader to better understand the story and its characters. Illustrators also often resort to research in the early stages of the illustrative process. They usually do background research of the elements involved in the story and deeply understand them in order to better tell the story in picture. The next procedure would be the storyboards, design and layout, where the illustrator arranges the sequence and the blending of the text and the illustrations in order to have the most potent story-telling effect and to highlight and emphasize certain parts where highlighting is needed.Ansty amp. Bull (2000) noted that the illustrative process is rather full of interaction from many people along the way, and not only isolated to the illustrator. He consults among many individuals and are also critiqued and constructively evaluated by others before the final output is done. This step is essential especially with the involvement of an editor wherein he knows what might be good or what might be detrimental in the ultimate goal of the story, which is to sell. Going back to the illustrator, it is important to consider how he views and is aware of his target audience for the illustrations. He must be sensitive to the orientation of the readers and on how he portrays them or how he expresses it to them in a manner appropriate. Answers to the Questions:1. The illustrative process is likened to the writing process because of the way it does not follow strict guidelines and sequences of stages in order to make the desired outcome, but they nonetheless adhere to the same overall process. Writing is the ability to articulate to share and influence the thoughts with others (The Writing Process, 2007), in like manner, illustrating is not so far off in that concept. 2. In writing a story board, first, one needs to consider the message that is the overall concept in the story. In this case, in the story of Cinderalla, it’s about the struggle and the eventual success of the protagonists in the clutch of her abusive step mother. One also then needs to consider the audience of the story, in order to better align the flow and the illustrations of the story. Research should be done as to how such scenario can be seen in actual reality so as to create a more personal and relatable illustration, but it should also be buffered with the wisdom that target audience would be the children.BibliographyAnstey, M. amp. Bull, G. (2000). Chapter 5: The Illustrative Process. Reading the Visual: Written and Illustrated Children’s Culture. Cengage Learning, South Melbourne, pp.. 134-151.The Writing Process (2007). Research and Evaluation department, Kamehameha Schools Publishing.
Questiona and Answer