Sketch
For this project, you are going to design an illustration for a favorite children’s book. You will need to research the characters that you will be drawing and figure out how to make them your own. Click through the tabs and follow the steps shown in it to complete this project.
Read all of the directions and review the rubric BEFORE you begin your final artwork so that you complete the project properly.
Choose a Story
The first thing you need to do is choose a story that you would like to illustrate. Choose one that you are very familiar with, and then choose a specific scene from that story that you would like to design. It can be one that has been illustrated before, or it can be one that you will be designing from scratch. It is up to you! Find the text of the scene you want to use and either write it in your sketchbook or have it readily available for your reference.
Research
The next step is to research the story and the characters that you will be illustrating. Find images of how other artists imagined the characters. If the story has been turned into a movie or play, look at those images, too. Viewers must be able to recognize that your design is that character, so write down some of the traits that you will need to incorporate into your design. For example, no matter how she is depicted, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz is instantly recognized by her ruby slippers. Decide how you will make sure your viewers recognize the character you are trying to portray. Find images and create a vision board for your design in your notebook.
Sketch
After you have finished your research, begin sketching out ideas for your characters. These should be simple sketches done in pencil so that you can erase them. You may use the work of other artists as a reference, but make sure that you are not copying anyone’s work. Good ways to avoid copying is basing characters on people that you know (if the characters are human) or images of real animals as references when drawing. Color your sketches with colored pencils to create a color palette and check that your characters’ palettes go well with one another. Make at least one sketch of each character in your scene with a simple color palette attached.
Consider the Background
Reread the text you are working from and decide if a background is necessary for that particular scene. If the characters are in a specific place, research and come up with an idea for the background. If the characters are simply doing something, then a background may not be necessary. Make sure your background fits with the written story and create it only if it is necessary to illustrate that particular scene. If you need a background, add images to your vision board, do a quick sketch design (just like when you created your imaginary landscape), and create a quick color palette.
Create Your Artwork
Now you should be ready to create your final illustration. Use your sketchbook and your medium of choice (colored pencils or markers) to create your re-imagining of the scene. Work carefully and within your own style--do not copy another artist’s work. Use only your own sketches to work from when creating your final artwork. When you are finished, send a photo of your illustration along with the text of the story scene you are illustrating to your teacher for grading. Post your drawing to the Art Board and see if your classmates can tell what story you are illustrating.
After you have finished your work, submit it to your teacher. You will be graded using the following ribric.
| Advanced | Proficient | Needs Work |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | ||
| The composition is highly original and is balanced and well-thought-out. The scene matches the story chosen by the artist, and the viewer can easily tell which story is being illustrated. The chosen color palettes work well together, and the background adds to the story being told. |
The composition is original and is balanced and well-thought-out. Artist creates a drawing that illustrates their chosen story, but the story may not be as obvious to the viewer. The chosen color palettes work well together, and the background adds to the story being told. |
The composition is either not original or is not balanced. The drawing does not match the story chosen. The chosen color palettes do not work well together. The artist added an unnecessary background, or they did not add a background when it was necessary to the story. |
| Character Design | ||
| The characters are completely original, but defining details are maintained so that the viewer can tell who/what the illustration is about. The artist took a very creative path in creating the character. (Changed human characters into animals, or animals into humans). Their illustration retells the story to make it more contemporary. |
The characters are original, but a defining characteristic may have been left out, so it is difficult to tell who/what the character is. The artist re-illustrated the scene, but they did not get overly creative with the characters. They stuck to the traditional characters instead of making them more modern. |
The characters are either not recognizable at all, or they do not fit the story. Or The artist copied the work of another artist. |
| Use of Chosen Medium | ||
| Artist uses medium in an advanced manner with realistic gradients and smooth blending (where necessary, smooth blending is not a consideration for markers). There are no erasure lines, and colors/values are layered to create depth. Artist uses a broad value range and includes very light lights (white) and very dark darks (almost black). Shadows correspond with the light source. The artist’s choice of medium enhances their artwork. They chose the best medium based on their desired outcome. |
Artist uses medium proficiently with realistic gradients. There are very few erasure lines, and the gradients transition relatively smoothly, but some areas may need to be blended better. A few erasure lines are visible. The artwork has a range of values but may not have any areas of stark contrast. Shadows correspond with the light source. The artist chose the best medium for their artwork based on their desired outcomes. |
Artist does not use the medium proficiently. There are obvious erasure lines and little to no blending in the artwork. The artwork does not include a wide range of values, or the shadows do not correspond with the light source. The artist’s choice of medium does not correspond well with their subject. |
| Use of Elements and Principles | ||
| Artist utilized the elements and principles with a high level of skill that adds visual interest and creativity to their artwork. | Artist utilized the elements and principles in a proficient manner. | Artist did not use the elements and principles correctly. |
| Creative Problem Solving | ||
| A high level of creative problem-solving skills is present in the artwork. The artist goes above and beyond the requirements of the assignment. | Very little creative problem-solving is present. All requirements are met, but the artist does not go above and beyond. | No creative problem-solving skills are present. |
| Completion | ||
| The artwork is completed with a high level of detail and value ranges. | The artwork is complete, but there is little detail and/or minimal value ranges present. | The artwork is incomplete or rushed. There is very little detail in the artwork. |
