Mika's coming along....

After many failed attempts, Ive managed to trim Mika's story down to about 730 words, owch, and have broken the text up into whats on what page. It seems a childrens picture book is from 500 to 1000 words, with the latter pushing it. The time has come to refine the scribble of my storyboards into individual roughs, and insert the more detailed pages Ive done, into a 'dummy' book thats the size it would be if published.

Already this is clarifying where images are flowing and interestingly composed, or a bit constipated or obvious. Im having to create backgrounds, depth and make sure that Mikas character, and the style of it all together, has continuity. That she doesnt age 5 years from one image to the next and is easily recognisable as herself, which has meant leaving some earlier drawings behind.

I'm yet to see the larger drawings Ive done scanned, and then reduced down to the 21.6cm X 21.6cm, and how they look. They're some in the post i hear! All i've seen are the photos Ive taken myself, not great quality thanks to a slight tremor that appears whenever I really want a clear shot. Ive found a printer nearby with an A2 scanner so next week ill take in some of the bigger works, 42cm x 42cm, and see how they turn out reduced. Im hoping the detail of the pencil work will shine through. Also time to invest in one of those multiskilling printer slash scanner slash photocopier thangs. Although writing text by hand does have a certain ambience...

Well, back to the drawing board for me...