This entry was posted on the Mackids Blog last week, but I wanted to re-post it here so I could include larger images–click on any of the images below to see the larger versions.
One of the challenges I enjoyed about this book was capturing the immense difference in size between baby dinosaurs and their parents. I started the illustration process by sketching loose thumbnail sketches, exploring different compositions to convey the scale of dinosaurs.
Then I began refining these ideas into detailed drawings and final art.
Throughout the sketch process, I try to keep ideas fluid. In this case, I thought an aerial view of a parent next to 5 school buses would show the immense size of a mother Argentinosaurus. But I thought there might be even a better to way to show her scale. Then I calculated that a parent weighed as much as 17 elephants. I love drawing elephants, and thought the idea was better than the first.
Originally I sketched backgrounds around the dinosaurs. But the thing I wanted to emphasize the most with each illustration was life-like gestures of the dinosaurs. My editor, Deirdre, and my art director, Danica, suggested I try a white background around the art. I loved it!
The negative space also helped tie the layout of the book together. The book has a pattern of 2-page spreads. The first offers clues (or facts) that scientists have discovered. The second is a full spread conveying educated guesses about how baby dinosaurs and their parents behaved. Combining all these details worked with this layout.
I loved creating illustrations that demonstrated how dinosaurs must have behaved like animals alive today. The challenge was to tie illustrations of living animals with dinosaurs and show their similarities.
I chose poses that were reminiscent of things we’ve seen in the animal world. For example, a dinosaur nest seen from above, as if you were looking down into a bird’s nest.
The cover – that’s always the most fun! Here are just a few of the thumbnail sketches I drew to explore how to create it.
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Hello: I had to write to tell you how much my children love this book. My 5yo daughter is enamoured of dinosaurs, esp. babies w/ their mamas, and has consumed about a gillion books on the subject… When reading your book she could not stop oooh’ing over the pictures. The crocodile pic & the troodon are her favorites.
Hi Jennifer, I’ve wanted to reply to you for a while, but I’ve been traveling to schools and conferences for the past few weeks. I’m so glad your daughter likes the pictures! I looked at your blog and I really like her dinosaur pictures too (at http://undertheponderosa.blogspot.com/2010/04/dinosr.html )! Thanks so much!