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This is the blog home of #kidlitart, a live Twitter chat Thursdays at 9:00 pm Eastern, for children's book illustrators, picture book authors, author/illustrators and friends. Check back weekly to read transcripts, comment on previous chats and suggest topics for upcoming chats.


Friday, June 18, 2010

Transcript: 6/17/10; plus takeaways!

TOPIC: How do you use color to convey mood?

TAKEAWAYS

Attitudes on use of color range from confidence to agony
Illustrators' approaches range from instinctive (self-taught) to struggling, to conscious application of theories learned in art school

Tips/Suggestions:
Cool=distant; warm=cozy
Lighting is key
Try underpainting to set values
Use blue/purple for shadows
Scan/take photos of favorite color combos in packaging, magazines, IRL--to build personal color inspiration board
Try limiting color palette
Change up expected colors, e.g. in landscape: trees not green; sky not blue
Juxtapose complementary colors, a la Delacroix and the Impressionists
Mix colors to make vibrant blacks--not straight from tube

Sites for color experimenting/theory:
http://www.colourlovers.com
http://kuler.adobe.com/#themes/mostpopular?time=30
James Gurney's blog (scroll index for posts on color):http://www.gurneyjourney.blogspot.com (new book on color out this fall)

Books/illustrators to note for their use of color:
In a Blue Room, Tricia Tusa, illustrator
One Riddle, One Answer, Linda S. Wingerter, illustrator
Leaves and Pouch!, David Ezra Stein
Ugly Fish, Scott Magoon, illustrator
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, Pamela Zagarenski, illustrator
Around the World with Mouk, Mark Boutavant
Kevin Henkes' recent titles: Old Bear; My Garden
the later Harry Potter jackets
Guilano Ferri
Richard Johnson
Peter Sis, for selective use of color

Tweet of the night:
@JohansenNewman: "Trying to limit my palette is like giving up dessert for me."

BUZZ

Discussion on pros and cons of digital hardware/programs
Painter
Illustrator vs. Photoshop
Wacom, Intuos, Cintiq

Sites to check for pricing: coolgraphicstuff.com; J&R; Amazon

Bob Staake--digital illustrator to note

Cintiq tutorial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE2APo_EORQ

@KatGirl_Studio shared tutorial on creating multi-page pdfs in PS: http://www.katgirlstudio.com/blog/how-to-make-a-multi-page-pdf-in-photoshop/

MINI-BUZZ

outlining tips:
use flat color/limited palette so as not to overwhelm line quality
scan ink work before beginning color, for backup

Read the full transcript below:


#kidlitart 6-17-10

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