Graphic Narrative

In previous chapters, we have considered working for a client, types of books, and the nuts and bolts of building single illustrations.

But many types of illustrated projects are sustained over a period of months as you develop an entire story, whether it be in the format of a picture book, a comic, or a graphic novel. In this section, we will discuss the particulars of a step-by-step approach to set you up for success: creative characters and environments, a tight script, storyboards to set the tone, and, of course, continuity: something we haven’t had to consider very much up until this point. We will discuss illustrating for books with and without words, in color or black and white, and will talk about stylistic differences between picture books and comics and how to achieve the proper style, page design, and mood.