Angela Taguiang, who illustrated Ang Batang Papet (Boquiren, Lampara Books 2019) shares with us the challenges she encountered during and after the Illustrators' Workshop in Baguio for the Kuwentong Musmos Book Project of Room to Read. She has a list of interesting books recommended for aspiring artists and advice for anyone who dreams of becoming a children's book illustrator.
1. What is your creative process for Ang Batang Papet?
We were each
assigned a story beforehand, but beyond that, I didn’t really know what to
expect because I’ve never attended a workshop like this before. So I decided to
stick to a medium I love and knew well, which was pencils. At the workshop, we
had to design the characters, put together a rough storyboard, then a detailed
storyboard, make a sample colored spread, and make a cover design. It was the
typical book-making process, except we only had a fraction of the time it
usually takes to complete a book.
On top of
that, the story was changing as we moved along. The story we have now is quite
different from what we started with. The RTR team, mentors, and Lampara team
collectively decided that the central theme would now be freedom. So while Sir
Al (RTR) and Aiko (Lampara) were in contact with Norman (the Author) editing
the story, I was scrambling to finish the storyboard with the mentors.
By the time
we got home, I still wanted to draw everything with pencils. But that also
meant I would have to scan every page, clean them up, do some editing-- extra
steps that I wasn’t sure I had the time for. So I tried to do one page
digitally, hoping it would be faster to do. But I ended up spending the same
amount of time to achieve the hand-drawn look I originally wanted. In the end,
I decided to draw all the characters on paper and add the backgrounds
digitally. I’d say this was 60% traditional and 40% digital. I was very happy
with the result.
2. What is the picture book/children’s book you wish you had created
or illustrated?
Zoom by
Istvan Banyai. It’s a wordless picture book that zooms out from one page to the
next, until you reach the end. It’s so clever, I wish I had thought of it!
3. What advice of tips do you have for aspiring illustrators?
·Find out as much as you
can about the industry. Attend relevant talks, discussions, workshops. Ask
questions. Research about pricing, rates, copyright laws, contracts, common
practices, etc. Get to know the different fields/ directions you can take. The
more informed you are, the more focused your efforts and goals would be.
· Don’t just focus on
technical skill. Expression
and emotion are as important as drawing well.
· Know when to look away. We all have artists
we look up to, and we often turn to their work for inspiration. If you see an
idea that you like, please don’t just redraw and recolor it. Look away and use
it as a springboard for something new. Put your own spin on it. Develop,
transform, interpret, improve. Find a different angle. Inject your own
perspective. Or just admire it and move on.
· Don’t stress about style. Instead, try to
know yourself more. What inspires you? What do you believe in? What are you
afraid of? What do you struggle with? Take advantage of your own experiences
and quirks and your work will be effortlessly unique and authentic.
· Please write better
emails. Whether
formal or casual, it should always sound professional and respectful. This also
applies to private messages.
4. What are your 5 recommended books for young artists or anyone who wishes
to break out into picture book illustration?
· Children's Picture Books:
The Art of Visual Storytelling by Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles
· Show Me A Story!
Conversations with 21 of the Most Celebrated Illustrators by Leonard Marcus
· Steal Like An Artist & Show
Your Work! by Austin Kleon (two different books but best read
consecutively)
· Wordless picture books. To see how loudly
pictures can "talk"
· Blogs!
I had fun
making studies for the cover. I wanted to try different things and I would’ve
been happy with whatever they chose.
Most
challenging was the storyboard! I remember watching everybody move forward with
their detailed storyboards and colored spreads, and there I was, still working
out the storyline with the mentors and Lampara team. The struggle was very
real! At one point, I wondered if I’d be able to submit anything beyond the
character studies. But everyone was so supportive and encouraging. It was
impossible to come out with nothing. :D
Visit Angela's portfolio and follow her on Instagram!
Portfolio: https://angelatag.wixsite.com/work
Website: angelatag.wixsite.com/work
Instagram: @aangelapis
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