38. Perhaps It's Possible! (Final Art Spreads 14-15 + 20-21)

We Are Jellyfish: Picture Book Process

This is the 38th update on my book-making process for my next book, We Are Jellyfish—a picture book about those weird, blubbery creatures of the deep.

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I somehow managed to finish two more final art spreads this week and have even started on a third (the big, scary, detailed one)! I’m trying to stay super focused on the art right now, but I’ll quickly share these two completed spreads and abbreviated process with you below!

Spread 14-15

Here is the finished physical artwork, drawn with watercolor pencils and then activated with water:

And here is that same artwork popped into Photoshop and inverted!

And, after some digital pixel-pushing, here is the final artwork spread!

Spread 20-21

And then, here is the finished physical artwork for the second spread. You may notice I ended up tossing out the sketch that was in the storyboard and going back to a version from a long time ago! I started working on that first sketch, but I felt the message from this spread (about reproducing so many tiny jellyfish so quickly) was important to get across (and fits in better with the steadily more creepy/malevolent mood as the book goes on).

Here is that artwork inverted:

And then here is the final spread with digital editing + typography:

And lastly, here is the updated storyboard with those two new spreads!

I think the little push of a looming deadline has helped kick me into gear and made me really focus. I also think I make my best art when I’m in a loose, go-with-it mood, and when you’ve got lots to do, that’s what often ends up happening! Just get out of the way and let the art make itself!

I started today on spread 18-19 (about the jellyfish life cycle) which has long intimidated me because of it’s detail and complexity, but it’s going well so far. I’ll share that piece next week.

Thanks for reading and for your support! :)

<3,
Christine