About the project:
Mr. Thistle the Wanderer is my personal project which began with a few sketches of the main character couple of years ago. Later I have written the first draft of the story and it took me over a year to finish it. By now it is published in Ukraine by Vivat Publishing House and available for licensing in other countries.
Book cover design:
It was a long way from the first sketch to the final cover design. Published version with drawn lettering can already find it's place on your bookshelf ;)
Main character design:
Few years ago I created a sketch of a character which I thought I'd use one day. Since then I had various ideas whether I want to make a book, a comic, a blog, but my final decision was a picture book.
Sketches:
You can find many other characters I was developing in my sketches: some of them became a part of the book, others you'll meet in my upcoming projects. Even detailed concepts meets a lot of changes in final illustrations.
The story:
“Mr Thistle” is a story about friendship and support. The main character travels through the magical forest. On his way to the city he meets different characters and helps them out. Later they will help him too.
“Mr Thistle” is a story about friendship and support. The main character travels through the magical forest. On his way to the city he meets different characters and helps them out. Later they will help him too.
Draft:
My very first step is usually sketchings, then I create the whole book layout to have a look how the story unfolds visually in one line. After this I have made a bigger dummy of the book to be able to present the idea to the publishers at BCBF.
My very first step is usually sketchings, then I create the whole book layout to have a look how the story unfolds visually in one line. After this I have made a bigger dummy of the book to be able to present the idea to the publishers at BCBF.
Illustration:
Illustrations are mainly painted with watercolours and watercolour pencils. Time to time I add more factures in digital, mixing possibilities of various materials inside one illustration. So let's take a closer look at the few final spreads.
Some of the spreads are made in black and white (with ink, charcoal and pencil) or made in limited colour hamma to create tension where the story need it.
All the long way is passed now and finally the book is published! I'm happy to see it on the book shops and your bookshelves. And of course waiting to hear a feedback from our young readers!
Special thanks for help and inspiration to:
Oksana Orlova
Stasia Le
Tetiana Vasiliaka
Anastasia Yakimova
Olena Rybka
tags: thistle, character, picture book, book, kidlit, children books, cover, watercolor, watercolour, pencils, craft, aquarelle, factures, drawing, art, illustration, calligraphy, lettering, letter, sketches, sketchbook, fantasy, story, tarvel, wanderer, hero, character design, forest, tree, christmasstree, flower, bird, thistle, thistleman, mr. Thistle, draft, process, work in progress, wip, published, licensing.
