Marion Deuchars on how to make a great picture book

Date
15 May 2018

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The idiosyncratic brushwork and hand-drawn typography of illustrator Marion Deuchars is instantly recognisable, and have charmed children and grown-ups alike in her many books. Recently, Marion has been both educating and inspirational in her books about the art world, particularly in Bob the Artist, which aims to teach kids about well-known artistic techniques while also encouraging individuality. The new follow-up Bob’s Blue Period is about expressing emotions through creativity, and is loosely based, she explains, on Picasso’s story of loss.

At Nicer Tuesdays she shared her advice for making a great picture book. “I’ve been an illustrator for 25 years and done all sorts of work, but it took me a long time to make a picture book,” she said. “You think anyone can do it but it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve done.”

Giving “sneaky tips and tricks” she told the audience about how the books began with a character. “I kept drawing this little bird, so I wrote a story for him.” One of her realisations with picture books was that “you have to draw your characters a lot” and these have to be consistent, and be seen from all different angles. Therefore Bob is simple, based on a triangle and a circle. Another tip she shared was the importance of finding your own voice.

“It’s a really competitive market with a fast turnover… so I’d say go for something personal and unique. I try to bring things close to home, and look around me for ideas – it gives your work detail and an extra dimension when you use that real life observation.”

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Dropbox Paper is a collaborative workspace that eliminates distractions that get in the way of creativity. Because you can work with all types of content – from video, to sound to code – in Paper, you and your collaborators can easily edit and discuss all aspects of your project in one centralised place.

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Adobe Stock

Keep your work fresh with Adobe Stock. No matter what project you’re working on, you can always find the perfect asset in the library of over 90 million high-quality images, graphics, videos, templates, and 3D assets plus our Premium and Editorial. Join them at Nicer Tuesdays to see what amazing things you can create with Adobe Stock. Click here to try Adobe Stock free for one month.

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Adobe Stock

Keep your work fresh with Adobe Stock. No matter what project you’re working on, you can always find the perfect asset in the library of over 90 million high-quality images, graphics, videos, templates, and 3D assets plus our Premium and Editorial. Join them at Nicer Tuesdays to see what amazing things you can create with Adobe Stock. Click here to try Adobe Stock free for one month.

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The Conran Shop

The Conran Shop is the home of considered, curated design. Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1974, The Conran Shop is forever evolving, with good design always at its core. Offering a unique and personal blend of design classics and future icons, its innovative collections have inspired, surprised and delighted visitors for generations.

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The Five Points Brewing Company

The Five Points Brewing Company is an independent brewery based in Hackney, London, brewing with a commitment to provenance, quality, consistency and the community since 2013.

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The Five Points Brewing Company

The Five Points Brewing Company is an independent brewery based in Hackney, London, brewing with a commitment to provenance, quality, consistency and the community since 2013.

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