Creating the Book
"I imagined telling a story about the wonderful creatures and natural elements found in Vermont. I wanted to give voices shining with personality to the mountains, snowflakes and lakes, so that we could fully imagine life from their unique perspectives. I hope the use of creative imagery, coupled with educational facts, will invite curiosity and a love for all creatures, big and small, found in Vermont."
-Kimberly Riani-
Sketch
Every picture started with an old fashioned sketch, pencil on paper. I find that sketching is where I feel the most creative in my process.
Paint
I then used watercolor paints, gouache, and a lot of patience, to add color and bring my design to life. Every painting took multiple attempts and multiple days to complete.
Collage
After the paintings were digital, I combined them in a collage style to create each page layout.
Ink
After I had a final sketch, I transferred it to watercolor paper. I carefully inked over every line with a waterproof pen.
Photograph
Once dry, I photographed each painting individually, all 53, and imported them into a design program on my computer.
Final Edits
I even used a special pen to hand draw details right on to the computer screen. Once all final edits had been made, the artwork was ready for print!
The Process
Notice all of the smaller illustrations placed around each subject? Those spot illustrations were each chosen specifically for a connection to the featured symbol. Can you figure out the connections? What supporting illustrations would YOU have included to help share more information about the featured symbol?