Lilla here. Today we’re going to create magic together! I’m going to teach you three great tricks to create depth (distance) in your artwork, and explain why you might want to do so. It’ll help give your work a fresh, vibrant edge and be another tool in your ever-growing toolkit.
I’ve created this series of FREE assignments to help you get ready for my LIVE online course, Illustrating Children’s Books, which starts this Monday, July 7th! There are still a few places available, so if you’d like to spend five weeks with me and my co-teacher, brilliant children’s book art director and author, Zoë Tucker, learning everything there is to know about children’s picture book illustration, then book your spot now!
Over the last week, we’ve created a new character and explored fantastic new worlds – if you missed out then head over to the Make Art That Sells blog here to catch up. Thank you to everyone who’s shared their art on social media: I dig your wacky minds.
You’ll get tons of art tips from both me and my co-teacher, brilliant children’s book art director and author Zoë in the weekly live reviews in class. For now, here’s your mini class on how to create depth in your artwork:
Tip #1: Location
If you place something at the top of your page, it looks like it’s far away. For example, if you draw a little house toward the top of your page, it looks like it’s in the distance. That’s because our understanding of distance in art is that the higher up the page, the farther away. And then, by making the house tiny, it enhances the illusion of distance.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Lana Tihonovich for Illustrating Children’s Books. Notice how the boat on the left of the page looks further away than the house on the right.
The converse is also true: things at the bottom of the page are close to the viewer.
You can enhance this by altering the scale (size) of whatever it is you’re drawing.
Tip #2: Atmospheric perspective
Second, things in the distance are affected by what’s called atmospheric perspective. That means that things far away are more muted (slightly grayed-out). This is because there are particles in the air (and maybe even fog), plus human vision is less acute for distance, so it’s going to be softer. So you draw the house less crisply, with less vivid color.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Jone Leal for Illustrating Children’s Books. See how she’s created distance by making the city in the background lighter and softer. Book your place here.
Tip #3: Length
Third, if you draw something that starts at the bottom of your page, and travels up the page, we ‘read’ it to be moving to the far distance. For example, a road, river or a fence will progressively get smaller as it goes up the page. Try it!
Art by Make Art That Sells student Kristina Music for Illustrating Children’s Books. Can you feel how the distance between the character at the bottom of the page and the shelter at the top?
These are three powerful techniques you can use to create a sense of depth in your work.
Why is depth worth creating? Well, I want you to have as many tools as possible in your toolbox so, should you want to create distance, you know how. For example, let’s say your character is traveling from a lake to a city. You want the reader to enjoy the travel experience.
Here’s Part 4 of your assignment!
Today, I want you to take some elements from the work you’ve completed so far in our #MATSprep and have a go at creating some distance in your work. Move things around to make them seem closer or further away, or try fading out some of the details in the background and making the foreground clearer and sharper. Can you show a journey from one place to another, perhaps a winding stream or a path inviting us on an adventure?
Show us your art!
I absolutely love seeing your gorgeous art. Please keep sharing on social media and don’t forget to tag @makeartthatsells and use the catchy hashtag #MATSPrepICB12 so I can find it.
Lilla’s Tip of the Day: What’s the deal with art trends? Who cares, anyway? You are your own unique mix. Make your own trends. Lead the way. I have never met two people that are the same. Every person I get to know is an amazing and unique constellation of qualities and personal history. And so are you. Be yourself and you will create your own ‘trends’. Better to be yourself and see where that takes you.
My LIVE online course, Illustrating Children’s Books, starts NEXT MONDAY, July 7th. Every day for five weeks, you’ll get a ton of awesomeness to help you grow your art. Sign up now! I can’t wait to help you kick butt as an illustrator and land fantastic book deals!
Are you ready to dive in and make a commitment to your success as a children’s book illustrator? Sign up HERE. Hurry! The last remaining spots are going fast!
- Monday, July 7th: Illustrating Children’s Books starts! Join your teachers, former top art agent Lilla and brilliant children’s book art director Zoë, for five incredible weeks where you’ll learn a ton about the picture book industry and create a ready-to-send pitch that contains everything an art director needs to see to give you work! Don’t miss out! Sign up here.
- Monday, July 7th: Join Zoë and me for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 noon EST/5 pm BST to celebrate the start of Illustrating Children’s Books and you could win a FREE place in class! You’ll find the link to join the Zoom in our Instagram and Facebook Stories and on the front page of our website on the day.
- Available NOW! Sign up for the Brilliant Kid Book Bundle and save a whopping 20% on art agent Lilla’s last two LIVE courses for the year, student-favorite Illustrating Children’s Books and the wonderful Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering. Find out more here.
- Next newsletter: Don’t miss Part 5 of your FREE five-part #MATSPrep warm-up illustration assignment for Illustrating Children’s Books!
Lots of love
