Graphic Novel / Storybook
Little Red
What is the project? - A wordless graphic novel / storybook, with visual inspiration from little red riding hood : an original story of a girl who falls through a hole in the earth and encounters a strange creature on her way back to the surface
Project value - Creates illustration wordlessly to tell an original narrative
Target audience - Young adults(?)
Specifics - Illustrations with limited colour palettes (i.e, black, white (+grey) with one additional colour
Milestones - Thumbnail and organise story first - page completed every few days, text to be written before hand / edited as project goes on
Deliverables - A complete wordless graphic novel / storybook
Project value - Creates illustration wordlessly to tell an original narrative
Target audience - Young adults(?)
Specifics - Illustrations with limited colour palettes (i.e, black, white (+grey) with one additional colour
Milestones - Thumbnail and organise story first - page completed every few days, text to be written before hand / edited as project goes on
Deliverables - A complete wordless graphic novel / storybook
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Original character concepts and colour palettes
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When drawing solid shapes in the storybook I used ProCreate’s Medium Nozzle spray-paint brush to create a softer edge. As I used other spray-paint brushes to create texture in the backgrounds of the pages it made the character feel more harmonious with each page as a whole.
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First Set of Thumbnails
The first pages of the book are to show the main character walking through a snowy environment from her home. I wanted to use a lighter background for the surface knowing it would contrast with later darker environments underground.
The first pages of the book are to show the main character walking through a snowy environment from her home. I wanted to use a lighter background for the surface knowing it would contrast with later darker environments underground.
First Set of Illustrated Pages
I chose to make the snow backgrounds a light grey rather than white to allow for visible snow, and to not contrast as much with the darker shades for the house, trees and smoke. The only colour to feature in this part of the story is ‘red’ to allow the main character to stand out via the red of her hood and eyes. I used the same reds for the ‘underground’ to work with a limited cohesive colour palette.
I chose to make the snow backgrounds a light grey rather than white to allow for visible snow, and to not contrast as much with the darker shades for the house, trees and smoke. The only colour to feature in this part of the story is ‘red’ to allow the main character to stand out via the red of her hood and eyes. I used the same reds for the ‘underground’ to work with a limited cohesive colour palette.
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For the trees I used the Thylacine inking brush in different grey shades.
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I used a brighter red for the underground light to create a sense of depth.
After feedback, I edited the page to create more contrast.
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After feedback I redid the text font making it thicker and less wiry, fitting with the solid shapes of the illustrations.
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Second Set of Thumbnails
Second Set of Illustrated Pages
The second set of illustrations shows the main character walking through the underground, cavernous area she has fallen into. These pages also introduce the ‘wolf’ character. The character also introduces new colours to the storybook, yellow and orange. Both stand out against the dark backgrounds to draw your eye to the creature. Being warm colours they work cohesively with the ‘girl’s’ red.
The second set of illustrations shows the main character walking through the underground, cavernous area she has fallen into. These pages also introduce the ‘wolf’ character. The character also introduces new colours to the storybook, yellow and orange. Both stand out against the dark backgrounds to draw your eye to the creature. Being warm colours they work cohesively with the ‘girl’s’ red.
Recoloured the background, added shading details.
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Third Set of Thumbnails
Third Set of Illustrated Pages
The third set of pages has the girl realise the danger that she’s in, and run to escapes from the ‘wolf.’
The third set of pages has the girl realise the danger that she’s in, and run to escapes from the ‘wolf.’
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Fourth Set of Illustrated Pages
These pages have the main character find her escape from the underground, the colour palette slowly brings in lighter greys, eventually returning to snowy lighter backgrounds on the surface.
These pages have the main character find her escape from the underground, the colour palette slowly brings in lighter greys, eventually returning to snowy lighter backgrounds on the surface.
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Cover Thumbnails
I designed the cover to show the two important characters of the storybook. The main character, the girl, looking worried as she walks through the world, and the ‘wolf’ watching her. I removed the wolf’s yellow and orange colour palette to focus on the greys and reds of the opening pages, as they are the most consistent colours throughout the book.
I designed the cover to show the two important characters of the storybook. The main character, the girl, looking worried as she walks through the world, and the ‘wolf’ watching her. I removed the wolf’s yellow and orange colour palette to focus on the greys and reds of the opening pages, as they are the most consistent colours throughout the book.
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Physical Book
I printed copies of the book using Mixam. The book’s size is A5 (148 mm x 210 mm) and portrait, staple bound and in full-colour printing. There are 36 inside pages with a weight of 120gsm. The cover has a weight of 170gsm.
