As an illustrator, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this post! Gratuitous art notes are my biggest pet peeve (and can even turn me off a manuscript entirely). I love that the author is passionate about their story and has a vision, but once I read an art note I can't unread it. They're like a big giant wall that's been put up preventing me from bringing my own ideas to the table.
And really, gratuitous art notes are an author saying they don't trust the illustrator. It's a key step as an author who doesn't illustrate to figure out what makes an art note gratuitous (in general, I'd say that if you're wondering if it is, then it probably is).
This is that most wonderful thing - a post full of great advice that also offers an enticing collection of gopher holes to scurry into — I need to read or re-read all of these books now!
I still struggle mightily with the "leave room" thing. I try my best but definitely do not always succeed! And just a note to say that We Were Tired of Living in a House was/is one of my treasured favorites from childhood. I shared it with our kids and still think about it all the time: "...and a frog who was a particular friend." Sigh. Love.
Keep trying! It's for sure a learning curve. And I can't believe I didn't know about We Were Tired of Living in a House until fairly recently. It's SO GOOD. A perfect book.
This is so smart! I feel like you've done well putting into concrete terms a concept that can be a bit nebulous. Nicely done! Also now I want all these froggy stories.
LOVE this. As an illustrator, I have received manuscripts of all types of art notes, from sparse to extensive. I always find more satisfaction and creative freedom when authors leave ample room for me to express my interpretation and creativity. Art notes can be very helpful sometimes, though if it is too elaborate, it immediately shapes my vision, and its harder to come up with other creative ways to illustrate.
One thing I do sometimes is write a lot of art notes while I'm revising with the editor, so we have a sense of what's happening, and then delete them all before it goes out to the illustrator. Because the illustrator can always come back and say, "what do you imagine is happening here?" But you're right, once you get that image in your head, via art notes, it can be hard to think of what else could go in that space.
Great practice! Also, when I get a manuscript with a bunch of notes, I immediately sort of blur my eyes and delete them so I can read the manuscript without being interrupted. The art notes also really get in the way of being able to appreciate the words that an author has carefully crafted.
As an illustrator, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this post! Gratuitous art notes are my biggest pet peeve (and can even turn me off a manuscript entirely). I love that the author is passionate about their story and has a vision, but once I read an art note I can't unread it. They're like a big giant wall that's been put up preventing me from bringing my own ideas to the table.
And really, gratuitous art notes are an author saying they don't trust the illustrator. It's a key step as an author who doesn't illustrate to figure out what makes an art note gratuitous (in general, I'd say that if you're wondering if it is, then it probably is).
Great tips in here (and some lovely book recs)! Thank you
This is that most wonderful thing - a post full of great advice that also offers an enticing collection of gopher holes to scurry into — I need to read or re-read all of these books now!
I'm always good for a gopher hole!
I still struggle mightily with the "leave room" thing. I try my best but definitely do not always succeed! And just a note to say that We Were Tired of Living in a House was/is one of my treasured favorites from childhood. I shared it with our kids and still think about it all the time: "...and a frog who was a particular friend." Sigh. Love.
Keep trying! It's for sure a learning curve. And I can't believe I didn't know about We Were Tired of Living in a House until fairly recently. It's SO GOOD. A perfect book.
This is so smart! I feel like you've done well putting into concrete terms a concept that can be a bit nebulous. Nicely done! Also now I want all these froggy stories.
Ha, I know, now this Froggy is living in my head, like "what, you just created me for a BLOG POST? COME ON!"
LOVE this. As an illustrator, I have received manuscripts of all types of art notes, from sparse to extensive. I always find more satisfaction and creative freedom when authors leave ample room for me to express my interpretation and creativity. Art notes can be very helpful sometimes, though if it is too elaborate, it immediately shapes my vision, and its harder to come up with other creative ways to illustrate.
One thing I do sometimes is write a lot of art notes while I'm revising with the editor, so we have a sense of what's happening, and then delete them all before it goes out to the illustrator. Because the illustrator can always come back and say, "what do you imagine is happening here?" But you're right, once you get that image in your head, via art notes, it can be hard to think of what else could go in that space.
Great practice! Also, when I get a manuscript with a bunch of notes, I immediately sort of blur my eyes and delete them so I can read the manuscript without being interrupted. The art notes also really get in the way of being able to appreciate the words that an author has carefully crafted.
That's great, I wish more authors, editors, and art directors would adopt this practice.👍