Balloon Therapy Final Chapter!

Hello Friends!

Last week as I was pondering how to end 

Balloon Therapy, I realized it seemed maybe a 

little scary for little ones to see the pig character 

(Kissandra, Kissy for short)  just pick up the mischievous 

kitten (Poppy) and walk off the bus with him.   

I needed to make a revision.

 So, the conclusion...

What do you think?  I hope Balloon Therapy has brought 

a little cheer to your day!  I am working on a bunch of other 

projects right now so I am going to take a two week break from 

posting here.  I really like this format and I may just continue 

posting stories this way.  Any feedback would really be 

appreciated if you have a moment!

I am going to look into self publishing this as a small soft cover. 

If and when it's available I will let you know.  

It will be a lot easier to "read" as a full booklet!

Have a great couple of weeks.  

May love and peace prevail!  Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 6

Hello!
What a great weekend.   I had family visiting thus
it was very busy!  I was up late working on these but
couldn't get them posted until today.
It's really amazing how I have learned more each time
I work on this story.  Sometimes I can see where I am
missing an element, like this week I had four finished
then looked back and decided it would be better to fill
in the story with the newspaper illustration.  It's a good
way to inform the viewer and keep the story "wordless".
Only four more illustrations to go and I am still not
positive of where and how the story will end.  It's is
strange how I have had ideas but then the story takes a
totally different turn like it has a mind of it's own within
my mind.  It's really fun working this way.
Enjoy!  Tune in next week for the grand finale of
Balloon Therapy!  <3 Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 5

Hi there,

So what's happening in Balloon Therapy?

It's taken a turn...any ideas where to go from here?

I think I have it figured out, but I'm not positive 

about the ending.  Only 8 more pages to go...

Thinking about self publishing this story as a little

paperback.  I know it has been a little confusing to 

follow, since you have to read it sort of backwards.  

If you have an excellent idea for the ending I will 

send you a free copy.  Email me, raradesign@yahoo.com

Sweet dreams.  Rachel

 

Balloon Therapy Part 5

Hi friends,
Working on these illustrations again has brought a
sort of new enlightenment about all that is involved
in illustrating picture books.  I recall a faculty member of a
Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators
(http://www.scbwi.org) conference once said how being an
illustrator is a lot like being the director of a film.  It's not only
characters that illustrators must be creative with, but the
setting, lighting, and color story.  Even the emotion that the
characters project and the feeling that the image evokes is
critical to getting the point across.  It's a lot of pressure,
but I love it!
*I apologize for not posting last week as I had trouble with my
wifi/new internet provider.
Need to let off some steam?  Pop a few balloons!  *>.<* Rachel

Balloon Therapy Party Part Four

Hello there partiers!
Had a tough time with these today
as I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to
do.  This has been a fun process however,
because it is happening organically.
I decided today that I will push myself to
complete 32 illustrations as that is the
standard picture book page number.
That is more than I originally planned so
it will be interesting to see where this goes!
Enjoy the party;).  Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 3

Hey there!  Finished up four more panels
for Balloon Therapy.  This project is teaching me a lot.
Here are four things I learned today:
Keep characters consistent in appearance.
I had an acquaintance several years ago who
was a costumer for movies.  She took photos
of the characters in every scene so that if they had to
re-shoot a scene they knew exactly how each
character was styled.  I was reminded of that when I
forgot to illustrate Daisy's messenger bag in the
illustrations with the cab.  I added it after realizing.

Be sure your paper and materials are harmonious.
The paper from the sketchbook has a strange reaction
to the watercolor pencil, almost like it has a waxy coating.
(For projects for clients I use Arches.)
Another tip, always be sure you have enough of the same 
quality paper to complete the project! 

While examining the previous paintings I thought it
would have been really funny to have the cat's eyes
peering in through the mail slot.  Oops!  Just saw that
I forgot the mail slot...Keep environments consistent 
looking as well as characters!

I'm really happy with how the last two panels look.
This has been fun!  Join me next week to see how this
party goes.  You are officially invited. :)Rachel
P.S.  It's fun to tie in elements from earlier in the 
story, Daisy's dress is from the little shop she went into!

Hi folks, Happy Saturday!
    It's been an awesome spring like day here in Ohio.
Had a hard time staying inside to work on this project,
but once I sat down I really had fun with the story.
    Illustrating is so different from textile design.  I have
to think so much more about every aspect of the work.
(Textile design requires thought also, but once the sketch is
done it is more technical for me than anything.)
    Like setting up a scene in a film, lighting, color, characters,
and objects, are all so important.  A lot of thought goes into
each illustration in children's books.  Perspective plays a
huge role also, as scenes can truly make the viewer a part
of the world of the book.
    So with no more hub bub...here are four more panels
from Balloon Therapy.
   Tune in next week for four more!  Cheers!  Rachel CB