There are plenty of children’s illustration portfolios out there that look polished. The technique is strong, and the style is appealing. But sometimes, even when all the “right” boxes are ticked, something’s still missing. And that missing piece is often “authenticity”.

This is the second part of a very long article about how to illustrate a children’s book. You can read the first article here.

Now that you have understood the story, researched, did some character design and started your first pass at thumbnails and layouts and refined a few sketches, you can start to experiment with color.

Illustrating children's books is a magical journey that combines art, storytelling, and imagination. Your pictures will help bring characters to life, create moods, and captivate young readers. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, illustrating children's books can be rewarding and challenging at the same time.