Picture books involve a great deal of collaboration between multiple people who give ideas, critique, and feedback to make the beautifully illustrated stories that end up on bookshelves. We’ve described what goes into the author-editor relationship, but we also wanted to provide a glimpse of the relationship and collaboration between a publishing team and an illustrator. We sat down with VickyHolifield, a Senior Editor here at Peachtree, and Nicki Carmack, our Creative Director.
Between the two of them, you’re looking at decades of experience working with artists in the publishing industry. We spoke with Vicky and Nicki (going to have fun with that rhyming scheme for the rest of the post) in order to get a perspective on illustration from both the editorial, as well as the creative and production side of things. We tried to hit what Vicky and Nicki considered the most important parts of the process and the most important things for an illustrator to know or do. We began at the beginning.
The Search
![]() |
Vicky Holifield Senior Editor |
Initiating the search for an illustrator is primarily the work of an editor, so Vicky weighed in for our initial questions. She explained that it is the editor’s responsibility to get to know a manuscript well enough to look for an illustrator that would best suit the story. Although it varies from company to company, Vicky emphasized that Peachtree likes to be very collaborative in establishing the tone and style of art that works best with the story; this involves having a discussion with the author to make sure they agree on art style before she begins her search.
Vicky said that she herself sometimes begins looking for illustrators by simply browsing the library and looking at books with similar topics or categories to see how various artists have dealt with the subject matter, but she’ll keep in mind the specific tone she is considering. Since a library will only show published illustrators, she also spends time looking at portfolios. If the book is going to be about animals, for example, she looks for artists who specialize in illustrating animals.
![]() |
Nicki Carmack Creative Director |
Of course, it’s not all that simple. Vicky expounded that “there are a lot of artists who can reproduce reality,” but often what she’s looking for is someone providing a different slant who can “give a fresh look at the commonplace.” This is where the importance of tone comes into play. Nicki and Vicky agreed that a story can be illustrated with so many different approaches—whether it’s humorous, didactic, or lighthearted. Sometimes the right illustrator is simply someone who reads the story and “gets it,” and sees the story in the same tone that the author, editor, and production team see it.
The Nitty-Gritty
At Peachtree, although the editor typically gets the search for an illustrator underway, the author and production team often propose other illustrators for consideration; after much discussion, the team chooses two or three top candidates, who might be someone whose specialty lines up with the story, someone with experience of the book’s subject matter, or someone who has just the right sense of humor. Then the real work starts.
Both Nicki and Vicky agreed that although it often depends on the project, most of the communication and collaboration for a picture book is at the beginning, during the sketch stage. This stage involves one or several storyboard meetings, where thumbnail sketches for every page of the future picture book are laid out, so the team can visualize the big picture and get an idea of what the finished book will look like. Then, the art director gives insturctions and feedback. Sometimes we might want a small sketch expanded to a two-page spread, sometimes the main character’s facial expression needs more variety of movement, sometimes more space is needed for text. This is the most directive part of the process from the publisher end, although the illustrator does have to approve the final layout.
Nicki and Vicky also both emphasized that it is very important at the sketch stage to give prompt feedback to the illustrator. An illustrator’s work can change and evolve if there is a lapse of time between initial sketches and turning in final art. Although that is often natural, the editor doesn’t want to receive final art that doesn’t look anything like the sketches! So, as much as illustrators need to be communicative and responsive, both editorial and production recognize the need to be quick about feedback and direction themselves.
Although the sketch stage can be nitty-gritty and incredibly detail-oriented, it’s also the most important stage in creating a story that flows from one page to the next with pictures that bring a story to life. Nicki and Vicky both mentioned that sometimes an illustrator brings art that is so perfectly expressive, they might recommend changing the text to accommodate the illustration! They agreed that the best illustrators bring something “more” to a text; they enrich the story, and can even add a secondary tale that runs in the background throughout.
What It Takes
In the end, Nicky and Vicky both emphasized that simple habits like effective time management and clear communication are important qualities in a great illustrator. Although it’s true that an editor is looking for the right kind of art that will enhance a text, a successful illustrator can also establish deadlines and stick to them, communicate if something is going to be late, and receive feedback and follow given corrections.
On the production and creative side of things, Nicki outlined some of the most important things needed from an illustrator in order for the whole process to go smoothly. The first was very practical: communicating the format of the deliverable, final art. The production timeline changes when a publisher is receiving original paintings versus digital files. The format of the illustrator’s art should be decided in a very early conversation so that a realistic schedule can be set. On a more artistic level, Nicki pressed the fact that illustrators should not be micromanaged closely at the beginning of the process, because that leaves no room for his or her creative imagination to come up with the vision of what a story’s illustrations could become.
As an editor, Vicky named three things that she considers to be very important for all illustrators to remember. The first was, again, forming professional habits, such as doing thorough research and meeting deadlines. The second was to know who you are as an artist, work on your style, and learn to be consistent. Third, she would remind illustrators to learn how to tell a story. Fine artists can show a moment, but an illustrator must create a visual narrative that flows from one page to the next.
There is so much more that could be said about this process (much more in fact was said than we could fit here!). So consider everything that goes into every picture book the next time you pick one up. For illustrators or aspiring illustrators, we hope Nicki and Vicky’s perspectives were helpful. Ask questions in the comments below if you want to hear more from them!
If you want to learn more about the publishing process, check out our blog post about the relationship between an author and an editor, or our post about submitting a manuscript!
I'm friend of Vicky's, not an illustrator—-but what a treat to learn more about your work, Vicky!
Will definitely pass this on to the illustrators I know. debmiller49@mac.com
Absolutely fantastic posting! Lots of useful information and inspiration, both of which we all need!Relay appreciate your work. Danilo
viagra canadian pharmacy ezzz buying viagra in mexico what happens if a female takes viagra
buy cialis 10 tab cialis overnight shipping canada buy cialis tadalafil
ivermectin anti inflammatory stromectol stay active ivermectin 80 mg
ivermectin prescription ivermectin 3mg dosage ivermectin noromectin
where to buy generic cialis ? brand cialis for sale cialis without a doctor prescription reddit
cialis viagra buy cialis without a prescription cialis without perscription canada pharmacy
generic clomid over the counter clomid rx price clomid generic cost
buy clomid 50mg buy clomid 25mg where can i purchase clomid over the counter
clomid online india best over the counter clomid buy clomid online cheap
doxycycline 500mg capsules doxycycline mexico doxycycline 100mg capsules
cheapest ed pills cheap drugs online buy ed drugs online
natural herbs for ed generic ed drugs buying ed pills online
best male ed pills pills erectile dysfunction ed meds
sildenafil without a doctor’s prescription best ed pills at gnc pain medications without a prescription
erectal disfunction natural drugs for ed best medicine for ed
new treatments for ed medicine for erectile legal to buy prescription drugs without prescription
ed medicine online best ed treatment pet antibiotics without vet prescription
top ed pills treatment for erectile dysfunction vitamins for ed
prednisone acetate can you buy prednisone order prednisone online canada
prednisone brand name in india prednisone uk over the counter prednisone pak
stromectol generico ivermectin price comparison ivermectin 1mg
long term effects of cialis cialis dosage frequency online cialis no prescription
buy 10 mg prednisone iv prednisone prednisone pill
erectile dysfunction natural remedies
ivermectin chicken wormer can ivermectin paste be used topically
Go to Wikipedia’s list of SMS gateways for the complete list of country-wide codes (if your carrier isn’t one of the ones listed here). Are you trying to learn how to hide text messages on T-Mobile bill? Can’t find a tutorial that’ll teach you the complete and comprehensive process on how it’s done? We are using email-to-text to send form notifications via text message by way of the carrier’s SMS gateway. Verizon: @vtext.com, AT&T: @txt.att.com and T-Mobile: @tmomail.net. Verizon and AT&T are working great. But I cannot get one T-Mobile phone to accept a SMS email from Jotform. As stated above, if you are trying to send a lot of messages with this method, you could find your domain blocked within a very short period of time. Mobile carriers have every incentive to limit this type of communication and they can do so at their own discretion. If they think you are spamming or getting too much use out of this free texting loophole, they will not hesitate to throttle your traffic or block your messages entirely. https://www.khaoro.go.th/frontpage/community/profile/leighsimcox2145/ septiembre 16, 2020 You are talking about forwarding an iMessage from your iPhone to an email address. Forwarding an iMessage will, of course, result in an iMessage, not an email! (If you happen to forward an iMessage to a non-Apple cellular telephone, it would show up there as an SMS text message.) To get setup for mirroring messages, you first need to install FreeForward on both your primary and secondary Android phone. In the app, choose one to be the phone that forwards messages to the other; this is your primary handset number that everyone is familiar with. We offer an informative monthly technology newsletter. Check it out. To do this, you will have to jump into your Mail app, then tap on the email message you want to forward. Next, select the See More option at the bottom. Certain phone services offer the ability to forward a text to an email account. Forwarding texts to email is a reliable way of gaining access to multiple phone numbers while on the go. If you need to leave one or more of your devices at home, for instance, you can still count on receiving text updates via email.
india to buy cialis online pharmacy cialis cheap generic cialis (tadalafil) 20mg 30
prednisone 5 tablets order prednisone prednisone 50 mg tablet canada
ivermectin dosage for dogs ivermectin pour-on tractor supply ivermectin autoimmune
buy prednisone from canada order prednisone no prescription online prednisone
cialis and viagra together cialis pills cialisis
hydroxychloroquine what is it hcq medication
prednisone cost in india prednisone price south africa order prednisone 10mg
prednisone 50mg cost how to get prednisone tablets buying prednisone from canada
real cialis cialis usa prescription cialis 20 mg canada
Hourly rates vary from one contractor to the next and one region of the country to the next. Generally, expect to pay about: It’s important to reflect and figure out what elements of a bathroom remodel matter most to you. Here are a few questions to ask: HomeAdvisor’s latest True Cost Report for 2021 estimates the average cost of a bathroom remodel to be $13,400, but the total expense can go much higher for large, upscale bathrooms. Issues like corroded pipes or the decision to relocate major fixtures will also push costs higher. The first remodel consideration is what you want to accomplish in design and in function. Do you need a full renovation or cosmetic facelift (the latter obviously being the cheaper option)? If it’s a full remodel, you’ll have to think about layout and functionality. Should you decide to change the layout, which will increase the bathroom remodel cost, the renovation will require more construction work as well as new plumbing, electrical and waterproofing. https://lexuskwhite.com/community/profile/coreymuniz60460/ The average bathroom remodel costs $5,500 to $15,000. A small bathroom remodel costs $2,500 to $15,000 and a master bath costs $10,000 to $30,000 to redo. Bathroom renovations cost $120 to $275 per square foot, depending on the quality of materials, labor, and layout changes. Ultimately, you can always turn to us for your bathroom remodeling needs. Get in touch with us today to ask for a free quote and design for your affordable bathroom makeover. You could also check us on Yelp anytime. Check big box retailers for well-priced items like the ones below to help you save some money while upgrading your place. And, always remember to add upgrades that you can take with you when you move to your next apartment! Adding fancy new faucets and fixtures only helps your landlord in the long run. Choose items that are easy to pack and use in your next apartment!
ivermectin for cows ivermectin 12 mg price ivermectin protocol
best ed drug best ed drug treatments for ed
how to get prescription drugs without doctor buy canadian drugs ed meds online without doctor prescription
ivermectin scabies dose buy ivermectin for humans online ivermectin fungal infection
male ed drugs ed drug prices medicine for erectile
Jeśli cel zostanie osiągnięty, na funpage na Facebook kasyna online pojawi się kod bonusowy. by Batys Czw 24 Lis – 19:14 Dodatkowe upominki można również zdobyć korzystając z kodu bonusowego w kasach kasyno. Jest wysyłany pocztą elektroniczną i dystrybuowany przez partnerów serwisu. Przewiduje otrzymywanie różnych indywidualnych prezentów. Kod promocyjny Pan kasyno jest aktywowany na Twoim koncie osobistym. Strategie Blackjacka W Kasynie – Kasyno Gry Online Za Darmo Bale karnawałowe co roku sprawiają wiele radości zarówno tym małym jak i większym dzieciom. To właśnie podczas takich imprez spełniają się dziecięce marzenia. Nic więc dziwnego, że zabawa karnawałowa cieszy się ogromną popularnością i co roku dzieci oczekują jej z niecierpliwością. W tym roku ten oczekiwany dzień przypadł 5 lutego 2020r. Klasy młodsze rozpoczęły swój bal o godzinie 9.00. na szkolnej hali sportowej zamienionej w salę balową, a po południu karnawałowa zabawę rozpoczęły klasy starsze. czytaj więcej » https://gtocircle.com/community/profile/omachirnside453/ Związki i seks Daria, przerywała co jakiś czas obciąganie, łapiąc kilka wdechów, w tym samym czasie masowała penisa ręką. Ich spotkania w biurze lub w domu Prezesa, gdy jeszcze była “własnością” Iwińskiego, były najwspanialszym przeżyciem jakiego doznała. Karol brał ją na milion sposobów. Od tyłu, na blacie biurka, na fotelu, na podłodze oraz parapecie. Uwielbiała gdy zapierał ją brutalnie o ścianę, penetrując bez litości wylizany wcześniej tyłek. Kochała to uczucie wolności, gdy na kilka godzin przestawała być zabawką tego starego ramola, i mogła oddać się w całości Karolowi, który adorował jej młode, jędrne ciało spełniając wszystkie jej zachcianki. Tylko wtedy czuła się naprawdę kochana. Za krótko tu byliśmy, żeby już wychodzić. Poza tym miałam nadzieję, że moja pochwa zostanie jeszcze wielokrotnie wymasowana. W końcu było to miejsce seksu zbiorowego. Tylko, że ten przed chwilą wgapiony w nas zbiór kutasów gdzieś się ulotnił.
fenbendazole vs ivermectin ivermectin capsule ivermectin 5ml
non prescription ed pills pet meds without vet prescription discount prescription drugs
top erection pills erectile dysfunction drugs drugs for ed
stromectol 3 mg tablets price stromectol for sale stromectol price usa
buy medication online from india trusted india online pharmacies buy prescriptions from india pharmacy
india pharmacy without dr prescriptions cheap generic drugs from india india pharmacies online
modafinil brand modafinil 100mg brand modafinil 200mg us
modafinil 100mg usa order provigil 200mg pill
buy modafinil provigil pill modafinil 100mg for sale
erythromycin for gastroparesis http://erythromycinn.com/#
online pharmacy india online pharmacy india generic drugs without doctor’s prescription
buy provigil 100mg without prescription modafinil 100mg uk
viagra sildenafil citrate 100mg for sale viagra where to buy
tadalafil cialis cialis 20 mg price
modafinil online
buy provigil 200mg online modafinil 200mg price
order provigil 100mg pills purchase provigil pills
buy clomid clomid for sale buy clomid 50mg online
provigil generic purchase modafinil pills
modafinil 100mg without prescription buy modafinil pill
tadalafil without a doctor’s prescription tadalafil 10mg price online purchase of tadalafil in india
tadalafil lowest price tadalafil cialis from india
modafinil 200mg us
buy modafinil 100mg sale order provigil online cheap
provigil 200mg pill provigil 200mg tablet
stromectol price usa stromectol for humans for sale stromectol for humans for sale
does stromectol kill nits ivermectin buy canada stromectol for sale
provigil 200mg usa buy modafinil 200mg for sale modafinil ca
modafinil 200mg over the counter
http://erythromycinn.com/# erythromycin estolate
The law here in NV has been argued many times on the different craps boards, every self proclaimed expert, has just like you, said you can read it in NV gaming board rules, and just like you, they were all wrong, there is no law or rule that the state of NV has, that says you have to hit the back wall with your dice. All other dice combinations resulting in the 10,8,6 or 2 are considered an вЂeasy way’. For example there are four non-pair combinations for a 6: 1-5, 4-2,5-1, and 2-4. The pair combinations are called a hard way as there is only one way to make a pair combination. There are more ways to achieve each number when different numbers on the dice are rolled, making all other non-pair combinations the вЂeasy way’. When you make your bet and the dice are rolled the following can happen: http://blackfolksunited.com/community/profile/omqaddie9748928 Its selection of real blackjack games includes American Blackjack, Pirate Blackjack, and Single Deck Blackjack, as well as a number of live versions of the game. There’s also a blackjack tournament you can compete in, and we like the fact that Wild Casino dedicates an entire section of its website to blackjack games, as this makes them easier to find. Being a free to play app, the app awards you free playing credits than you can then increase by winning games. You get free chips daily, so log in to your account every day for more rewards. You can also purchase betting credits, especially if you want to get into the VIP section. Free online blackjack can be a great learning tool, allowing you to test different betting patterns and blackjack strategies until you find the ones that work. There’s an optimum decision to make in every blackjack situation that leads to maximum chances to win, and free-to-play blackjack can help you perfect this style without risking any of your own money.
stromectol tablets for humans stromectol for humans for sale stromectol for humans for sale
ivermectin mange stromectol for humans for sale stromectol tablets for humans
viagra 100mg price sildenafil 20 mg over the counter viagra