New book! Red nosed reindeer sketches

NessIllustration

Hey guys! I received some great news recently but was wary of saying anything until it was official. Now it is, all signed and I started sketching my new book, a French language Christmas book! We are using the song of The Red-Nosed Little Reindeer and I have free range to re-interpret the words and make a compelling visual story. SUPER excited!

I have done some character designs and a cover sketch and would love your input! Anything that could be improved on the characters to make stronger designs? Does my cover idea make a nice strong cover to you? Please let me know!

Coreyartus

Congratulations!!! Such wonderful news, and what an awesome project!! I'm lovin' the peek so far!! Woot!

MichaelaH

@NessIllustration Your reindeer looks very cute, what I would add, is this circle around his nose in the first picture und put it on other sketches also, I think it will be the lighter color later wenn you are doing colors.
It is really lovely character design.

Congratulationssss!! I bet it's weird working on Christmas stuff as summer approaches! I loooove your reindeer characters, they're unbelievably cute and i think your cover is really strong and i honestly wouldn't change anything

NessIllustration

Thank you guys! It is a bit weird working on Christmas stuff in April haha.. Here in Canada the snow is finally going AWAY! But I love Christmas so it's filling me with joy!

@MichaelaH I was worried about that! Originally I had the circle on the other sketches too, but in the side and 3/4 view I didn't really like the look... I thought I'd try it like this and maybe no one would have issue with it, but clearly you noticed it so it IS a consistency problem. I'll have to find a way to include it that looks good in every view!

MichaelaH

@NessIllustration Maybe you can do it later only in color, so no stroke there but only the color circle, but it will be awesome

NessIllustration

@MichaelaH That's true, only in color it will look more subtle unlike the stroke! Thank you Michaela

murielle

@NessIllustration Congratulations!!! The reindeer is so cute

Chip Valecek

@NessIllustration congrats! I think the reindeer is super cute. Did you have to get rights to the song to use in the book? I had an idea about a book from a song but the people in the US that own the copyrights won't get back to me about it.

NessIllustration

@Chip-Valecek Thanks Chip! The Red-nosed reindeer song is public domain (at least the French translation is for sure!) That's why the publisher is doing this whole series of mini albums with these old Christmas classics! I was actually offered two of these books but there was no way I would have been able to draw both within the deadline

Heather Bouteneff

@NessIllustration Congratulations!! It looks great! My sister in law teaches French and my mother in law IS French so maybe I can buy a copy in support!
They sing this song to her about a riding on the tail of a mouse to a pastry shop- but don't fall into a pothole?? I tried singing it but my husband was like "it's not "on fire", Heather"
I'm excited, your last one was so good!

NessIllustration

@Heather-Bouteneff Hahahahah but you tried that's what matters!
Thanks Heather, you're so sweet!

NessIllustration

Just got some feedback that it's looking a bit too young for the target I got quite attached and now I might have to make changes

Chip Valecek

@NessIllustration what is the age of the target audience?

MOO

Congratulations!

Nyrryl Cadiz

@NessIllustration OMG! . What did I tell you?! Jobs will keep on flowing in after your first book! I’m so happy for!

NessIllustration

@Chip-Valecek They say it's "family" target, which is kinda vague and confusing to me I asked them for more specific feedback!

NessIllustration

@nyrrylcadiz You did, Nyrryl!

Chip Valecek

@NessIllustration Yeah that is pretty vague. Just add a nose ring and a mohawk to the little kid

NessIllustration

@Chip-Valecek Perfect!