The Making of 'So What!' (Part 1)

With the release of So What! on the shelves this week, I thought I would use this series of posts to show a bit of my process when creating the illustrations, in order to give an insight into the books development.

So What! Order it here

The Story

Last year I was approached by Digital Leaf Publishing to illustrate a picture book written by Tracey Trussell called ‘So What!’ Which has been launched this week!

The story is about Daisy, a sweet, innocent girl with a wonderful imagination. She should be happy but her best friend, Lissy is getting her down. The playground has become a tough place for Daisy who'll need to learn some new tricks if she wants to survive. So What! is a rites of passage story that's both funny and uplifting. Daisy's battle with an emotional bully will reverberate with all children who've ever been picked on, and leave them smiling.

On the surface this is a fun, silly and slightly wacky story, but beneath is a story about a girls desperation to be accepted. So What! gave me the opportunity to illustrate a real roller coaster of emotions that a child feels, from to desperation to depression to realisation.

Designing the Characters

It was very important to us that the character design felt real to give the character the depth they need to tell the subtleties of this story. Showing the subtle expressions in the characters faces was key, from Daisy's excitement and dejection to Lissy's boredom and contempt.

Daisy

Here are my character designs for Daisy. She is very unsure of herself, and more than anything wants acceptance. When I draw my characters I try to give them their individual mannerisms in the initial sketches, as opposed to just a character standing there like a mannequin with no expression. I can really get a feel for who the character is this way.

Lissy

Lissy is the polar opposite to Daisy. She is the an ultra confident, arrogant and annoying friend that always gets what she wants. Lissy is bored by everything and has no time for poor Daisy.

Lissy's goons

These two goon followers make up Lissy's gang, they hang on Lissy's every word. They've succumbed to her peer pressure.

Samantha

Samantha is very much like Daisy at the start of the story, but then she takes the wrong path and bows peer pressure to become another one on Lissy's goons. Will Daisy take the same path?

The Rabbit!!

Of course I could never forget Daisy's furry sidekick! Who's always there for her no matter what!

Together Lissy's and her crew of goons dismiss Daisy and even laugh at her as shown in these roughs.

But not for long.....

In part 2 I will look at some specific scenes in the story, including Daisy's wild escapist imagination that involve 6 humped camels and aliens! 

So What! is available now: Order it here