Illustrating Tales for Vibrant Narratives
Anne Catharine Blake: Illustrator and Visual Storyteller Extraordinaire
Anne Catharine Blake, a renowned children's book illustrator and comic artist, has made a significant impact in the world of visual storytelling. With a career spanning decades, Blake's work can be found in children's books, comics, and various illustrations.
Blake's journey into the industry began with her first published book, a comic series distributed by Senior Wire News Service. Her determination to create opportunities by doing the work she loved and networking with others in the industry paved the way for her successful career.
Once a book contract is secured, the production process can take a year or more before the book is finally in print. Blake's workflow begins with brainstorming ideas in the morning, followed by organizing and sorting these ideas into project files or boxes. She then creates a set of thumbnails in a storyboard format for her projects, which she uses as a first draft or downdraft.
If Blake is illustrating someone else's book, she works back and forth with the editor and art director for three to six months, depending on the deadlines. This collaborative process ensures that the illustrations align with the vision of the book.
Blake's illustrations are a blend of traditional and digital media. Once the thumbnails are approved, she creates clean thumbnails with text and enlarges them in Photoshop, setting up an InDesign file of the book or project. The final book cover is often due after sketches are approved, as publishers like to start promoting the book before it is published.
Storyboarding has played a significant role in Blake's career. It can take months or years to put together a book proposal, including the story, finished illustrations, and a storyboard. This meticulous process ensures that the story flows smoothly and the illustrations complement the narrative.
Blake's family's settlement on a sheep farm in Canada has also influenced her work, inspiring humor in her work and several books with sheep characters. Currently, she is working on an updated version of a comic strip about grandparents as a collection.
In addition to her work, Blake is contributing to an institution's BFA in Illustration program with two new courses: ILL 302 Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding, and ILL 304 Special Topics. The Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding course is likely part of a BFA Illustration curriculum focused on developing students’ ability to narrate stories visually using sequential art. This course covers the principles of narrative structure, character development, pacing, composition, and the practical techniques for creating storyboards that effectively communicate action and emotion.
You can find out more about Anne Catharine Blake's work on her website annecatharineblake.com or by following her on Instagram. For those interested in pursuing a career in illustration, Sessions.edu offers an online BFA in Illustration program.
Blake is also working on a new series inspired by her travels across the United States and Canada by train, intended for kindergarten to third-grade readers. This exciting new project promises to bring more of Blake's unique storytelling and illustration talents to life.
[1]: Pratt Institute Digital Animation, Storytelling, and Storyboarding Programs [2]: Kennesaw State University Communication Design Courses [3]: San Francisco’s Communication Design Courses in Digital Animation, Storytelling, and Storyboarding
- Anne Catharine Blake, aside from her work in home-and-garden illustrations and children's books, is also expanding her education-and-self-development endeavors by contributing to an institution's BFA in Illustration program, where she offers courses on sustainable-living topics like Visual Storytelling and Storyboarding, and Special Topics.
- As part of her commitment to promoting a more sustainable-living lifestyle, Blake is gearing up for a new online-education project that centers around learning about various aspects of sustainable living.
- For those aiming to embark on a path similar to Blake's, pursuing online-education opportunities in digital animation, storytelling, and storyboarding can be an essential step, as offered by various institutions such as the Pratt Institute, Kennesaw State University, and San Francisco's communication design programs.
