Old Art | Storybook Concept - "The Balloon Thief" (Patreon)

This week my sister was clearing out an old laptop and ended up finding a bunch of my artwork from my high school and college days. I thought a lot of this was lost forever, so this was a nice surprise! I'm going to be archiving it here so we can't lose it again.

For those that don't know, I went to school for Graphic Design. Originally, my plan was to become a children's book illustrator. My school didn't have an illustration major, so I figured Graphic Design was the next best thing and I don't regret going into it. At the end of my senior year we were given an insane amount of work, including having to raise the funds for our senior showcase ourselves which is some absolute bullshit.

One of the things we had to do was to create a "Self-Initiated Project"! I chose a little storybook about a girl in Italy who was obsessed with stealing balloons.

Of note: College was—medically speaking—the worst period of my life. I was sick almost constantly, probably because I never ate anything. I had an awful case of strep throat at the end of the year, so I actually asked our good buddy Will to record a read-through of this book for me. My professor let me go first so I could go home after class, so I trudged into class literally wrapped in a blanket and unable to speak. I played Will's audio over a slide show I had created, presented the book, and immediately left so I could pass out for seven hours.

I thought I'd lost this book aside from the transcript, but my sister recovered it, so here it is! This includes some thumbnail sketches of the page spreads and character design ideas. The square-shaped pages near the end are also older artwork from Freshman year, actually. I was in a separate bookmaking class and this was one of my pitches, but I ended up doing another project, which I can also post here.

So, without further ado, here is the transcript for the book!

You can download Will's narration here and listen along while you scroll through the unfinished illustrations. 

On an island in ItalyAt the Turn of the TimesA basket with a babyOn a stoop did arrive

The caretaker told others(Though they called him a loon)For this baby named Ariel,Arrived by balloon

The man took her inAnd began to impartA number of wordsThat the girl took to heart:

“My girl” he said, “You must aim to inspire.”“The fact that we’re poor doesn’t matter at all”Always go bigger and always aim higher,Never be satisfied with something that’s small.”

Ariel, she was craftyAnd bright as the moonThere was only one problem:She liked stealing balloons.

She took them from shopsWhen they went into townShe even took themFrom her own party clown!

She didn’t know why,Or “How?” “What?” or “Who?”But after awhileShe had her own zoo!

The kids didn’t mind\They were wowed and amazed!“Oh well,” said the man“I’m sure it’s just a phase.”

But it wasn’t a phase,That much was clear.Ariel kept swipingYear after year.

She started with vendorsWho sold lemonadeBut as time went onShe took from parades!

No one could stop her(She was a go-getter)And as time went onShe only got better

When she hopped on a boatAnd stole imports from GreeceShe caught the attentionOf the local police.

She outwitted the copsAt each twist and turnHow Ariel escaped them,They never did learn

“Unleash all the hounds!”Unleash all the Schnauzers!”She was in quite a huff,Officer High-Trousers

“Curse that Ariel!Curse all of her bones!”Shouted the gumshoeIn frustrated tones

“That girl’s very sneaky,That much is clearBut I know how to catch her“I’ve got an idea.”

The cops gathered ‘roundTheir boss on the phoneThe one she called livedQuite far from their home

“Hello, this is me,”Said a Russian named Kissel.A blimp maker ladyWho's shaped like a missile

“Kissel, it’s Trousey,I’m calling a favorThis Ariel girlHas some rotten behavior”

“Let’s throw a fake festivalTrap her in our paw!”“Are you in?” asked High-Trousers?And Kissel said “Da.”

They passed out their postersAnd outlined their mission:They’d trap all the basketsAnd rush her position.

“With so many targetsShe cannot resist!”And High-Trousers smiled\While clenching her fist.

The plans were all set,Their trap up and running.She sent them her cardSo they’d know she was coming

“Hey there policemen,I saw your brochure!”“This sounds like good fun!”“I’ll be there, for sure!”

And then on the backside: I am no liarYou’d better be ready when I come to call.Always go bigger and always aim higher,Never be satisfied with something that’s small.

The aircraft arrivedIn colored festoonsTens upons hundredsOf hot air balloons!

Of course they were gorgeousBut they looked like wimpsWhen Kissel arrivedIn her ginormous blimp

“The balloons are all trapped,We’ll know which one she takesTo snag even oneIs a fatal mistake.”

As they discussed her,She snuck towards her prizeBy wearing a veryCrafty disguise

Then SNAP! went a ropeAnd one took to the air!“We’ve got her now, men!She’s right over there!”

“She can’t escape now!”They climbed up together.“That thing can’t fly off!It’s still got its tether!”

But when they looked in,There was no one inside!No girl, just a dummy!That’s all that they spied!

The cops were confused.What the hey? What the heck!?“Well,  just to be sure,We best double check.”

They took a peekAnd then took a peek-er“I’m taking this blimp,”Said a voice from the speaker

It was the thief girl!She was up, overheadIn Kissel’s airship!They had heard what she’d said.

High-Trousers was angryAnd Kissel was cussin’But nobody heard‘Cause she said it in Russian

“Silly coppers, didn’t you read my flyer?”This blimp is the biggest balloon of them all!Always go bigger and always aim higher,Never be satisfied with something that’s small.”