Becca Hillburn

Coloring Book Crunch- Patreon Newsletter September 5th (Patreon)

Published:

2022-09-05 23:25:41

Imported:

2026-10

Tags:

Patreon newsletter Patreon update backer newsletter backer update

Content

Hey Artnerds!

This week, I've really focused on finishing the Curious Little Things coloring book in time for my October shows.

Even though Curious Little Things was 90% done before we even started (the illustrations were drawn, cleaned up, scanned, and formatted for Lilliputian Living, all we really had to do was curate, research coloring book practices, resize, add in our new illustrations, and create a cover), that 10% is still a good two weeks of work!

Over the past couple weeks I've knocked out the additional lineart (cover A, Cover B, Title Page, This Book Belongs To, and a bonus illustration), got them scanned and cleaned up, did color comps for the two covers, sent off a baseline interior for the proofs, and currently painting the cover. Now that I type it, it seems like a lot, and it has been!

I couldn't decide which cover I liked better, but color comps (and polls on Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook) helped narrow it down to the Ring of Roses illustration. In my research in adult coloring books on Amazon, many covers utilize a black background- partially to help designate it as more adult, and partially to make the colors pop.

Joseph put together a mockup of the cover for KDP. If I have any coloring book fanatics here who'd like to review a copy, please let me know! Your experience (and quotes!) would be really helpful!

I've had a lot of fun coming up with new illustrations, to the point where I have to pull in the reins and stop myself because we gotta get this book to the presses!

I probably could have done a dozen more of these 'ditzy' illustrations, with lots of small repetitive areas to color, but these take the longest to ink, and we can't delay much longer.

Joseph and I worked hard to get a working proof out to Kindle Direct Publishing (nee Createspace) as quickly as possible- we figured it'd take a couple weeks to get Curious Little Things back, but we were pleasantly surprised that we received our copies on Sunday, just five days after we sent off the file. This quick turnaround gives me hope that we'll have copies of Curious Little Things for CXC at the beginning of October.

Unboxing my KDP proofs

Flipping through the proof

I've been recording almost everything for a big coloring book vlog, and I'm hoping to use the timelapse inking and painting footage for...something? Maybe as tutorials?

Once the coloring book is squared away, I'm going to begin working on some watercolor kits for Andouille Fest, Destrehan Fall Fest, and for the Nattoshop, as well as some Louisiana focused illustrations.

Between Chapter 9 and Curious Little Things, I haven't reviewed too many art supplies, so our Early Access is a little lean, but good things are in the works! I really want to thank yall for sticking with me as I get back into making comics.

Lilliputian Living 2022

During October, I plan on working on Lilliputian Living. I already have a WIP prompt list for this year, mainly focusing on pets, if you'd like to take a look!

There was no stream this week due to not one but two family emergencies.