X-Ray Kay

     Before you read on, I have a very exciting announcement. My totally awesome little brother entered a UM photo contest and now he's a finalist!! If you have two minutes, I would really appreciate it if you voted for him. Here's the website. Just click the "vote now" button and it will take you to the finalists. ((His picture is the one with colorful houses and a mountain in the background.)) Thanks!

Moving on:

What I Did:
- Moment sketching (.5 hr)
- Storyboard (1 hr)
- Storyboard Redux (1 hr)
- Looking up and taking source images (1.5 hrs)
- Make Model (5 hrs)
- Media research (.5)
- Talking with an RN about broken bones in children (.5 hr)

What I accomplished/discovered:
     I started the weekend by taking my character study and sketching scenes and moments I wanted to see in my book. I also worked on adding conflict and resolution as well as other critical plot devices; something that my original storyboard lacked.  It also helped to write the story progression down, being that it allowed me to copy, paste and add details and notes that are hard to put in sketches.

     Afterwards, I spoke with my critique group about moving forward. It was suggested that I exaggerate or boost the story's conflict as well as really push the sense of time further visually (especially in bone healing). The element of magic in the story could be helped with use of visual queues and interactions (use mylar panel to hide/expose x-ray?).  It was also suggested that I talk with a librarian about the attention span of my target group, their developmental needs, what would be a new or surprising element for a book to have, and what are successful elements that have been used and might be helpful in my book. I also should talk to a nurse about the scientific facts about broken bones in children as well as how they react and what comforts them. 

ouch!

     The next step seemed to be to make a half-scale model of my book. I was cautioned to get more specific in vantage points and pacing, not necessarily details. I did so and it took a lot longer than I expected.

     It turns out that sometimes even though it looks like a complete and easy to follow story in 2D form, when you add the interactive element of turning a page, things get a lot more complicated. I took a lot of the one panel scenes and stretched them into a two-panel scene. I also kept rearranging the order of events to see which transition made more sense. I also experimented with vantage points. I realized that some scene that I thought I had all worked out, they looked more dynamic in another view.

     Starting even took a lot of time: How many pages do I need? What size? How will I assemble them?...  This really showed me that this book is a more involved project than I thought.
     I stopped by an arts store briefly to talk about good papers for illustration (and price them out). I picked up a watercolor paper sample pack. This will make it easier when I go to buy the paper in bulk. 

     I very briefly spoke to an RN about broken bones in children. She was able to affirm most of the information I had about the science behind fractures and the process one goes through for treatment and healing.  She was also able to add the human element by elaborating on an arm break she had as a child and how frustrating it was to her when she couldn't be as independent as she wanted.

What's Next:
     Next I plan on taking my model/ideas to the public library. I want to speak with a librarian  about the questions my critique group came up with. I also want to ask the children about their favorite books and why. Also if they had broken a bone and what it would be like to have x-ray glasses. I want to have my supplies bought and ready for illustration for Thursday.