What is style testing? I suppose it’s something I realized I was doing without knowing it.Ī couple thoughts on the idea of testing different styles just to clarify my thoughts on them:

I test different styles or looks to see which one captures the essence of the subject matter the best. I researched suits, dresses, and dolls from the time period, and also places where the doll has adventures - Egypt, Barcelona, a den of Peter Rabbit’s, and a Pâtisserie in Paris, just to name a few. I also needed photos of Dora and the parks in Berlin, where the story takes place. The subject matter for this one was of course, Kafka. Usually I make a pinterest board for every project (find Kafka’s here!) but I also dig through books, documentaries, etc. I research most book projects in two areas - subject matter and aesthetic. OK are you ready? Get your coffee - let’s dig in! I’ll also end with a note about what I’m learning as I illustrate more books (hint - I’m getting more efficient, so hopefully this is the last of these long agonizing picture book posts!) Today, I’m sharing a look at the research, style testing, storyboards, and finals. It was agony! This was a tough book for me to illustrate - nearly as impossible as Madame Saqui, which makes sense because I illustrated them at the same time! The process of achieving that simplicity was easy, natural, and took almost no effort. For the illustrations in Kafka and the Doll, I feel proud of the simplicity. Not only do I think it’s an interesting insight, but it helps me remember all the decisions I made to get from manuscript to final. My favorite way to celebrate a book is by sharing the illustration process. Kafka and the Doll is a testament to living life to the fullest and to the life-changing power of storytelling.” The legend of Kafka and the doll has captivated imaginations for decades as it reveals the playful and compassionate side of a man known for his dark and brooding tales. Kafka told her the doll wasn’t lost, but instead, traveling the world and having grand adventures! And to reassure her, Kafka began delivering letters from the doll to the girl for weeks. She’d lost her doll and was inconsolable. In the fall of 1923, Franz Kafka encountered a distraught little girl on a walk in the park. “Inspired by a true story, Kafka and the Doll recounts a remarkable gesture of kindness from one of the world’s most bewildering and iconic writers. Anyone else feel like making it through another day, another month, is something worth noting? Just me?Įither way, this is something to celebrate - a book birthday! KAFKA AND THE DOLL comes out March 9th!

Kafka doll book