- PICTURE BOOK FOR EARLY READERS -
The History Behind "The Pied Piper of Hamlin".
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The earliest record of the story of the Pied Piper dates back to a stained glass window that was situated in the Church of Hamelin c. 1300. Unfortunately the window was destroyed in 1660 however based off surviving descriptions of the windows appearance the historian Hans Dobbertin has created the modern reconstruction that you can see to the left. Whereas the earliest written record is dated back to 1384 recorded in the Hamelin town records which reportedly says "It is 100 years since our children left". There is also a record etched into a window of the house which is believed to have been the Pied Piper's house which says: “A.D. 1284 – on the 26th of June – the day of St John and St Paul – 130 children – born in Hamelin – were led out of the town by a piper wearing multicoloured clothes. After passing the Calvary near the Koppenberg they disappeared forever.” Many people have came up with theories or hypothesis surrounding the disappearance of Hamelin's children including that is story is somehow related to the black death, the children were sold, taken on a crusade, emigrated to Transylvania, were sacrificed during a pagan midsummer celebration, the story could have been a cover up for a massacre incurred by tensions between Pagans and Christians, or this could have been a case of "dancing mania" a Medieval phenomenon caused by a succession of pandemics and natural disasters. |
Stained Glass Research
After researching the window that told the tale of story of "The Pied Piper" I decided to research stained glass books in the library to find out how it works and also to look into how stained glass is created. I found this very interesting to look into and I think that this will help to inform my project in an interesting way.
After researching the window that told the tale of story of "The Pied Piper" I decided to research stained glass books in the library to find out how it works and also to look into how stained glass is created. I found this very interesting to look into and I think that this will help to inform my project in an interesting way.
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My Children's Books
My initial thought when I started this project was to look through my own children's book collection to remind myself of what books appealed to me most when I was a child. I found from this that the books I remember liking the most is books that have an interactive element such as "Hairy Monkey" which had so many textural elements that allow a child to engage with the story.
My initial thought when I started this project was to look through my own children's book collection to remind myself of what books appealed to me most when I was a child. I found from this that the books I remember liking the most is books that have an interactive element such as "Hairy Monkey" which had so many textural elements that allow a child to engage with the story.
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Interpreting the Text
To start my process I printed out the full script and used this to sketch alongside, this helped me to figure out what I should explore within my initial thumbnails.
To start my process I printed out the full script and used this to sketch alongside, this helped me to figure out what I should explore within my initial thumbnails.
Thumbnailing the Story
For this project we needed to create a double page illustration and a single page illustration so I decided to thumbnail out the whole story.
This allowed me to figure out which parts of the text to focus upon for my illustrations.
For this project we needed to create a double page illustration and a single page illustration so I decided to thumbnail out the whole story.
This allowed me to figure out which parts of the text to focus upon for my illustrations.
Rats
This book is obviously highly focused on rats so I decided to sketch a few to give me an idea of the kind of poses I could incorporate into my final designs.
This book is obviously highly focused on rats so I decided to sketch a few to give me an idea of the kind of poses I could incorporate into my final designs.
Stained Glass
Through my research I discovered a connection between stained glass and the pied piper, this is something I wanted to focus of and create my final piece with a stained glass style. This is where I began my experimentation within a stained glass style for this project. I found this quite difficult at first because I was trying to make the image too bold and not detailed enough.
Through my research I discovered a connection between stained glass and the pied piper, this is something I wanted to focus of and create my final piece with a stained glass style. This is where I began my experimentation within a stained glass style for this project. I found this quite difficult at first because I was trying to make the image too bold and not detailed enough.
Stained Glass Artists
During feedback Tony talked to me about a few stained glass artists which I researched individually, I used these styles to try and incorporate a bit of their styles into my own work and this also gave me a greater understanding of how the stained glass creation works. by favourite bit of this style is the vibrant colours I just love how rich and luxurious they are.
During feedback Tony talked to me about a few stained glass artists which I researched individually, I used these styles to try and incorporate a bit of their styles into my own work and this also gave me a greater understanding of how the stained glass creation works. by favourite bit of this style is the vibrant colours I just love how rich and luxurious they are.
My Pop Up Books
When I was looking through my childhood book collection I came across these pop up books, they were my favourite when I was younger. I love the style, and the sense of joy that is present in every single page, they bring back a lot of good memories and I still love these books to this day. These books gave me the idea to make a pop up for this project, I was encouraged to do this by Dwayne who said that I should just go for it instead of spending time deliberating whether to do a pop up or not.
When I was looking through my childhood book collection I came across these pop up books, they were my favourite when I was younger. I love the style, and the sense of joy that is present in every single page, they bring back a lot of good memories and I still love these books to this day. These books gave me the idea to make a pop up for this project, I was encouraged to do this by Dwayne who said that I should just go for it instead of spending time deliberating whether to do a pop up or not.
Working Out Pop Ups
After I had decided to make m book a pop up I was left with the decision of what kind of pop up mechanism to use, and how on earth does it work? I know I love pop up books to look at and enjoy but making them is another thing entirely. I went thing quite a few deigns before I could decide on which to take forward.
After I had decided to make m book a pop up I was left with the decision of what kind of pop up mechanism to use, and how on earth does it work? I know I love pop up books to look at and enjoy but making them is another thing entirely. I went thing quite a few deigns before I could decide on which to take forward.
Creating Pop Up Mechanisms
Using a book that I have I followed instructions on how to create pop up mechanisms, as you can see bellow there are quite a varied selection, however in the end I decided to go with one deign using build up layers and another which will use a pull tap to move something from side to side.
Using a book that I have I followed instructions on how to create pop up mechanisms, as you can see bellow there are quite a varied selection, however in the end I decided to go with one deign using build up layers and another which will use a pull tap to move something from side to side.
Potential Page Designs
These are the potential designs that I designed for the Pied Piper of Hamelin script, I really liked the cooking pot design however I couldn't work out how to make it work practically and pop up as a 3D object. I initially liked the idea of the pied piper waling through Hamelin surrounded by an arch however when I mocked it up I realised that the arch when it is folded down would stick out of the folded page so that design did not work.
These are the potential designs that I designed for the Pied Piper of Hamelin script, I really liked the cooking pot design however I couldn't work out how to make it work practically and pop up as a 3D object. I initially liked the idea of the pied piper waling through Hamelin surrounded by an arch however when I mocked it up I realised that the arch when it is folded down would stick out of the folded page so that design did not work.
The Stained Glass Style
To work out the style that I wanted to use throughout this project I worked on an A3 illustration of the Pied Piper, I really enjoyed working on this illustration. It was an awful lot of work for just one illustration but I think it was worth it. As you can see there are three versions of this illustration below, first there is the pen and ink version that I created initially. I then used this design and painted it using two different mediums. First I used watercolours to paint it as this is my preferred medium and it does look very nice but the colours aren't strong enough. Then I decided to paint it with inks as a second attempt, the colour pay off was a lot better for this version and it definitely had more of the iconic stained glass style so this is the style I continued through the other pages.
To work out the style that I wanted to use throughout this project I worked on an A3 illustration of the Pied Piper, I really enjoyed working on this illustration. It was an awful lot of work for just one illustration but I think it was worth it. As you can see there are three versions of this illustration below, first there is the pen and ink version that I created initially. I then used this design and painted it using two different mediums. First I used watercolours to paint it as this is my preferred medium and it does look very nice but the colours aren't strong enough. Then I decided to paint it with inks as a second attempt, the colour pay off was a lot better for this version and it definitely had more of the iconic stained glass style so this is the style I continued through the other pages.
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Single Page Illustration Planning - Rat Cupboard
I chose to create a cupboard with opening doors and rats that move as my single page pop up design, this is my planning process for this page.
I chose to create a cupboard with opening doors and rats that move as my single page pop up design, this is my planning process for this page.
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Single Page (Cupboard) Mock Up and Planning
I initially planned on having one rat move side to side as I have demonstrated in the video on the left however during a feedback session Tony and my peers agreed that there should be more rats. So that is what I tried to do in the video on the right. You can see the mock up which has a collection of rats moving up and down instead of side to side like the single rats did previously, I chose to take this mock up into the final design for this page. I am still partial to the rat going side to side, however I can see the benefit of having more rats as it makes a greater impact.
I initially planned on having one rat move side to side as I have demonstrated in the video on the left however during a feedback session Tony and my peers agreed that there should be more rats. So that is what I tried to do in the video on the right. You can see the mock up which has a collection of rats moving up and down instead of side to side like the single rats did previously, I chose to take this mock up into the final design for this page. I am still partial to the rat going side to side, however I can see the benefit of having more rats as it makes a greater impact.
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Calligraphy For The Pied Piper
I decided that for this project I wanted to write my own calligraphy so that it would work well alongside my illustrations, I have always liked calligraphy so this was an enjoyable thing to get to do again. I was inspired by some script that I found about "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" I modified this font so that it was more child friendly as this was meant to be a book for early readers.
I decided that for this project I wanted to write my own calligraphy so that it would work well alongside my illustrations, I have always liked calligraphy so this was an enjoyable thing to get to do again. I was inspired by some script that I found about "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" I modified this font so that it was more child friendly as this was meant to be a book for early readers.
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Book Cover Creation
I used the illustration that I created earlier in the project in my book cover design, it is quite a simple design however I do think it fits with the style and has a clean appearance.
I used the illustration that I created earlier in the project in my book cover design, it is quite a simple design however I do think it fits with the style and has a clean appearance.
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Double Page Planning
For my double page I chose to create an illustration of the Pied Piper leading the rats out of Hamelin, I tried out a few layouts but in the end I decided that I liked when it has flat levels because this gave the appearance of a theatre set which I thought fit perfectly with the flamboyant natures of the Pied Piper story.
For my double page I chose to create an illustration of the Pied Piper leading the rats out of Hamelin, I tried out a few layouts but in the end I decided that I liked when it has flat levels because this gave the appearance of a theatre set which I thought fit perfectly with the flamboyant natures of the Pied Piper story.
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Double Page - Black and White Ink Layers
For my double page pop up the process started by creating the black and white line art, it took a long time to add in the textures that will later be used to create textured glass but it was definitely worth it. I also really like the style I managed to create it has the feeling of stained glass whilst also being simplified so it is good for children.
For my double page pop up the process started by creating the black and white line art, it took a long time to add in the textures that will later be used to create textured glass but it was definitely worth it. I also really like the style I managed to create it has the feeling of stained glass whilst also being simplified so it is good for children.
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Double Page - Coloured Layers
I really loved painting ink colours on top of my line art, the bright colours really help to bring the set to life and create a sense of atmosphere. The red accents also help to bring the illustration to life, the pops of colour draw the eye around the illustration.
I really loved painting ink colours on top of my line art, the bright colours really help to bring the set to life and create a sense of atmosphere. The red accents also help to bring the illustration to life, the pops of colour draw the eye around the illustration.
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Single Page - Black and White Ink Layers
These are the ink layers of my cupboard design, it was complicated to work out how to layer these up whilst still allowing them to be moveable. The process of layering rats and food items does help to create the impression of a food cupboard that is filled to the brim with containers and a hoist of unwanted visitors.
These are the ink layers of my cupboard design, it was complicated to work out how to layer these up whilst still allowing them to be moveable. The process of layering rats and food items does help to create the impression of a food cupboard that is filled to the brim with containers and a hoist of unwanted visitors.
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Single Page - Coloured Layers
Colouring these layers took a lot longer than the other pop up because I had to be careful to not go over the lines and ruin the whole image. My favourite bit of these pages is the food collection on the bottom half, I especially like the rat poking out of the cheese I think this works well alongside the full cupboard.
Colouring these layers took a lot longer than the other pop up because I had to be careful to not go over the lines and ruin the whole image. My favourite bit of these pages is the food collection on the bottom half, I especially like the rat poking out of the cheese I think this works well alongside the full cupboard.
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Construction Process
Constructing these pages was a process that required taking my time and being very careful so as to not cut through a piece of paper that should have stayed connected.
Constructing these pages was a process that required taking my time and being very careful so as to not cut through a piece of paper that should have stayed connected.
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Cupboard Background
For my cupboard background I tested a few different colours, my initial plan as to use a wood texture that I create on the left however the items didn't stand out enough so I decided to look at some other colours. My favourite was the cream colour, I also liked the green-blue colour but it blended too much with the top page.
For my cupboard background I tested a few different colours, my initial plan as to use a wood texture that I create on the left however the items didn't stand out enough so I decided to look at some other colours. My favourite was the cream colour, I also liked the green-blue colour but it blended too much with the top page.
My Pop Up Pages (Videos)
These two videos show how the two pop up pages work, it was very difficult to get them to work but I am proud that I managed to get them both completed. I think the work really well as a pare and I would have loved a book like this when I was a child so I count that as a massive bonus.
These two videos show how the two pop up pages work, it was very difficult to get them to work but I am proud that I managed to get them both completed. I think the work really well as a pare and I would have loved a book like this when I was a child so I count that as a massive bonus.
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Single Page Pop Up - Cupboard
I think my single page pop up for the pied piper worked really well, I love the colours and I think adding the wood texture inside the cupboard doors as well just finished off the whole illustration.
I think my single page pop up for the pied piper worked really well, I love the colours and I think adding the wood texture inside the cupboard doors as well just finished off the whole illustration.
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Double Page Pop Up - The Pied Piper
This was a lot of fun to make, It reminded me of the decoupage I used to do when I was younger. Once again I love the colours and I am pleased with the overall appearance of this illustration. I am also really glad that I added the detail on the lower half of the page around the writing it helps to tie the whole piece together and link the colours across the two pages.
This was a lot of fun to make, It reminded me of the decoupage I used to do when I was younger. Once again I love the colours and I am pleased with the overall appearance of this illustration. I am also really glad that I added the detail on the lower half of the page around the writing it helps to tie the whole piece together and link the colours across the two pages.
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