Amazon Exclusive From Author David Wiesner: The Development of Art & Max
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Introduction to the photos below:
These images show the development of the opening spread for my latest picture book, Art & Max. Given that a picture book is so brief, the opening pages must set the scene and introduce the characters in a concise and effective way. On the half title and title pages of Art & Max, I show Max racing across the landscape, from left to right. Now, on pages 4 and 5, he enters the scene as the story begins.
This drawing is from an early dummy, before I had fully designed the characters or fully worked out the story.Max was originally a chameleon, but I decided to make him a Collared Lizard instead. I have reversed the position of Arthur and Max to continue the left to right movement from the title page.I am exploring body stances to find an expressive interaction between the two characters. This isn’t it.Arthur is beginning to look better. Their physical relationship still doesn't feel right.Here the characters are looking good, but I think Max still needs to burst onto the scene somehow.Now Max is off his feet, literally flying into the picture, and the landscape has also come together.The scene, painted, as it appears in the book. The story of Art & Max has begun.