The Secret Box (Lehman, Barbara)

Photos from Barbara Lehman, author of The Secret Box
(Click to Enlarge)

This is the box that inspired the story idea. It is about a hundred years old.I like to work on layers of tracing paper when I am in the drawing stage.I often tape different parts of drawings together so I can move elements around.I use traditional drafting tools. This triangle on a moveable parallel rule makes the straight lines on this building.

The coloring is easier and goes much faster than all the drawing.I do the final illustrations the same size as you see in the books.I did many small roughs to work out the look for the jacket art.Here is what all the art looked like when I delivered it to my publisher!