More images from Bologna, Italy

Feeling nostalgic and ran across some pics from my last trip to Italy that I never posted... here's a few Brian Wonders images from Bologna and a couple from Venezia.  Huge thanks to Noemi and Francesca at ZOO, the spectacular bookstore in Bologna which became the first bookstore to carry my storybook!  Grazie mille!  Here's Brian displayed in their window!!  

Feeling in good company, placed next to one of my favorite illustrators, Emmanuel Hodart.

Follow the white rabbit up the steps to the upstairs shop at Zoo.

Brian Wonders in Venezia, Italy

I couldn't help leaving a few Brian Wonders Pirate Bears peeking about Venezia.  Morning started out with the best tasting pastry and coffee I've had.  Ever.

Brian Wonders Goes to Bologna

BOLOGNA CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR 2015  -  BOLOGNA FIERA di LIBRI

Recently traveled to Bologna, Italy for their annual Fiera di Libri.  Was totally inspired by the festival and the artwork, and  brought back with me a pile of books.  Here's a few images from the fair.  More on my Instagram:  thevictorrobert.

Let the games begin

Does the U.S. have a minister of culture?  Italy does.  Here she is kicking things off, bestowing the Honorary Libri di Brian Wonders.  Ha, just daydreaming, but that IS HER.  I love her look.  She may end up inspiring a character in one of my books.  

And they're off!

Getting there early on the first day pays off -- it's a mad rush of illustrators scrambling and clawing for a sliver of wall space.  Of course, I had no idea.  

Fortunately, I had arrived early and prepared for anything.  I unfurled a Brian Wonders print and made for the wall.  For the most part, people were pinning up flyers and posters, but the serious ones were putting up large cut outs of their characters, dioramas offering trays of business cards, marionettes and even a miniature fairytale set.  It was beautiful.  

This is what the walls looked like in the aftermath. 

First day at the fair

Through a secret elevator...

I discovered where they keep all the literary agents -- rows and rows of them.  This room went on for several blocks.  

One of my favorite illustrators, Emmanuelle Huodart.  It was a treat to see her drawing.

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry 27

COVER STORY:

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In case you missed it -- Brian Wonders is on the cover of The Binding Edge!  The article shines a light on the custom slipcovers for our storybooks, created by Silvanus Products in Missouri.  It was their collaboration, along with our printer in Minnesota and our binder in Nebraska, that took our slipcover concept from prototype to finish.  I am thrilled to see them featured on the cover of The Binding Edge.  

Below is an excerpt and links to the full article, by Jen Clark.

A 3D rendering of the slipcover concept (left), and the final slipcovers (right)

Collaboration Brings Brian Wonders to Life, by Jen Clark

Over the course of the last year, Los Angeles, CA-based illustrator Victor Robert took his concept for a new children’s book from prototype to reality with the help of a yearbook printer in Minnesota and a pair of Binding Industry Association-member companies.  Brian Wonders was created for little storytellers with big imaginations. The book that Robert said was "years in the making" has no words, yet empowers kids to dream up their own stories.  It is the first in what will be a series of limited-edition picture books.  continue reading here...

AMAZING: EGGERS BUYS A COPY OF BRIAN WONDERS

HIGHLIGHT OF MY BIRTHDAY WEEK

Last week, Dave Eggers was in town signing copies of his latest book now on paperback, The Circle.  The signing was being held at the 826 Time Travel Mart in Echo Park.  I popped into the mart and stepped into line, eager to meet him and show him a copy of my book, Brian Wonders.  Thirty minutes later, I stepped out of the mart, feeling in a bit of a daze, feeling a little like I had traveled into a different dimension -- Dave Eggers had bought the copy of Brian Wonders, on the spot!

I wish I had taken a photo to capture the moment, but this is more or less what that picture would have looked like.  In any case, the note he wrote next to his autograph far surpasses any photo my iPhone would have snapped, "Victor -- Keep making beautiful books."  Big hug for the support, Dave, and thank you!

BRIAN WONDERS at GRAND PARK BOOK FESTIVAL

Brian Wonders books will be on sale at the Writ Large pop up shop at Grand Park Book Festival in Los Angeles this coming weekend!  Noon to 5pm.

If you haven't been to Grand Park and you live in the LA area -- it's a must!  Bring a picnic!  Bring the kids.  There's a huge water fountain and reflecting pool on the west end.  Come by, say hello, and get your Brian Wonders on like these ladies.

  Talk about inspiration!!!

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry

ALL ABOUT THE PACKAGING

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I thought it'd be interesting to show a little of what my workshop is looking like these days now that the book is done and the shipping has begun.  This photo was taken this past weekend.  

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Step 1:  books are signed, stamped and dedicated

Step 2:  Books are slipped inside their own slipcase

Step 3:  Then prepped for shipping

Step 4:  Repeat!

• Click here to learn more about my illustration process, inspirations and watch the book progress through time-lapse video and journal entries.

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry 24

BOOKS ARE IN!

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Super excited to announce that the Brian Wonders picture books have arrived!  Pictured below is the first of 2 dollies, making it a total of 20 boxes.  Slipcovers are also in and we are actively filling orders.  Thank you for ordering your first edition copy here.  

Printed and manufactured in the USA

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry 23

CREATING THE DUST JACKET

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Update!  The book illustrations are done and the 250 book are in the process of PRINTING!

Now, it's finally time for the final touches -- first on the list is the dust jacket.  Below I've posted a time-lapse to show the evolution of the drawing and the overall process of getting it to its final shape. 

Above is a finished test comp printed on my inkjet.  The comp gets wrapped around a book so I can start to get a sense of what the final book will look like.  This step is very helpful to see how the size relationships are working between graphics and the illustration, and it helps me get a feel for the overall impact of the cover.  I printed out a total of about 5 versions before settling on the final.   

Click to play a TIME-LAPSE below:

Above are the dimensions that were sent to the printer.  The dotted lines show where the jacket flaps will fold.  This was my first version of the dust jacket, and after sitting with it for a while I decided to add characters around Brian because he was looking a little lonely on the cover.

Here is our final color proof roll that just arrived from the printer!  Colors look good, size checks out -- approved!  Now, onto the slipcover.... 

 Thank you for continuing to pre-order the book.  Sign up on our mailing list to keep up with our book launch.  

WE started a PINTREST!  Come check it out! 

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry 22

"INTO THE DEEP YOU MUST GO, I'M AFRAID"

That's what I feel this woman is saying to Brian, pointing to the deep end of the pool.  She has gone through many transformations but the key elements pulled through -- big glasses and a big hat.  The sketch below shows the initial drawing of the pointy fingered lady.  She used to have a cocktail in hand.   

In early drawings the woman was looking sort of like an alien fly and I kinda liked the odd vibe.  But then I discovered Carmen Dell'Orefice and I got really inspired by a totally different look.  So I did a search for Carmen + pools and found a bunch of her early photographs in cool swimsuits and swim caps which were all in line with the motifs I had going.  Then ran across the photo below and I thought there's my lady in the hat!  The photo even had the umbrella.

So I decided change the tone of the illustration to match this new direction -- a drowsy, flowy, languid look... super relaxed... eccentric and regal...  Below is the resulting illustration and value study.

The pattern on her dress I replicated from the photo.  She's reading up on cruises -- an element that comes up later in the book in the shape of a monster. 

*click below to watch the TIME LAPSE

The Making of a Picture Book: journal entry 21

THE BELLY OF THE BEAST

Deep inside the belly of the book there's a fold-out map revealing the inner workings of the Ship Monster -- there's a glowing boiler room; a churning, roaring furnace; and soon-to-be digested captives along with lost treasure.  This page is the center piece of the book, a double-gate fold out measuring 12" x 48" when fully opened.  

Scroll all the way down to watch a time-lapse movie of this gargantuan illustration.  It's a few days worth of work condensed down to two minutes. 

Below I'm posting snapshots of the piece in progress:

The original pencil drawing

The drawing, scanned and cleaned up in the computer

Here's an early "value pass".  In an illustration as complex as this, for me it's important to get the lights and darks of the overall design worked out before adding color.  

This is a detail of the final illustration.  As you can see, there are giant squid swimming inside the belly, angler fish singing into the pipes, and eels powering the generator.  Also inside the pipes is Brian exploring through the maze.  

Click above to watch the time-lapse video!  

Thank you for sharing our blog and pre-ordering the book!