D-Bot: Developing a Main Character for a Picture Book II

Hard to believe it's been about two years since I created this story and character while doing jury duty. The long hours waiting was the perfect environment for me to daydream this picture book story.

Character study of D-bot: focusing facial expressions

I have submitted the story many times and have received many rejections. Many just say that they don't see a market for it. Others have said they didn't like or "get" that each robot is named with a letter. I still think it is a fun story about self-worth.

Original pencil sketches of D-Bot heads

I'm hoping the main reason for the rejections is that I haven't had the time to sketch a dummy for this picture book. So I go back every once in a while. Sketching the characters. Fine-tuning. Experimenting. Learning.

Maybe one day, D-Bot. Maybe . . . 

D-Bot: Developing a Main Character for a Picture Book

UPDATE: New Type for Title

I'm playing around with type, trying to develop a title design for the book.

Placed the type on a lower layer behind the character artwork.
Not sure it's good for a children's picture book, but I do like it.

UPDATE: Color experiment

I'm playing around with using a very loose coloring and pencil scratchy pencil holding lines.

Not sure I want to add the rustic tones, might be too much, will have to try out several other color scheme variations. Thinking each type of robot should be a specific color, but not sure the colors should be drastically different.

Liking the look, but the rustic feel might not work for this character

Those who see my work on Instagram might recognize this character. This is D-bot, the main character in its self-titled picture book story. The look of D-Bot has changed quite a lot over time.

A pencil sketch of the latest version of D-Bot

In fact, D-Bot looks nothing like the original sketch from several months ago. As seen below, it was just too ordinary and had no striking features. The story of D-Bot is about self-confidence and self-worth, which needs to show emotions to truly work.

The original 1st sketch of D-Bot

But that first sketch did lead to the 2nd and 3rd versions of the character. Each molding towards the latest design. Take what works and drop what is weak.

2nd sketch of D-bot showed more expression

I like this 2nd version, very playful and simple . . . but I still wanted to explore the character design

Image from a video that was posted on my Instagram account

The character was merging into something I could see starring in its own story. I want a robot, but I also want the character to show emotion. If it's too robotic, it'll usually have a dead stare, and the #3 design didn't have pupils, (which doesn't help the character connect with others.)

Seen here are version #3 (left) and #4 (right) of D-Bot. #3's eyes were too dead and cold.

Below, I broke D-Bot down to all his parts to help analyze and remember how to draw the character. Now, I'm considering using a similar image as a repeat pattern inside the end pages of the book.

Anatomy of a character: breaking it down into small components

Kickstarter Project: Robots in Space!

So, last week, my brother started a Kickstarter campaign to create posters for kids. This was something my brother Tom, my sister-in-law Stephanie and I have been talking about for months. So every weekend, we have been planning how to go about doing such a series.

I should also note: this is the very first project my brother Tom and I have EVER worked on together.

This is the first of three designs. Note: This is a work in progress. Not the final image.

We are basing the designs on Tom's successful HISTORIC SPACECRAFT COLLECTION, which currently has ten designs; including one design created exclusively for The Planetary Society for their successful Kickstarter project: Lightsail.

Tom's exclusive design made specifically for The Planetary Society Lightsail mission

We also decided to add a glowing feature to each poster, so when the lights go out, an image will appear. We are heading into our 2nd week, with already half the goal made.

Simulation of glow-in-the-dark effect

We aren't looking for family and friends to help fund these posters as much as getting help for promoting and spreading the word about the Kickstarter campaign. By posting the link far below to your various social media sites, you can help the project succeed by helping find people interested in purchasing our posters.

Here's the great video Thom, my Sis-in-Law Steph, and Freya worked on to promote the project.

If you would like the posters, know a little space explorer or want to help fund the project, go here: Robots in Space

If you'd like to help promote the project, please copy and paste the link below into your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. accounts. (Thanks!)

http://kck.st/2A0fsCQ