The Making of Kooky Pets book. Chapter 3

Do you remember being a kid and scattering a bunch of toys all around the bedroom floor? That was cool, wasn’t it? This has to be one of the most intense feelings of creative freedom that you’ll ever know!

As a kid, I used to keep an army of little plastic figurines of cartoon characters, soldiers, Indians and cow boys inside a laundry soap bin. It was huge and it had a promotion of Walt Disney’s Aristocats on the label. Yes, I used to love hearing the sound of this mountain of plastic creatures crumbling down on the floor. My mom didn’t. Well, today, I still keep many of my original plastic figures. Unfortunately, I don’t keep my precious laundry soap bin. But I have my mood board!

I can’t think of starting any creative project without a mood board. No matter if it’s hanging on the wall or it’s digital, be a personal book project or a project for my design firm, I need to put all the inspirational stuff in front of me and scatter all around to start out with a good dose of inspiration. I’m sure it’s the same for you.

Here is a little sample of some of the images that have influenced my forthcoming design and art direction for the Kooky Pets book. What I’m basically doing is to use them as a reference to create my own personal version of the styles and aesthetics that I’m going to follow.

When I first thought of making the Kooky Pets Book, my original idea was to put together a children’s book with the illustrations from the Kooky Pets Workshop. I had something very colorful in mind and wanted to paint some cheerful backgrounds for the drawings. Probably something in the style of gouache and pastel illustrations from the 60′s, such as Mary Blair. Later, I started thinking of the people who collaborated on this project and I felt I was trying to babysit the wrong people…

What I want to say here is that, OK, this was never supposed to be a project for young kids. Most of the people involved in this project are adults, except for Aiyana, who is already 10. I’m sure that 6 year old kids will enjoy reading this book with their parents. But first and foremost, this is a book for young adults and adults who believe in the magic and mystery of the world. So that’s what it’s gonna be: Magic and Mystery. With a drop or two of wacky nonsense.

What you can see on the first mood board sample has a lot to do with the main design style for the book: American Letter Press design from the Turn of the Century. My web site has already a similar flavor. With this project, I want to go one step further. I can see this style fitting perfectly with the Kooky Pets world. Besides that, don’t ask why but I find myself very comfortable about that particular Victorian era. Although I live even better in this one…

The second moodboard shows my preliminary idea to present the book as a Field Notebook. You know, these cute notebooks from scientists and zoologists from the 1800′s? I wanted to present a collection of creatures with descriptions from the scientists. On second thought, I realized that just presenting a series of pencil drawings with handwritten notes could be a little boring. And let me tell you: yawning is contagious. So I dropped that idea.

Here’s something that I’m sure many of you love as much as I do. Yes, they’re some drawings from one of the my favorite artists, Brian Froud. In some of his amazing works, such as “Goblins of the Labyrinth”, he used a similar ‘notebook’ concept. I believe he was also inspired from different series of Medieval and Renaissance period drawings, like the one I’m showing in the bottom of the mood board.

Arthur Rackham and Audrey Beardsley have always been some of my biggest influences. Here you can see some very inspirational book designs. Working with flat tints, high contrast and silhouettes, this book is going to have a slight remembrance to this particular period of design. Did I I say “flat” and “silhouette”? Geez, I start talking like a dietitian. I’m getting hungry.

To recognize your influences is one of the most important ways to find your own artistic voice. Remember to always embrace your influences, honor them, make them yours and let them evolve into something that’s yours and truly unique. After all, we are all connected to the same life source but each one of us has the gift of being unique.

Don’t forget to scatter your toys on the floor!