Illustrated encyclopedia of cryptozoology: the creation process

Abstract

This thesis deals with the research of illustration and picture book creation process in the context of an encyclopedia: how the images appear, how they tell a story and how they coexist with the text within the book pages. I will document my own creating process while illustrating mysterious creatures and their anatomy, as well as the environments in which they, according to stories and legends, existed or were encountered by humans. The main emphasis will be on the techniques which were used for the illustrations and their development, as well as their implementation within the scope of a book layout design. In addition, my aim is to find the balance between traditional and modern approach when it comes to the style of illustrations and the use of conventional techniques, such as colored pencils, watercolors, etc, in combination with digital software. The step by step method will be used to illustrate the process in a clear way, and of course, the final artistic project will demonstrate all the aspects and elements explained in the written part of this thesis.