Have you ever flipped through a children's book and marveled at the vibrant illustrations that bring the story to life? Well, one of those talented illustrators might be closer than you think! Did you know our very own art teacher, Mr. Adam Armentano, has brought his artistic talents to the pages of not one, but two published Christian children's books on Amazon.com?
His passion for art shines through every stroke, whether it's a detailed landscape or a whimsical character. These heartwarming stories, aimed at young readers, are filled with colorful illustrations that bring the characters and messages to life. Curious about how Mr. Armentano embarked on this exciting journey and what goes into illustrating children's books? Discover more in our exclusive Q&A with him in this Staff Spotlight!
What's your background in illustration and graphic design, and how long have you been doing it?
I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 2004, and have been working in the field ever since. I got my start at an illustration company in Columbus, OH, and one of my first projects was helping to paint the game Candy Land for Hasbro almost 20 years ago!
How did you get connected with this project? Why did you choose it?
I’ve been fortunate to work with the publisher, Group Publishing, since 2004. The past several years I’ve been the lead illustrator for their popular Easy VBS programs such as SCUBA, Stellar, and Monumental. Because of the long relationship and success I’ve had with this client, they asked me if I’d like to illustrate 2 new books for them.
What does your process look like when you are creating something new like this?
For each story I was given the text, an illustration style, and maybe a few ideas for the pictures. The first step was to create simple rough sketches that the client could review, and then after receiving feedback, move on to tighter sketches, simple color, and eventually final art.
How long does it take to complete a project like this or what does the timeline look like?
Creating artwork from scratch can be pretty time consuming! Both of these books were completed within about a 4-month timeframe.
What's one of the fun things about illustrating a book? Was there something that was really challenging?
Fun Thing: It’s been really fun to read them to my 5 year old daughter.
Challenging: I’d say it’s a fun challenge. It’s something I love to do, but still takes much effort.
What else would you like to share?
I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:9. 'The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.'
I feel very thankful and humbled that God has blessed me with so many opportunities to create art, especially for such meaningful projects!
See the books for yourself at https://a.co/d/80BQStX and https://a.co/d/8E2SIfR
*Please Note: these are not affiliate links nor does Adam receive royalties for any books purchased.
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