Journeying Through the Illustrations

Bringing Stan Has a Plan to life visually was one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. I began by sketching out some basic illustrations—rough pencil drawings that helped communicate the tone, layout, and character ideas I had in mind. Anyone who knows me, also knows my drawings won't be winning a Turner Prize anytime soon. These early sketches were definitely not polished, but they gave the real artists a clear insight into what I was aiming for. I also provided detailed notes on character expressions, body language, and the mood I wanted each scene to convey. From there, we entered a wonderfully collaborative process. The first round of illustrations came back, and I was thrilled to see Stan, Ronnie, and the rest of the Fenswick Farm gang starting to take shape. We went back and forth several times, refining details—from Stan’s calm, can-do expression to the charming quirks of the supporting characters—until every page felt just right. Seeing the characters I’d written come alive through art was truly magical.