Winding Up – Children Book

Winding Up is a beautiful story written by children’s book author Fernanda de Oliveira and illustrated by me. We are still in early stages of the publishing process and already have interest from some publishing houses but we are still looking for the right fit. If you are a publisher interested in collaborating, please reach out by sending me an email to contact@mayaakiki.com

Character Design

In Winding Up, we have four main characters: a bear, a rabbit, an elephant and a lion, they are cute and full of energy. Throughout the story, they dance, fly, relax, but also get a little bored. Fernanda, the writer, gave me a lot of creative freedom, and I chose a character style that I love but that also aligns with the latest trends in the European children’s book market. I used rounded, flowy shapes that are clean and dynamic, along with playful patterns that add fun and contrast. I wanted the overall feel to be simple, yet thoughtfully designed and visually unique.

Process

Inside page: From draft to colored draft, to final illustration