Daddy, Where do the Animals on the Train Go?
After a challenging workday, a father’s daughter teaches him how to use his imagination again. Daddy, Where Do the Animals on the Train Go? is written and illustrated by Solomon Johnson. For parents and their children ages newborn to 8 years old.
2021 Kresge Artist Fellowship Award Recipient
2021 Kresge Artist Fellowship Award RecipientGreat news everyone! Solomon Johnson is an award recipient of the 2021 Kresge Artist Fellowship in the Visual Arts category for his book illustrations of Daddy, Where Do the Animals on the Train Go? Read more about it below:
The Author
Inspired by his two daughters’ everyday curiosities, Solomon David Johnson returned to his heart’s desire for visual and literary storytelling. He and his family reside in the “Great Lake Mitten State”. Upcoming Stories:
- I Don’t Like When Mommy & Daddy Fight
- Daddy, I’m Scared of Tomorrow
- Daddy, What Does God Look Like?
- Daddy, Where’s Grandma?
The Process
Angry Customer
Sometimes, gesture drawings of characters were created to capture the visual mood of the children’s story. In the first step, notice that the strokes communicate 2 distinct body languages based upon their curves and angles. This shows direction. Instantly, the viewer can make out the relationship between the 2 characters without needing literature.
Fluttering Butterfly
Many of the visuals for the book Daddy Where Do the Animals on the Train Go? are treated like paintings, but in a digital medium. Using photo references, the artist starts off with a simple color palette and loose strokes mapping out locations for objects. In this case, “digital paint globs” of cool grey and pastel blue skyscrapers fill the image. Through trial and error and the convenience of pixels, things get moved around rather quickly for a better composition. Eventually, the scene becomes progressively comprehensible defining a better perspective and clearer forms. This image “pops” due to the warm colors and organic shape of the butterfly in the foreground contrasting the geometric shapes and cool colors of the buildings in the middle to the background.
Coming Home
Kalai Krishnan, animator and illustrator, was chosen by Places We Go with Media because of her skill in lighting environments. The artist was asked to create a bungalow home for “Daddy” and “Princess Melanie” to show the family’s humble beginnings. Kalai was given the task of making the scene look like the “golden hour” nearing the end of the day. Afterwards, the author implemented minor corrections fixing the perspective of the car and the appearance of each character.
The Company
In order to establish a healthier self-image for the African with eumelanin and the diaspora worldwide, Places We Go with Media creates stories showcasing these people with their innumerous idiosyncrasies versus the one-dimensional characterizations and narratives currently told in media. Its first release, Daddy Where Do the Animals on the Train Go? written by Solomon Johnson, is a children’s book created for parents and their children ages newborn to 8-years old.
Places We Go With Media on Faith Talk Radio AM 1500
On Sat., Nov. 24, 2018, men’s luxury fashion expert, MI community leader, and winner of the “2018 Black Enterprise Magazine Modern Man Award” William Malcolm interviewed the creator of Daddy Where Do the Animals on the Train Go? on the William Malcolm Morning Show.
Visit WilliamMalcolmMorningShow.com for more details about the radio show.