Creating Covers

I've been working day & night on two new book covers. First, my new book, The Design Directory of Bedding. Above is the fabric that won the cover contest featured here. I think it will be a good backdrop to my illustrations.

Designing book covers is much harder than it looks especially for someone like me who has no clue what they are doing. I have a book designer that I work with that is provided for me by my publisher. She does all of the fine tuning and interior layout etc. But I still have to draw the color illustration and find the cover fabric. So here is the process.

First, I decide what design I think would be appropriate for the cover. I try to find one that is not too traditional but also not too modern. It needs to appeal to the most common denominator. Enter the design shown above..


Then I add fabric and texture and color the illustration.



Then I decide I don't like it and that it needs brighter color and a table with a lamp...so I redraw it.



Then I try it out on a mock up of the cover.


Then I decide that I hate it and I start over.

I redraw it again with more traditional fabrics and more texture so I can use more color.



Then I find color inspiration from Designers Guild - gorgeous!

Then I do a messy color test to see which colors will go where and if I like it.


Then I color the final drawing.



I think I like it, so I try it out on another mock up of the cover.

Now it goes off to my editor for approval or another re-do.



Cover number two is for the new book I am writing with Minutes Matter. It's a marketing book for the interior design industry which will be released early next year ( more to come on this later) . Luckily one of my partners at MM, Casey Green is a super talented graphic artist and an extraordinary business women. She is doing all of the designing I just give her my input.


Cover # 1 fit their current branded image.




Cover #2 Added more color



Cover #7 is the winner.

You'd never know how much work goes into creative efforts that is never seen. I have hundreds of drawings and mock covers that will never see the light of day (probably for the best). It makes me wonder how many really great artists threw away masterpieces because they didn't like the finished product. I'd love to see go dumpster diving over at Picaso's or Monet's place.