So, today I still feel iffy, but feeling a whole lot better than what I was yesterday. So, I did what I mentioned yesterday about asking my relatives which of my book covered they preferred. As they are the age group the design is aimed for. I realized however that after I asked, I was slightly rooting for one design over the other. Especially when both my relatives said they preferred the image on the right. I had also asked some of my friends which ones they preferred. They all answered the image on the Left. So I think there is definitely something to be said about that. I then began to analyse both of the designs. Why did I really not like the image on the right, compared to the image on the right. I realized it was mainly due to the very simple shape and design of the spy like figure. I then looked at the image on the left , what did I like so much about this cover. I realized that it was just this. The image on the right, was a bit too complicated, too much going on. The image on the left, too simple and not much happening. So I went back into photoshop and made a few changes. So I added text to both of the spines, I took away one element from the left book cover, which was the little spy vector. I then made the right book cover a little more complicated. Now with the image on the right I still feel there needs to be more done to it. Even just making the little boy in it the same colour as the main figure of the book cover. I would also like to add gradients. Although I am still figuring that part out, in which way exactly I want to do that.
Now, here's the kicker. I show these new designs to my relatives. They still pic the same one as they did before. I ask friends who are the same age as myself. They still all pic the same book cover of the blue main figure. I really have no idea, what to do. Although after speaking about these with my friends. Something I hadn't realized was brought to my attention. When children want books, it's the parents that buy the books for them. So this cover needs to appeal to children as well as adults. This being a key factor I had forgotten. I am hoping to send my design off to them tomorrow, So here's hoping I will have made a decision. I still feel myself leaning towards the image on the left. whoops...
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So, I'm annoyingly feeling even worse today. Although I again just lay in bed, and wrapped myself around my laptop and did some work. I spoke yesterday of how I wanted to pick a few of my designs and really finish them off. So i chose these two designs: So these are the original, I then went on to tweak these a little more. However, I really like the back page design, and in all honesty. I don't really want to change that. I think though, that there still needs to be a lot more done to these. So these are the newest versions. I felt as though I had been concentrating so much on the illustrator point of view of these designs that I totally forgot about making things a little more realistic looking. So I added a scrape texture to the bullet with the title on it. I also added a water texture on to the boy to, not only brighten the image but, again make it a little more realistic. I really like these but I feel that they are just images hovering on a page. I feel that there should be more to these, However I just can't put my finger on it.
I have also decided to send my designs to a family member who is within the audience target age. She is not shy about letting anyone know her thoughts. So hopefully she'll be gentle. I also think that this is great for me, as I don't want the cover to look to aimed towards boys. So maybe she will like them, or say they need to be a bit more neutral. Here goes nothing.... So, still feeling super ill today. But I just curled myself around my laptop and sketch books and made myself do work. I actually got a lot done today! So I have two new book covers that I started working on today. I am still not too sure on either, but I have now realized with the deadline looming. It is perhaps time to look at the ones I already have a choose one or two and develop it further. So here are the two newest editions of my book covers: So as I had discussed yesterday, I had tried to recreate the same style of image as the Star Wars posters. I did this to the image on the left, I don't really feel that this worked. I even added textures to make it look more like rocks and wilderness. The book is based on the Isle Of Skye, Scotland. So I looked up lots of photos in hope of seeing lots of forests and things to create a similar branch effect to create a type of inception image. But no, just lots of mountains and wild flowers : isle of skyeSo, as you can see just a lot of rough rocks and cliffs. Although I tried to recreate this landscape within my book cover I really don't think it worked. So I looked at all my previous book covers and thought, well what do I like about these? I then went back and created the image on the right. Of just a spy, It is definitely a lot simpler. than the image on the left.
I also started doing a little more of my designing of a deck of cards. I looked up royal families from around the globe. Looking at the costumes, uniforms, jewelry and of course crowns and tiara's. I came across this photos. The only thing that was said about them was these are photos from a party. I don't know what year, or place. but the costumes and amazing looking. Hello! So I'm not going to lie, I have done 0 work today. I haven't been well all day. So I haven't really left my bed. I have however just been thinking about what I want to do with my book cover and such, so hopefully I will be well enough tomorrow to do some work and show you how I've been getting on. The heat is on, as the deadline is this Friday. However I have always preferred to upload my finals for online competitions the day before, to avoid any technical difficulties that I may end up having. I think this is just a good tip for anyone really. So If suddenly your internet goes, or your computer, printer etc. isn't working you can go to a friend or families home and get it sorted. Or in my case, panic and run to uni to use their stuff. And as I don't have anything to show for today, here's an image from my research for my main project. I am starting to think of doing photoshoots and having facts on how to stay positive and the reality of the effect on how we consume. By Mirna Jose Photographer: Marcelo Cantu PhotographyToday, I just continued on with my book cover for the Kelpies. I have now decided to take a different route with it. Although I am still playing around with it and experimenting so I don't really have anything to show you today. I am going to experiment with the book cover in hope that I can create something similar in style to these star war posters. Inspired by Saul Bass, one of my favorite designers. I really like how these have the idea of an image within an image, like inception . So hopefully I will have something interesting to show tomorrow. I have however already done something similar. with this image, in hope to do the same style as above. As you can see I tried to have the silhouette of Alistair representing the submarines in The Cold War. Which I have to admit I am very proud of my submarine. Just saying!
So here's hoping I will have more interesting trail runs to show tomorrow Been a busy all day today, looking up videos for my illustrations, doing a few different covers for the Kelpies book. I have a lot of different variations. I'm just not too sure if any are really working. However I am so proud of them so far. I am still trying a few different techniques, Today I learnt how to make smoke in photoshop. Without using downloaded brushes. It isn't perfect, but it does the job and does enough for what I want it to. I still haven't played about too much with the text of the title. I do however really like the idea of the title being on the bullet. So I am unsure how this will pan out. There is still a few more designs I am wanting to attempt and see how they look. As the weapons might be a little much for 10-12 year olds. Will hopefully have more to show tomorrow.
So, today I finally got started on my book cover. YAY! I am actually rather proud of it. I am just not too sure in which direction it is heading. But not half bad if I do say so myself. This is more of less just a first draft of one of my designs, I have a few more I'd like to experiment with and see how they go too.
On a separate note, I had previously mentioned about the survey I have created, to go towards my dissertation. If you haven't already, I'd really appreciate it if you took just one minute of your time to fill in. I also promise you it won't take you anymore than a minute to answer. It is just simply ticking boxes https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFZ7G9T Thank you So today I haven't really done much. I have been more or less been trying to get my sketch books in more of an order, and up to date so I don't have to come back to it later on in the year. I have however started to make more of a progress with my Main Project. As my dissertation begins to loom nearer, I have realized I need more information to add to it. So please, it will take less than a minute to do and i would really appreciate it.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFZ7G9T I hope to really get into designing my book cover tomorrow and begin to experiment with the layout and text. So I will be putting up my progress of them tomorrow, with more than likely a few screen shots. So today I went over the brief for the Kelpies competition today and finally got some sketches done. They are incredibly rough as you can see, but they are definitely progressing. I have also been watching a few spy movies while doing this project. Just to get myself into that mode. I hope tomorrow I will be able to develop these sketches further. Will update tomorrow. Sorry today's blog has been short. But I am still in the development stages
I have spent most of today researching for this new book cover competition I am doing for Kelpies. The cover is for "Hunt At The Hill Of The Red Fox MI5" So this book cover will be for 10-12 year old audience, and it's all about spies! Really looking forward to getting stuck in. the Book is set in the Cold War, I have had to brush up a little on my history. But yea, I haven't yet done any sketches for this. As I am currently just processing all the information I have gathered. With the likes of the designs of other Kelpies Illustrators, the cold war history as I mentioned before. And what other book cover about spies have done. These I am assuming are the first book illustrations. So to my understanding (As the company haven't given too much information) I am designing the sequel to this book. So this in it's self gives me a little more insight into how to design this. As well as looking at these covers and taking notes on what I like and dislike about each of them. I will hopefully have actual sketches to show you tomorrow on my initial ideas on what the hell I'm doing.
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