So, again really wasn't feeling well today. Spent another day in bed wrapped around my laptop doing more work. So I did soooo much today. A lot more book cover stuff for Kelpies. I did majority just variation work. So these are all different variations of the spy and the child work. I decided to play about with gradients . As I had said yesterday my relatives who are the age range that the book is aimed at. They preferred this image as apposed to my blue boy. So this was really me, trying to make myself like the image more, as I do think it looks very simple. I even did a few variations with my other preferred book cover, to see how it would look. So I added gradients to the image that I preferred most. I realized that actually still preferred my original of all of these with the boy and the submarine. So, the more I think about it the more I keep thinking, this right here. This is going to be my final for the Kelpies book cover. I know my relatives really preferred the other. But I don't know, I keep being brought back to this cover. Also with the added, "Your also selling to the parents as well as the child". Keeps coming back to me and I think this really work. As within the story once you read it. The cover will suddenly make a lot more sense. Which should be how a book cover is made anyways, with clues and symbolism. I also started to go back and have a look at my Main Project. I have a fair wee bit to catch up on before I start to analyze the new data that I've collected. So I did a few more sort of little illustrations with some of the questions from old data. As I wanted to make it a little bit more fun to look at and more interesting than a pie chart. These are outrageously simple looking, but these are just little designs really. I'm more experimenting with how and in how many different ways I can show data. So these we're more little quick designs that I came up with. Tomorrow there should be more. I also have an interim show next week. So I have been having to get myself sorted for that. So I will try and get a few images of what my space looks like. Here is just a little quick design peek of what I am planning on putting up. So as you can see I am planning on putting up 3 of my book cover designs. The interim show, is more or less a mock exam, to get me ready for my final end of year show. So yea, I will report back tomorrow.
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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... 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.
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.
So I've finished my pieces for the House Of Illustration competition. I'm happy with the end result, however. Looking back on the project, I feel I would have done it differently. Looking at them I feel I would have done them more painterly, and a little bit more grown up. Although with the stories I read I'll have to admit the audience was hard to put my finger on. With that project aside now, I now have till the 30th to do the Kelpies book cover. I am looking forward to it and i also feel that I have already learnt an awful lot from the H.O.I. competition. I also have to admit I am also really glad that I have roughly two weeks to complete the Keplies book cover.
I am also hoping to get started back to my main project, as I feel I have majorly been neglecting it. I also hate to say it, but my dissertation is due in the 6th of March. So I will have to get back into fixing that. And doing more work for that, although I think till the 30th I will be mainly focusing on the Kelpies project. But doing a wee bit of research and things for my main project on the side. Just to get the ball rolling. So yea, that's it for me today, hopefully will have sketches up tomorrow of what I plan on doing for the book cover for the Kelpies. Been so busy I didn't even notice I missed a day of Blog. Sorry! So I uploaded little glimpses of the images I am preparing to upload for a competition. I have finished 3 of 4 images, although I am still going back and forth and tweaking a lot of the images. the images I last uploaded are not totally different and have developed more. My only regret is really not kicking my ass earlier to get it all done. I have given my self a week, which is pathetic. I still know I can get it done and even so far I have learnt a lot. So here are my 3 images so far. they may again totally change before I upload them for the deadline which is Monday.
So, I have been doing a fair wee bit the past 4 days. I have now returned back to Uni for my final semester, then back home to face the big scary world. At the moment I have been mainly trying to catch up on uni work, which I have definitely been lacking in over the Christmas period. As well as getting settled back into my flat. So, for the house of illustration book competition. I have been working my ass off. I now have three of the four pieces that I am to submit started, one of them is done. I am quiet proud of it if I'm honest. However, the second piece I have been working on. I have kept running into difficulties. With the image looking a bit too cartoon like, more than I would like. I have just started on the third image, in hope that time away from the second piece I will be able to go back with a clearer mind and fix it. These are little snips from each of the three images. The first image on the left is the image I am having the most problems with. The middle image is, in my eyes finished. The third Image I have literally just started. These three images are also in order of the stories. The Treasure Of Abbot Thomas, The Upper Berth, and finally A Tale Of An Empty House.
I have also been looking around the ViewBug website and have noticed a "Challenge" tab. The challenge tab is more what I have been looking for within ViewBug. It is very much as literal as it sounds. Other photographers, giving challenges. I have decided to do the challenges than the competitions. As I feel this will improve my photography skills and I feel I will learn a lot faster. I am also meeting up with my tutor tomorrow, pretty certain I will be getting my ass handed to me. My first two weeks or so with being back at uni I know will be hectic. But I believe that I will be if not fully up to date I will at least be a hell of a lot more organized. Will let you know how tomorrow goes.... eek! |