Huge Post -- with some rewards if you read carefully

It's certainly been a whirlwind of weekend. I've gone through several ideas for the book cover designs, and I think I've finally landed on a route I like. Well, here's the weaving path that got me there.

1. Thought I would do illustrations (as seen below). However, after some time considering it, decided an alternative route to my typical illustrative style would be a good exercise.

2. Thought I would do photography. Got everything set up, got my sister to agree to pose, art directed the shoot, loaded everything into my computer, tweaked the photos, added text.... realized it had all been done before.

In the risk of pure embarrassment... and with the prerequisite note that I had never before seen the actual Lolita cover... I'll share with you the similarities between my photo and the existing cover. Here's my cover:



Here's the cover of an existing Lolita book (Again, I swear I never saw this before making mine... so weird)



Can you believe that? Same pose and everything!?! Have to admit I shed a couple of irritated tears when I found this (found it in the process of looking for summary text for the back copy of MY cover).

3. Stewed over my hard luck for a bit

4. Got a cup of coffee

5. Stewed a bit more

6. Drew a ton of sketches

7. Hated all my sketches

8. Doodled in my notebook -- likes what I saw. Thus -- the doodle idea. The idea I've finally arrived at that I think I like best, is to have the cover based on how the character might write -- i.e. Lolita is a teenager, so the title is written in typical teenage girl fashion on notebook paper surrounded by doodled hearts and flowers. Here's what I have so far:



Still need to work on the spine and some details -- but I'm pretty happy so far.

The Breakfast at Tiffany's cover is more elegant cursive on a day planner:



Yay for Marian Bantjes research!

Finally, the Baby Doll cover is the most simple -- with child-like drawings and handwriting.



That was actually the hardest one. I wrote the text with my left hand -- an activity easier said than done. Finally put to bed any aspirations of being ambidextrous. So sad.

9. Passed out from exhaustion. (yeah right.. I wish!)

10. Woke up to write this.

11. Who knows what the future brings? Coffee I hope.


Oops! Almost forgot to calendar out the rest of the term:

Tomorrow (today... Oh my gosh... I need to go to bed): digital version of three covers -- ACCOMPLISHED! See above.

Thursday: Complete the spine of all three covers and edit details

Following Tuesday: Complete book covers. Beging magazine redesign. Have digital version of the cover and beginning of table of contents.

Following Thursday: Make revisions on cover and post ideas for spreads

Following Tuesday: Have digital version of the cover, toc and 2, 2 page spreads

Following Thursday: Make revisions

This Calendar may be subject to change -- changes will always be made in advance at prescribed meeting times.

If you're still reading this post... here's your reward:



Pissed chick wants you to have this tasy ice cream cone.