Still Life for the Artist
A look into the process of Book Cover Illustration
The Situation
This mock book cover illustration was meticulously created for a potential client who wishes to release an extensive compilation of all their still life pieces. The primary purpose of this compilation is to educate and inspire a younger generation about the intricate complexities and rich nuances of the still life genre, highlighting its artistic depth and historical significance in the art world. The tasks set out for myself include creating a cover that is cohesive with the rest of the client’s artwork and to perfect the craftsmanship of book cover design.
Depicted above is the initial sketch outline of the illustration and a visual demonstration of the sectioning technique I used to transfer the stencil onto black illustration boardThe Process
The composition centers around a collection of everyday objects: a dented hydro flask bottle, a colorful cornstalk in a large glass mason jar, an old film reel, a portable battery pack, and conch shell from the ocean, all framed by the large industrial window. Each element is rendered with careful attention to texture, from the refracted gleam on the jar to the minuscule grain texture of the reel. The high contrast between light and dark creates a sense of depth, inviting readers to appreciate the subtle nuances in shading and form, making this piece both timeless and captivating. After the illustration portion is finished, the image is transferred onto photoshop for resizing and color correction.
The illustration was made using white charcoals on a black illustration boardThe Solution
As far as lessons learned, this cover taught the importance of maintaining a clean and minimalistic aesthetic. There is a lot more potency and impact in minimal aesthetics than most people might believe at first glance. Embracing simplicity can often convey messages more effectively than complex designs.
Illustration for the Artist
A Continuation in the Still Life for the Artist Book Cover Series
The Situation
This cover is a continuation of the previous illustrated book cover “Still Life for the Artist” where the client commissioned a cover for their sketchbook compilation of illustrations of a similar genre. This book focuses more on surrealist art pieces that the artist made, therefore the illustration created for the cover must follow suit. The tasks at hand were to first design and illustrate a drawing that fits the genre and then transfer it into a digital space for editing.
The Solution
At its completion, this book cover has shown me that if one does choose to make an illustrated cover that explores the grey scale, one must pay extreme attention to the saturation of pigment so the piece does not get muddled with dark indistinguishable blobs. If two areas with similar tone are next to one another, the contrast will decrease because the grey will meld together. That is probably the ultimate lesson of charcoal illustration.
Depicted above is the sketch outline for the plant and fish wreathe. The plants are based off of succulents in my house, and the fish are powder blue dwarf Gauramis, for those interested.The Process
This mock up cover focuses more on surrealist collages, which feature an intriguing fusion of nature, blending the delicate forms of gourami fish with the sharp, geometric beauty of succulents. The fish appear to swim effortlessly through a floating landscape of overlapping succulents, as if they were gliding through air instead of water. The succulents, depicted in exaggerated scales, branch outward with varying textures, their thick, fleshy leaves contrasting with the ethereal transparency of the fish. The juxtaposition of the two creates a dreamlike scene, where aquatic life and desert plants coexist in a world that defies logic. The composition’s surreal quality invites viewers to explore the fluid boundaries between different natural elements, with a playful, yet thought-provoking narrative
