Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Notes from the Field: Developmentalist
Here again with a series of unused development art. This is the stuff that kept me up at night early on. How best to represent The Overman? Scott and I have played tennis with these ideas over the past two years and it's interesting to see the evolution of thought.
For whatever reason some ideas like the austere open approach with the above piece struck a chord with me. The only problem was I wasn't sure where it would go for 5 issues but before I thought any more of it...Scott clipped it's wings. Personally I think this would be such a unique look that people would take notice.
So then the more literal stuff came into play. It's a sci-fi noir, how best to show it. Let's have a detective element to it...but then again Nathan isn't your typical detective. Again, while it was a good exercise, it didn't grab anyone. Wished I could have found out in the pencil stage.
This was an exercise in literal subtlety. The idea here was to make the cover the exact moment before the first panel in the book. Many people didn't see the intrigue I was shooting for. An alternate version of this image ended up becoming the backcover, and thus gave me an idea.
You do realize there are covers I cannot show?
Mainly because they reveal too much of the story or they reveal a character that we want to keep ominous. There's some good ones in there but I know Scott would but the kibosh on it...and for good reason.
This was an exercise in literal subtlety. The idea here was to make the cover the exact moment before the first panel in the book. Many people didn't see the intrigue I was shooting for. An alternate version of this image ended up becoming the backcover, and thus gave me an idea.The backcovers reflect a moment that the character on the front cover had just before something significant happen. I was hoping that by the time the reader was done the book and saw that image they'd reflect on the moment in time that the event was taking place and then realize, "Oh...that's before all hell broke loose!"
Here's an early mocked up poster idea to get the feel across and to give a little inspirato to both of us. I think it was quickly forgotten as soon as the email was sent/open. While it's a fun image, it really looked nothing like Omakon...and I wasn't about to spend several weeks recreating it accurately.
I'll dig around the archives a little more and see what else comes up. In the meantime check us out on MYSPACE.
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Labels: Concepts, Covers, ideas
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Notes from the Field: Covering it all! Part II
If you couldn't tell by now this is just a small sample of the agony of designing that first issue cover. Even now I'm struggling with covers for 4 and 5 and have yet to slow down this inevitable process. More times than not, having Scott's input on a cover idea is much more rewarding.
Our working relationship as such is one of those rare instances where the other person provides and excellent springboard. Usually that springboard is so out-of-whack that it makes the other rethink their initial idea or abandon it completely. It's all about one-up-manship, and I think we're lucky to have that.
Anyway, enough of my yakking...let's get to the art.
Our working relationship as such is one of those rare instances where the other person provides and excellent springboard. Usually that springboard is so out-of-whack that it makes the other rethink their initial idea or abandon it completely. It's all about one-up-manship, and I think we're lucky to have that.
Anyway, enough of my yakking...let's get to the art.
The psychology of a cover is important to us. We strive to capture key moments that add to the story and make you reconsider what is going on in the scene. It's the kind of covers that we like to see that grab our attention that we're most passionate about making. From concept, composition to color it all plays a role in attracting you the reader like a bee to pollen.
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Labels: Concepts, Covers, ideas, roughs, The Overman, thumbnails
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Notes from the Field: Covering it all!
I thought it was time to reveal the cover of The Overman Book One. Covers are the hardest thing to come up with and this was no exception. I think the first issue is generally the hardest and then each one after that needs to really carry along the over-arcing theme of the series as well as the contents of what's inside.
There is truly no formula for a great cover.
But the closest one to it would be something that is provocative with a hint of story or ambiguous moment that involves the audience. Ultimately my job is to get you to pick up our book even if it's for a quick flip through.
In the months to come I'll post the other covers and talk a little about the psychology and reasoning why we chose the images we did...though it may just blow up in our face if all our deducing and figuring amounts to nothing and the book gets cancelled. I hope by Crom that is not the case.
Next time I'll post all the thumbnails and roughs I went through just for this issue. It's quite mind-boggling I assure you.
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Labels: Book One, Covers, Finishes, The Overman