Illustration – Futurity Book Cover Design

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I was recently contacted by a publishing company who works with authors to illustrate a book cover for a science fiction author. The book’s title was “Futurity” by Daniel Kuehn. The author requested that three of the main characters be incorporated, and provided a description of each and a brief synopses. The author had in mind a certain style and color scheme, and provided a few samples of that. He specifically asked that the main character be wearing jeans and a hoody, with their eyes hidden in shadow. They also needed the artwork done within 4 days. Fortunately I was able to deliver.

 

Cover_prev1Here is the first sketch I provided them. This took a couple of days of thinking about the brief.

I knew I wanted an ambiguous background, and that a reflective surface would allow for some shadow play. I started fairly monochromatic and developed color as I decided how I would handle the light sources in the image.

 

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The main character (center) develops some psychic abilities in the story. The girl develops the ability to control fire, and the third character is the muscle in the story.

After taking a break from the initial sketch, I decided there were things that bothered me about it, the girl’s legs, for example, the stance wasn’t quite right, and I also felt it would be more intriguing if she was holding flames in her hand, which then introduced a secondary light source.

 

Cover_prev2Gradually I began to model the figures, adjusting the tone and highlights to make the light sources more logical and consistent. The author also gave me a better description of the third character’s hair.

I modified the shadows to make the surface they were standing on a little more glassy, and compelling. Then I continued modeling the figures.

 

Cover_prev4This stage involved continued modelling and refining. I wanted to try adding some special effects to the main character, to further disguise their expression, and add more interest to that character.

For that I used a greatly modified lens flare (don’t shoot me – it was appropriate for this kind of effect).

 

Cover_prev5At this point I began to work on the overall color, making sure it was consistent with the light sources. So the main light was coming from behind the characters, from the ambiguous background, which is what casts the shadows on the surface they are standing on. But the flames also create a light, and the highlights and color had to reflect that.

With a warm light you’ll have cool shadows, so I added a subtle cool tone to the front of the two male characters, while adding a warmer tone to the areas behind and next to them, closer to the flames. The flames also would affect the density of the main shadows.

 

Cover_prev6For this stage, I continued to bring the values together given the light sources in the image, darkening the tone of certain areas, with final touches to the modeling of certain areas.

I also added a cast shadow of the girl’s arm across her midsection. This had to be diffuse, because the flames were moving. This also meant darkening the underside of that hand. I also added some highlights and shadows to the jeans, and more refinement to the hair.

 

The last stage then required some overall color grading, to bring everything together.

Cover_final

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

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Illustration: Brawl – Fight Game

Brawl Fight Game

Promotional Image for the upcoming Brawl Fight Game.

I was recently contracted to do the illustrations and layout for a new card-based fight game entitled Brawl. The company will be launching a Kickstarter campaign soon.

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

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Book Cover Design – Distinction of Realms

Distinction of Realms - Book Cover Illustration

 

My friend and author Ben Soto asked me again to come up with an illustration for the cover of his book Distinction of Realms. Below you can see the steps that led to developing this image.

 

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This was to be distributed as an Ebook, so the artwork only required the front cover and tittle. He sent me a synopsis and some character descriptions and I set out to find a concept that would represent the story.

 

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As difficult and time consuming as it is, I love doing this type of work. Very grateful for the opportunity.

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

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Design: 2013 Milwaukee Invitational Taekwon-Do Championships Designs

2013 Milwaukee Invitiational Taekwon-Do Championship Tournament Package

Client: Sorce Martial Arts

Specifications: Tournament Package for the 2013 Milwaukee Invitational Taekwon-Do Championships (11″ x 17″ Poster Design, Website Graphic, T-shirt Graphic, T-shirt Preview, Black & White Logo)

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

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Design: MAPMA 2013 Invitational Taekwondo Championships Designs

MAPMA 2013 Invitational Taekwondo Championships Poster Design

Client: Midwest Association of Professional Martial Artists

Specifications: Tournament Package for the 2013 Invitational Taekwondo Championships (11″ x 17″ Poster Design, 3-Color Silkscreen Print T-shirt Graphics, T-shirt Preview)

 

MAPMA 2013 Invitational Taekwondo Championships T-shirt Design

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

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Design: Black Belt Certificate Design

Elliot's Family TKD Champions Black Belt Certificate DesignClient: Elliot’s Family Taekwondo Champions – Milwaukee, WI

Specifications: 11″ x 17″ Black Belt Certificate Design (Background Graphic, plus Word Document Template for customization and print on demand)

 

Update:

Hey, if you are seeing this, you are on my old blog. Be sure to check out my new website with my updated Illustration/Design Portfolio here.

Read More