In April 2022 I worked with Curious Curls Publishing to illustrate the front and back covers for their newest book:
The Great Pyramid and Other Stories by Zach Docter
The author wanted a very minimalistic design for the front and back cover of his book, and he provided examples which included solid backgrounds and geometric subjects with little to no rendering.
I gathered some reference images and started sketching some ideas that played with the concept of the main story- that the Great Pyramid of Giza was suddenly (and perhaps had always been) upside down.
After receiving confirmation from the publisher on my rough designs for the front and back cover art, I could then begin the final pieces.
Aside from some sketches on paper during my first meeting with the publisher, all of my other ideation, sketches and final pieces were done in Photoshop.
For the front cover art- I wanted the premise of the title story to be clear, while still having the minimalism and mystery the author wanted. The image of the pyramids is sturdy and somewhat realistic in their depiction, but there is a haze of a mirage over them- almost like a false memory. Behind them looms a large inverted triangle, alluding to the inciting event of the story. Its flat, 2D depiction creates a contrast and keeps it in the background.
The publishers were less specific in their concept for the back cover art, so I had a bit more freedom with that design. To ensure the two covers felt cohesive, I had to utilize the same elements from the front but in a new way. The large inverted triangle, the gradient coloring, and a minimalistic painting style- I rearranged these pieces to become the back cover design. What I wanted to get across with the back cover is how absurd it would be to see the Great Pyramid suddenly standing on its head. That absurdity plays into the story itself when the world tries to understand this new reality. The flat triangle from the front has now slightly turned so you can appreciate it as a three dimensional shape but it has kept its gradient shading. The painted shadow has the same haze as the mirage of the front cover, and the shadow itself enhances the scale and impossibility of the pyramid.
This was a unique experience for me. The minimalist, geometric style of this project pushed me to work outside of my usual style and comfort zone. And working my designs around the logistical details needed on every book cover made me consider new aspects of illustration.
Written October 2024