Great experience, this. And a firm reminder of an illustration basic that can all too easily go astray in the heat of a job requiring a fast turnaround, ie: get the pencils at least 80% right before proceeding to the finals! You'll see what I mean...
The client wanted something quirky and Coraline-ish, nothing too realistic; exaggerated proportions with a dark, bloody atmosphere. But not too dark and bloody. So I just thought: Stylistic Big Head. Instant gentle cartoonishness. Trouble is, if you're not careful, this can make the characters look younger than they should be...
Hansel and Gretel do actually age a good few years throughout the book (which, in a neat sort of way, is reflected in how they evolve from the rough at the top there to the finished piece down at the bottom). But do you depict them as the unfortunate babes in peril they are at the start of the book, or the much more rounded, life-or-death-decision making young adults they've become by the end..? Or somewhere inbetween? Unconsciously, I think I went for somewhere inbetween. Best of both worlds, you know?
Ooh it's a minefield...
Anyway, the initial rough was approved with the proviso that the characters needed to look older and exude plenty of extra attitude...
This being a bit of a rush job, as well as my first proper book cover, my brain was totally focussed on the finish. It has to look great. No room for ineptness anywhere...
So although H & G's faces have evolved somewhat from the rough...
...maybe I've been getting sidetracked by the rendering.
It's certainly not floating the client's boat just yet. Too young? Lacking in quirk and attitude? Let's try this...
No? Ah.
Gretel's not bad, but Hansel looks like Morten Harket's evil younger brother. I'm somehow just not getting it, which doesn't often happen. It's starting to feel like stage fright.
Swap them around. Give Hansel the sword and Gretel a dagger. Make him look more aspirational...
No..? Okay...
Let's abandon the computer for an hour, pick up a pencil, grab a piece of paper and draw...
Yes...? Excellent.
And there we have it. Looking back, I really like all the different takes; it feels like there's an appropriate version for each section of the story.
Anyway, 'hope this made for an interesting insight into the rollercoaster world of cover illustration! As mentioned previously, on this blog and in reviews all over the universe, this book is a blinding read, so if lashings of blacker-than-black humour and dark, breathless adventure are your thing...
A Tale Dark & Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz, published in the UK by Andersen Press.
Adam's site.
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