Need help with ideas for a book cover - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Nancy · 10-10-2004, 10:41 PM

Hi fellow artists!

I'm working on a cover for a book that a friend of mine is writing with some professors at her university. Unfortunately I have no idea what to draw so I was hoping that you could help me with any ideas. The title of the book hasn't been decided yet but it's about Jewish/Christian (Western/European civilization) history of ideas/world picture contra the Roman/Greek (Middle East civilization) history of ideas/world picture.

The chapters are about the different views of the world as famous (religious) philosophers/writers/poets or the authors (professors) see it etc. Some of the chapters are about:

- Martin Heidegger's experience of divinity through nature and landscape.

- Kant's view of the relation between moral and religion.

- Natural science and religion (thesis of secularization, thesis of conflict in the books by Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, Galileo Galileo and Nikolaus Kopernikus)

- The theologians Søren Kierkegaard, K.E. Løgstrup and Johannes Sløk and their individual presentation of their understanding of the relationship between God and Man.

- The reformation

- the Age of Enlightenment's historyphilosophical clash with the ecclesiatical view of history.

- the Age of Enlightenment and Christianity

Help!

thefictionweliv · 10-11-2004, 12:58 AM

Perhaps have paths for each view leading up, into the image background to a central point representing the goal, heaven, the end of each path as different roads the the same things, then line the paths with images from the various prespctives. Its a little early for brainstorming but I tried o.0

Nancy · 10-11-2004, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefictionweliv

Perhaps have paths for each view leading up, into the image background to a central point representing the goal, heaven, the end of each path as different roads the the same things, then line the paths with images from the various prespctives. Its a little early for brainstorming but I tried o.0

ooooohh that's a great idea. However the "heaven" would have to be something else like "truth" for example since (some) natural scientists and atheists don't believe in heaven.

amonkie · 10-11-2004, 02:21 AM

Maybe have the "heaven" be an open book - those who are atheist could see it as truth in knowledge, and those christian/jewish could see it as the book of life, or the bible.

Nancy · 10-11-2004, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amonkie

Maybe have the "heaven" be an open book - those who are atheist could see it as truth in knowledge, and those christian/jewish could see it as the book of life, or the bible.

Brilliant idea amonkie!

skier · 10-11-2004, 03:15 AM

I've often pondered what thought process goes behind the vague artistic metaphors on my textbook covers. When I ask other people, they look at me with that "what the hell does it matter" glare. But I see them peer discreetly at their textbook covers later wondering the same thing as I.

Dizzet · 10-11-2004, 03:36 AM

How about drawing a huge ass...

Nancy · 10-11-2004, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizzet

How about drawing a huge ass...

I don't think the professors would appreciate that image .. allthough I do think it would attract many readers

Nancy · 10-12-2004, 08:34 AM

no more suggestions?

thriolith · 10-12-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizzet

How about drawing a huge ass...

Ooo, you can be on the cover...

lol, j/k.

The idea of a open book seems like a really good one though.

animosity · 10-12-2004, 02:56 PM

Going back to my earlier days in this forum. How about a huge eye...? j/k

I like the open book, with no text. perhaps someone with a pen, waiting to write?

I dont know. My mind is mush at the moment. I just took 2 rather long/hard test in a row.

Mag188 · 10-13-2004, 01:37 AM

hmmmm
why don't u just take a well known classic and modify it a bit
e.g. the creation of adam by Michelangelo, just put adam a sword in his right hand
everybody will interpret something else into the picture, thus creating controversy, which makes a book interresting

Dizzet · 10-13-2004, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thriolith

Ooo, you can be on the cover...

lol, j/k.

Why You littel!!!

Nancy · 11-16-2004, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mag188

hmmmm
why don't u just take a well known classic and modify it a bit
e.g. the creation of adam by Michelangelo, just put adam a sword in his right hand

Nah that image is too religeous. I want something that includes both religion and the non-believers

Dizzet · 11-16-2004, 02:59 AM

A huge ass

amonkie · 11-16-2004, 03:24 AM

Dizzet, I think we've already established your ass cannot go on the cover

- Cause after all, she'd have to have a model, right?

Stug · 11-16-2004, 03:54 AM

The open book (maybe with shining white light glowing from it's pages) is a nice idea for a symbolic image. Perhaps with light a little bit like 1.)

As the book is going to have so lots of references to nature, the world and general spirtuality, perhaps you might want to include imagery along the lines of 2.) or 3.)

1.)

2.)

3.)

The sky can be suggestive of the ephemeral nature of life, whereas the World image can indicate the circle of life/balance of nature etc...

Possible other useful images could be hands i.e. praying, holding hands are very simple and very emotive...

Personally, I'd say the more complex the issues (within the book) the simpler the cover illustration/photo should be, relying on the book's title to stand out from the cover (in a bold but subtle font).

Perhaps a simple black and white nature photo, like this:

Anyway just some ideas to get you thinking. It sounds like a fun project! Try to have fun doing it and hopefully that will come across in the end result.

Good luck, and don't forget to post the final product here one day!

pinkie · 11-16-2004, 07:23 AM

I see Jesus being dissected under an elaborate map of stars, constellations and galaxies out in the middle of nature, laying on a stack of history and philosophy books, with his heart glowing like E.T.

You could pick which philosophers/writers/poets/theologians/professors would be doing the dissection.

(I'm weird, I know.)

Tophat665 · 11-16-2004, 10:35 AM

Howsabout somthing naturalistic like a flower or a shrub (a burning one, even). Then, kind of gradient it from a photo through a painting through a sketch, through a schematic

BTW, Christian/Jewish is Middle Eastern. Greek/Roman, that's western.

I might run a few bars from a Bach Fugue across the top, and maybe an arabesque border along the bottom (like at El Escorial.)

Nancy · 11-16-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkie

I see Jesus being dissected under an elaborate map of stars, constellations and galaxies out in the middle of nature, laying on a stack of history and philosophy books, with his heart glowing like E.T.

You could pick which philosophers/writers/poets/theologians/professors would be doing the dissection.

(I'm weird, I know.)

lol what an imagination you have pinkie! It's not a bad idea actually so maybe I'm gonna use some or all of that

Nancy · 11-16-2004, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tophat665

Howsabout somthing naturalistic like a flower or a shrub (a burning one, even). Then, kind of gradient it from a photo through a painting through a sketch, through a schematic

That's an awesome idea! I'll tell my friend about it and see how she feels about it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tophat665

BTW, Christian/Jewish is Middle Eastern. Greek/Roman, that's western.

details, details!

Nancy · 11-16-2004, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stug

Good luck, and don't forget to post the final product here one day!

yes sir!

thank you for all those suggestions - each and one of them are great!

I like the the symbolism of the globe, sky and flower... maybe I can mix those together somehow...

10-10-2004, 10:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nancy Femme Fatale Location: Elysium	Need help with ideas for a book cover Hi fellow artists! I'm working on a cover for a book that a friend of mine is writing with some professors at her university. Unfortunately I have no idea what to draw so I was hoping that you could help me with any ideas. The title of the book hasn't been decided yet but it's about Jewish/Christian (Western/European civilization) history of ideas/world picture contra the Roman/Greek (Middle East civilization) history of ideas/world picture. The chapters are about the different views of the world as famous (religious) philosophers/writers/poets or the authors (professors) see it etc. Some of the chapters are about: - Martin Heidegger's experience of divinity through nature and landscape. - Kant's view of the relation between moral and religion. - Natural science and religion (thesis of secularization, thesis of conflict in the books by Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, Galileo Galileo and Nikolaus Kopernikus) - The theologians Søren Kierkegaard, K.E. Løgstrup and Johannes Sløk and their individual presentation of their understanding of the relationship between God and Man. - The reformation - the Age of Enlightenment's historyphilosophical clash with the ecclesiatical view of history. - the Age of Enlightenment and Christianity Help! __________________ I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip. Last edited by Nancy; 10-10-2004 at 11:05 PM..

10-11-2004, 02:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Maybe have the "heaven" be an open book - those who are atheist could see it as truth in knowledge, and those christian/jewish could see it as the book of life, or the bible. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

10-11-2004, 03:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
skier Rawr! Location: Edmontania	I've often pondered what thought process goes behind the vague artistic metaphors on my textbook covers. When I ask other people, they look at me with that "what the hell does it matter" glare. But I see them peer discreetly at their textbook covers later wondering the same thing as I. __________________ "Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim

10-12-2004, 08:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nancy Femme Fatale Location: Elysium	no more suggestions? __________________ I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

11-16-2004, 03:24 AM	#16 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Dizzet, I think we've already established your ass cannot go on the cover - Cause after all, she'd have to have a model, right? __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

10-11-2004, 12:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
thefictionweliv Insane	Perhaps have paths for each view leading up, into the image background to a central point representing the goal, heaven, the end of each path as different roads the the same things, then line the paths with images from the various prespctives. Its a little early for brainstorming but I tried o.0

10-11-2004, 03:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dizzet Psycho Location: Denmark	How about drawing a huge ass...

10-12-2004, 02:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
animosity on fire Location: Atlanta, GA	Going back to my earlier days in this forum. How about a huge eye...? j/k I like the open book, with no text. perhaps someone with a pen, waiting to write? I dont know. My mind is mush at the moment. I just took 2 rather long/hard test in a row.

10-13-2004, 01:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mag188 Upright Location: Austria/Vienna	hmmmm why don't u just take a well known classic and modify it a bit e.g. the creation of adam by Michelangelo, just put adam a sword in his right hand everybody will interpret something else into the picture, thus creating controversy, which makes a book interresting

11-16-2004, 02:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
Dizzet Psycho Location: Denmark	A huge ass

11-16-2004, 03:54 AM	#17 (permalink)
Stug Crazy Location: UK	The open book (maybe with shining white light glowing from it's pages) is a nice idea for a symbolic image. Perhaps with light a little bit like 1.) As the book is going to have so lots of references to nature, the world and general spirtuality, perhaps you might want to include imagery along the lines of 2.) or 3.) 1.) 2.) 3.) The sky can be suggestive of the ephemeral nature of life, whereas the World image can indicate the circle of life/balance of nature etc... Possible other useful images could be hands i.e. praying, holding hands are very simple and very emotive... Personally, I'd say the more complex the issues (within the book) the simpler the cover illustration/photo should be, relying on the book's title to stand out from the cover (in a bold but subtle font). Perhaps a simple black and white nature photo, like this: Anyway just some ideas to get you thinking. It sounds like a fun project! Try to have fun doing it and hopefully that will come across in the end result. Good luck, and don't forget to post the final product here one day! __________________ and so ends the thought process for another day...

11-16-2004, 07:23 AM	#18 (permalink)
pinkie Helplessly hoping Location: Above the stars	I see Jesus being dissected under an elaborate map of stars, constellations and galaxies out in the middle of nature, laying on a stack of history and philosophy books, with his heart glowing like E.T. You could pick which philosophers/writers/poets/theologians/professors would be doing the dissection. (I'm weird, I know.)

11-16-2004, 10:35 AM	#19 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	Howsabout somthing naturalistic like a flower or a shrub (a burning one, even). Then, kind of gradient it from a photo through a painting through a sketch, through a schematic BTW, Christian/Jewish is Middle Eastern. Greek/Roman, that's western. I might run a few bars from a Bach Fugue across the top, and maybe an arabesque border along the bottom (like at El Escorial.) __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.