New Book Cover - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

frogza · 03-15-2005, 11:47 AM

I recently finished this book cover illustration. I have a few days before I need to turn it in so I thought I'd get some feedback from all of you first. Let me know what you think and what you would recomend thanks. You can see a much larger version here

blahblah454 · 03-16-2005, 01:53 AM

Parts of it dont really line up, like the tigers feet dangling. But overall I really like it!! It kind of reaminds me of my brother because he does stuff like this in pencil.

kramus · 03-16-2005, 03:26 AM

Your tree already has a hint of a slightyly goofy, non confrontational face. I would play that up. I do find the extended branch that the monkey stands on looks a little contrived the way it is configured, and I don't understand that shadow thing by the big cat. The mood and the casual feet of the kid is great.

Redlemon · 03-16-2005, 06:25 AM

It might be my monitor, which isn't very good, but I initially thought that the kid had a huge brown afro. Perhaps if you shifted some of the treemoss to go behind his head?

muttonglutton · 03-16-2005, 08:06 PM

I really like it! It looks like the cover of an entertaining book. : )

I think everything I can possibly see that's wrong with it has already been mentioned, but I like it the way it is. I like the style a lot.

frogza · 03-17-2005, 06:38 AM

Thanks to all, I'm making a few changes thanks to your comments. Knew I could count on the TFP.

followtherabbit · 03-19-2005, 06:39 PM

why do ppl keep picking out whats wrong with your illustration? i dont get people...anyway - its great work and they're just jealous - YEA - YOU CAN ALL READ THIS!!!!! if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all. oh, and frogza - don't bother telling me you even benefit from any of this "constructive criticism" - thats an oxymoron if i ever heard one - how can you construct something while tearing it down with critique? their should be another term for cc - one that means praising the good qualities only. i mean, how can original art be bad? maybe if you're unoriginal like ashlee simpson or someone then your art will suck. but how can an original artwork like this be opened to criticism? its perfect to me. especially when we live in a world where emotions dont really matter to people - only money and consumerism etc. - art evokes emotion - and people dont care about emotion - because if they did no one would ever be mean to anyone esle. therefore, how can "critiquing" art be justified? its a contradiction to me. just something that pisses me off. oh - and if this rant belongs soemwhere else on this site - tell me - im new to tfp and dont know how it works. thx. awesome illustration.

TexanAvenger · 03-19-2005, 08:52 PM

^ maybe little more spirted than I would have expected, and it seems to break away from the point of the thread towards issues that should be brought up somewhere else (I think), but it's good, nonetheless, to see that you care about something so strongly.

frogza, that cover is awesome the way it is. If you wanted to go for perfection, I'd change what was addresses earlier. But I really like just how it is.

Rockin' job.

Hain · 03-20-2005, 09:37 AM

That cover is so cool. I wish I had any artistic talent, other than my ability to create Plaid on LSD to my heart's content with PhotoImpact. Keep up the good work Frogza.

gallopingwanker · 03-20-2005, 01:29 PM

ok, follow the rabbit. you can't be told everything you do in life is perfect, and that nobody can tell you wrong. There is room for criticism for everything.

If you work, and you have a 90 day review, and they go over your performance prior to that date, they will tell you things that you may need to improve, and that is criticism in the workplace, it's the same thing as criticism in the design world, you need to be told what's wrong in order to get better.

I would hate to see a world with no criticism...

does that monkey have 3 arms?

followtherabbit · 03-20-2005, 01:50 PM

^yea, thats if your a sell out and you do art for money!!!! i teach highschool literature and tell my students to stay away from TV and read a book instead - i love my job!!!! and i live alone and i love it!!!! i get paid well as a teacher, and i have low rent, low bills - i use my extra money to buy supplies to ease my soul with self expression (i.e. my paintings and art) - and i dont try to sell it!!! and i still have money left over for travelling and luxuries!!!! haha.... get a clue

gallopingwanker · 03-20-2005, 04:24 PM

me get a clue? are you serious?

and why do you call people that do art sell outs? my career is in the design field, and i'm quite offended by your comment, because design and art is a booming field, and the opportunity is there to make so much money, so if you call me a sell out for doing what i love and getting paid for it, then so be it..usually i'm fine with the idea of everybody has their own opinion and nobodys opinion is wrong, but yours is.

waxmax · 03-20-2005, 04:45 PM

In response to followtherabbit:

Book cover art is very competitive. Critique would come from an art director (or the author) who would determine if the design conveys any sort of message relevant to the book. BTW, making art for money is fantastically difficult and if someone can make a living from it then more power to them. My opinion of a sell out is very different.

Any kind of design used in marketing is art, but it always has to be approved by the boss. I've been there. Frogza is asking the TFP to be an unoffical art director.

Rabbit mentioned money and consumerism being seperate from emotion. I'll bet a lot of art directors would disagree. Advertising agencies would be out of business if consumerism was emotionless.

My response is based directly on the fact that this design is created to sell a book. From what I've seen, most people that post here want some sort of positive affirmation and usually get it whether they deserves it or not.

My own opinion on the cover design is that the art lacks focus. I look at the art and after reading the title, my eye falls off the page. The child, who I assume is the main character is practically buried. The text needs to be on top. Text can work near the middle or bottom if the other elements of the design are less complex. Keep in mind that I'm just refering to cover design. You want the art to support the book title, not the other way around. Think I'm wrong? Go stroll through your local bookstore.

The technical quality of the design is very sharp but the individual elements are not put together well. Frogza is obviously talented and I'm sure this design will do OK anyway.

Rabbit, I have serious doubts about you being a well paid high school teacher. Your grammar and spelling are worse than mine. I'd recommend watching more TV.

doodlebird · 03-20-2005, 07:33 PM

i'm just trying to help out here. i do believe in constructive criticism. i never believe anything of mine is perfect. i believe that you must be willing to destroy (figuratively, if not literally) everything you create. you cannot get better without this. beliefs aside, on to the cc.

the cover is pretty good, but the monkey doesn't seem quite right. i can't exactly put my finger on it, but he doesn't seem as "smooth" (?) as the rest of the drawing. maybe that was your attempt as giving him some furry texture? spend a little more time on the monkey. you're almost there with a great cover, i hope you've still got time.

xoxo
doodle

gallopingwanker · 03-20-2005, 08:33 PM

ok, now my criticism..

When i look at it, my focus is drawn to the cat, which i don't think is the focus, the focus is most likely the kid, so i think you need to work on standing him out a little better, it will be tough since the kid is right next to something so highly detailed...so either you will need to put more of a shadow on the kid, darken the tree, or have some invisible guide pointing to him, be it color direction or vines, or whatever....

The text needs alot of work, to me the text looks kind of lazy compared the illustration, i would try out centered type, smaller type, bigger type, and maybe type without the texture on it. don't be afraid to try things just because you don't think they may look right, because you never know what you'll find....

I might also recommend taking out the dark part of the tree on the left that's behind the whole thing, it can very easily be one branch with branches extending from it...

And the last thing, maybe try a solid background, just to see if you like it or not.

that's all from me.

gallopingwanker · 03-20-2005, 08:34 PM

oh...and does that monkey really have 3 arms? hehe

frogza · 03-21-2005, 06:51 AM

The art director made similar suggestions to make the work go better. The Title has been removed and a graphic designer who is good with typography will do it.

Thanks again to all. I am trying to get into the illustration field so popular opinion is vital to everything I do, 'cause if I can't sell it, I can't buy the supplies to make more. I haven't really used Illustrator as a medium for a work like this before. It comes with some challenges, I think I might stick to more traditional medium until I get a better mastery of the program, or maybe I'll import my work into Painter to give it the feel I usually get in my work.

waxmax · 03-21-2005, 08:48 PM

Frogza,

Keep up the good work. I really do like the overall detail of your design.

03-15-2005, 11:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	New Book Cover I recently finished this book cover illustration. I have a few days before I need to turn it in so I thought I'd get some feedback from all of you first. Let me know what you think and what you would recomend thanks. You can see a much larger version here

03-16-2005, 03:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	Your tree already has a hint of a slightyly goofy, non confrontational face. I would play that up. I do find the extended branch that the monkey stands on looks a little contrived the way it is configured, and I don't understand that shadow thing by the big cat. The mood and the casual feet of the kid is great. __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

03-16-2005, 06:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	It might be my monitor, which isn't very good, but I initially thought that the kid had a huge brown afro. Perhaps if you shifted some of the treemoss to go behind his head? __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

03-16-2005, 08:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
muttonglutton Crazy Location: K-W. Err... -dot.	I really like it! It looks like the cover of an entertaining book. : ) I think everything I can possibly see that's wrong with it has already been mentioned, but I like it the way it is. I like the style a lot. __________________ Cellar Door.

03-19-2005, 06:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
followtherabbit Upright Location: NY	why do ppl keep picking out whats wrong with your illustration? i dont get people...anyway - its great work and they're just jealous - YEA - YOU CAN ALL READ THIS!!!!! if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all. oh, and frogza - don't bother telling me you even benefit from any of this "constructive criticism" - thats an oxymoron if i ever heard one - how can you construct something while tearing it down with critique? their should be another term for cc - one that means praising the good qualities only. i mean, how can original art be bad? maybe if you're unoriginal like ashlee simpson or someone then your art will suck. but how can an original artwork like this be opened to criticism? its perfect to me. especially when we live in a world where emotions dont really matter to people - only money and consumerism etc. - art evokes emotion - and people dont care about emotion - because if they did no one would ever be mean to anyone esle. therefore, how can "critiquing" art be justified? its a contradiction to me. just something that pisses me off. oh - and if this rant belongs soemwhere else on this site - tell me - im new to tfp and dont know how it works. thx. awesome illustration. __________________ lx

03-16-2005, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
blahblah454 Let's put a smile on that face Location: On the road...	Parts of it dont really line up, like the tigers feet dangling. But overall I really like it!! It kind of reaminds me of my brother because he does stuff like this in pencil.

03-17-2005, 06:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	Thanks to all, I'm making a few changes thanks to your comments. Knew I could count on the TFP.

03-19-2005, 08:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
TexanAvenger Born-Again New Guy Location: Unfound.	^ maybe little more spirted than I would have expected, and it seems to break away from the point of the thread towards issues that should be brought up somewhere else (I think), but it's good, nonetheless, to see that you care about something so strongly. frogza, that cover is awesome the way it is. If you wanted to go for perfection, I'd change what was addresses earlier. But I really like just how it is. Rockin' job.

03-20-2005, 09:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Hain has a plan Location: middle of Whywouldanyonebethere	That cover is so cool. I wish I had any artistic talent, other than my ability to create Plaid on LSD to my heart's content with PhotoImpact. Keep up the good work Frogza. __________________ ////\\// IRONSKY.NET \\//\\\\

03-20-2005, 01:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
gallopingwanker At the Lemonade Stand Location: in a theater near you!	ok, follow the rabbit. you can't be told everything you do in life is perfect, and that nobody can tell you wrong. There is room for criticism for everything. If you work, and you have a 90 day review, and they go over your performance prior to that date, they will tell you things that you may need to improve, and that is criticism in the workplace, it's the same thing as criticism in the design world, you need to be told what's wrong in order to get better. I would hate to see a world with no criticism... does that monkey have 3 arms?

03-20-2005, 01:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
followtherabbit Upright Location: NY	^yea, thats if your a sell out and you do art for money!!!! i teach highschool literature and tell my students to stay away from TV and read a book instead - i love my job!!!! and i live alone and i love it!!!! i get paid well as a teacher, and i have low rent, low bills - i use my extra money to buy supplies to ease my soul with self expression (i.e. my paintings and art) - and i dont try to sell it!!! and i still have money left over for travelling and luxuries!!!! haha.... get a clue __________________ lx

03-20-2005, 04:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
gallopingwanker At the Lemonade Stand Location: in a theater near you!	me get a clue? are you serious? and why do you call people that do art sell outs? my career is in the design field, and i'm quite offended by your comment, because design and art is a booming field, and the opportunity is there to make so much money, so if you call me a sell out for doing what i love and getting paid for it, then so be it..usually i'm fine with the idea of everybody has their own opinion and nobodys opinion is wrong, but yours is.

03-20-2005, 04:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
waxmax Upright Location: Fort Collins, CO	In response to followtherabbit: Book cover art is very competitive. Critique would come from an art director (or the author) who would determine if the design conveys any sort of message relevant to the book. BTW, making art for money is fantastically difficult and if someone can make a living from it then more power to them. My opinion of a sell out is very different. Any kind of design used in marketing is art, but it always has to be approved by the boss. I've been there. Frogza is asking the TFP to be an unoffical art director. Rabbit mentioned money and consumerism being seperate from emotion. I'll bet a lot of art directors would disagree. Advertising agencies would be out of business if consumerism was emotionless. My response is based directly on the fact that this design is created to sell a book. From what I've seen, most people that post here want some sort of positive affirmation and usually get it whether they deserves it or not. My own opinion on the cover design is that the art lacks focus. I look at the art and after reading the title, my eye falls off the page. The child, who I assume is the main character is practically buried. The text needs to be on top. Text can work near the middle or bottom if the other elements of the design are less complex. Keep in mind that I'm just refering to cover design. You want the art to support the book title, not the other way around. Think I'm wrong? Go stroll through your local bookstore. The technical quality of the design is very sharp but the individual elements are not put together well. Frogza is obviously talented and I'm sure this design will do OK anyway. Rabbit, I have serious doubts about you being a well paid high school teacher. Your grammar and spelling are worse than mine. I'd recommend watching more TV. __________________ Tape guns don't tape boxes. PEOPLE tape boxes.

03-20-2005, 07:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
doodlebird pío pío Location: on a branch about to break	i'm just trying to help out here. i do believe in constructive criticism. i never believe anything of mine is perfect. i believe that you must be willing to destroy (figuratively, if not literally) everything you create. you cannot get better without this. beliefs aside, on to the cc. the cover is pretty good, but the monkey doesn't seem quite right. i can't exactly put my finger on it, but he doesn't seem as "smooth" (?) as the rest of the drawing. maybe that was your attempt as giving him some furry texture? spend a little more time on the monkey. you're almost there with a great cover, i hope you've still got time. xoxo doodle

03-20-2005, 08:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
gallopingwanker At the Lemonade Stand Location: in a theater near you!	ok, now my criticism.. When i look at it, my focus is drawn to the cat, which i don't think is the focus, the focus is most likely the kid, so i think you need to work on standing him out a little better, it will be tough since the kid is right next to something so highly detailed...so either you will need to put more of a shadow on the kid, darken the tree, or have some invisible guide pointing to him, be it color direction or vines, or whatever.... The text needs alot of work, to me the text looks kind of lazy compared the illustration, i would try out centered type, smaller type, bigger type, and maybe type without the texture on it. don't be afraid to try things just because you don't think they may look right, because you never know what you'll find.... I might also recommend taking out the dark part of the tree on the left that's behind the whole thing, it can very easily be one branch with branches extending from it... And the last thing, maybe try a solid background, just to see if you like it or not. that's all from me.

03-20-2005, 08:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
gallopingwanker At the Lemonade Stand Location: in a theater near you!	oh...and does that monkey really have 3 arms? hehe

03-21-2005, 06:51 AM	#17 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	The art director made similar suggestions to make the work go better. The Title has been removed and a graphic designer who is good with typography will do it. Thanks again to all. I am trying to get into the illustration field so popular opinion is vital to everything I do, 'cause if I can't sell it, I can't buy the supplies to make more. I haven't really used Illustrator as a medium for a work like this before. It comes with some challenges, I think I might stick to more traditional medium until I get a better mastery of the program, or maybe I'll import my work into Painter to give it the feel I usually get in my work.

03-21-2005, 08:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
waxmax Upright Location: Fort Collins, CO	Frogza, Keep up the good work. I really do like the overall detail of your design. __________________ Tape guns don't tape boxes. PEOPLE tape boxes.