I've been hired by Arkham to do a book cover for the next Nelson Bond anthology, a sequel of sorts to the first one I did the cover for.
Thought I'd run the concept mockup that I'm about to send to my art director by you guys for C&C.
What I do for these is take my thumbnail sketch and shoot reference for the main elements. Then I do the finished drawings for them and scan them into Photoshop and arrange them within the space.
For this one, I used actual photos of planets and moons to get a better feel of the finished product.
The space ships were based on fish with some insect influences thrown in. I liked the idea of these big ships swimming through space.
Obviously all the details aren't worked out, nor all the shading, but this gives a pretty quick, close idea of the concept.
I also designed the title at the top. I think they usually have someone on staff that does it, but I hated what they did with the last one, so I'm going to insist on doing it myself this time.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
I hate you.
Posted by Kazeite (Member # 970) on :
That smallest ship on the left looks to me kinda out of place. I mean, it doesn't look like it's participating in the scene. It's like, "screw you guys, I'm not flying with you, so bite me."
On top of that, it looks very suprised, with its "mouth" wide open. Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I agree with Kazeite about that third ship.
Those big fins mounted on the balls look a bit non-functional. I suggest bulking up the attachment and the the base to look like a ball-and-socket joint. As they are now they look less like functional oar/fins and more like quill pens stuck into inkwells. Maybe change the dorsal quill pen to a sturdy shark-like fin.
Maybe throw a ring around one of the planets. The big one on the back cover could probably have a wide flat ring that helps establish the equitorial line and orientation better than the banding on the sphere itself.
That pin-stripped suit has a definite George Raft vibe to it. Might it be a bit discordant with the ship design?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
I also agree with the third ship in the distance - I couldn't put my finger on it but yeah it's like it's going "screw you guys, I'm going home".
Other than that... COOL!
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Oh yeah make the suit look more futuristic - like the material from the uniforms of the 29th century off the relativity.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Your comments about the third ship are definitely on target. Looking at it with a fresh eye, I think I need to give it the same orientation as the other two.
The suit is retro on purpose. The stories in the book were written in the 40's. In the finished piece, the suit will actually be dark, with light, subtle pinstriping. It's also meant to be a tie-in to the first cover which feautured a faceless man in a suit standing in near-full backlighting in front of an open door.
The thoughts about the fins on the ships are definitely worth looking into, as well. I need to go in and add some texture anyway, so I'll play with the fins at the same time.
(By the way, that's me posing for the man in the suit. I stood in my kitchen with the digital camera on the counter and held a ginat salad bowl in front of me. I love my job.)
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Which way are the ships flying, anyway? I mean, when I think about it, it seems like the round end goes first, and pointy bit is the tail. But, when I look at them, I always see them going the other way. Especially since you compared them to animals. The pointy bit looks like a nose, and there are those two eyes sticking up on either side of it.
[ September 17, 2004, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: TSN ]
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
No, they're flying towards the planets. You're right though... they do look like eyes. I'll change that.
Here are the changes to the ships. I added texture to the fins and hull plating to the main body of the closest ship. Keep in mind, it won't be that distinct on the final, this is just so I can see where to draw.
And just because I found this on the server and I still love it. Me and Michonne. drooooollll... Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
You and who now?
(It isn't really a world other than our own, though, is it?)
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Oh, wonderful, so she played a blue-skinned alien with a mohawk - topknot, sorry, just looked again - watching the pod race. I'm sure Jennifer Lopez (or Angelina Jolie, or. . .) is feeling very nervous right about now.
And that shirt is not your colour. And it makes you look fat. 8)
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Maybe I'm just fat.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
You're probably not allowed to, but I'd drop the "than ours" from the title. It's a pointless addition, and looks like an afterthought to avoid copyright problems with the real "Other Worlds" or something.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I'm not allowed to change the title, but I might keep playing with the logo graphic while I'm working on the painting.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Yeah it's not the best grammar - shouldn't it be "Worlds other than ours"? or "Worlds other than our own"?
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
"Worlds Other Than Our Own" is what I suggested they call it, and I actually did a mockup with that title.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
They preferred the awkward, incorrect grammar? Maybe they thought it worked with Star Trek and "To Boldly Go"! Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
That's what the author wanted it called. And boy did I get reamed for making his name that small. It's now in big type at the bottom of the cover.
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