Earlier this summer I was commissioned by Antoine Yoshinaka (Department of Government at American University) to illustrate the cover of his forthcoming book. Taking art direction directly from the author was great: who better knew the material?
The Brief The main subject of Antoine’s book is legislators who switch parties with the supporting point they’re punished by voters on the side they’ve defected. Before I began sketching, I asked Antoine if he was coming to the project with any images already in mind and he suggested a democratic donkey trying on the new side (symbolized by a pin, tie, or clothing) and seeing a republican elephant in the mirror, or a legislator defecting from one side fleeing angry voters.
1)For my primary thumbnails, I aimed to come up with three distinct concepts, two which stuck closely to ideas already discussed (2&3), and one which was my own interpretation of the material (1)
2) Antoine chose the second thumbnail since it was closest to what he had in mind, but wanted to keep the donkey/elephant imagery because it would read more clearly than party-colored suits alone so I reworked the comp. 1st sketch was faithful to the original comp, just with donkey and elephant characters subbed in for the female politico, 2nd sketch I tried out a layout I felt was more interesting
Antoine chose the second thumbnail since it was closest to what he had in mind, but wanted to keep the donkey/elephant imagery because it would read more clearly than party-colored suits alone so I reworked the comp. 1st sketch was faithful to the original comp, just with donkey and elephant characters subbed in for the female politico, 2nd sketch I tried out a layout I felt was more interesting
Preliminary color comps. I was at a loss for palette; my solution to balancing the strong red and blue was to go for a triad and add some gold as a mediating color (also added in one more layout just to be extra thorough)
Everything up till now had been very rough and loose, and we were coming up on the deadline, so I included this tight color rough to give Antoine an idea how I’d finish the cover including some text.
MORE REVISIONS! The donkey looked a bit “diabolical” and he wanted something more neutral for the cover/ The colors as well were a bit loud where something neutral might be better/ Make it clear that it’s the same guy seeing his reflection/ The party-color metaphor was a bit redundant since the donkey and elephant already conveyed side, instead have neutral gray donkey in elephant in neutral grey/black suits trying on party pins or ties. I thought this idea, esp pins, was weaker–how would you see a little lapel pin?–but gave it my best. An extra round of color comps in the final week before deadline.
1) Preliminary cover submitted to Cambridge for approval.
2-3) While waiting to hear back from Cambridge, I took the time to redraw the image better (settling contract details had taken more time than expected, and I hadn’t gotten the cover to satisfaction yet) and include some final revisions. produced a variant (blue bg element) cover, and the final art with Type treatment.
The final product! It was a lot of work!! but I feel really satisfied after giving my utmost.
Thanks again Antoine and Cambridge!
Thanks again Antoine and Cambridge!
