I often fantasize about what my book covers would look like. I’ve hand-drawn covers. I’ve Canva’d covers. I’ve looked at my favorite books and dreamed. Now, I have two vastly different WIPs, and it only adds to the dreaming that has been going on since before I'd completed any project. Over the years, I’ve put together a “wishlist” of book covers that I love and artists that I've come to recognize. This list only expanded once I became a Librarian (I suspect the list will continue to grow). John Jude Palencar
Combining the artistic rigor of Leonardo da Vinci with the surreal landscapes and creatures of Hieronymus Bosch, fantasy, and science fiction, painter and illustrator John Jude Palencar creates an imaginative artistic world. Throughout an award-winning career that includes paintings for the covers of books by Stephen King and others, Palencar has developed a rich language of symbols and archetypes, which he leaves open to interpretation by the viewer. -- Artsy Editorial
Do you ever pick a book because of the artist? Either you recognize the art from other books you’ve loved or it stands out way more than anything as a piece you’d love to own? Donato GiancolaAnother highly decorated, highly known, and talented artist, Giancola creates both fantasy and science fiction worlds of wonder. His interests include D&D, Tolkien, Magic the Gathering-- works and games with expansive worlds and descriptive imagery (Giancola devotes an entire gallery to Middle Earth and a book of illustrations). My first introduction to his work was again through Sharon Shinn. Her Twelve Houses fantasy series includes magic and knights, kings, vengeful priestesses, and kingdoms in unrest: Though I am less likely to recognize his work by sight as I am Pelancar, I can still find him whenever a new L.E. Modesitt Jr. book hits our library shelf. "I still spend many afternoons visiting my favorite artists -- Memling, Van Eyck, Velazquez, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Mondrian, Rembrandt. I strive to comprehend their complexities and bring that into my work." -- Donato Giancola, Behind The Canvas (2003) I love how he brings such a classical touch to SFF. Scrolling through his galleries, his inspirations are very evident. The chiaroscuro and diagonals that Caravaggio was famous for (though not as extreme in Giancola's work) is exemplified in LORD OF THE RINGS (compare to Caravaggio's The Entombment of Christ); the portraiture of Diego Velazquez can be found in Gandalf (?) (compare to San Pablo), and the depth and shadow in Rembrandt (Anatomy Lesson) could be seen in Giancola's St. Crispin's Day. I can even see remnants of Millais (see Ophelia vs Mermaid- Search Study). It would be my absolute dream to see his stylistic take on my characters and worlds (which are less Euro-inspired)! John HarrisAnother Science Fiction staple, British painter, John Harris started illustration book covers in the 80s. He’s since illustrated for Asimov, Ben Bova, Ann Leckie, John Scalzi and more. His works explore the theme of space, space travel, expansive worlds and realms of realistic and faraway places. I noticed his work, but fell in love with such landscapes on the reprinting of Ben Bova’s Grand Tour books. His sense of scale and detail is breath takingly immersive. To get a better sense of his work and the scale of it, check out Beyond the Horizon-- The Art of John Harris. "Whatever marks I make, I have to hold in my mind the essence of the feeling that arises with the image that's being called upon to be created. That immediate juncture when I make the very first mark, it has to be saturated with the feeling. after that, it almost doesn't matter. I can do almost anything as long as I can remember the action and look at the mark that came from that action inspired by the feeling that was first generated." -- John Harris (Beyond the Horizon) Adekunle Adeleke and Slava Fokk
Adeleke is a Nigerian artist and illustrator that specializes in blending black portraits and African Ankara patterns into a surrealist creations. Check out his Wax Series. His use of color combine with the varied complexions of his black models is striking. He's illustrated a number of novels across genres and ages. When the detail of the print takes over (like the Wax Series), that's when his work is the strongest and most Beautiful to me.
Photographer Mattheiu GBI don't know much about this artist; I came across his work as it was featured on AfroStyle Magazine's social media pages, which I follow. But in my vary recent research, I found that he is a French photographer and art director. It's hard to view a more comprehensive portfolio of his work since he doesn't seem to have an artists page other than Instagram. But what I've seen is inspiring. The contrasts of colors, the setting and styling. I don't know much about photography (my undergrad minor was in Art with a focus on fine arts rather than photography), so I don't know how involved he was with the concept. But these images would look absolutely stunning if adapted to Cave Stars.
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