I've been dying to share some exciting news for months and I finally got the green light. Back in the summer I was hired by Harper Collins to do some concept work for a book cover!!! 😮 Umm what?
Ya, this experience has been the most exciting I've had so far as an artist not to mention the fact how hard its been keeping it under wraps until now.
Working with their creative director on the project, I went to work on some concepts they wanted to see for a book called Grand by award winning novelist Charles Johnson. Some of the concepts were (trees, love, strength, acorns, simplicity, bright...) Here are just a few samples of what I worked on:
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There was no guarantee an image would be chosen by the editors for the final cut but I was keeping my fingers crossed. A few weeks later I received word.....
Well you could imagine my excitement, shock and surprise when I saw this! How incredible to see your work on the cover of a book! I love how it turned out. The simplicity, and the symbolism that the acorn represents. Fun fact, during this process, I kept coming across acorns in my travels...they were turning up everywhere in my life. They were a great inspiration and reference while creating.
Whats even more exciting is who the author is. Charles Johnson is a award-winning novelist, philosopher, essayist, screenwriter, professor and cartoonist, he has held numerous impressive titles over the course of his incomparable career. Now, for the first time, with his trademark wisdom and philosophical generosity, he turns his attention to his most important role yet: grandparent.
In Grand, Johnson shares stories from his life with his six-year-old grandson, Emery, weaving in advice and life lessons that stand the test of time. “Looking at the problems I see in the world around me,” Johnson writes, “I realize that there are so many things I want to say to him about the goodness and beauty that life offers. What are the perennial truths that I can impart to Emery that might make his journey through life easier or more rewarding?” Johnson shares these truths and more, offering profound meditations on family, race, freedom and creativity.
Joyful, lucid and deeply comforting, Grand is Johnson at his most accessible and profound, an indispensable compendium for new grandparents and growing grandchildren alike, from one of America’s most revered thinkers. *Taken from write-up.
Available now for pre-order at Indigo/Chapters and Amazon. What a great book to gift someone special in your life.
Needless to say I'm incredibly proud and honoured to be part of this book. Many thanks to erin.craig.creative for this amazing experience.
*this is not a sponsored post, I'm just over the moon to share this special book with everyone and proud that my art is represented on the cover.