patch-threads

[patch-threads]

Susanna Clarke

(x)

[patch-threads]

I'm an illustrator and graphic designer learning about book cover design and illustration. Today's breakdown: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke @susannaclarke_ (on IG) published by @bloomsburypublishing (IG)

Cover design by William Webb @willwebbdesign (IG)

One of the first things I noticed while researching the cover is that not every edition is the same. I have a US paperback, which has additional text--"The International Bestseller" at the top and a quote from the Sunday Times at the bottom. Another edition I saw had NYT Bestseller and Time Magazine's Number 1 book of the year.

I assume these relate to the particular places in which these editions are being sold and what endorsements are most likely to sway potential readers.

I used my copy for a layout breakdown and reconstruction. The original:

My reconstruction:

For comparison: original vs reconstruction

This is a typography-focused cover, with the raven serving as the only illustrative element. There are two typefaces used, both with serifs. The title and author's name are in a font resembling IM Fell English, which I found on Google Fonts. It's primarily characterized by its irregular edges, probably the reason it was used.

The cover is very high-contrast, two-tone white silver on black, without any halftones or greys intermixed. Overall, it looks almost like a newspaper or early print book in which the color scheme has been reversed. The effect created is both "historical" and gothic, accurately positioning the book as if it were a gothic novel of the period.

The raven pushes the overall look towards the fantastic, hinting at the presence of English magic and mythology in a way that may not be obvious to the potential reader but which becomes very clear upon reading.

I love how simple it is, with each detail hinting at what the reader can expect. It’s a great cover!

[patch-threads]

The Four Seasons (1896) by Alphonse Mucha

[patch-threads]

Alfons Maria Mucha (Czechoslovakian, 1860-1939) Spring Night, ca.1910

[patch-threads]

Hi Tumblr! It’s been [redacted] years that I haven’t posted something, which is rather silly actually. Fixing that.

Anyway, here’s Harrowhark Nonagesimus from The Locked Tomb series! :) Enjoy!

[patch-threads]

It's been literal years since I've posted here, but I wanted to share that my newest project, DRAWN ONWARD, is out this week! (Published by Harper Alley) It is a palindromic picture book/comic about a boy who is grieving the loss of his mother who ventures out to find the answer to an impossible question.

This book has been years in the making and is a collaboration between me and the brilliant writer and human Daniel Nayeri. Passion project only begins to describe what creating this has meant to me– I put so much love and care into every page and hope everyone has fun looking for little easter eggs (There are lots of Zelda references in there :0)

The thing that blew my mind about this book when Daniel first asked me to work on it with him, is that the whole thing is structurally a palindrome. To make it even more amazing, he wrote a reverse poem that uses the same words but imbues a different meaning as you read them the other way. So for example the book starts and ends with the phrase "She was gone."

Here's a link to the book on the publisher's site if you are at all interested! It's available wherever books are sold.

PS Tumblr still rules... I miss it. Maybe I'll start posting here again. Instagram is the worst and is damaging my soul.

[patch-threads]

Treated myself to some shiny watercolors 🌙

[patch-threads]

The Kelpie Pond✨️ Jaimie Whitbread