July Contest WIP—Thoughts?

JoshSchouwstra

Hey guys!
Wondering if you could give me your thoughts on which of these covers would be best to move forward on.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's submissions to the contest!

Heather Boyd

The one that strikes me the best is B. It's got that wow and awe climax moment though I am also a bit uneasy with all the backs turned away from us. But I thought if you had one like the lion (who is more afraid/cowardly in the story) looking behind nervously, maybe even towards us that would help connect us to both the characters and lead our eyes again back to the centre. As I write this I also think depending on the emotion you want us to feel choose a character who feels it, like I used the lion and his restless nature and turn that character's head and like shoulder or what not around. Just a thought or two.

The title though in B gets lost a bit -but you'll work that out I am sure.

Dana Eastes

I like the perspective on "B". Where do I find the prompt for the July contest? thanks, Dana

JoshSchouwstra

@Dana-Eastes Thanks for the input!

The post for July's Art Contest prompt got a bit buried (lots of activity on the forums!), but here is a link that will hopefully work:
https://forum.svslearn.com/topic/9685/july-contest-design-a-book-cover-for-the-wizard-of-oz/8

Otherwise, you might need to do some forum digging. It's posted in announcements.

JoshSchouwstra

@Heather-Boyd Great idea with the lion! Thanks for the input!

And yes, the titling will be adjusted in the next phase , just wanted to get the general idea of where the text would be so I could figure out some basic placement.

deborah Haagenson

I have to say that A is my choice, because the characters are in action, walking along. In B their backs are all to us and in C they are all looking at us, with no real purpose I don't think - Unless I missed something.

Jeremy Ross

Hi @JoshSchouwstra, I like B of the bunch.

Dima Eichhorn

@JoshSchouwstra I like B the best

gavpartridge

I think C, I cant think of a book cover that has all the protagonists facing the wrong way, taking up the whole cover. Maybe for an illustration in the middle of a book, but not the cover. The city in the background is good though, could that work in C?

JoshSchouwstra

Thanks guys!
I decided to go with a combination of the B and C.

aprilshin

I love your characters!! Can't wait to see it with the text as well

deborah Haagenson

Very nice line work!

Coley

@JoshSchouwstra nice!

JoshSchouwstra

@deborah-Haagenson @Coley @aprilshin Thanks guys!

cszoltan

Great choice Josh! the B version was a bit chaotic for the title to be clear. Rely dig the dramatic camera angle, you should try adding the tittle on top, maybe you will need to add more free space up there to be balanced.
Cant wait to see your progress!

JoshSchouwstra

@cszoltan Thanks!

Here's the tentative final design (the final submission will have the guides off).

Though does anyone find the text to be lost in the design (thinking especially of the author's name)?
And as always, any other notes/critiques are welcome

cszoltan

Rely like it how its coming along. It has a Comic Book-ish feel to it!
Btw, I know that the bleed it there to be cut of after printing, but what should we do with it, its more then 2 inch, I suppose that we don`t have to continue the image?

JoshSchouwstra

@cszoltan Thanks! I was hoping to try a more comic book style

To answer your question on the bleed, the bleed is not the grey area. The grey area is there not only to frame the final comp a bit more, but also allow one to draw beyond the edge of the piece.

As for what to do with the bleed area, I'd say to include it in the final image, since that is what I've done with other jobs that require bleed.

Hope that helps!