Cover Art

[darkemeralds]

I need a book cover!

There are quickie template-based designs online, and there's $5000 for original artwork, and there's not much in between.

"Well, what do you want to wind up with?" asked my sister Helen.

"Basically this," said I:

"...but a) without Jared Padalecki's face; b) not stolen from a copyright fashion shoot with Johnny Depp; and c) featuring a poet shirt and buckskin breeches rather than that 20th century tuxedo."

"So let's do our own photoshoot."



Well, why not? We have cameras. Everybody has a camera. We have tripods and lights and friends and junk shops and Craigslist. What the hell.

All we need is a tall, lanky red-haired model. And a high-backed wing chair. And some gold brocade. And a poet shirt. Some yellowish pants. A riding crop. A few gew-gaws that can pass for Georgian ornaments.

Yesterday I found the chair on Craigslist--twenty bucks! And they delivered it in an hour!

(Just add gold brocade)

...so, feeling lucky, I went to the Rebuilding Center and came back with some ornamental junk for under $10.


...and then I found this thing at the corner resale shop. Weighs a ton!


Still to come:

• Large quantities of gold brocade
• Drippy candles
• An oriental style rug
• That poet shirt
• A model

Wish me luck!

Comments

[alexseanchai]

Best luck!

[dine]

sadly, your photos aren't loading - but I look forward to further updates on your acquisitions for the photoshoot

[donutsweeper]

ooh that chair looks PERFECT for it. Hee, the first apartment I lived in had these awful red velvet/velour, gold patterned curtains that were heavy as hell and just terrible to look at but the pattern was almost exactly the one on your Restraint cover. With luck your local goodwill or similar type store will have something like them for you to repurpose.

[branchandroot]

I have to say, some of the best covers I've seen (that had specific requirements like this) were self-shoots, so I think you're on the right track. Gold brocade, ho!

[ranunculus]

Great idea, have fun!

Cover

[frahulettaes]

Hi! I think that contacting the local Jane Austen Society or Regency Dance group might net you a tallish gentleman in the right era of garb. Also, with new fangled software, the image you have can be made to look hand painted enough to pass copyright. I have a friend, Walter Nelson, at lahacal.org who runs a fair amount of regency events. He might be able to point you to someone who could help. He's lovely, I've known him for twenty years and if you tell him I sent you, will probably be very helpful if he can.
Do you have the image above without type? I'd like to try messing with it if that would be okay.

[tehomet]

Fascinating. :D I love your finds.