First up, thanks SO MUCH for all the feedback & opinions, everyone! Couldn't have done it without. <-- for you!

So here are the final versions of the Grimm Tales cover - there wasn't a clear favorite, though most people preferred the blue face, a lot of people preferred the darker design on the back, some liked the moon repeated on the back very much, some didn't. The most contested part of the design was the goose - some of my designer or artist friends pointed out that it was a bit much, a bit random, and made a funny shape, though most other people I asked (including a bunch of other designers & artists, as well as whatever children's opinion I managed to obtain) liked the goose. In the end I asked my mom (not randomly - she used to be a children's librarian) -- she also picked the design with the goose and without the moon on back. In the end - after changing my mind twice, the contest site lets you do that, arghhh -- I went with my first choice, which is a bit more subdued - simply because I felt that it might be more appropriate for this particular publishing house. THe other Grimm Tales covers they have are all quite dark and a bit spooky. If it had been a German publisher, I would definitely have gone with the "semifinal" version!

FINAL CHOICE:

THE ONE THAT NEARLY MADE IT (and a lot of you liked best):

Previous journal entry about the Grimm covers (the "design process"): [link]


As to the entry for the "Penguin" part of the contest, the given book was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", which I have less of an shall we say emotional tie to (as I did with the Grimm Tales), but I thought it was an interesting book to illustrate (lots of visual symbols in the text), and came up with what I thought was a reasonably good concept.  I didn't get nearly as much feedback on this one as I did on the Grimm Tales - for various reasons, I suppose, one of them being that it isn't after all so hot a design!   -- One of my designer/illustrator friends I asked for an opinion really did not like it. Well I admit it is a bit shrill -- it was intended to be -- I tried, on her advice, to tone it down a bit (again, I first submitted one version then changed my mind) -- but in the end I thought, well, if I want to do a bright, in-your-face sort of design I better do the full Monty, otherwise it's just going to be neither here nor there. And if it is shrill enough to actually induce dislike - rather than just a yawn - then I suppose I'd prefer that reaction, for at least it will have got someone's attention! I still think it's not such a bad design, except admittedly, not very "Penguin" (they are after all famous for their Understatement).

FINAL CHOICE:

THE CHICKEN-OUT VERSION:


Perhaps it was a bit over-ambitious to try and do two designs in the space of just over one week. Looking at it again in the morning (after catching up on the accumulated sleep deficit) I wonder if the "semifinal" design might not have been the better choice after all -- it certainly seems to work better in the "thumbnail" version. At least it might have been, if I'd given myself enough time to work on it a bit more - make the central vignette something *really* cool. O well -- :shrugs: --- it's not like I have any expectations of winning this award! Mostly, it was just a good way for me to test if I was really happy to (and capable of) doing this type of work, to a deadline (I am). And it all adds to the portfolio! Besides, it's a way to get someone who works at Penguin /slash/ Puffin to get to have a look at my designs, and that is indeed something I very much need to do -- my "good intention" for the year!

Previous journal entry about this design is here: [link]

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March newsletter now online: [link]
Living in the Wairarapa, painting, music, gardening, a review of a local art show, and a trip to Taranaki! With lots of new photos.

Taranaki
* Living in the Wairarapa
* News & Current Projects
* Cool Things Friends Do: Back home in Wellington ...
*Taranaki
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Please visit my personal website: [link]
New Blog about web design: [link]
My Myspace & Reverbnation musician profiles: [link] ** [link]

Ah yes. And I also bought a house. But of what importance is that, compared with a Kiriban! -- stay tuned for my February newsletter to read more about that: [link]

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GERMAN FAIRY TALES PROJECT
Der Knabe und der Wassermann


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EARTHSEA ILLUSTRATION PROJECT:
Limited Edition Giclee Prints available now! [link]

A Wizard of Earthsea:


The Tombs of Atuan:


The Farthest Shore:



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Now available in my online shop: greeting cards for all occasions! [link]

Original Artwork for sale:
[link]

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fellow Howers:



who else rocks: