Book Cover One: Stronger at the Seams

My design for my first Cover of #12bookswitheather -- Stronger at the Seams by Shannon Stocker

I listened to this audiobook as I was surrounded by the chaos of a late Christmas. We had travelled to visit my sister in law in Nevada, and all my husband's siblings and kids were there. I had started the book on the plane ride over, but in a few rare moments, I stuck my earbuds in, pulled out my iPad and was drawing while listening to the audiobook. As I was listening, there was an important moment in the book when Twyla, the main chracter has this moment of catharsis. The image was so clear in my brain. Twyla was in her backyard by the stream, under branches of a willow tree. I continued reading the book and loved it, not thinking much about that image. After all, I had had many experiences just like that as I read.

I had been contemplating an art project I wanted to embark on as I had just finished a Christmas art challenge and was feeling like I wanted some new direction. When I got back home from the trip, I recalled a thought I had that had repeated itself over months or even years: I wanted to draw book covers. Subsequently, the image that had come to me so clearly reappeared in my mind. The first book cover I could do was for Stronger at the Seams.

Then, I thought, maybe I could make a commitment. I could do 12 book covers! So, I announced it on my social media page. I didn't want this to be like so many other times where I had thought about it and not done anything, and I felt this would give me some accountability. I also created a hashtag to go with it #12bookswitheather

I created a quick sketch, not wanting to lose my momentum.

First sketch of my idea

Another element I really wanted to include was kintsugi, a Japanese pottery technique where after a piece is broken, gold laquer is applied to the seams, therefore making the piece more beautiful after being broken. In the original cover, there are seams throughout a silhouette of a girl. I did not want to copy that, but felt it symbolically important, so I added it to my original image I had imagined.

I then started adding more detail to my sketch, and adding color. I got to a point where it just didn't feel right. I felt stuck. I showed it to an art group and got some feedback about considering changing the colors to fit the feel of the seriousness of the work. Luckily, Procreate makes it pretty easy to change up colors.

Color Option that felt too bright for the thematic content

Color option that felt more true to the thematic content

After I did that, I felt like I could make progress on the cover. it felt right. I had also chosen to hand letter the title, and I felt like it popped even more on the darker coloring.

I continued on with adding detail to the figure, and especially focused on the kintsugi. Overall, I felt pretty satisfied with the cover. I also felt like I learned quite a bit.

The figure on the book cover with kintsugi overlay