Now I am happy with the cover

Finally happy with the cover I am ready to print the dummy and add the two required finishes.  It is a simple story with lots of action and I loved watching Clarence and Alexander go off in search of snow. If you scroll down on the blog you can see the older version of the cover.  What I did was to make the bears smaller, simplify the area around them and change the text on the back cover a tiny bit.

When sending a dummy book I usually send prints of one fully painted piece from the book and one black and white version.  Because this is my story I won't suggest that any publisher pick another artist.  It is what it is and I am learning to be patient.

  This is the older version of the cover.....

and here is where I began the changes.....

Simple pictures are the best.

A new direction for the cover

The more I looked at the cover for the story I am working on the more I could see where it needed improvement.  For one thing the bears are too close to the ground and too large in the hollow of the tree.
I made them smaller, added some of their behinds to bring depth into the scene inside the hollow and redid the tree bark and fading grass.  Now I am happier with this part of the cover.  More to work on, but I am glad I changed it.

©Ginger Nielson 2011

Sometimes simple pictures are the best.  I won't be adding as much  "stuff" to this version but I will create some interest for the wraparound.

Full cover image

This is the full wraparound cover for a book I am creating in dummy form.  Almost finished with the sketches I will still need two finishes in color and one in black and white before the dummy is complete.

©Ginger Nielson 2011

Here we have Clarence and Alexander, two adventurous brown bear cubs.

Spring Mailer

I had already sent out Spring postcards, but decided I needed to send out a flyer to key prospects. The mailer is two sided. One side has a brief resume and book and client list, and the other is a composite image from many illustrations. I decided to add some interest to the envelope as well.


I also designed an envelope for the separate mailers I will be sending to Magazine publishers.

Monday surprises....

I received my first copies of the FLAX art and Design catlog today with my illustration on the cover. That was such a neat surprise. Next thing I knew, my new copy of the update to Painter had arrived...Painter X. I am really excited about trying out whats new and experimenting with all the wonderful brushes.

©GingerNielson2006