How does it feel like to be critiqued by an Art Director at a Big Six publisher?
Before: nervous, excited
During: a bit hurt/indignant, thoughtful
After: humbled, grateful, inspired
Here's how it happened...
The Assignment
A few months ago on Twitter, Giuseppe Castellano, Art Director at Penguin USA (who oversees the Grossett & Dunlap, PSS!, Warne, PYR, and Poptropica imprints), offered to give students in illustration or art schools critiques based on an assignment he would give. Mark Mitchell, who helms an
online children's illustration course, took Giuseppe up on the offer. Giuseppe's assigment to us: re-envision the cover of either the first Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys story. Twenty-six students from the class submitted covers.
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my inspiration |
When I started on my cover of The Secret of the Old Clock, I was inspired by the recent Lemony Snicket book, Who Could It Be at This Hour? I liked its fresh approach to the traditional middle grade cover:
I came up with this graphic novel look as a result:
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© 2013 Sylvia Liu |