Book Cover Design

Status: Closed
Prize: $50
Entries Received: 23
Winner: evanpapadakis

Winner

Contest Brief

Hi guys,

I need a book cover for a mini-novel I just completed. I have a very specific idea of what I want, but I am completely open to other designs. Because of my open policy, I am providing the plot concept so that you can draw ideas from it.

Plot concept:
A little alien girl becomes friends with a human boy, after healing his withered leg. She returns to Earth every summer to spend time with him. As they grow up and grow closer, they help each other grow and overcome weaknesses that would have otherwise been insurmountable.

Character design:
The alien girl has chocolate skin, and blond hair styled into a bowl cut. In my mind's eye, she's wearing a plain sundress that billows in the summer wind (because, that is the very first memorable scene in the story). In terms of physique and face, think of Willow Smith.

Creative mandatories:
600 x 800 size.
I PREFER some indication of "summer" e.g. bright skies, a sunset, the sun causing a glare behind a silhouetted figure, etc.
I would LIKE the alien girl in the cover, but this is not a necessity. I am open to more abstract designs.
The Boy MUST NOT appear in anyway. You'll notice that I did not describe him.
NO TEXT on the cover page. I can insert that myself. You will notice I have not provided a book title or author name.

Obviously, I'm open to designs. Modified stock photography or illustrations are both invited. Have fun with it. But though it's clearly a sci-fi sort of story, avoid making the design too sci-fi heavy. Simple is better.

Thank you.

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Winner

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“Very talented. Flexible and time conscious.”

maxwellcoffie, Ghana.

Public Clarification Board

mobyartist2
- 9 years ago
Congrats 4 the Winner, great photoshopper !!!
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
After much deliberation, I have decided to go with Evanpapadakis's design. A lot of you did such wonderful work, and I would such like to say thanks for all the effort. You're really talented people.
- 9 years ago
ammarmeza
- 9 years ago
see 34 for you
- 9 years ago
juanluis21
- 9 years ago
Sorry, my entry is #32 =)
- 9 years ago
juanluis21
- 9 years ago
Hi Sir, please rate #26 Thank you very much! =)
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@Evanpapadakis Wow! That is almost perfect!! You'll notice I gave it 4 stars right off the bat. First of all, I'd prefer the background a little closer, and a larger sun that causes a slight sun glare, and silhouettes her slightly would be perfect too. The trim on her shoulder is a little rough, but I'm assuming it's just because it's a prototype. Bring me one more attempt please. :)
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@mobyartitst2 I love this. :) And it would be perfect if the book was a kid's book. Unfortunately, it is not. Thanks for the effort though.
- 9 years ago
1. mobyartist2
  - 9 years ago
  Ok sir, thanks 4 correction, i will fix it... just wait for my latest update :)
  - 9 years ago
2. Contest Holder
  - 9 years ago
  Hi. That is very good! A few suggestions: the head is quite large. Maybe you want to reduce that. And I'd prefer the frame gone. The grass and skies are so beautiful, they might as well take up the page. Finally if the girl could smile...just a little bit; sort of a knowing smirk...that would be great.
  - 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@Petre08 That looks pretty good! But it leaves out several details I provided in the brief. First of all, the character must have dark skin, and her hair is bowl-cut (or failing that, at least: no lengthier than chin level). One more thing: correct me if I'm wrong, but your image seems to be based off a photograph. I assume that you have full rights to the image? Thanks for the effort!
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@NicoleBender You've got the idea. However, the woman looks a little old, and the lipstick is a little...off. It would be better not seeing her face at all then; just the back of her head would be fine. A younger girl would be nicer. Also, the dress is a little shapeless in the front. Otherwise it's a pretty good attempt. Thank you. :)
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@Papertige1976 I like that you tried a simpler approach. However, this art does not quite carry the tone I'm looking for.
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
@Jamone22 This is a lot better. :) There is something slightly...off about the entire ensemble though. I stared at it for a long time, and then toyed with it a little in Photoshop myself. I realized that the various elements don't seem to be "cut out of the same fabric" so to speak. The hills, the girl, the sky, all look like different art styles put into the same image. For example, the hills contain a lot of angled strokes, like the product of sketch/stroke-shading work, whereas the girl looks much smoother. The elements need to feel more "together". Finally, the dress still looks a little stiff.
- 9 years ago
andreisiminea
- 9 years ago
on the right is the silhouette of a woman in smoke (cloud) and below it is a hand in hand all the smoke that I wanted to see the sky but I have a lot of work and unfinished so I posted it to see if you like the idea.
my idea of heaven was a female ghost yet strong and a connection with the earth, as long as you said you do not want a man in the picture
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
More feedback:
@andreisiminea I love the sun on the horizon. However, I wonder what the swirly thing in the right hand corner is. I would prefer it gone. Also a silhouetted girl in a billowing dress, right there in the grass would make this a lot better.

@makeit1933 I did leave room for abstract entries. However, that looks more like a logo.

If I really really like my final choice, I might increase the prize to $50 just to thank the winner.
- 9 years ago
Contest Holder
- 9 years ago
Some feedback:
@imagestudio Nice artwork. But completely wrong for my story. I made no mention of wings, and in fact, their leathery property give it a more "fantasy" vibe than sci-fi. Even the women in your artwork are Caucasian--tanned at best. Also, there is nudity in your artwork. That is a no-no. Please re-read the brief.
@Jamone You're on the right path. :) My criticism is that the colours are a little dull. Vibrancy would be preferred, because the cover art should bring a sense of wonder to the alien bieng. The sundress would be better plain, short and billowy, and a brilliant sun over the horizon would be perfect. I understand that that's a lot to get right, so you could always toy with completely different concepts if you like.
- 9 years ago
dnyakana
- 9 years ago
Hi maxwellcoffie,

it would rely motivate the competitors if you rank their designs with stars.

Best of best regards
Daniel
- 9 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 9 years ago
  I actually worried that I might demotivate competitors, since the entries I've seen so far are a little underwhelming. I wanted to wait for a few more entries first. But I've done as you've asked.
  - 9 years ago
Papertige1976
- 9 years ago
Do you know roughly what the dimensions of the cover are?
- 9 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 9 years ago
  600 x 800 is fine. I will add that to the brief.
  - 9 years ago
mobyartist2
- 9 years ago
iam working..
- 9 years ago
pradyuman5
- 9 years ago
can you describe the alien girl in detail please
- 9 years ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 9 years ago
  In my mind's eye, she's wearing a plain sundress that billows in the summer wind (because, that is the very first memorable scene in the story). In terms of physique and face, think of Willow Smith.
  - 9 years ago