Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Family Ranch
Linda Hussa : University of Nevada Press
The photograph was provided by Madelaine Graham Blake and I have learned over the years that when you have a nice photograph the best thing to do is get out of its way.
The photograph was provided by Madelaine Graham Blake and I have learned over the years that when you have a nice photograph the best thing to do is get out of its way.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Child Poverty and Inequality
Duncan Lindsey : Oxford University Press
The publisher provided the image and it was a challenge to marry the seriousness of the subject with the playfulness of the image. Isolating moments by cropping the image seemed to hit the right balance.
The publisher provided the image and it was a challenge to marry the seriousness of the subject with the playfulness of the image. Isolating moments by cropping the image seemed to hit the right balance.
Redesigning Social Inquiry
Charles C. Ragin : University of Chicago Press
The author provided the abstract painting. I introduced the circle art to play off the Venn diagram circles within the text. It is a busy cover but seems to suit the subject.
The author provided the abstract painting. I introduced the circle art to play off the Venn diagram circles within the text. It is a busy cover but seems to suit the subject.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Emma Goldman, Volumes 1 & 2
A Documentary History of the American Years
edited by Candace Falk : University of Illinois Press
The set is being reissued by Illinois in paperback and I hope that the texts find new readers. I was fascinated to learn more about this independent thinker.
edited by Candace Falk : University of Illinois Press
The set is being reissued by Illinois in paperback and I hope that the texts find new readers. I was fascinated to learn more about this independent thinker.
Tudor Autobiography
Meredith Anne Skura : University of Chicago Press
Another hand-colored image. This time I used my favorite German watercolor set. The pans are getting so low that I think I will soon treat myself to another one and pass the well-used set onto my kids.
Another hand-colored image. This time I used my favorite German watercolor set. The pans are getting so low that I think I will soon treat myself to another one and pass the well-used set onto my kids.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Creative Power [comps]
edited by Micki McGee : Columbia University Press
An interesting volume on the politics and art inside the gates of Yaddo in upstate New York. The book will accompany an exhibit of Yaddo artists. I proposed a more political angle that showed a mock-up of a flag with a detail of the gate to play off the art and politics in the book, but the title needed to be downplayed so I am now working with a more straightforward solution and I used a monochromatic treatment for the title to push is back a bit. Still under review, so we'll see.
UPDATE: The project was ultimately placed with another designer after the title changed and an image change were requested. See the final cover here.
An interesting volume on the politics and art inside the gates of Yaddo in upstate New York. The book will accompany an exhibit of Yaddo artists. I proposed a more political angle that showed a mock-up of a flag with a detail of the gate to play off the art and politics in the book, but the title needed to be downplayed so I am now working with a more straightforward solution and I used a monochromatic treatment for the title to push is back a bit. Still under review, so we'll see.
UPDATE: The project was ultimately placed with another designer after the title changed and an image change were requested. See the final cover here.
ABCs
I took the summer off last year to travel with my husband and my two kids. While we were away I asked my children to help me find the alphabet in the world around us. We explored Oklahoma, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon together and this is an alphabet created out of the numerous letters we found along the way.
Friday, March 14, 2008
White But Not Equal
Ignacio M. Garcia : University of Arizona Press
I pitched the idea of running the front cover without spelling out "not equal" and letting the symbol suffice, but in the end editorial felt it needed to be reinstated. Then the author asked for me to create a darker skin tone as well as add "dirt" to the hand. I quickly mocked this up, but now the hand is too dark to carry the symbol so I reversed it to white, but I worry the design's strength is getting watered down. I am researching new hand imagery and will likely begin again before this is printed and wrapped around the final book.
I pitched the idea of running the front cover without spelling out "not equal" and letting the symbol suffice, but in the end editorial felt it needed to be reinstated. Then the author asked for me to create a darker skin tone as well as add "dirt" to the hand. I quickly mocked this up, but now the hand is too dark to carry the symbol so I reversed it to white, but I worry the design's strength is getting watered down. I am researching new hand imagery and will likely begin again before this is printed and wrapped around the final book.
Where Clouds Are Formed
Ofelia Zepeda : University of Arizona Press
The image is from one of the poems where a daughter and father are having a talk and they spend time listening to the rain during the the silent breaks in conversation.
The image is from one of the poems where a daughter and father are having a talk and they spend time listening to the rain during the the silent breaks in conversation.
A Radiant Curve
Luci Tapahonso : University of Arizona Press
A radiant curve is a rainbow in Navajo mythology, and I wanted to find art that represented a rainbow, but not literally. This dynamic image is by Navajo painter Emmi Whitehorse. I enjoyed reviewing all the Navajo painters for this project. I had not worked on that type of research in several years. Emmi Whitehorse is the first artist I ever located for a Sun Tracks book so it was fun to work with her imagery again and to find this image with all the colors of the rainbow showcased is such a fresh way.
A radiant curve is a rainbow in Navajo mythology, and I wanted to find art that represented a rainbow, but not literally. This dynamic image is by Navajo painter Emmi Whitehorse. I enjoyed reviewing all the Navajo painters for this project. I had not worked on that type of research in several years. Emmi Whitehorse is the first artist I ever located for a Sun Tracks book so it was fun to work with her imagery again and to find this image with all the colors of the rainbow showcased is such a fresh way.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
To Be Like Gods
Matthew G. Looper : University of Texas Press
The author supplied the ancient Mayan pottery for the cover. I liked this figure very much. The chosen design was the most simple of the grouping I proposed and while appropriate it would have been fun to see this pushed a bit.
The author supplied the ancient Mayan pottery for the cover. I liked this figure very much. The chosen design was the most simple of the grouping I proposed and while appropriate it would have been fun to see this pushed a bit.
The Best American Magazine Writing 2008
compiled by the American Society of Magazine Editors
and Columbia University Press
and Columbia University Press
Literary Nevada
edited by Cheryll Glotfelty : University of Nevada Press
A tricky project with lots of opinions about design direction. This design is a slight variation from my original proposal and I think the collage works nicely for the collection.
A tricky project with lots of opinions about design direction. This design is a slight variation from my original proposal and I think the collage works nicely for the collection.
Friday, February 15, 2008
inspirational videos
I found a series of interviews with designers and illustrators today on the hillman curtis website -- here is the link. I found them inspiring.
http://www.hillmancurtis.com/hc_web/film_video.shtml
http://www.hillmancurtis.com/hc_web/film_video.shtml
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Osage Rose
Tom Holm : The University of Arizona Press
A 1930s Tulsa, Oklahoma murder mystery. I researched numerous postcard dealers online until I found a 1930s vintage postcard of Tulsa. The graininess works nicely with this project.
A 1930s Tulsa, Oklahoma murder mystery. I researched numerous postcard dealers online until I found a 1930s vintage postcard of Tulsa. The graininess works nicely with this project.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Grace Period
Gerald Haslam : University of Nevada Press
A tragic yet sweet love story where the main character falls in love shortly after discovering he has prostate cancer. He finds solace in quiet prayer and spending time at the river.
A tragic yet sweet love story where the main character falls in love shortly after discovering he has prostate cancer. He finds solace in quiet prayer and spending time at the river.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Still Here, Still Now
Robert Pack : University of Chicago Press
A nice poetry volume and an interesting challenge to tie in imagery with this title. The butterfly was the author's favorite.
A nice poetry volume and an interesting challenge to tie in imagery with this title. The butterfly was the author's favorite.
Creating Outdoor Classrooms
Lauri Johnson : University of Texas Press
The author was intent on using the child' architectural rendering and although I proposed a couple solutions that incorporated the art in context with other elements from the textbook, in the end the singular image was chosen.
An alternate solution utilizing a grid of images that ties into the interior grid. I preferred the color play of this layout.
The author was intent on using the child' architectural rendering and although I proposed a couple solutions that incorporated the art in context with other elements from the textbook, in the end the singular image was chosen.
An alternate solution utilizing a grid of images that ties into the interior grid. I preferred the color play of this layout.
Contact
Jeffrey McCarthy : University of Nevada Press
This book is a collection of historic and current essays by a variety of writers and climbers. The climber in silhouette is perhaps a bit too obvious but the angles in the image and the strong monochromatic color note are interesting to my eye.
This book is a collection of historic and current essays by a variety of writers and climbers. The climber in silhouette is perhaps a bit too obvious but the angles in the image and the strong monochromatic color note are interesting to my eye.
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