When I first started out, I was working with Gimp 2.6 program which is a wonderful program to start out on. It is completely free and is available for download at www.gimp.org.
There is a satisfaction I get from creating artwork that I don't get from writing or editing. Below are my creations. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did in creating them :)
Below are my earlier works using Gimp 2.6
Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. I am happy to hear any suggestions and/or critiques :)
~Mags
I still am really drawn in on Forever Adam and Two Doors Down. On mistress of time there is a lot going on form e..my eyes don't know where to to look 1st I'm back and forth panning the cover.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the progress Margie, Great job!
Thank you Jen! It means a lot to me that you like my work. It has been a fun couple of months learning the whole process.
ReplyDeleteSome Day Soon is my favorite of these. I also like the Snow Heat with the girl. I really like covers with some sort of effect on them because they stand out more. A compilation of pictures all put on the same space doesn't a cover make. Haunted Dreams is beautiful if you took away the flower. I don't think it adds anything to the cover. Mistress of Time is my least favorite. I like the girl and the way you added the clock at the top but I think it is too busy for me. You certainly have an eye for graphics work and I wish you luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kissa. I wish I had a mentor that would help me see where I need to make adjustments. It is just a hit and miss for me.
ReplyDeleteWith Haunted Dreams the lead character Annabelle finds a single magnolia blossom beside her bed while staying at a Georgia B&B known to be haunted. She's thinks it is all a ruse by the owners but then she begins to have vivid dreams where a handsome young man tries to court her. His gift always includes a single magnolia flower.
You're doing amazing stuff here, I like the Gimp covers and I can see why you made the jump to Photoshop. I have only 2 covers that I would change. I don't like the font for Siren Song; I've seen it used in too many 'hand made' ads, so it looks amateurish to me.
ReplyDeleteI also have issues with Mistress of Time. When I look I see the layers *as* layers rather than the whole. I think the model is part of the reason. For one thing, the tulle ornamentation that ate her arm looks very like a tornado. The other issue is her hair; with the vortex behind her, I can't see her hair being that controlled. The mask around her head is too abrupt, possibly because of the way the original's light source shadowed it. She just looks pasted on top of all the other elements.
Her expression is very compelling , so I understand why you chose her. And the rest of it really only came to me after some study. I don't want to sound like I'm dumping on it, cause I'm not.
I am still learning. I just hope to one day get to the chance to do this for a living. I do appreciate your comments and will look at rectifying some of them. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll look back at these a giggle that I thought these were my best :) Thank you again for your critique.
ReplyDeleteWow these are pretty cool!! Must agree with the others about Mistress in time being to busy. I like the concept maybe with less things on it :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!!!
On the newer ones I absolutely LOVE Haunted Dreams~ There's something compelling about it. Some Day Soon I love the imagery~ But the font feels off... She has such a longing help me look and the text is so harsh in comparison.
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely tell that you have made improvement, and are well on your way to reaching your goals! Bravo Mags!
MOTS, some of these are stunning. Siren's Song and Haunted Dreams are two strong covers. What I'd really recommend is limiting the amount of elements in each cover. People aren't going to spend more than a second or two - and I'm not exaggerating - I research this stuff for a living - so if they have to really look at the cover to get an idea of what the book is about, you have missed the mark. I don't mean that you need to hit people over the head with the concept but the design does need to be crisp and clear. When I pick up the book, I know this is a vampire book, this is a m/m love story. Cry in the Dark is good but bring the image forward, back off your name a little bit more. The book cover is cut in 3 and things are a bit out of balance. Can't wait to see the next round!
ReplyDeleteThese are all awesome! Breathless Press is actively looking for cover artists. You should get in touch with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicole, Margie and DC! Your kind words mean a lot.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip DC I will contact them now :)
THey look fantastic girl I didn't know you wanted to do art work :) Yay! Now you can write fantastic stories and do your own art!
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