Need a bit of help with my cover.

[Incoming]

I think the cover makes it clear that I am not the best artist. I want to refine it, but not really sure how. Any advice would be appreciated!
(Although I am aware that anime covers are a lot more popular than those with pixel art, I am not changing the style because 1, the story isn't really anime-esque, nor does it include 'waifus', whatever those may be; 2, I can not afford to commission art at the moment, and I'm an amateur artist, so pixel art's the best art style I can draw in.)

 

[blackcrowcrowd]

I don't know about other people, but I incline towards stories that tell me what it's going to be before reading them. AKA You know what you're getting into. Now, your cover really doesn't tell people what it is at all, doesn't it? It gives off a slice of life ish feeling, but that's about it. Also, what the heck is a hamlet?

 

[Placeholder]

Also, what the heck is a hamlet?

??

 

[Arkus86]

It gives a slice of life, maybe fantasy feel. If that is applicable to your novel, go ahead, it's at least a fairly unique style.
The style of the "O" stands out in a bad way, though, at least for me. Distracting from the rest of the cover. The white filling might be too bright against the rest of the sign.

Also, what the heck is a hamlet?

Essentially a small settlement, usually smaller than a village. Or a character and a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.

 

[CinnaSloth]

I think the cover makes it clear that I am not the best artist... I'm an amateur artist, so pixel art's the best art style I can draw in

Let's imagine you were a great artist.
Is an old, warped sign board in, I assume, a field what you really want? (Not saying it's bad in any way, art-wise or style-wise. Pixel is fine.) Or Would you actually want something else, but settled on a sign because you couldn't draw what you originally imagined? What would you really want your cover to look like? If you want something else, Describe what you imagine it being.

 

[Placeholder]

I'd put some clues at the base of the sign. If there's swordplay, add a sword. If there's pig...play, add a pig.

 

[CinnaSloth]

How's this? I kept the idea of an old sign in the middle of nowhere. I just added trees and a path, because all signs are
typically around, or near paths.
I wasn't sure if the eye in the O was really really important, or just style choice, or if you wanted the sign to look.. ominous? or something?
It reminded me of like an octopus eye, almost Cthulu-ish. but I was pretty sure that was just me. So, I left it out. Idk.
but i drew it. (It's not Ai or stolen or commissioned or anything, I actually did drew it.) it's yours if you want it. Free, no charge. No credit due idrc. If you really really want the eye in the O, just let me know, I can add it really quick, your choice. (You can also say you don't like it too, It won't hurt my feelings lol) I just didn't want people hunting you down to try and commission you to buy something from them especially when you already said you can't afford it. (Same boat.)

Edit: I made the linework less visible... I didn't like how dark they were here on scribblehub.

 

[Incoming]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. They are quite insightful.

I'm going to give it another shot, with your opinions in mind, but I might end up using @CinnaSloth's art (beautiful work, by the way. It's splendid!)

 

[CinnaSloth]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. They are quite insightful.

I'm going to give it another shot, with your opinions in mind, but I might end up using @CinnaSloth's art (beautiful work, by the way. It's splendid!)

AWW Thank you. lol. What I drew was only what I imagined off your own art piece.

But at the same time, I'd really like to know what you yourself imagined. I'd prefer to know what you have in mind. What do you really think, what you really see when you say the title of your book, what you envision as your cover. does it have a cabin? is there a serial killer in the woods? a cosmic entity hiding in a lake? Garfield building a picket fence made of dried lasagna? I wouldn't mind drawing you something else if you truly have something else in mind; -and -AND, I can take my time with it instead of rushing over 2hrs. lol

 

[OAG007]

Try this on brother

 

[laccoff_mawning]

I can take my time with it instead of rushing over 2hrs.

You did that in only two hours? That's cool! What software did you use?

As others have said, the subject matter in the picture doesn't give a good depiction of what the story is about. The contrast between the eye for the O and everything else makes me guess this is meant to be a horror story that takes place somewhere that's disguised as a small peaceful village or a remote cabin.

If that's the case, I guess the image should try and include the house if possible, as well as maybe something extra alongside the eye to hint at the nature of the story.

If it's not a horror story, I really just have no clue whats going on.

 

[CinnaSloth]

You did that in only two hours? That's cool! What software did you use?

As others have said, the subject matter in the picture doesn't give a good depiction of what the story is about. The contrast between the eye for the O and everything else makes me guess this is meant to be a horror story that takes place somewhere that's disguised as a small peaceful village or a remote cabin.

If that's the case, I guess the image should try and include the house if possible, as well as maybe something extra alongside the eye to hint at the nature of the story.

If it's not a horror story, I really just have no clue whats going on.

I just use gimp with a digital pen I received from an ex (my laptop is touchscreen).
I never got into photoshop, and I don't pay for programs. (Too poor)

The pixel art gave me M. Night Shyamalan ~ (2004) The village vibes, but more cthulu themed. No real idea why the sign felt, "cosmic Lake monster" to me, it just did.
The drawing I did was just to add some middle-of-nowhere-forest hamlet feels, I didn't want to self-insert any random themes to someone else's story lol. you know? XD Slice of life or Horror seems to be the consensus everyone is guessing.

I want to like the other picture above (posted by OAG), but something about it reads Ai... and that's very disappointing. I'd love to be wrong, but I just can't shake that feeling it is. :/