Traditional art as book covers

[Nevafrost]

Most of the books have digital art for cover (I haven’t seen any with traditional art except for "The Hobbit"). Now, I'm too broke and underage to hire an artist to draw my book cover. But I can do a lil bit of traditional art hehe.

Spoiler: My art pieces if you are interested

So, authors, what are your thoughts on traditionally drawn book covers in this era? (Btw, I'm talking about paperback books, not webnovels).

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Most of the books have digital art for cover (I haven’t seen any with traditional art except for "The Hobbit"). Now, I'm too broke and underage to hire an artist to draw my book cover. But I can do a lil bit of traditional art hehe.

Spoiler: My art pieces if you are interested

View attachment 45879View attachment 45880View attachment 45882

So, authors, what are your thoughts on traditionally drawn book covers in this era? (Btw, I'm talking about paperback books, not webnovels).

My artworks are traditionally-drawn, though colored digitally. You can see my 'craggy lines' if you zoom closer.

 

[Nevafrost]

My artworks are traditionally-drawn, though colored digitally. You can see my 'craggy lines' if you zoom closer.

View attachment 45884

That looks dope! But I can't even color digitally lol.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

That looks dope! But I can't even color digitally lol.

Thanks! ^_^ Even my commissions are hand-drawn; I suck at drawing lines using pen tablets.

Btw, I used these ones as covers for my attempt to make a manga-style Filipino komiks for my story, Paulina Rex. Traditionally-drawn and colored (using felt-tip colored markers and ballpens); the only digital there is the desaturation and the title text I applied using Photoshop.

I stopped creating manga/comics, mainly because of production times.

 

[Jerynboe]

The point of a cover is to draw the eye and get someone to click on/buy the book. In a world where the baseline minimum most people consider aesthetically acceptable is AI art which tends to have a certain look, I’d say traditional art stands out in a very good way.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I love it!

 

[Conqueror_Quack]

Most of the books have digital art for cover (I haven’t seen any with traditional art except for "The Hobbit"). Now, I'm too broke and underage to hire an artist to draw my book cover. But I can do a lil bit of traditional art hehe.

Spoiler: My art pieces if you are interested

View attachment 45879View attachment 45880View attachment 45882

So, authors, what are your thoughts on traditionally drawn book covers in this era? (Btw, I'm talking about paperback books, not webnovels).

Beautiful.

 

[Cookiez_N_Potionz]

Thanks! ^_^ Even my commissions are hand-drawn; I suck at drawing lines using pen tablets.

Btw, I used these ones as covers for my attempt to make a manga-style Filipino komiks for my story, Paulina Rex. Traditionally-drawn and colored (using felt-tip colored markers and ballpens); the only digital there is the desaturation and the title text I applied using Photoshop.

View attachment 45885
View attachment 45886
View attachment 45887

I stopped creating manga/comics, mainly because of production times.

Hey, your really talented!

 

[LiteraryWho]

Most of the books have digital art for cover (I haven’t seen any with traditional art except for "The Hobbit"). Now, I'm too broke and underage to hire an artist to draw my book cover. But I can do a lil bit of traditional art hehe.

Spoiler: My art pieces if you are interested

View attachment 45879View attachment 45880View attachment 45882

So, authors, what are your thoughts on traditionally drawn book covers in this era? (Btw, I'm talking about paperback books, not webnovels).

I don't know about the efficacy with audiences, but I would actually prefer a more "old style" sci-fi cover for my books. I can't art for shit, unforch, but your style is closer to what I'd like than the more common "anime" style that's popular these days.

 

[Nevafrost]

I don't know about the efficacy with audiences, but I would actually prefer a more "old style" sci-fi cover for my books. I can't art for shit, unforch, but your style is closer to what I'd like than the more common "anime" style that's popular these days.

Damn! I love this compliment. Thanks!

I love it!

A compliment from the legendary Tromba? I won in lyf.

Beautiful.

A duck? Can I roast you-nya?

The point of a cover is to draw the eye and get someone to click on/buy the book. In a world where the baseline minimum most people consider aesthetically acceptable is AI art which tends to have a certain look, I’d say traditional art stands out in a very good way.

AI drawn covers make me sad

 

[rileykifer]

Honestly, there's a higher chance I'd check out something with a terribly-drawn cover over an AI generated one. There's a certain charm to them I find endearing. Hand-drawn ones that are well done? Even better. They'd stand out in a good way imo.

(My answer is the same for both webnovels and paperbacks.)

 

[Nevafrost]

Honestly, there's a higher chance I'd check out something with a terribly-drawn cover over an AI generated one. There's a certain charm to them I find endearing. Hand-drawn ones that are well done? Even better. They'd stand out in a good way imo.

(My answer is the same for both webnovels and paperbacks.)

Then, I guess I really gotta start working on my novel cover . Even though I know it will take months (as Idk what to draw yet) but am on my way!

 

[Shiriru_B]

I would like to see a cover done with flowers like yours, they are very pretty especially the dark blue/lavender ones.

 

[Daeron]

My artworks are traditionally-drawn, though colored digitally. You can see my 'craggy lines' if you zoom closer.

View attachment 45884

God damn, This one is beautiful artwork!

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

God damn, This one is beautiful artwork!

Thank you! Tis one of the covers for my novels ?

Hey, your really talented!

Thank you ?

 

[Nevafrost]

I would like to see a cover done with flowers like yours, they are very pretty especially the dark blue/lavender ones.

The ones you are talking about aren’t finished yet, haha. I juat couldn’t resist taking a photo. But if when I finish them, I'll definitely send you a picture
(And all these motivations are prodding me *go draw that damn cover* *aren’t these people being nice? Why are you being lazy* lol)

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Most of the books have digital art for cover (I haven’t seen any with traditional art except for "The Hobbit"). Now, I'm too broke and underage to hire an artist to draw my book cover. But I can do a lil bit of traditional art hehe.

Spoiler: My art pieces if you are interested

View attachment 45879View attachment 45880View attachment 45882

So, authors, what are your thoughts on traditionally drawn book covers in this era? (Btw, I'm talking about paperback books, not webnovels).

food for thought...
1) there are a number of sources of quality images. WIki-common-sometrrhing, is but one.
actually a lot of the images you run across in wikipedia? Are public use if you cite the source.
also, consider looking at *art* pictures. Paintings, sculptures, even obscure pieces from forgotten artists.
whether you go wiki-comnmon route, or aret image route... you can fool around cropping and zooming to sometimes see something dramatic you like.

there's AI... then there's AI... (image related)

 

[Nevafrost]

Hello again. I tried thinking of something that should be on my cover but I couldn’t come up with anything satisfying. But I ended up drawing a rough sketch and thought I would share it with you hehe.

 

[Omarfaruq]

Hello again. I tried thinking of something that should be on my cover but I couldn’t come up with anything satisfying. But I ended up drawing a rough sketch and thought I would share it with you hehe.View attachment 46162

The title is captivating onee-sama.

 

[Nevafrost]

The title is captivating onee-sama.

Haha, thanks. Someone told me it's too abstract-nya. She was right ngl. But I like this one because it holds memory of when my best friends worked together with me on this novel. We wrote OSTs for this novel, drew characters and whatnot.