The Imagined Book Cover 2022
The following book cover mock-ups were created as part of #theimaginedbookcover2022 hosted on Instagram throughout the first week of December 2022.
This challenge was hosted by various illustrators from around the world, with 7 imaginary book cover titles (one for each day of the week) shared as prompts to inspire illustrators and artists to create new, exciting book covers.
I found this challenge very inspiring, as it motivated me to explore different applications for my illustrative style, expanding my portfolio, and I aimed to utilise many different styles and mediums throughout the week to experiment further.
*Please note all books are imaginary, as are author names, and do not currently exist*
Each book cover can also be viewed on my instagram @creative.rachels
Day 1 - The Three Sisters. Gouache and prismacolor pencil design for children's storybook exploring family ties, nostalgia and memory.
Day 2 - Oswald's Garden. Gouache and prismacolor pencil book design for children's book design based around young runner duck called Oswald and his adventures within the garden allotment.
Day 3 - The Angel and the Mermaid. Gouache, prismacolor pencil, acrylic paint and gel pen. Cover inspired by fantasy novels, yin and yang, astronomy and astrology. Aimed for children aged 7-10 years old.
Day 4 - The King, the Trombone and the Monkey. Cut paper collage. Designed as a children's picturebook cover. Author name is imaginary.
Day 5 - Mr Puddlewick finds a Hat. Gouache and prismacolor pencil. Created as a children's Christmas novel for kids aged 4-8. Author's name is imaginary.
This is my favourite book cover created throughout the week as I felt it really pushed my own illustration skills in terms of composition, complexity and lighting, and I am very pleased with the cozy, festive, intriguing atmosphere I have managed to evoke with this design.
Close up of Mr Puddlewick illustration
Day 6 - Paper Chain Planes, gouache mark-making and paper collage. Created as a book cover for a YA novel exploring friendship, distance, belonging and nostalgia.
Day 7 - The Hummingbird Queen. Gouache, gel pen and paper collage. Inspired by fantasy novels and ornithology, and utilising mark-making and visual metaphors. Intended for use as a YA or adult novel cover.
