In the Wild
Find my work out in the wild.
Published covers and illustrated projects you can hold in your hands, with process highlights and links to buy.
Featured Books
Process
Process Article
Dratchers: The Golden Egg
This process took the cover from a simple concept sketch to a finished, print-ready
wraparound design. I moved from establishing the main idea and composition, to building
value and depth, to setting the final color mood, and then integrated the typography and
layout so the illustration and text work together as one cohesive cover.
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Process Article
Dratchers: The Golden Egg
This process took the cover from a simple concept sketch to a finished, print-ready wraparound design. I moved from establishing the main idea and composition, to building value and depth, to setting the final color mood, and then integrated the typography and layout so the illustration and text work together as one cohesive cover.
Step 1
Sketch
I started by thumbnailing a few compositions and choosing the strongest read at a small size.
I refined the selected sketch to lock in proportions, perspective, and the main focal point.
I confirmed clear visual hierarchy so the subject and the golden egg read immediately.
Step 2
Shading
I established the light source and blocked in shadow shapes to create form and depth.
I used values to separate foreground, midground, and background so the scene felt dimensional.
I checked contrast around the focal area to guide the viewer’s eye.
Step 3
Color
I chose a palette that supported the story tone and emphasized the warmth of the golden egg.
I added color passes to unify the piece, balancing saturation so nothing competed with the focal point.
I adjusted temperature and lighting to enhance mood and readability.
Step 4
Title Design
I explored type styles that matched the book’s genre and the illustration’s personality.
I tested legibility at thumbnail size and ensured the title held up against the art.
I refined spacing and placement so the type felt intentional and integrated.
Step 5
Cover
I combined the final illustration and the front-cover typography into a clean, high-impact design.
I made small adjustments to contrast, edges, and detail so the image reproduced well in print and on screens.
Step 6
Full Cover Layout
I extended the artwork across the full wrap and aligned key elements with trim and safe areas.
I positioned the spine title for readability and balanced back-cover space for summary and publisher elements.
I did a final preflight pass for alignment, margins, and consistency so the file was production-ready.