The art's not what's being sold--it's the interior--most book designs (particularly for anthologies) do this.
It was done with YBFH and Canty's art as well. I saw some of the original art that Tom used in the early years (in art shows) and you got a whole different feeling for it seeing it separate from the design.
If you ever go to convention art exhibits, you can see the original artwork used in cover work. On its own, it's a completely different animal.
Yeah - I ended up going to Canty's site and looking at as many of the pieces as were available - plus following links to a gallery site or two as well. Did the same thing with Caruso's as well, to see the original work unobscured. Interesting stuff.
While I certainly understand that the artwork itself is not what's being sold, and you definitely want to have the listing of contributors there, I believe you really have to grab the attention of the prospective buyer as quickly as possible. While this cover certainly does appear to do that, I still feel that the sizing is little larger then necessary - esp. compared to the title block.
Tell ya what, as I have never been to a convention, the next time you attend one in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, let me know and you can give me a guided tour - Ellen Datlow's Essential Guide to Conventioneering.
While I would dearly love to attend one, I have a horrible feeling that I may be out of my league, despite my fan-status, age-wise.
The word HORROR and my name (and the contributor names on the cover--which I assume is not final, as I didn't have all the names when the cover image was created)...that's what sells this kind of book --fine art and design doesn't hurt but those aren't the main selling points.
I'd prefer the title where the contributor names are but that wouldn't work. The other balancing act is not covering TOO much of the art--and so the crucial text has to be carefully thought out. I think this might be the best configuration possible with the art.
I'm sorry, I hadn't realized you'd never been to a con. The best art shows are at Worldcon and WFC--that's where you can really get a feel for art vs cover design as a lot of the big name artists show at those two cons.
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ellen_datlow) wrote2009-05-26 06:43 pm
no subject
It was done with YBFH and Canty's art as well. I saw some of the original art that Tom used in the early years (in art shows) and you got a whole different feeling for it seeing it separate from the design.
If you ever go to convention art exhibits, you can see the original artwork used in cover work. On its own, it's a completely different animal.
no subject
While I certainly understand that the artwork itself is not what's being sold, and you definitely want to have the listing of contributors there, I believe you really have to grab the attention of the prospective buyer as quickly as possible. While this cover certainly does appear to do that, I still feel that the sizing is little larger then necessary - esp. compared to the title block.
Tell ya what, as I have never been to a convention, the next time you attend one in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, let me know and you can give me a guided tour - Ellen Datlow's Essential Guide to Conventioneering.
While I would dearly love to attend one, I have a horrible feeling that I may be out of my league, despite my fan-status, age-wise.
no subject
I'd prefer the title where the contributor names are but that wouldn't work. The other balancing act is not covering TOO much of the art--and so the crucial text has to be carefully thought out. I think this might be the best configuration possible with the art.
I'm sorry, I hadn't realized you'd never been to a con. The best art shows are at Worldcon and WFC--that's where you can really get a feel for art vs cover design as a lot of the big name artists show at those two cons.