The Kick A** Cover Thread

[Red Dobbs]

our own book covers?

has anyone put their own book cover on here?

My avatar is actually the drawing that my brother did for my book, but I am not sure if I should post it here or not. He is an excellent artist, that is why I picked him.

 

[3rdI]

has anyone put their own book cover on here?

My avatar is actually the drawing that my brother did for my book, but I am not sure if I should post it here or not. He is an excellent artist, that is why I picked him.

Dude if you are uncomfortable about any guidelines or anything being a writer give me a link to where your book is and I will post it Good art is good art no one would mistake that for trying to sell a book.

 

[Loerwyn]

Tiny request: If we're posting art before it's had all the cover magic done to it, can we just say what book it is? Much easier for all

 

[3rdI]

Tiny request: If we're posting art before it's had all the cover magic done to it, can we just say what book it is? Much easier for all

Doesn't matter to me whatever people wanna do its all good. The purpose of this thread is for people to have fun. Post cool art and be able to joke around and just have a good time with everything. No rules other than forum rules. Post whatever you think kicks a**!

 

[DailyRich]

I think there was a law in the 80s that stated that either Darrell K. Sweet or Michael Whelan had to do the cover for every fantasy and SF book published.

 

[Loerwyn]

It stops this thread being:
Post 1: Image
Post 2: What book's that from?
Post 3: Book Title
Post 4: Image

... And repeat. Easier for everyone if we just name the book (If needs be).

 

[3rdI]

I think there was a law in the 80s that stated that either Darrell K. Sweet or Michael Whelan had to do the cover for every fantasy and SF book published.

LOL I think you are right on that one. Gotta say I do love the Whelan cover for Sanderson's WOK.

That is kick a**

 

[3rdI]

It stops this thread being:
Post 1: Image
Post 2: What book's that from?
Post 3: Book Title
Post 4: Image

... And repeat. Easier for everyone if we just name the book (If needs be).

Like I said that is up to everyone else. Point of the thread is just fun and cool art. Don't wanna stifle joking around and discussion. Let the thread evolve on its own. It's all good player.

Gene Wolfe - The Shadow of the Torturer - cover by Don Maitz

 

[Aktunka]

Let's not forget the Frank Frazetta Death Dealer artwork that was so iconic it spawned a book series...



and here is the book cover...

 

[3rdI]

Let's not forget the Frank Frazetta Death Dealer artwork that was so iconic it spawned a book series...



and here is the book cover...

Wow. I am going to buy a Frazetta print in the very near future. I am perusing the Frazetta museum at the moment and am amazed.

http://frankfrazettamuseum.com/prints.html

 

[Westy]

Westsiyeed,

Finch managed to snag great cover art on both sides of the pond. Eventually, I will have to buy the UK version to go along with my US copy:

Yeah, that is a great cover too. Picked the other as it's the one I own! (seems to be a common thread - Vandermeer has interesting cover art).

 

[Westy]

Yes, damn good.
And you may not know it, but the cover art is by the writer himself. Clive Barker is also a painter. The first Abarat book isn't quite as good as the second. Book two, Abarat; Days of Magic, Nights of War is one of my all time favorites... and it's pissing me off Clive hasn't produced book three yet.

I have a feeling that the second book was so well received he doesn't want the third to fall off in quality.

He's definitely taking his time with the third, but there are actually 5 books planned in the series and his website says he's working on them all (and over 500 painted canvases), as well as an unrelated short stories collection.

I love the Abarat books, they're YA but very readable for adults, but being interspersed with Clive's great artwork makes them even better.

 

[Sparrow]

That's awesome Sparrow. I imagine you had to drop some serious cash. Original Canvas?

Just printed on thick acid free linen type paper... I must of bought them nearly twentyfive years ago when I was a kid. They've faded slightly but still look clean and bright... not bad for the fifteen bucks I spent on each of'em. Thank goodness I never stuck them on the wall with thumb tacks! The frames have changed over the years but I find I can't part with them.

btw, if you take a liking to Mr.Frazetta this is something else you might be interested in, the Death Dealer on black horse mini statue. I picked one up on eBay a few years ago and they usually have one or two up for bid, if you're lucky. It's well done and stands on a nice wood base...

http://cgi.ebay.com/FRANK-FRAZETTAS...008?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a632dcc70

 

[Sparrow]

He's definitely taking his time with the third, but there are actually 5 books planned in the series and his website says he's working on them all (and over 500 painted canvases), as well as an unrelated short stories collection.

I love the Abarat books, they're YA but very readable for adults, but being interspersed with Clive's great artwork makes them even better.

Then that's why he's taking his sweet time.
I had not known there would be five books in all, thought it was going to be four. Interesting way of doing things, writing the last installments as one book and then breaking it into thirds.
After Disney backed out of what was going to be a movie based on the first two books, and a theme ride for good measure, I thought Clive may have lost interest in Ms.Quackenbush.

And yes, definitely meant for the YA crowd, but written well enough for adults to enjoy.

 

[DailyRich]

I remember back when I was in school in the late 70s/early 80s, you were either a Frazetta fan or a Boris fan. Boris' stuff always looked to sanitized, too posed, too pretty. Frazetta's work had that rough-hewn look that added a layer of realism to it.

 

[3rdI]

 

[Sparrow]

I remember back when I was in school in the late 70s/early 80s, you were either a Frazetta fan or a Boris fan. Boris' stuff always looked to sanitized, too posed, too pretty. Frazetta's work had that rough-hewn look that added a layer of realism to it.

Even when a Frazetta character is at ease there seems to be tension and motion.
Boris is little more than a pin-up artist doing still lifes. Instead of fruit on a cutting board it's perfectly built women posing with swords.

 

[DailyRich]

Boris is like the pianist who can perfectly play a piece note for note but doesn't put any soul into it.

 

[Red Dobbs]

Dude if you are uncomfortable about any guidelines or anything being a writer give me a link to where your book is and I will post it Good art is good art no one would mistake that for trying to sell a book.

I am on FB, and my website is www.scififantasybyreddobbs.com. I am awful on the computer, so post if you would like...borders, amazon, whichever site you would like to steal it from. My friends all do the computer work...I do the typing they fix it.

Wish that all that I learned in school wasn't out of date, I feel like a moron sometimes.
Thanks

 

[Randy M.]

There is, and was, no better artist of the fantastic than Frank Frazetta.

Not to argue, since I like a lot of Frazetta's work, but if we start talking illustration as opposed to just cover art, the competition at the top is fierce:

Virgil Finlay: http://http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/finlay_virgil.html

Hannes Bok: http://http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/bok_hannes.html

Lee Brown Coye: http://http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/coye_lee_brown.html


For me, Bok especially does extraordinary things. Coye is just plain weird.

Randy M.