This is the front cover illustration I did for Eloisa James' When The Duke Returns, Avon Books. The model was Ewa Da Cruz, costume by Sharon Spiak and Photography by Shirley Green. I was looking for a way to get across the title's celebratory feel, but also an intimate romantic sense and hit upon the idea of using fireworks in the distance. It is smoky out there and our heroine is smiling coyly at the off stage Duke. The mask helps convey the thought of a vaguely naughty party. On the stepback image, which you see when you open the front cover, she now has her man in her arms. I liked this pose very much and it was a happy accident, made by trying different positions. To me, he looked so heroic, but also so fragile and she seemed both hungry and protective in her touch. The party keeps going on out there somewhere... but she has her duke!
Please leave your comments!
Posts
9 comments:
Fantastic work James. Love the colours used.
Hi Eleni, Thanks for the comment! Welcome back. I'm going to be posting more regularly, so tune in from time to time. By the way, I originally had the author's name wrong on this post. The book, When The Duke Returns, is by Eloisa James, an important romance novelist. Sorry for the mistake.
James
Hi James!
This cover is up for best romance cover of the year at the Cover Cafe -- congrats!! Email follows...
Eloisa (James)
Thanks for visiting, I am honored. I look forward to seeing your other creations.
kiss
Veronica
grazie Veronika! bacio a voi, anche.
Hi James,how are you?
I hope to see soon your new artwork.
kiss
Veronica
James you have a banner on your site? Would be nice between my links^-^
Thanks, Eloisa! (author of When The Duke Returns, #10 on the NYT best seller list!) That competition is at www.covercafe.com.
I also did an article for them, which can be found at: http://www.covercafe.com/BTSCBgriffin.shtml.
I am surrently working on the cover for Eloisa'next book, which is untitled, but is a retelling of the Cinderella story. Let's see if we can't move the new one up to #9!
Thank Salaman for your input into the design of my blog. I'm no web designer and this is from a template. But I hope to use some of your suggestions.
Hi Veronika! Thanks for pushing me to post some new art. It's been very busy, but I'll put something new up soon. In the meantime, I would be honored to have my banner on your beautiful website.
bacio.
Perfect James, I can not wait to see them. Where is your banner?
Post a Comment