Paul H. Robinson
House of Houses
Pat Mora
This is a memoir of a Mexican-American family. From the back cover: “Mora uses the image of a house—the house of houses—during a single year, a fruitful metaphor that allows her to dwell on the bright beauty of flowers, birds, and trees, emblems of the loving legacy of her nurturing family.” The house is imagined floating in the sky. I liked the idea of using a collage of family photographs arranged in the shape of a house.
This was the other option presented.
This is a memoir of a Mexican-American family. From the back cover: “Mora uses the image of a house—the house of houses—during a single year, a fruitful metaphor that allows her to dwell on the bright beauty of flowers, birds, and trees, emblems of the loving legacy of her nurturing family.” The house is imagined floating in the sky. I liked the idea of using a collage of family photographs arranged in the shape of a house.
This was the other option presented.
Exposed
Mark Schapiro
This one was a tough one. The book deals with the global power shift that has occurred in environmental legislation from the U.S. to the E.U. The soft plastic that is found in rubber duckies is considered toxic in Europe but not yet in the United States. The author and publisher felt first concept didn't show the international aspect of the issue. I tried other directions but in the end came back to the first direction and added the globe element and played up the part of the subtitle that gets to the heart of the matter.
This one was a tough one. The book deals with the global power shift that has occurred in environmental legislation from the U.S. to the E.U. The soft plastic that is found in rubber duckies is considered toxic in Europe but not yet in the United States. The author and publisher felt first concept didn't show the international aspect of the issue. I tried other directions but in the end came back to the first direction and added the globe element and played up the part of the subtitle that gets to the heart of the matter.
Writing the Everyday
Women's Textual Communities in Atlantic Canada
Danielle Fuller
As with most of my covers I did my own photography on this one.
Danielle Fuller
As with most of my covers I did my own photography on this one.
The Danish Experience
Scholarly Press authors always want maps or flags on their covers. In this case I thought there might be a way of using the Danish flag that could be both visually interesting and make reference to its small size as it adapts to the challenges of globalization.
Mapping Postcommunist Cultures
Vitaly Chernetsky
There was just something intriguing about using Ukranian nesting dolls photographed from this perspective. It references globalization and the former Soviet Union in an unusual way.
There was just something intriguing about using Ukranian nesting dolls photographed from this perspective. It references globalization and the former Soviet Union in an unusual way.
Two different books on Anglo-Canadian identity
The first shows a classic English teacup with a Canadian twist. This is a two colour cover and it was a bit tricky to separate but successful in the end.
This one started with a simple premise. Could I take all the elements in the Union Jack and create a maple leaf out of them? I started with just a graphic approach but in the end felt it needed a bit of dimensionality.
This one started with a simple premise. Could I take all the elements in the Union Jack and create a maple leaf out of them? I started with just a graphic approach but in the end felt it needed a bit of dimensionality.
Carol Shields and the Extra-Ordinary
This was another one of those covers where the editors insisted on the use of a particular photograph. In this case a photo of a beauty school from 1927. Shields refers to the photograph in one of her letters. "Did you notice how innocent their earlobes are of earings? An oh, those kiss curls!" According to the author her comments resound with her love of letter writing and her eye for the details of women's lives.
From Power Sharing to Democracy
Sid Noel
This book deals with creating new democratic institutions in areas of the world that have gone through ethnic wars such as Bosnia. I intended the image to represent something that was broken being put back together but my client saw it as picking straws to see who would go first which is equally valid.
This book deals with creating new democratic institutions in areas of the world that have gone through ethnic wars such as Bosnia. I intended the image to represent something that was broken being put back together but my client saw it as picking straws to see who would go first which is equally valid.
English
Cette oeuvre fictive fût écrite en collaboration avec huit auteurs québécois reconnus. Le journaliste, Michel O’Toole, disparaît mystérieusement, sans laisser de trace, lors d’un voyage en moto sur la route 389 aux confins du Québec. Je voulais en premier lieu des segments de route qui disparaissaient au loin pour chaque partie écrite par les auteurs.
Cette oeuvre fictive fût écrite en collaboration avec huit auteurs québécois reconnus. Le journaliste, Michel O’Toole, disparaît mystérieusement, sans laisser de trace, lors d’un voyage en moto sur la route 389 aux confins du Québec. Je voulais en premier lieu des segments de route qui disparaissaient au loin pour chaque partie écrite par les auteurs.
Finalement, nous avons choisi un papier
texturé pour la route en faisant ressortir la moto.
C’est devenu un peu plus compliqué car l’éditeur voulait absolument avoir les noms des auteurs sur
la couverture et en évidence. J’ai modifié l’arrière-plan pour que ça puisse
ressembler à une carte routière repliée et ça a fonctionné. J’avais aussi
besoin d’un vrai modèle de motocycliste. Mon ami Ben et son ami George se sont
généreusement prêtés au jeu en venant chez moi et j’ai pu prendre des photos à
partir de la fenêtre du haut de ma grange.
Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love
Lara Vapnyar
Just received the printed cover for this one. I have a joke with one of my clients about whether a particular cover is a front seater or a back seater. When I go into Montreal to pick up a printed cover I have an hour and a half drive home. If I am happy with how everything came together I put the book in the front passenger seat so I can look at it all the way home. This one is a front seater. Some covers are the result of a real collaborative process. Jonathan Sainsbury, the creative director at Pantheon, steered this one along and made some great suggestions like dropping the word broccoli from the title and oversaw a problem with the initial printing. I tend to focus too much on just the cover design and neglect things like cloth color. His choice of the light green cloth adds a really nice detail and makes the whole thing complete.
Just received the printed cover for this one. I have a joke with one of my clients about whether a particular cover is a front seater or a back seater. When I go into Montreal to pick up a printed cover I have an hour and a half drive home. If I am happy with how everything came together I put the book in the front passenger seat so I can look at it all the way home. This one is a front seater. Some covers are the result of a real collaborative process. Jonathan Sainsbury, the creative director at Pantheon, steered this one along and made some great suggestions like dropping the word broccoli from the title and oversaw a problem with the initial printing. I tend to focus too much on just the cover design and neglect things like cloth color. His choice of the light green cloth adds a really nice detail and makes the whole thing complete.
36 Cornelian Avenue
Christopher Wiseman
This book of poems deals with the poet's wartime experience as a child in England.Wiseman explores how the Second World War affected his neighbours, turning some into curmudgeons, others into compassionate heroes. The cover shows an imminent encounter with the former.
This book of poems deals with the poet's wartime experience as a child in England.Wiseman explores how the Second World War affected his neighbours, turning some into curmudgeons, others into compassionate heroes. The cover shows an imminent encounter with the former.
The Empire’s Missing Links
Walid Bitar
For this poetry book cover the poet recommended using an image of ancient accounting tokens. I found that by rotating image 90 degrees it resembled vertebrae which added an interesting dimension to image.
For this poetry book cover the poet recommended using an image of ancient accounting tokens. I found that by rotating image 90 degrees it resembled vertebrae which added an interesting dimension to image.
Sympathy for the Couriers
Peter Richardson
The editor asked for a classical approach for this poetry book cover. I did the illustration based on a grecian urn.
The editor asked for a classical approach for this poetry book cover. I did the illustration based on a grecian urn.
Up the Thames Without a Paddle
Gordon Cope
Approval pending
This is a book about a Canadian travel writer who spends a year in England.
Approval pending
This is a book about a Canadian travel writer who spends a year in England.
The Grail
Brian Doyle
The author spends a year tracking down the world’s finest Pinot Noir. I got a bottle as a thank-you for doing cover and it was fine indeed.
The author spends a year tracking down the world’s finest Pinot Noir. I got a bottle as a thank-you for doing cover and it was fine indeed.
Revivalists
Kevin Kee
For the Pope’s visit. Another 2 colour cover. The original photo showed the preacher in his pulpit. I cropped in really close for maximum effect.
For the Pope’s visit. Another 2 colour cover. The original photo showed the preacher in his pulpit. I cropped in really close for maximum effect.
Canadian Water Politics
Edited by Mark Sproule-Jones
April 9
This will be my third time at bat for a book cover dealing with this issue.
Approval pending
April 9
This will be my third time at bat for a book cover dealing with this issue.
Approval pending
Penny Dreadful
Shannon Stewart
March 31
Penny Dreadfuls were popular, cheaply produced 19th century magazines filled with brutal and sensationalist tales. At the center of this book of poetry is the story of accused serial killer Robert Pickton who murdered women from Vancouver’s East Side.
March 31
Penny Dreadfuls were popular, cheaply produced 19th century magazines filled with brutal and sensationalist tales. At the center of this book of poetry is the story of accused serial killer Robert Pickton who murdered women from Vancouver’s East Side.
The Telephone Gambit
Seth Shulman
It turns out Alexander Graham Bell may not have been the true discoverer of the telephone. Elisha Gray may have beat him to it but missed out on the lucrative patent. I really liked this idea of showing the discovery as a race with Gray actually winning.
In the end we went with showing the original device Bell used to call Watson with a shadow reflected in it. Who the shadow is will be left up to the reader.
It turns out Alexander Graham Bell may not have been the true discoverer of the telephone. Elisha Gray may have beat him to it but missed out on the lucrative patent. I really liked this idea of showing the discovery as a race with Gray actually winning.
In the end we went with showing the original device Bell used to call Watson with a shadow reflected in it. Who the shadow is will be left up to the reader.
The Squandering of America
Robert Kuttner
I can’t say this cover was 100% successful but I am happy that they let me get away with putting the title on the side of a bus.
I can’t say this cover was 100% successful but I am happy that they let me get away with putting the title on the side of a bus.
The Parker Novels
March 7
The publisher wanted a hardboiled mystery look for this reissue of the famous crime novel series. They also wanted it to have a film noir sensibility with a strong sense of locale/place. It also has to have an element that ties the series together.
The publisher wanted a hardboiled mystery look for this reissue of the famous crime novel series. They also wanted it to have a film noir sensibility with a strong sense of locale/place. It also has to have an element that ties the series together.
Canada’s Rights Revolution
Dominique Clément
March 1
I Just finished this sketch. The book is a history of social movements and social change in Canada from 1937-82. The publisher wanted a conceptual approach and I thought that a windswept tree would be an original way of expressing revolution and change. I have an entire collection of books I have done about Canada and each time I start a new one I always try to find an original way to use our national symbols. The tree used in this case is in fact a maple tree.
March 1
I Just finished this sketch. The book is a history of social movements and social change in Canada from 1937-82. The publisher wanted a conceptual approach and I thought that a windswept tree would be an original way of expressing revolution and change. I have an entire collection of books I have done about Canada and each time I start a new one I always try to find an original way to use our national symbols. The tree used in this case is in fact a maple tree.
Push!
The Struggle for Midwifery in Ontario
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault
The author wanted to use an image of a pregnant woman. I went completely in the other direction with a type only cover with a twist. Needless to say the author hated it at first and really needed a lot of convincing.
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault
The author wanted to use an image of a pregnant woman. I went completely in the other direction with a type only cover with a twist. Needless to say the author hated it at first and really needed a lot of convincing.
The Politics of Postal Transformation
Robert M. Campbell
This is one of those books that could easily have a had a very straightforward cover - image of a modern postal facility with type superimposed. I included an enlargement of the stamp to show that the figure is looking from left to right. I can’t believe I got away with such small type.
This is one of those books that could easily have a had a very straightforward cover - image of a modern postal facility with type superimposed. I included an enlargement of the stamp to show that the figure is looking from left to right. I can’t believe I got away with such small type.
The Silver Palace Restaurant
Mark Abley
This is a recent poetry book cover. The cover has matte lamination with a spot gloss varnish on the melting butter.
This is a recent poetry book cover. The cover has matte lamination with a spot gloss varnish on the melting butter.
What’s Wrong with Children’s Rights
Martin Guggenheim
From the back cover: “He Challenges the conventional views of children’s rights advocates, arguing persuasively that children may be better off without (some kinds of) rights and that legal disputes about children’s welfare are often driven by the interests of adults.” That’s my daughter up there. The actual stilts end about 8 inches below her feet. I added the rest in photoshop.
From the back cover: “He Challenges the conventional views of children’s rights advocates, arguing persuasively that children may be better off without (some kinds of) rights and that legal disputes about children’s welfare are often driven by the interests of adults.” That’s my daughter up there. The actual stilts end about 8 inches below her feet. I added the rest in photoshop.
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