HIGHLIGHT OF MY BIRTHDAY WEEK
Last week, Dave Eggers was in town signing copies of his latest book now on paperback, The Circle. The signing was being held at the 826 Time Travel Mart in Echo Park. I popped into the mart and stepped into line, eager to meet him and show him a copy of my book, Brian Wonders. Thirty minutes later, I stepped out of the mart, feeling in a bit of a daze, feeling a little like I had traveled into a different dimension – Dave Eggers had bought the copy of Brian Wonders, on the spot!
I wish I had taken a photo to capture the moment, but this is more or less what that picture would have looked like. In any case, the note he wrote next to his autograph far surpasses any photo my iPhone would have snapped, “Victor – Keep making beautiful books.” Big hug for the support, Dave, and thank you!
ALL ABOUT THE PACKAGING
I thought it’d be interesting to show a little of what my workshop is looking like these days now that the book is done and the shipping has begun. This photo was taken this past weekend.
Step 1: books are signed, stamped and dedicated
Step 2: Books are slipped inside their own slipcase
Step 3: Then prepped for shipping
Step 4: Repeat!
BOOKS ARE IN!
Super excited to announce that the Brian Wonders picture books have arrived! Pictured below is the first of 2 dollies, making it a total of 20 boxes. Slipcovers are also in and we are actively filling orders. Thank you for ordering your first edition copy here.
CREATING THE DUST JACKET
Update! The book illustrations are done and the 250 book are in the process of PRINTING!
Now, it’s finally time for the final touches – first on the list is the dust jacket. Below I’ve posted a time-lapse to show the evolution of the drawing and the overall process of getting it to its final shape.
Above is a finished test comp printed on my inkjet. The comp gets wrapped around a book so I can start to get a sense of what the final book will look like. This step is very helpful to see how the size relationships are working between graphics and the illustration, and it helps me get a feel for the overall impact of the cover. I printed out a total of about 5 versions before settling on the final.
Click to play a TIME-LAPSE below:
Above are the dimensions that were sent to the printer. The dotted lines show where the jacket flaps will fold. This was my first version of the dust jacket, and after sitting with it for a while I decided to add characters around Brian because he was looking a little lonely on the cover.
Here is our final color proof roll that just arrived from the printer! Colors look good, size checks out – approved! Now, onto the slipcover….
Thank you for continuing to pre-order the book. Sign up on our mailing list to keep up with our book launch.
WE started a PINTREST! Come check it out!
CREATING THE DUST JACKET
Update! The book illustrations are done and the 250 book are in the process of PRINTING!
Now, it’s finally time for the final touches – first on the list is the dust jacket. Below I’ve posted a time-lapse to show the evolution of the drawing and the overall process of getting it to its final shape.
Above is a finished test comp printed on my inkjet. The comp gets wrapped around a book so I can start to get a sense of what the final book will look like. This step is very helpful to see how the size relationships are working between graphics and the illustration, and it helps me get a feel for the overall impact of the cover. I printed out a total of about 5 versions before settling on the final.
Click to play a TIME-LAPSE below:
Above are the dimensions that were sent to the printer. The dotted lines show where the jacket flaps will fold. This was my first version of the dust jacket, and after sitting with it for a while I decided to add characters around Brian because he was looking a little lonely on the cover.
Here is our final color proof roll that just arrived from the printer! Colors look good, size checks out – approved! Now, onto the slipcover….
Thank you for continuing to pre-order the book. Sign up on our mailing list to keep up with our book launch.
WE started a PINTREST! Come check it out!
“INTO THE DEEP YOU MUST GO, I’M AFRAID”
That’s what I feel this woman is saying to Brian, pointing to the deep end of the pool. She has gone through many transformations but the key elements pulled through – big glasses and a big hat. The sketch below shows the initial drawing of the pointy fingered lady. She used to have a cocktail in hand.
The woman was looking sort of like a ragged alien fly and I kinda liked it. But then I discovered Carmen Dell'Orefice and I got really inspired by her look. So I did a search for Carmen + pools and found a bunch of her early photographs in cool swimsuits and swim caps which were all in line with the motifs I had going. Then ran across the photo below and I thought there’s my lady in the hat! The photo even had the umbrella.
So I decided change the entire tone of the illustration to match this new direction – a drowsy, flowy, languid look. Below is the resulting illustration and value study.
The pattern on her dress I replicated from the photo. She’s reading up on cruises – an element that comes up later in the book in the shape of a monster.
TIME LAPSE!
sized for your iPad wallpaper
one of my favorite illustrations from the Brian Wonders book
see other illustrations at www.brianwonders.com
Illustration from my upcoming self-published Brian Wonders book titled Ladies of the Waves. See other illustrations at www.brianwonders.com
I created Brian Wonders to conquer this exact fear.
(Source: gracielemonpants)
