Opinions and suggestions are flying in re my foliate head images for Marly’s book cover. No decisions have been reached as yet, but just to add to the debate, here are some more ideas ‘in progress’.
A fearsomely gaping maw with a pollarded tree issuing forth. I rather like this.
A lyrical, sideways-glancing green man with a flowing beard and leaves growing from the corners of his lips.
Sketch for a tattooed foliate head. I think I’ll have to take this to the next stage before being sure whether or not the idea has legs.
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The red man of the sturdy neck spewing the candelabra of a branch as a dragon spews flame is hard to beat–although I love some of the black and white ones, too. Very powerful work.
Hello Mary. I think that’s the one. It works compositionally and has the simplicity that will make it a strong cover.
I love fearsome and lyrical! Wonderful stuff Clive. x
Thanks Nick. I’m having fun with this one.
Love the pollarded one!
Wendy
Thank you Wendy. I like that one the best too!
Dear Clive,
Like the insights of the cover you are drawing. I think the tattood (?) man could easily work. Maybe if the pattern repeats itself in the background in a contrasted way? Or do you think that is too easy? Anyway, I really think you will work out the problem without any doubts. Nice!
Hello Mathijs
I’m making a more fully-worked version of the tattooed man today. We’ll see how he shapes up.
The designer will be putting the image into a panel on the cover, so that this book reflects other titles in the series. Of course much will depend on what surrounds that panel, and so for the moment I’m holding back from a patterned ground because that element may come into play elsewhere. In some ways I wish we could just have the simple image of the head, the title and Marly’s name, possibly made from collage letters like the branches and leaves in the red head above. But that will probably not be an option.
How jolly! More play…
The second one reminds me of that pair of maquettes–well, the heads, part of the retrospective. Was one Neptune? I’ve forgotten who they were now. Anyway, it has a lovely dreamy, musing quality.
And the first is just as forceful as the first one in the first batch. Of the two, I think I somewhat like the one in the first post, but they’re both very strong.
The third I can imagine in a finished state because of your recent tattooed man…
Definitely going to be a beautiful book!
The sideways-glancing man you’ve seen before, both in the exhibition and on page 228 of the Lund Humphries monograoh. He is the Green Knight from Gawain. Thought I’d give him a spin in the role of cover-boy, but I can see now from the sketch thst he wouldn’t be right for it.
My favourite so far is the one at the top of this post, the red head with a pollarded tree thrusting from it. I like its graphic force and know the design would be arresting from a distance. No unnecessary detail for the viewing eye to seek out, just the energy of shape and colour. That for me is what always works best in the covers of dynamically designed trade edition books, and it’s also what makes Polish book-covers ultimately so satisfying. ( Will Schofield’s fantastic blog 50 Watts held a competition for artists to design titles of their choice in the Polish idiom, and you can see the enjoyable results HERE.)
What I want to do now is go back to my favourites among the images made so far, work all of them up to the finish of ‘Red Head’ and put them together for us to discuss. There will be about four or five to choose from. Maybe the de-selected ones could be re-worked in black and white and used as page divisions inside the book, as replacements for your original selection. (Or not… whichever you prefer.) Progress.
Increased choice, my nemesis! So many beauties… Yes, they would make grand division pages (as do the Vaughan three–you don’t do images that wouldn’t be delicious in that context!) as well. I shall wait and see what becomes of all this bounty. Very pleased, and intrigued to see what happens…
Yes, the “red” one (and the first one on the first post) is quite forceful, a sort of bolt from the Clive-skies. I am not surprised to see pollarding showing up so soon after your return from France (visits to trees being inspiring.)
Shall go ramble through the 50 Watts site. Thanks!
What wealth–grand site, Clive.
One to spend time at Marly.
You’ve been busy! I like all three of these, plus the second to the last in the previous post. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Thank you Thom. I’m going to have to start making some decisions!
I agree with Zoe’s “intense”. This top one and the top one from the previous post both put me in mind of “and out of the strong came forth sweetness”.
Ah ha! Golden Syrup tins!
wooooow! that first one is intense! great idea with the red!!
i rather like the notion of a tattooed head–that could be fearsome but still allow for the lyrical. maybe there could be several versions… it would be a tragedy not to use some of these…
Well Zoe, you know me and red!
The tattooed head drawing doesn’t quite hit the spot yet, but I think that if I took it to the next level there would be something at least worthy of consideration.
I don’t worry too much about unused drawings. The act of making them is the important thing, and there’s always the chance that anything worth its salt will find a way into a future project.