Potter illustrator draws readers in
June 16, 2003 at 5:26 PM ET
Cheeser
HPANA (via The Providence Journal)
From the Providence Journal
(originally from The Washington Post), Mary GrandPre, who draws the covers of the Harry Potter books, offers some tips on how to illustrate books:
"The cover has to represent the book without giving too much away." She likes to pack her covers with hints of what's to come. "I kind of think of the book cover as a mysterious map. It's full of bits and pieces you'll find in the book."
Remember that the mood of the book is important. Each Potter book is a bit more serious and more frightening than the one before. "They are going from magical to mysterious," she says. The cover of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has the first full, close-up portrait of Harry, and GrandPre shifted the colors away from the reds and blues in the first three covers to greens and golds, colors that felt more mysterious to her.
Thanks to reader Wolfie for this tip. SPOILER WARNING: There are spoilers of the first book in the article.