For this self-initiated project, I decided to make a special limited edition set of one of my favourite book series. 'His Dark Materials' by Philip Pullman is in my opinion one of the best fantasy book trilogies I have had the privilege to read. All the existing book covers, however, do not represent the brilliant stories within their pages at all well. In fact, it took me many years to actually get round to reading these books because the covers don't look enticing at all. They don't make you WANT to read them. Therefore, I decided that I would make a series of covers to give these brilliant books some well-deserved justice.
Since the majority of my work is papercut, I decided to use this project to experiment more with other materials and colours. I designed each of the covers in Adobe Illustrator and used a laser cutter to cut the layers of buckram book cloth. However, I wanted to make these book covers special and interactive. I like the tactile quality in my work and these book covers aim to use this to its full. I have used layers of laser cut fabric, 'glow-in-the-dark' screen printing and gold leafing to make these books special and interactive.
'Northern Lights' Cover - Digital mockup of cover layout.
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Copyright Katherine Clark.
'The Subtle Knife' Cover - Digital mockup of cover layout.
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Copyright Katherine Clark.
'The Amber Spyglass' Cover - Digital mockup of cover layout.
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Copyright Katherine Clark.
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Copyright Katherine Clark.
The main illustrative element, which I have mirrored on the front and back of the covers is the main landmark for the more important universe of each of the books. Book 1 has the north and the northern lights, Book 2 has the universe with Cittagazze and 'The Tower of Angels', and book 3 has the universe with the giant trees and lava roads.
In the stories there are these invisible particles, which are referred to as 'Dust'. It's quite an important part to the stories, so don't want give away any more details. I have used screen printed 'Glow-in-the-dark' paint to add another element of interest to my book covers. In the digital illustration of the covers, the glowing areas are the pale green parts. My aim was to add key 'Dust' elements from each of the stories.
The gold leaf areas feature important subject matter from each of the stories. Northern Lights has Lyra, Pan and Ioric the Polar Bear. The Subtle Knife has the windows/ portals. The Amber Spyglass has the seed pods from the giant trees.
The inside cover illustrations also add another level to the narrative imagery of these special edition books. I must add though, that they can only be fully understood by people who have read the books. These inside illustrations are representing key themes/ moments with the characters Lyra and Pan, her Daemon. Book 1 mainly focusses on the daemons and child snatching. Book 2 mainly focuses on Lyra and Will becoming friends. Book 3 focuses on the relationship of Lyra and Pan.
My key aim was to create covers that attract new readers without giving away any key plots, but for them to understand the subtle plot indications and find clever once they have finished reading. You will have to read the books fully in order to understand and appreciate all the visual choices I have made for these covers.
In the stories there are these invisible particles, which are referred to as 'Dust'. It's quite an important part to the stories, so don't want give away any more details. I have used screen printed 'Glow-in-the-dark' paint to add another element of interest to my book covers. In the digital illustration of the covers, the glowing areas are the pale green parts. My aim was to add key 'Dust' elements from each of the stories.
The gold leaf areas feature important subject matter from each of the stories. Northern Lights has Lyra, Pan and Ioric the Polar Bear. The Subtle Knife has the windows/ portals. The Amber Spyglass has the seed pods from the giant trees.
The inside cover illustrations also add another level to the narrative imagery of these special edition books. I must add though, that they can only be fully understood by people who have read the books. These inside illustrations are representing key themes/ moments with the characters Lyra and Pan, her Daemon. Book 1 mainly focusses on the daemons and child snatching. Book 2 mainly focuses on Lyra and Will becoming friends. Book 3 focuses on the relationship of Lyra and Pan.
My key aim was to create covers that attract new readers without giving away any key plots, but for them to understand the subtle plot indications and find clever once they have finished reading. You will have to read the books fully in order to understand and appreciate all the visual choices I have made for these covers.
'Northern Lights' lasercut fabric closeup.
Midnight Blue Buckram book cloth.
Copyright Katherine Clark.
'The Amber Spyglass' lasercut fabric closeup.
Maroon and light grey Buckram book cloths.
Copyright Katherine Clark.
Copyright Katherine Clark.
'The Subtle Knife' lasercut fabric closeup.
White and Turquoise Buckram book cloths.
White and Turquoise Buckram book cloths.
Copyright Katherine Clark.
