Here's some in-process work. Turns out my process for illustration is not methodical. It varies depending upon the project. I knew what I wanted for the Catcher in the Rye, so I just knocked it out. For the Witch of Blackbird Pond, I'll admit, I'm a little lost.
POINTS OF CONSIDERATION: I think that one of the most important elements to the story is water and it has to be one of the main features in the scene. All of my ideas involved the title on the bottom of the cover since water is involved, that will allow for space in the bottom portion. The other issue to address was how to portray Kit. Most of the previous covers involved portraits which I blasted and I figured I could forgo the portrait route and instead make the witches house on Blackbird Pond but, I just didn't find that challenging for me or the viewer.
CONCEPT #1: I thought it would be awesome to have the water as these strands of hair like waves, unraveling into a hand drawn typography title. However, I really effed it up on the technique. The problem is there is no technique here. Plus the waves turned out looking like yarn. As for Kit...she's a little dead. That's a problem- should she be sad? Swimming or floating? Feeling like she's drowning? Overwhelmed by the situation of moving to a new place, or is the water renewing? Is the situation challenging but optimistic? This isn't the worst image I have made, but I can do better.
CONCEPT #2: I stuck with my original idea of a portrait, using my watercolor/tea technique. Feels a lot more alive than the last cover. I was planning on having the hair unwind again into a hand drawn type title but after butchering that last image I let go of that element. Honestly, I just try to sneak in hand drawn type wherever I can. It's my weakness. I wanted to see what I could make without using reference and when that happens, people usually turn out stylized. It's sort of an anime spin to it, mixed with art nouveau. That wasn't part of the plan, just how it happened. I liked that she was coming out of the water without it being too M.Night Shyamalan, except I'm worried she might be too young. I wanted her to have a bit of a smirk rather than straight up possessed look because there's a childlike mischievousness but innocence to Kit. She likes to do what she wants, and doesn't understand why the Puritans don't. What is very adult of Kit though is she tries to understand why that is.
I'm not thrilled with the composition, it's all a little boring. However, I know where I'm headed now.
