Create a Book Cover for my Anthology (and potential further pieces)

  • Status: Closed
  • Prize: $150
  • Entries Received: 43
  • Winner: Zeusstudios

Contest Brief

I'm looking for a skilled artist with the ability and experience to create quality illustrations for a novel I have written. The genre of the anthology is science fiction/ general fantasy. What I'm looking for primarily is the cover art. The story revolves around a mysterious and magical kingdom made up of a collection of islands, though the art I'm looking for currently would only depict one of the islands.

Description of the Artwork
A distant view of the island with a collection of bright red cliffs in the background forms a series of multiple steppes, reaching to the bright, blue sky of mid-day. At the top of the tallest of these cliffs would be the outline of an abandoned castle that shows signs of age. At the bottom of the cliffs is a sandy beach where you can faintly see the form of a teenage boy running toward a wooden cabin.
This cabin is surrounded by a white picket fence, perhaps with a small garden between the fence's entrance and the doorway to the tiny cottage.
A small, yellow, scientific-type submarine is also visible behind the boy, oddly beached on the shore. (see details below). The periphery of the scene flows with an Unreal GameEngine-style aquamarine-colored ocean. The ocean works its way from the bottom of the picture to where its waves lap around the edges of the island's shore. A star-like glint from the sun is reflected off the swirling waves.

One final detail and this is the most important of all, is a whirlpool towards the bottom of the scene in the ocean. It is only a subtle difference in the water flow (it should not be super obvious). This detail is critical. I would also appreciate someone willing to give and receive feedback to ensure the most clarity.

Recap:

1. Use sharp and crisp colors, red cliff on an island in the distance.

2 Blue sky, star-like glint coming off the surrounding ocean.

3 A broad but not obvious mysterious and foreboding, whirlpool-like rotation in the water.

4 On island details a teenage boy running across a sandy beach toward a cabin; the boy has black hair, light caucasian skin, and blue/green eyes. The boy would be depicted from a side angle. Behind the boy is a yellow, scientific submarine on the beach.
For reference, see the submarines used by National Geographic (the kind used for deep ocean exploration).
https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/06/try-saying-it-with-a-stiff-upper-lip-boaty-mcboatface-will-sail-on/

5 The outline of a dilapidated castle on the top of one of the red cliffs.

Style Preferences
I would really like this to have a vivid game-like UnrealEngine feeling. Clear lines. Fantasy-esque, and yet I would also like the viewers to feel like they might actually see something like what they see in the piece in real life.
If I love what you make, then I may have more illustrations that I could commission with you.

Recommended Skills

Winner
Featured Contest
Post a Contest Like This

Employer Feedback

“Very responsive to feedback and extremely talented at bring your dreams to life! Working with this orange was an absolute pleasure!”

Profile image twatersbooks, United States.

Top entries from this contest

View More Entries

Public Clarification Board

  • twatersbooks
    Contest Holder
    • 1 year ago

    I appreciate everyone's entries over the last couple of weeks, it was a difficult decision! Thank you to everyone for your interest!

    • 1 year ago
  • komalmaggo2018
    komalmaggo2018
    • 1 year ago

    Kindly review my Art Work #53

    • 1 year ago
  • Mahamdesigns
    Mahamdesigns
    • 1 year ago

    Please check my entry #39

    • 1 year ago
  • elialex
    elialex
    • 1 year ago

    Hi! Please check my sketch #33 . I await your answer, thank you!

    • 1 year ago
  • DepartmentS
    DepartmentS
    • 1 year ago

    Hi - Just a heads-up. Whenever you get multiple entries from the same person submitted rapidly, all of which bear no stylistic resemblance to each other whatsoever - it's usually a good indicator they're submitting webrips. I'm not going to name the entrant in this case, the following entries however weren't created by the person who entered them:

    #8 - https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/fantasy/images/26863724/title/dream-world-photo

    #7 - https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/qQfu4xrz1efvfQydfWGy

    #19 - https://stringfixer.com/files/278070424.jpg

    • 1 year ago
    1. xetus
      xetus
      • 1 year ago

      Since the customer's choice is clipart artists, we simply shouldn't waste time here.

      • 1 year ago
    2. DepartmentS
      DepartmentS
      • 1 year ago

      I'm inclined to agree with you to a point, Ilia - I was keen as mustard to make a start but, yes - seeing what is being rated - I am holding off. We both know this kind of work is meticulous and that takes time. The brief does indeed call for meticulous detail and I'm not seeing any at all in what's been rated. If all the CH want's is bad clip-art - then, indeed, no - there doesn't seem much point even starting...

      However, by the same token - legitimate, detailed work does take time - can we seriously expect an actually proper entry this early in the day?

      The marking is off-putting, yes. But, in a few days, we should see a few more serious entries and - if they are valued - we can review.

      The contest's only been up a day or so, I'd council patience for a few days yet. If it continues in this vein, then we know...

      • 1 year ago
  • Lisha0001
    Lisha0001
    • 1 year ago

    Working on it....

    • 1 year ago
  • riad0098
    riad0098
    • 1 year ago

    why yoy mantioned that the boy has blue ayes, do want us to show this, coz as you wrote the boy will appear soo tinny in the illustartion, so it's impossible to show you these detailes!

    • 1 year ago
  • PayVayUA
    PayVayUA
    • 1 year ago

    Thank you for your reply.
    Oh, one more quick question. What dimensions should the canvas be?

    • 1 year ago
    1. twatersbooks
      Contest Holder
      • 1 year ago

      8.5 in x 11 in

      • 1 year ago
    2. PayVayUA
      PayVayUA
      • 1 year ago

      Thank you!

      • 1 year ago
  • twatersbooks
    Contest Holder
    • 1 year ago

    I just upgraded it to #guarenteed! That was an oversight; thanks for the clarification. The book cover was to show the font style that would be preferred, but your own ideas are also welcome.

    • 1 year ago
  • enriqueMatos
    enriqueMatos
    • 1 year ago

    Dear Contest Holder, #guaranteed , else, you will only receive free, overused web stolen cliparts . Also, the Cover sample ( vintage painting girl w/cat) is years light away from anything Unreal game engine .... please clarify

    • 1 year ago
  • Abhishek7473
    Abhishek7473
    • 1 year ago

    #guaranteed

    • 1 year ago
  • DepartmentS
    DepartmentS
    • 1 year ago

    This is a lot of fine, detailed work - especially given the quality of the example you provide. If you are serious, please - #guaranteed

    • 1 year ago
  • PayVayUA
    PayVayUA
    • 1 year ago

    Hello.
    I really like your project. I plan to work on it.
    Can you send sample artwork to show the style you like. Unreal game engine style can assume cartoon style or realistic style. Which style do you need?
    I will be submitting work steps to the contest so you can see the process.
    I hope the selection of the winner will be fair.

    • 1 year ago
    1. twatersbooks
      Contest Holder
      • 1 year ago

      Hi! This is a good example, though it needs to be like my sketches, with red cliffs and sunrise. Looking forward to your submission!
      https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOWE2ODZhYWYtNTFiYy00MjdmLWIzZGEtNTkyOTc1NDIwMjk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzY0MTE3NzU@._V1_.jpg

      • 1 year ago

Show more comments

How to get started with contests

  • Post your contest

    Post Your Contest Quick and easy

  • Get tons of entries

    Get Tons of Entries From around the world

  • Award the best entry

    Award the best entry Download the files - Easy!

Post a Contest Now or Join us Today!