leelastarsky: (DH Harry)
leelastarsky ([personal profile] leelastarsky) wrote2007-02-27 10:56 pm
Entry tags:

art - Deathly Hallows coverart

Well, I am completely a-squeeee and utterly chuffed! My art got first place in the Photoshop section of the TLC Deathly Hallows coverart contest! Thankyou Leaky!!

If you haven't already, you must head over and have a look at the other beautiful entries!

Here are some larger versions of mine for you -


(click on the thumbnails for the BIG!)

without text


with text and lines to indicate the folds for the spine and flaps.

I saw a complaint in the comments on TLC that the text is too hard to read and would never be allowed for proper publishing. This is true, and I'll admit that was kind of deliberate on my part, as I didn't want it to take away from the painting. I was also emulating my US version of Order of the Phoenix which uses a blue foil embossing for the text on a blue cover. From certain angles that can't be read either. ;~)

and, come on, you know I couldn't do a cover without doing a UK version!!


The front flap on the UK version looks a bit bizarre cos it needs text!
Here's a bigger version of the front so you can see Harry's face. :~)


This was painted in Photoshop using a Wacom tablet. The base of the art was handpainted watercolour, which was then scanned into the computer. The castle in the background was photoshopped in from one of my older (acrylic) paintings, which you can see on the background of my journal!

Regarding the symbolism/story behind the scene depicted in the art, and the characters... I chose to stick with the Trio - Harry, Ron and Hermione. Deathly Hallows brought to mind the barrows and standing stones of ancient Britain for me, so that's where I've set it. And the Celtic patterns on the stone are part of a spell, whether for security or otherwise I'll leave to your imagination! Suffice to say that it requires the Full Moon, and Harry has found a way in/through, which is why the pattern is lighting up. But Dementors are approaching and Ron and Hermione have to fend them off to allow Harry to do his part!

Hopefully I've created an urgency in the scene and with the characters that will intregue the viewers and make them want to read the book! ;~)

ETA: I forgot to mention that the greenish haze on the ground is supposed to be the green mist caused by the Dementors! ;~)

[identity profile] aniraangel.livejournal.com 2007-03-02 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
thats just.. stunning. :D


(I think it's the lotr fan in me but I can't help but thinking about FotR when I head 'hallows' >.> Which ends up in me humming Tom Bombadil songs ^^;)
ext_40142: (DH Harry)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2007-03-06 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! It certainly made me think of Barrows and standing stones, as I said, and I guess at some level LOTR. ;~)

[identity profile] glockgal.livejournal.com 2007-03-02 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Have I already expounded on how much I love this piece and how much it deserves to be praised and loved by all? If I have, bear with; if I haven't, then OH MY GOD, WOMAN.

This sums up every bit of intenstiy that I've come to expect for the last book. The fact that you've used the trio in particular is especially so poignant and close to my heart - with Sumbledore gone, who better to fight the battle? Who better to have on the last book? *cries a little*

And then the lush detail of everything. I love that you used so much background and environmental elements in this, it's so confident and it makes so much sense that I can't help but think I'll be a little disappointed if book 7 doesn't somehow relate to this picture. *hee* I love the colours and lighting - so realistic, yet solidly based in fantasy. It is amazing.

And then... the darlings! The composition is fantastic - Ron ahd Hermione there, but facing away to the oncoming danger of the Death Eaters and who knows what else - they are literally covering Harry's back without any hesitancy. I love their pose - so brimming right one the edge of action, it's nail-biting to see them frozen like that.

And Harry. Oh my god, Harry. I feel like I can spend hours just staring at his face. Finely blaanced between boy and man, and that expression on his face of concentration and just. He is the hero, there is no doubt about that. My words just fail me. I just love.

LOVE!!! CONGRATULATIONS, you TOTALLY deserve it!! (and sorry about any typos, hehe)
ext_40142: (DH Harry)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2007-03-06 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
OMG, Glock! What a brilliant review! Thankyou SO much! *hugs you madly*
Yes, I decided that the Trio would be the important thing in this book; Ron/Hermione supporting, while Harry does what he needs to do. And I'm so glad you think the cover works! It's always really special to hear comments like this from a fellow artist. ;~D

[identity profile] eleveninches.livejournal.com 2007-03-04 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
Holy crap, this is amazing. Wonderful work.
ext_40142: (DH Harry)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2007-03-06 08:53 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! It's great to hear you enjoyed it! :~)

[identity profile] moonpoetessz.livejournal.com 2007-03-06 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
Utterly gorgeous. They portray so much mystery and the trio have so much personality. I wish these could be the actual covers. Wonderful. I'm sure I'm just repeating what everyone else said, but I had to say how much I loved them. Especially Hermione, she just looks so desperate and everything. Congrats on winning. You deserve it.
ext_40142: (DH Harry)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2007-03-06 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
Thankyou very much! It's great to hear what you thought of it!

[identity profile] spidergirl30.livejournal.com 2007-03-13 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
Leela, that´s so gorgeous, as always!!
I love how Hermione and Ron seem confortable close to each other and Harry´s worried face is perfect!
Thanks for sharing with us :)

[identity profile] koigaoka.livejournal.com 2007-04-08 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
that looks amazing!
I really love your work!

[identity profile] dhfreak.livejournal.com 2007-06-26 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
This is just amazing.. congratulations on winning... by seeing your work you certantly earned it..
ext_40142: (Default)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2007-06-26 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
Thankyou! I'm glad you liked it! :~)

[identity profile] dreamer1789.livejournal.com 2007-08-23 09:18 am (UTC)(link)
That is so beautiful. Man, yours is so much prettier than the actual book! Of course I'm biased, so I like the UK version best out of the two, but really: wow. ^^

[identity profile] uchihakitsune.livejournal.com 2009-03-29 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so awesome! (found it thru dA) :D I love the details! (there're so much details!)

a little bit of concrit for the version with text and lines to indicate the folds for the spine and flaps tho. Ron's hand kind of looks awkward when you'd fold it. :c and the text for "and the deathly hallows" is slightly hard to read.

nonetheless :D It's pretty. And is very creative. It's obvious that you spent so much time on it! :)

congratulations for winning 1st place :) you deserved it! (and this is such a late comment haha)
ext_40142: (Harry blink)

[identity profile] leelastarsky.livejournal.com 2009-03-31 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
Late comments are just as appreciated! ;~)
I'm glad you liked it!
I agree with your comment about the test being hard to read, but I was imagining it in a metallic embossed font like the other US HP books, so thought it would be visible in 'real life'. Heh.

(Anonymous) 2010-09-08 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
I've fallen in love with this cover. I wish I could get a copy of the book with this on it.

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