How to draw a How cover
How:Design Ideas at Work is a great magazine, primarily for graphic designers and art directors. It has a lot of practical advice as well as coverage of the leading edges of design, advertising, and art. Recently, I was asked to write an long (8-page) article about how drawing and journal keeping can feed one's creativity. It was a topic I'd long wanted to address to the professional image-making community because so many of those folks have lost their touch with drawing, though it was probably the very thing that got them into their chosen field at the get-go.
I am pretty happy with the article and was delighted when the senior art director for the magazine also asked me to draw the cover for the issue, a special one dedicated to Illustration. How has a fairly strict format for the cover, one that revolves around their enormous logo, so I did a design that integrated the three letters into my idea. Because illustration is a personal medium, I liked the idea of putting a thumbprint on the cover, maybe the thumb of an artist sighting his subject. I did a quick sketch of myself in that pose, colored it on my computer, and fired it off to her.
Unfortunately, the magazine's staff felt that the image was confusing. Some didn't like the fact that the fist might interfere with the coverlines (the titles of the articles inside). Then some others thought it was a person giving a thumbs up, rather than sighting.
Back to the drawing board. The art director suggested I just draw a hand drawing the logo filled with clouds with some art supplies scattered around. I resisted this idea and instead thought I could make a little design out of pens and stuff. I cobbled together a collage from drawings I'd already done to convey the idea.
My client didn't like this design much because it doesn't play up the logo enough and was a two 2-dimensional. Instead she brought up the idea they'd proposed earlier: filling the logo with sky and having a hand drawing it. I gave that a try but thought the hand looked so lonely. Instead I sketched in the artist's head and torso too. I did another self portrait but shaved off my beard in case that was a turn-off.
The email arrived the next morning:
There are still a few hang-ups. Something about the person coming from the back of the logo is off-putting. The focus needs to be on drawing not on the person doing the drawing. The viewer needs to be in the place of the artist.
I'd like you to draw the cover as if it were a page in your sketchbook where you drew the act of drawing the cover. Forget the hands. Just draw the set up since you're so good with everyday objects. Leave the middle just a wash background or blank so the focus is totally on the logo. I'll attach my thumbnail. That may help.
Yesterday I started again, following the art director's sketch. Just to put a little bit of myself into it, I added her sketch as part of the assignment, lying on the table where I drew from it.
I sent the final image to her last night but don't expect to her about it till Monday. We'll see. It was an interesting experience; I may have been stupid to have resisted the idea she clearly wanted me to execute and insisting on other interpretations. It's a hard lesson to learn for a stubborn know-it-all, but I am trying.
P.S. In case you missed 'em, there're a couple of new podcasts episodes on my new podcast site. I really like the one I did with Jack Tea.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
Good job Danny!
Any one of those covers would have intrigued me enough to buy that issue of "HOW." But I especially liked the ones showing the tools! SND
Posted by: Sue Nan | April 29, 2006 10:28 AM
Hey Danny, I love getting news that you have done something new on your weblog or the podcasts... you could do them everyday and that would not be too much for me. As a matter of fact when you did them more often I enjoyed getting up to see what was on your weblog everyday quite a bit.
This one about the process of illustration for the HOW cover is great. We get to see all the work and the pain involved in making a cover.
Can't wait to see how it turns out. Can we pick this up on the news stand?
Posted by: frederick Nunley | April 29, 2006 10:54 AM
Danny, I admire your patience and I’m happy that I still subscribe HOW. I like too this with tools, but I envy your imagination in the whole series :)
Posted by: Ewa | April 29, 2006 11:05 AM
LOVE your covers, especially the one with the tools. I was intrigued about the publication so searched it out on the internet. After seeing the Sept/Oct cover (!)
Any ONE of your covers is a vast improvement!
Posted by: Jane Swanson | April 29, 2006 12:32 PM
These are great! I really like the first two the best but I know how hard it is to do exactly what the client wants...
Posted by: kristine | April 29, 2006 12:43 PM
Cleasrly she had an idea in mind and needed someone else to execute it.
I find it ironic that the theme of the issue is Creativity, yet you had to do as you were told to do.
Then again, she knows what will likely sell magazines.
One the third cover, "you" are drawing in reverse, behind a glass pane. That made me feel awakawrd when I put myself in the artisit's place, because I would not want to do that.
It could have been just the hand from the reader's side. Akin to Escher's drawing of two hands drawing each other.
I like the vibrant colors of the final.
Posted by: Heidi | April 29, 2006 12:45 PM
I like all of your covers, but the last one is wonderful. I don't know how anyone could NOT like it! I would buy this magazine for sure.
Posted by: Bonnie | April 29, 2006 12:50 PM
It's an interesting process. I must admit I find the first three a little hard or edgy. The last is perfect - maybe it's the blue skies and a cup of tea/coffee, it suggests a real love for what you are doing.
Posted by: Felicity | April 30, 2006 09:48 AM
I think that the first one is the winner. I immediately understood what you were doing - and I think that any reader (or potential reader) of HOW would too - I think it was "right on" your target audience and would grab attention and not confuse you with showing drawing tools (this is something I would expect to see on other type of magazine). I think that the cover should be not about supplies we use but about the tool of drawing constantly that we use. Thanks a lot for sharing this experience, Danny! I am looking forward to the next issue of HOW with your article and cover.
Posted by: Nina | April 30, 2006 01:48 PM
Hi Danny;
Have you seen this cover art already "published" on HOW's web-site?
http://www.howdesign.com/store/magdisplay.asp?id=1771
Posted by: Nina | April 30, 2006 04:50 PM
I love them all! The originality of the first two really got me. I most like that you snuck the thumbprint design on your shirt on the second cover.
the final design is wonderful too and they would be blind not to go with it. It is very eye-catching, especially to an artist.
Posted by: DeAnn | April 30, 2006 07:30 PM
Resistance is futile, but hey, you can't say you didn't explore all options. Don't forget: the AD has to sell it and you know those Mktg types.
Posted by: Rosemary Kracke | April 30, 2006 08:38 PM
Like them ALL, but do love the last one because: 1) The cloud formations through the logo are continued throughout the three letters -- a really good loose-watercolor triptyck. 2) I love art supplies and the way you portray them. 3) You've repeated the logo by using her sketch. How could the client not like that? Thanks for sharing the process.
Doris
Posted by: Doris Mouton | April 30, 2006 09:02 PM
p.s.
Why don't you submit this as an article for a future issue of "HOW" magazine.
Doris
Posted by: Doris Mouton | April 30, 2006 09:24 PM
Danny - You handled a very frustrating situation with class. When working in advertising, I often gave the client 3 choices - exactly what they asked for, what they asked for with a twist (because many times what they asked for was tacky) and my own take. Thanks for the sneak peek. I love them all.
Posted by: melissa woodland | May 1, 2006 07:21 AM
I liked the first one a lot and was feeling irritated that they didn't. By the time I got to the last one that feeling left. I realized it seems more like what I associate with you.
Posted by: Deb | May 1, 2006 09:38 AM
a. there is never too much danny in my email inbox, b. I strongly prefer the beardless you drawing, c. I'll buy the other but think it's not as creative as beardless boy. d. I've never noticed this journal at my news stand. is it something that's only available to the art direction community? dana
Posted by: dana | May 1, 2006 10:10 AM
I think the 1st cover was the best. The 2nd one was too busy to allow the HOW logo to show through enough to grab the attention of someone at the newsstand. I liked the 3rd one, I didn't find it unnderving, but interesting that the guy is painting the logo from behind. The 4th one is nice too, but I still like the 1st one best. When is the issue coming out? Can't wait to see it.
Posted by: Lainey | May 1, 2006 04:09 PM
The drawing of the comp within the comp maked me smile.
Posted by: Ken McCarthy | May 1, 2006 04:42 PM
Wow. Thanks for the insight into illustrating on demand like that. I think i like the third one best personally. All great of course.
Posted by: Fluff | May 1, 2006 05:06 PM
ditto for me, they all grabbed my attention. love the portrait with the supplies though. stirs my creativity!
Posted by: karen | May 1, 2006 09:27 PM
Great final solution, Danny. I read How and was confused by the banner your comps had, "special issue: creativity." The crayon cover I just got had that same theme (why I bought it), are they doing that every month I wonder.
Posted by: shelley Noble | May 2, 2006 02:10 AM
She's right though - the fact that the two "people" covers are coming out at you feels very disturbing - you would not want to put your own hand out and pick those up off a newstand - the last one is just perfect - it does reflect your style best (which is clearly what she wanted or she wouldn't have asked you to do the cover) and is really attractive - I have a feeling you were coming at this cover from your advertising viewpoint (the "people" covers are most like TV adverts) rather than from your drawing viewpoint - just my thoughts on it
Posted by: violetsrose | May 2, 2006 04:35 AM
I like the third one the best - but all are incredible! I want this issue of HOW - with your article. I love your work - thanks for the inspiration once again.
Posted by: Deborah Lowe | May 2, 2006 10:36 AM
Hi Danny,
I love your last illustrations best!!! as an illustrator myself I see that not only me is given hard time with customers..
good luck and we would love to see the winner illustration!
Posted by: Rachel | May 3, 2006 04:13 AM
OK, here are my thoughts. I love your original idea. Period. Knowing the reputation of F&W and HOW, I am not surprised they would not go with a vision that more closely reflects who you are. They always play it safe and boring. Nothing against you at all, I really do not like the clouds in the logo. That idea sucks!
Posted by: Lu | May 3, 2006 10:03 AM
Thanks for sharing! It's really interesting to see how different they all "feel" to me. The first is a grabber, the one with you painting sans beard is lovely and really conveys "thoughful art is being created in this magazine" (because of the colors, expression, and softness of clouds). The last one really feels most like a "magazine cover" though. Maybe it's flatter? More "all-over" with more evenness between background texture and objects and the objects have the right scale to flatten into a picture with the text?
I do like the first reach out and grab ya cover, though.
Posted by: Amber | May 4, 2006 05:45 PM
Every one of these turned out great! I really like the 3rd one just because the viewer feels like the canvas. We get a glimpse at watching the artist at work, but not from the "over the shoulder" view point. Bravo!
Posted by: Gerald | May 6, 2006 08:11 PM
CONGRATULATIONS Danny. This is quite an honor and I'm thrilled they've chosen your work. You rock my world.
Posted by: georgia | May 7, 2006 02:36 AM