Do Judge a Book by its Cover: Roughs

Why do I like this?

• I like using a "zoomed in" image of the front cover on the back. I think this repeat, with the simple change of the figures now reaching towards each other, conveys the concept of racial divides effectively. 
• I think the sense of depth and distance that this jagged 'divide' creates is really interesting and draws the viewer into the book.

Why do I not like this?

• The naive and handmade quality of the coloured pencil is not appropriate to the drama I want to convey in this image. I think if I was to take this idea forward I would experiment maybe with using photoshop or maybe lino to create a graphic and flat image. 

Why do I like this?

• I think the image of the hand shaking works well to convey the message of creating an 'antiracist' and 'beloved community' which Hooks talks about in her essays. 
• I like the composition of using the hands to break up the cover between an image and the text. 

Why do I not like this?

• I do not like the combination of fine liner and coloured pencil, as I think it looks unprofessional and does not contain any aesthetic value or interest. 
• I think the image on the back is a weak and too simple of an idea. 

Why do I like this?

• Framing the images I feel works really well. It looks professional and focuses the eye on the actual illustration. 
• I like the image on the front cover as I feel it speaks really well about the oppression of African Americans and their lack of a sense of belonging as well as white supremacy - all themes that are explored a lot in Hooks essay.

Why do I not like this?

• Although I like the framing of the illustrations I feel like it makes the book cover quite bland and not as dynamic as perhaps using one image for the whole jacket. 
• I do not think that the second image actually adds anything to the jacket. It does not communicate the message I am trying to convey, of finding power in self reliance and living within nature, as effectively as I would like. I think if I was to use this design I would have to think about working with this image a bit more or maybe debate not using it on the jacket but instead expanding on the initial image. 

Why do I like this?

• I really like the use of the whole jacket to convey one image, but how if you fold it up it works well as one individual image on each surface.
• I think that as an image the colour, and use of gouache, is really eye-catching and pleasing. 
• The concept - in this design I wanted to use images of Appalachian and southern culture (expressed maybe in portraits and little houses ect.) to illustrate the "mountain people" that Hooks talks about and their escape from "dominator culture" in the cities. 

Why do I not like this?

• I think that maybe its too busy? I would prefer to make something thats more simple and dynamic.
• In order to convey the concept effectively I think that I would need to work more detail into the image, which would make it definitely too busy for what I would like to achieve. 

Why do I like this?

• This was the rough that I received most positive feedback on in the crit. I think this is the most attractive to people because the character captures a strong emotion of wanting to belong, or feeling a connection to a certain place. 
• I think the image of the women cradling 'rural america' and pushing away the urban well illustrates Hook's desire to preserve and protect rural areas with ever increasing urbanisation.
• I like the line quality I have achieved in this drawing - the thicker line below the arm cradling the landscape especially works well and creates an interesting visual aesthetic. 

Why do I not like this?

• Compositionally this image is quite weak and does not effectively use the book jacket. It was suggested that if I was to take this idea forward I should explore expanding the cityscape, and have the figure pushing this far all the way out on to the flap. I like this idea and think that it could be a really interesting use of space. 
• I am not sure about taking this idea forward even though it is the one that I got the most positive feedback in the brief. I think this is because it is the one with the most generalised and unrefined concept...so I am unsure as to how effectively it conveys the ideas in Hook's essays. 

After this crit and presenting my roughs I am still unsure as to which idea I would like to take forward. I do think, however, that I am definitely edging towards the idea of creating something quite simple and dynamic. To continue forward I need to reread some of the summaries of my book and generate more ideas, as well as further develop some pre-existing ones I have already explored through my roughs. I think that it is important that I try to summarise what Hook's overall message is in these essays, and through this I will be able to centre on one theme to convey within these images.