[/quote]
Since when has conformance to the text ever bothered an artist in the throes of creativity when doing a book cover?[/quote]
When you create a cover you have several possibilities
- You can illustrate one specific scene
- try to (re)create the atmosphere of the novel (only if the illustrator read it, lots of us don't read books before they illustrate it because they don't have enough time,)
- or make something completly free in order o make something cool even if it doesn't represent the story(many covers are done this way)
I choose to make a mix between the two first option. I always read the book (except 2 or 3 novels when the deadline was too close). So I take an important scene, or two, I make a mix between them. And I try to show the atmosphere of the book. I won't draw a kiss between two characters if it's a story about an epic battle for example
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Then I have to be careful about technical aspects. In France our books about the Honorverse are smaller than yours. So I can't draw too many things. Because it won't be easy to "read" when you'll see the book cover in a book store. And it have to be efficient so...
Sometimes, I have to give up representating everything. In this particular case I wanted to draw the admiral with Sir caparelli. But it was too heavy. So I had to delete her in order to draw Sir Caparelli bigger...
Most of the time there are more things in my sketches than the final result... Sadly. I can't draw everything. That would be easier if it was a comic book. I wouldn't have to select what I can show. I would draw everything
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)