Illustration for "Ijeoma", a novel by Richard Sacks
I completed this illustration and design for Richard Sacks' new book Ijeoma back in September but it should be available soon. I worked with both the staff at TriMark Press and Mr Sacks himself.
The book is a story about a young mom from Nigeria and her experiences with genital mutilation, custody and immigration battles, and more.
The original concept was far more complex (kind of a collage), but we decided something that could hold up well when greatly reduced was better.
The stitched mouth was both a metaphor for genital mutilation and the attempts of people to silence her. The concept beyond the stitched mouth was a bold portrait of a strong and defiant, young, attractive, Nigerian woman.
The illustration is an acrylic painting on a stretched canvas 18"x24". I used lots of reference photography, but didn't use any one single model. The woman you see in the illustration is one hundred percent fictional and a product of my imagination only. Hiring a model for reference photography would have been a good idea, but I didn't. This is one reason I felt comfortable changing her looks a lot as work progressed.
Of course the starting point was a sketch. This wasn't the only sketch or concept I submitted, but this is the one that was approved.
Next I created a color sketch in Photoshop using the original sketch as a basis.
With the color sketch approved I made some minor adjustments and transferred the basic image to canvas and left plenty of extra room for bleed or if we decided to crop differently.
I re-drew the portrait as an outline that would guide me during painting. At this scale it was easier to fix some minor proportional errors etc.
At this point I began a monochrome under-painting of Ijeoma's face and part of her hair in a warm brown tone.
I then proceeded to do the rest of the underpainting in blue.
I changed her eyes as well as made many other tiny refinements to arrive at the finished product.
Next came the graphic design of the cover. Here are some concepts that didn't make it.
This is the design the client approved along with a little retouching and some color adjustments in Photoshop. You can see a big zoomable version of the painting here.
Be sure to look for Ijeoma on Amazon.com!
If you have a need for illustrations similar to this please contact me.
ABOUT COVER ILLUSTRATIONS:
There is a well-known saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but in reality, people do. If you have invested time, money, and creative energy into a book, magazine, or other publication, having a strong, eye-catching cover is essential. Authors and publishers often tell me that my cover illustrations have helped sell more copies than the content alone, opening doors to readers who might not have discovered the work otherwise. While this may seem surprising, it underscores the importance of compelling visual storytelling in capturing attention and communicating ideas at a glance.
Illustration offers unique advantages over photography for cover design. While photography can be a powerful choice in certain situations, illustration allows for the clear depiction of abstract concepts, fictional settings, or ideas that cannot be photographed. It also provides complete control over color, lighting, and composition, down to precise digital detail. This flexibility allows each cover to convey mood, tone, and narrative in a way that is fully tailored to the content it represents.
Over the years, I have created cover illustrations for books, magazines, and a wide variety of publications. The earliest work currently displayed on my site is the 2011 cover for Phillip Singer: An Accounting, which was hand-painted in oil, photographed, and then completed digitally using Illustrator and Photoshop. Today, most of my cover illustrations are produced entirely digitally, with a focus on vector-based techniques that ensure crisp, clean, and scalable designs suitable for print or digital media.
Each cover I create is designed to capture attention, communicate the story, and elevate the publication's visual identity. Whether for a book, magazine, or other creative project, my illustrations combine artistry, precision, and concept-driven design to make a memorable first impression that engages audiences and enhances the overall impact of the work.
PORTFOLIO SELECTIONS
- Custom illustration & covers: Featuring bespoke illustration, book and magazine covers, hand-drawn maps, and building renderings.
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- Design & motion media: Covering graphic design, plus video and motion and animated illustration.
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- Additional creative work: Includes editorial covers, vehicle graphics, concept renderings, and public art.
- Mediums & formats: Ranging from digital vector and isometric projection to traditional paint, line art, GIS-based, aerial-style, and halftone.
- Software expertise: Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp, InDesign, and Premiere/After Effects for motion.
