Friday, January 9, 2015

Friday Flourish: The Estate

Happy Friday Everyone!

Work has really picked up for me over the past month, something that's both incredibly exciting and thoroughly exhausting at the same time, but I'm having so much fun working on new projects for clients. One such client is Laura Bendoly, author of a recently-released paranormal young adult novel called The Estate.

I love working on all types of projects, but illustrated covers are of particular interest for me because I get to be creative in an entirely different way than I do on covers that are photography-based, so when Laura came to me wanting a fully illustrated design, I did a somewhat embarrassing happy dance.

The end result is something really different (in the best possible way I think!) from anything I've done before, so I hope you all love it as much as I do.

THE ESTATE


Something creeps between the  floorboards of the Rutherford Estate, the fortress where Eileen Morgan spends her sixteenth summer. It is in Fife, Scotland, a usually quiet community but where locals have been experiencing freak accidents – stampeding by bull and falling to their deaths in the North Sea. The inheritance of the estate is now in question. Is the heir Ewan Stalker, the estranged grandson who tends the sheep across the hill from Eileen? Will helping him risk goring by Caedmon the bull or being pushed down a mineshaft by the resident ghost?  Whichever her choice, a dynasty may disappear forever should she not intervene in the Rutherfords' darkest hour.


You can find more of my cover design work at Seedlings Design Studio

55 comments:

  1. Wow, Jenny, that really cool. I don't really know how the illustrating works with something like this, but I know I couldn't do it. lol.

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    1. Thanks so much Christy! I love working on the illustrated, it's such a different challenge from the photography based designs.

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  2. That's a cool cover, Jenny. I like how you've put the focus on the important parts of the story: the bull, girl, and estate.

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    1. Thanks so much Z! It took us a while to narrow down the most important elements, but we got there:)

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  3. This reminds me of something...oh yes! A painting a friend once made, I always admire it, it's just a profile

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    1. People are not my forte illustration-wise, so simple profiles work best for me:)

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  4. it's really beautiful, the color are perfect together. thanks for sharing!

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  5. wow jenny you are freaking awesome, if I ever writes a book, I will make sure to ask you to make the cover for me :) really beautiful and the book sound interesting as well :D

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    1. Thanks Alreem! I would love to work on your future cover :)

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  6. holy shit

    sorry for the cussing but I couldn't help it! This so freaking fantastic!!! GAHHHH, teach me your ways. You're so awesome as well as your creations *sobs* <333

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    1. Hahaha cussing is allowed:) So glad you love it Abby! Thank you, thank you.

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  7. OH WOW! What an amazing cover Jenny! You are so VERY talented!!
    I adore illustrated covers and this one is simply stunning!
    Also, the books sounds fantastic! =D SCOTLAND!!

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    1. THANKS PILI!!! I'm really proud of how this one turned out:)

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  8. This is amazing! You are so talented, Jenny! I love doing a bit of graphics myself, but I don't know how you have such patience, hehe! So exciting yet can be frustrating too. Such an amazing achievement! :D

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    1. There are definitely times where my patience wears thin and the design elements just won't come together the way I want them too, but it always works out in the end:)

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  9. I love this design! I'm so jealous! I wish I had this talent. I've always loved graphic design but I am just not the creative type. I suppose I was just meant to enjoy it, not to create it. :)

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    1. I feel the same way about writing! I wish I could be an author, but I'm destined to be a reader:)

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  10. Gorgeous, Jenny. Makes me want to write a book just so I can get an illustrated cover too. ;)

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  11. Wow! I love this and I love the sound of that book. I am so happy to hear your business is doing well. You deserve it and are very talented. I can't wait to see what you design next, but I have to say, this cover is one of my favorites! Happy Friday, Jenny!

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    1. Thank you so much Christina. I've been completely surprised by how fast things have grown in the past 9 months, and I'm so grateful:)

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  12. It's great that you're so busy, but yeah, I can sympathize on how it can be both a good AND a bad thing. That being said, you're definitely using your time wisely because that cover is stunning!!! Happy Friday, Jenny!

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads

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    1. Exactly. I love being busy and I'm so thankful to have a number of clients who want me to bring their cover to life, but lately I haven't had time to do important things. Like shower. My poor husband ;-)

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  13. Jenny - this is gorgeous! I love the colors and how the font sweeps in and blends with the flowering vines.

    Happy Friday and have a great weekend :)

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    1. Thank you Kim! I really love these colors too - a big departure from anything else I've done which is fun:)

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  14. Jenny! WOW! This is just so beautiful! And it's in blue, my favorite color! I love all the details and the font and the silhouettes and that castle!! Beautiful!
    I'm so excited that your business is growing! You deserve it more than anything!

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    1. MINE TOO! If you look at my portfolio, you'll see a lot of blue in there. I tend to gravitate toward that color when I design, but this overall palette isn't something I've done before:)

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  15. This is gorgeous! You are so very talented Jenny!! Thanks for sharing this with us. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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  16. Wow, Jenny! This cover is utterly gorgeous! You are a talent to be reckoned with. Keep it up!

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    1. Thank you Hafsah, I could say the exact same about you! I love seeing the covers you do:)

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  17. This cover is stunning! I would grab this off the shelf without even reading the synopsis (yes I am shallow). :-) I finally tore my eyes away from the loveliness and checked it out, and it sounds awesome! Killer bulls, a Scottish fortress and ghosts? Yes please! Congratulations on your well deserved success Jenny!

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    1. I'm that shallow too, you're not alone ;-) Sometimes I just have to have something pretty in my hands, it doesn't even matter what it's about. As it happens, this one sounds intriguing, so bonus!

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  18. I am in love. Like Lauren I would grab this without even knowing what it's about. I would hang this on my wall as art. You are seriously talented!!!

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  19. I am so happy to hear your business is picking up! You deserve all your success. I love this one. It is so mysterious and the colors are gorgoues. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Heidi! It's all coming together much faster than things did when I started the wedding business, so I'm really excited:)

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  20. B.E.A.utiful! LOVE this! I would totally gravitate toward this book! Excellent work!

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  21. I want to buy this book based on the cover alone. Jenny, this is stunning! It's so, so beautiful and your talent just seeps through the artwork and beautiful design. So glad to hear that business is picking up--you absolutely deserve it and I'm thrilled that others are recognizing your talent. LOVE this!

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    1. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I couldn't be happier with how this turned out, and I'm so glad everyone seems to love it as much as I do. You just never know, artwork is so subjective:)

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  22. Fantastic Jenny..from the colors to the font..eep love it! Ya know what the synopsis sounds pretty dang good too! win-win

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    1. I'm madly in love with this font. My finger clicked "buy" before I even knew what happened ;-)

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  23. If I saw this cover at the bookstore I'd totally pick it up because it's gorgeous and eye catching! Love it xD

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  24. Jenny, your talent never ceases to amaze me. If the books are half as good as your covers, then . . . that's a darn good book, LOL. On the other hand, I hope your not temping poor, unsuspecting readers (like myself) into books they'll (I'll) regret b/c PRETTY COVER. *grabby hands*

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  25. This cover is gorgeous! I like how un-stereotypical it is. You are quite the talent, Jenny!

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  26. I think this is one of your best covers yet, Jenny! I in awe of your creativity! Beautiful! :)

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  27. This is ABSOLUTELY beautiful Jenny! I think it's refreshing in the fact that most covers are photograph based, and it makes this one really stick out!

    And congrats on all the clients you're getting, I hope you have even more happy dances in the future! <3

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  28. I'm so impressed with your business!! You are a fantastic designer and I love to see what you put out. This is gorgeous.

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  29. Seriously perfection!!!! Maybe even my favourite one of yours yet! (Though it's hard to choose...).

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    1. Also illustrated covers are always worthy of happy dances! Congrats :)

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  30. This is INCREDIBLE!! LOVE it!! You are insanely awesome my friend:)

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  31. You designed such beautiful and wonderful covers. No joke.

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