Inside Illustration

Are you an illustrator looking to get into publishing? The AOI (Association of Illustrators) have published their latest edition of Inside Illustration with a specific focus on illustrating book covers for adult fiction and non-fiction. 

Illustrators can access the following resources: a comprehensive How To Get Into Illustration for Publishing: Book Covers  booklet, an informative podcast, a four part Creative Course on book covers, an in-depth article, interview and a folio of members' work. 

Let's break that down a bit more:

The Podcast will discuss all aspects of book covers with award-winning illustrator and freelance designer Micaela Alcaino and Creative Director at Headline publishing, Patrick Insole. Podcast host is Rachel Emily Taylor, artist, writer and BA Course Leader at Camberwell College of Art.

Patrick and Micaela will discuss the pleasures of cover illustration, working with illustrators, the design of covers and considering the typography, the importance of research for illustrators, tailoring your folio for cover commissions and creating cover samples, publishing contracts, differences between the UK and US markets and more.

The Interview focusses on New York based illustrator Xia Gordon, aka carefulblackgrlstudio, who has illustrated a range of books in various genres, from horror to a classic. She talks all about her work. 

The Article features writer Alix-Rose Cowie talking to experienced cover designers Ellie Game (HarperCollins), Peter Adlington (Faber) and Neil Lang (Pan Macmillan) about how they work with illustrators, the brief and time scales.

The Creative Practice Course is an opportunity to explore a range of illustration for adult book covers. Join illustrator Dave Bain and the following guest speakers: non-fiction with Jennifer N R Smith, commissioning insights from Ellie Game and creating book covers with Lucy Davey and Zoë van Dijk. (Only available to AOI members. Find out more about their membership options.)

The 'How To' booklet covers all you need to know about getting into book cover design, from what is best to include in your folio, different areas of book publishing, clients, briefs and lots more. With insightful quotes from art directors, Caroline Young at Headline Publishing Group and Ellie Game at HarperFiction & Non-fiction, plus illustrator James Weston Lewis who has created many book covers for a range of publishing houses. (Only available to AOI members. Find out more about their membership options.)

If you'd like a quick overview of the book cover basics, this free resource explains this side of the publishing industry, what you’ll need in your portfolio, along with briefs, deadlines, licences and contracts for book cover commissions.