THE YEARLING BRIEF
I wanted to create a whimsical scene of a child and his new found friend, a deer in a beautiful whimsical environment filled of green and nature. I wanted to recreate what has already been published and make a more magical and colorful scene with supporting wildlife and gorgeous heavenly lighting to emphasize their compatible bond they shared. Although The Yearling is a novel, I thought a novel size picture book for a younger audience would be a more unique approach that hasn't been done before - with perhaps a nicer ending.
It would teach the younger audience that we are one in nature, the wildlife, the animals, bugs or nature in general are our friends and would let them consider outside and the beauty of animals and nature more.
Process Book
Market Research
Before tapping into a very popular public domain novel since 1946, It was important to me to know previous remodels and designs of what's been made and published already to see what's been successful or mistaken duplicates.
On the right, I have done market research of popular book covers similar to what I was visualizing in aesthetic, style, or nature filled and books that have been unsuccessful.
Thumbnails
Value Comps of refined line work and sketch in comparison
3 Value Official Comps
4 Color Comps
Final Color Comp
FINAL
Additionally as my final I made a pattern design for the spine, similarly to The Golden Books for fun exploration
Time-lapse from sketch to the final render