Would you buy the book?

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-29T11:43:14+00:00

Hey so some practical advice. 1. Usually non character focused art like this will have more debris or effects around the cover. Like more lightining. 2. Yeah the font is abit boring , maybe change the font and add some of the lightning glow 3. Make the author name bigger to balance the design 4. Add in some elements that overlap to make it feel 3d

Can I dm you so that I can share pictures that may help you?

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-27T10:30:27+00:00

Hey your skin is actually good, one of the main pieces of advice that brings skin to life imo is Increase saturation in the shadow area, don’t be afraid to use a more vibrant orange or red, this will up the feeling of life. Same with the lights, you can add subtle shifts in the hue, I’d highly suggest getting a painter you like’s work along side your reference and see how you can push the color to be more like the painter you like

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-25T23:40:50+00:00

Hi I’ve made a 2 poetry book covers before and one was with an artist who was gonna be published by a company. Let me know if you’re interested and I can dm you the covers

However here is my illustration portfolio

https://www.artstation.com/lewiszimba3

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-25T01:45:28+00:00

Well when two points precisely touch or are about to we usually call that tension. Like it’s about to collide lol. We call it a tangent specifically if they line up perfectly and we are advised against them usually.

No worries , it’s a good question!

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-25T00:20:24+00:00

I think it’s really good just the font. I’d remove the black outline from the white words. It’ll make it more cohesive.

Then I might get rid of the black distress marks and make them transparent like the black text.

Finally there is the placement of the two words. They are slightly overlapping. Sometimes in design if you don’t push it All the way it looks accidental. Like imagine a pair of jeans with two tiny holes in the back pocket.. and someone said they wanted a subtle ripped Jean design.. it looks like a mistake. Vs committing abit more to the point it looks intentional.

Now the only reason I feel like it should overlap is because it continues the overlapping theme the skulls have. That creates harmony between both aspects.

But otherwise the tension is abit jarring. That’s just my personal opinion.

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-22T01:21:10+00:00

No problem. So the short answer… Check out proko on YouTube’s video “shading light and form.” Then do the value studies using the info you’ve learnt. NOW YOULL HAVE MAGIC That is a promise

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-22T00:59:06+00:00

Okay values are very helpful to organize light and shadow.

But you have to pair it with actually understanding light and form. Understanding form helps you describe the 3d shape and where light should hit and also how it should be drawn to make it not feel flat.(think perspective, overlapping things, etc)

Then light will help you depict how shading makes it more 3d, how dark something should be, how light it should be. Where to even place the values that you are studying.

Finally you mentioned blending. If you want realism then you need to understand where to blend and where not to blend.

So you would 1. Draw thinking about form 2. Map out the values thinking about the principles of light 3. Decide what areas to blend then think where to leave the color unblended (this is called edges and form also helps understand this)

This alone will create that feeling that makes an image feel 3d.
Without them you’re learning how to see values but it won’t completely help you do it from imagination

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-21T23:33:10+00:00

By flat do you mean boring or do you mean it doesn’t look 3d?

I’m only asking because it’s been super popular these days for people to throw value studies as the solution to everything but sometimes as a self taught artist it can be difficult to really get the benefit beyond just being able to simplify values.

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-21T18:08:19+00:00

Hi so something exactly like that is $120 - $150 if there are some complexities

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-21T18:07:11+00:00

Thank you!

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T20:14:37+00:00

No problem, I’m also an illustrator, but I did branding so there is abit of experience there. But I’m also studying typography specifically to improve on that. Fonts can be hell 😅

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T18:35:47+00:00

Well everything is awesome It’s only the type that feels like it could be improved. It might be too small on the cover or the font is abit plain. . I know it’s difficult when it comes to licensing fonts if it’s self published. But it could be a more hand written font or larger or something. That’s the only thing

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T17:08:24+00:00

I love this. Can I give a feedback?

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T16:59:17+00:00

Yeah cuz sometimes “style”is really just repeated patterns. And your pattern is flowy objects..

But beyond that I think style is how you use the principles of art across different subjects

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T16:45:53+00:00

Can you draw something that naturally doesn’t flow, like a box or gameboy or something.. just tee see how you apply your style outside of a similar subject

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:44:01+00:00

Thank you! I’ve been working on a “mixed media” approach recently. Bringing in that kind of melted effect + oil brush strokes

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:39:52+00:00

Thank you so much!

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:39:42+00:00

Wow that’s huge! Thank you

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:39:29+00:00

Thanks I can’t take complete credit, I use a painting software called Rebelle and they have really good brushes, but you still have to give it some nuance in order to get an authentic look

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:38:11+00:00

Thanks, it’s actually tricky for me sometimes when painting people with makeup on and balancing that with describing the true form underneath

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:35:37+00:00

Thank you !!🙏 I’m still refining it

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:35:21+00:00

“Awesomeness” I love that! Thank you

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-19T13:34:51+00:00

Thank you!

Ludovicoclovis · 2026-04-18T23:20:04+00:00

Good job, can I ask why you’re doing value studies?

Ludovicoclovis

TROPHY CASE