They say that you should never judge a book by its cover. Well, I have a confession to make… when it comes to choosing a new book I am the most vacuous and completely judgemental person you could ever hope to meet!
Shallow as that may first appear, the ‘shop window’ effect of a book cover enticing you to flick open its pages and embark on the journey inside is actually an involved science which can encompass artistry, typeset, graphic design, photography, psychology and lots of reading on the part of the book designer…and guess what? I am a complete sucker for it!!
Looking around my own book collection I realised that, over the years, I had subconsciously created a mini art gallery of attractive looking books. Some are, of course, amazing stories and wonderful vehicles to far away places, yet some remain untouched and unopened, but the covers are simply wonderful to look at (did I mention shallow)?!
I always think it’s a shame that a book sits side in on a shelf, hiding its true beauty from view, so I am a big fan of ‘coffee table’ books and of leaving books lying randomly around the place, like some form of abstract gallery that provides you with the odd flash of satisfaction and inspiration when a cover catches your eye as you move around the house.
But have you ever wondered how the process of designing a book cover works in practice? Ok, I’m guessing its probably not your first thought when you wake up in the morning, but it is intriguing to see how a draft paper manuscript transforms into an enticing work of art & design that lures you in. If you’re interested to know more, take a moment to look at the following video which provides a real insight to the art and thought behind designing a book cover…
As a case in point, the choice of the latest addition to my library was very much influenced by the ‘Peter Blake/Sgt Pepper’ inspired collage on its cover, which stands alone in its own right as a work of art…
…but takes on a different aspect when used in the context of a book cover (a very apt cover choice for a book chronicling British popular culture). It’s a damn good read too!
Taking book cover art to a different level is the ancient Art of Book Binding. In the same way that Thatching and Weaving are skills in decline, the Art of book binding is very specialised, with only a limited number of exponents still practising.
As opposed to book covers produced for the mass market, you often find that book binding involves a one-off piece of art designed exclusively for the client. However, the same principles apply, with the cover design being associated with the content of the book that it is designed to protect.
Andrew Brown is an award winning book binder and owner of the Artisan Bindery near Chester in the UK…
Click on the link below to view some examples of the unique and exclusive artwork Andrew has created for the commissions he receives:
http://www.artisanbind.com/design-bindings/
Of course, what is written in a book is often the real inspiration and we all probably devour a book at some point in our busy lives, be that on a regular basis (any ‘bookworms’ out there?) or on a more casual basis, as holiday reading perhaps, or even by osmosis as we help and listen to our children read.
As the New York best selling author, Elizabeth Berg, was quoted as saying…”Books are like comfort food, but without the calories”. So, taking that thought, here are some of The Broad Brush’s favourite books (and their covers) sprinkled with a little inspirational food for thought…
Breakfast at Tiffanys
“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.”
Autumn
“Always be reading something, he said. Even when we’re not physically reading. How else will we read the world? Think of it as a constant.”
The Tobacconist
“…even a whole lifetime seemed insufficient to comprehend the mystery of Woman in all her terrible beauty.”
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love.”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”
The Alchemist
“Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
So, perhaps after reading this blog, you might want to sift through your own collection of books and see if you look at the covers in a different way? Maybe think about putting some on display? After all, Art is all around us and can be enjoyed in many shapes and forms, providing that moment of soul satisfaction and reflection that can be so important in today’s life in the fast lane.
Thanks for reading!
Cover image: ‘Paperback Writer’ (mixed media) by Duncan Roberts.
The Broad Brush 