The Chase by Clive Cussler (Putnam)!

Welcome to my **NEW** cover for the novel THE CHASE by Clive Cussler (hardcover edition, Putnam), coming out on November 6th everywhere in United States. The genre is pure adventure, but as you can see how I try to be always faithful to a diffuse sense of fantastic flavor...

To anyone wishing to know more details about this assignment, check out the dedicated Blog with updates and behind-the-scenes material concerning the artwork! About the Limited Edition Prints, a print run of 50 exemplars has been issued simultaneously with the publication (Cussler Store Link).

Audiobook Edition Link (Booksontape)

Large Print Book (Thorndike)

Alternative Realities - Sketch A or Sketch B?

One of the dangers for an illustrator is to fall in love with one of his/her concept arts. When you are working for a professional publishing house, it's probable you will be requested to create a few sketches or preliminary concept arts before going ahead with the commission. It's normal. They want you push the boundaries of your fantasy for them and you're going to be paid for something you love so much.

What if the chosen sketch is the one you love the less... ? It takes some experience to paint with an abstract-mode mind. It happened several times at the beginning of my career and I wished secretly that the publisher would choose the proposal 'A' instead of 'B'. This kind of situation is easy to happen with big clients.

F&SF Magazine - Alternative Concept Art
for 'Lázaro y Antonio' by Marta Randall

Q. How can this disturbing dilemma be solved ?

A. Well, once you have been hired, nothing forbids you in forwarding your proposals together with motivations that could influence the jury in a subliminal way. In addition to that, work hard, plunge in the stream and try to realize a series of concepts each one more captivating than the other, so you will not have to suffer too much!

Q. What about the discarded sketches?

A. Forget about them! Time is a harsh tyrant! At most, one day they could end up in a volume dedicated to you Art, couldn't they?