Artist Brett Bean shares his process for creating cover art when time is of the essence. He knows what he needs to include and prioritises speed without sacrificing quality, even if it means mixing digital with traditional techniques.
To paint a book cover fast, start by picking a highlight that represents the story's essence. Draw your cover star but opt for a combination of digital and traditional art for efficiency while maintaining a hand-drawn feel. Arrange elements to focus attention on key characters.
Bean suggests using layers and varying simplicity with detail. Don’t worry about realism; shapes and motion blur can add energy. Always aim for something that reflects the character’s theme, even if it means failing and learning from it.
To help get started, Brett recommends investing in good drawing tablets and sketchbooks. But the key is to start creating – put down distractions like videogames and phones, and just draw!
