From sketch to book: how a unique illustration for the Chestnut Springs books is created

A strong start: the foundation of every book cover illustration

Every book (cover) illustration starts with an idea. Sometimes that idea is already largely set by the publisher or author, but often it emerges during a collaborative brainstorm.

For this project, I worked with the publisher to find a style that fits the atmosphere of the series. Since the story takes place on a ranch with a clear western vibe, that quickly became the starting point. Think cowboys, nature, horses, and a ranch.

Since I hadn’t read all the volumes myself yet, input from April Books was essential. They provided the right context and details so I could get started with some ideas.

From loose ideas to a single sketch

Since this series is set on a ranch, has a great western feel, and features cowboys, it quickly became clear that this should be the main theme of the illustration—the overarching element. Then April Books provided a list of elements and items for each volume that played a role in that specific book.
For each volume, I choose one thing that I find most striking.

In this case, I’m choosing to draw the selected elements separately to see how they fit into the scene I have in mind. I’ve opted for some obvious touches to enhance that ranch feel: a mountain landscape, wooden fences, horses in the background, and a cowboy hat, boots, and a rope hanging over the fence.

Then come the individual components (which might seem a bit odd to people unfamiliar with the series). For the first volume, a carton of milk; for the second, a guitar; the third gets a few beer cans from the fictional brand in the book; volume 4, a note with text; and the final volume, an alarm clock with a specific time that plays a role in that story. These items don’t give away any spoilers but are very specific to the book in question. True Elsie Silver fans will know exactly what they mean. I’ll work them out so that each item ends up exactly on the book it belongs to.

Digital refinement: where the illustration truly comes to life

During the sketching phase, I already translate the ideas into visuals, determining the composition and elements. Once the sketch is approved, the next phase begins: the digital refinement of the book (cover) illustration.

I work with a combination of tools like Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate. I draw each part separately, then bring everything together into one whole. This phase is all about:

• color use
• light and shadows
• texture

Finally, I look at the small details that finish it off. In this case, I drew extra details on my iPad in Procreate. Sometimes I get new ideas during this process that I can try out right away. I also test different color variations to see what works best for the series.

Feedback
and fine-tuning

No creative process where I work for an author or publisher is complete without feedback. I share the illustration with the publisher, followed by any minor adjustments. Sometimes these are subtle things, sometimes slightly larger changes, but always with the goal of making the final result even stronger. In this case, the illustration was actually approved right away. That’s always a great moment!

Ta-da:
the final result

And then… the moment I do it all for. The illustration is finished and applied to the limited edition books. What started as an idea, a few thoughts, and a sketch has now become a complete visual story.

The best part? You don’t just see the result on your screen, but eventually in physical form too. For example, in a bookstore or just on someone’s shelf at home. I’ve come across this set many times, and it always feels incredibly special!