Katherine Catmull Covers
This project consists of a set of book covers for three middle-grade fantasy novels by author Katherine Catmull. The concept was built around hand lettering that reflects the whimsical and magical nature of the subject matter, paired with earthy textures that reflect the natural elements in the stories. Each book has a unique lettering motif and color language, but are meant to be viewed together as a cohesive set.
The textures are overall meant to bring an earthy, natural feeling to the series, reflecting the nature-inspired fantasy in each, as well as connect the three covers together in a cohesive style. Each includes a textured, coffee-stained paper in the background, and watercolor elements throughout. The secondary elements were placed in accordance with how much negative space there was, or how well the lettering stylization carried the piece on it’s own. Summer and Bird, had the most curated textures, with actual handwritten notes inspired by the character’s notes in the story, as well as a patchwork paint texture to reflect a patchwork bird the characters meet in an important moment.
For each type-style, I pulled inspiration from the book’s subject matters. Summer and Bird was meant to be crude and childlike, reflecting the handwriting of the two young sisters in the story via charcoal and brush pen. The lettering in Sulie and the Green Man is meant to appear loose and natural in it’s forms, reflecting the wilderness the main character has a deep connection with. To achieve this I used a calligraphy brush. Finally, The Radiant Road is the most fantastical book of the series, heavily inspired by Irish fae and folklore, so the lettering was inspired by Celtic blackletter and created with a broad-edged pen.
