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In addition to the considerable time and effort it takes to research, write, and edit a book, designing an attractive cover is also a challenge. For my latest novel, Bay of Hope, I decided to do it myself.
A book cover should show the reader the world they are about to enter. Given that Bay of Hope is a novel about environmental conservation and drug trafficking in Mexico, I wanted to display the physical setting and include icons and themes that figure prominently in the book . . .
Bay of Hope drawing
A linocut starts with a drawing, which is then traced and transferred to the linoleum block using carbon paper. It is important to plan an image that is not too detailed and which has a good balance of positive and negative space. Once the image has been transferred to the block (note that it will print the opposite of how it was drawn), the linocutting process begins . . .
Inking the Bay of Hope linocut
After completing the linocut for my new novel Bay of Hope, I was now ready to print. Depending on what you plan to do with the artwork, paper choice is important when making a print. Thin paper absorbs ink better, but thicker custom paper is better for prints that you may want to sell or frame . . .
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