The making of “Down dog billionaire” book cover design.

I really enjoyed illustrating the cover image for Lucy Edge, an English novelist who got in contact with me last spring.

Here is what she wrote me: “‘It’s the way you combine character, style and humour that really appeals to me. I would love to know all of your girls – and that’s a great quality in a book cover! Please can we talk? I would love to work with you.”

A feminine, bold and fashion woman

Her novel tells the story of a young dynamic woman named Meg who enjoys doing yoga. I really liked the blend between the yoga atmosphere and the energy of the heroin. She’s very feminine, bold and has got good fashion sense. She goes on a trip from London to Los Angeles, falls in love…

Energy, style, atmosphere

Lucy knew what she wanted : energy, the art to styling outfits, hair styles, accessories, architecture of cities… She was very precise which enabled me to quickly do a sketch which she approved of, and then make the book cover design.

To symbolize the energy of our heroin I drew her walking all over her birth city of London on the left hand side of the page and on the right, her taking on Los Angeles.

Yes it’s true that her legs are a little misshaped!

After trying numerous background colours for this novel cover : White, Yellow, Blue, we finally chose a light faded Blue which would start of cloudy in London and starry in Los Angeles where our heroin ends up !

Here is the author's post about the making off the cover book: she talks about the making of the illo.

A comment from the author :

"I found Solene by searching Google. I was looking for someone who could create a loveable heroine with lots of energy and a sense of fun. I also wanted lots of glamour and a sense of spanning two cities – London and LA. Solene did not disappoint. From the first Skype call to final delivery she was a joy to work with. She really listened and understood what I was trying to communicate; watching my heroine come to life on the page was so exciting and I couldnt be more thrilled with the result". Lucy Edge