Fables tpb 7:  Arabian Days (& Nights)

     

 Prelim:  8.5" x 11", graphite on bond
Final Drawing:  22" x 30", colored pencil and acrylic on Rives BFK

Colorful wraparound cover for the seventh Fables trade paperback, which reprints the "Arabian Days (and Nights)" and "Ballad of Rodney and June" stories.

With TPB covers, the main challenge seems to be two-fold: 

1.)  find a composition that ties the separate stories together into one cohesive image
2.)  balance the artwork into "front" and "back" without making it feel too lopsided or weighted to the right

Obviously, the 2nd point is a bit of a non-issue when it comes to achieving the primary goal of a successful cover illustration.  However, when it's possible to accomplish this type of balance, the artwork itself is much more enjoyable on its own merits.  This is one such cover with great balance.