When a book cover hits close to the heart. by AidanaWillowRaven

DAZ|Studio • Historical • posted on Mar 31, 2013

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

Of course, I have a special connection to every book cover I create. Even though I rarely get to read the text, I end up discovering the character and story through the creation of the art. Naturally, the cover art is more about the characters than me, but SOMETHING of the artist always creeps in. I'm told, more than I realize, myself ;P With this particular cover, the connection is more than a glimpse into my personality, it's also a glimpse into my heritage. A segment of my family is Spanish Gypsy, having migrated to the States during WWII by becoming a soldier for the US, a time when the Gypsies were in danger of being obliterated by Hitler and his camps. My grandfather didn't talk much about our clan (mainly found traveling in the region of Alcantara, Spain), feeling it safer to let gadjos forget all about his being a Gypsy, but I felt myself drawn to that side of my lineage, the older I got. By the time I went to college to be an artist, I was studying all I could about the traveling people and my lineage, and was soon found and adopted by a Scottish Gypsy Clan. I am sure you all can now see why I was so excited about this book cover. I simply could not pass up the opportunity to create a cover including Gypsies ... well, at least a caravan in the distance ... lol. You probably can't tell I spent hours brightly painting the vardos and did my best to represent the beautiful Gypsy Vanners, with their luxurious coats, glorious manes, muscled bodies, and extra full fetlocks (no, not the battle-wise creature you see in front ... lol), knowing the labor of love would not be very visable in the final piece. A Wandering Warrior, by Harry E Gilleland, Jr. (courtesy of 4RV Publishing), will be available in just a few weeks, so be sure to keep in touch if you like historical fiction/action-adventure novels. ~ A Wandering Warrior, an historical fiction/action-adventure novel, takes place in twelfth century England. Thomas Beaumont, a commoner, warrior and an itinerant soldier, loses his uncle in battle and his brother through the duplicity of another. He wanders over the country, using his skills to live and to search for the man who killed his brother. His search brings him the love of a traveling young woman, but romance must wait for revenge. The twists and turns of fate challenge the warrior in many ways, often creating doubt for success. The goals at the ends of his searches hold a reader's interest. ~ I hope ya'll enjoy looking at this one as much as I enjoyed creating it. Last upload: "MidSouthCon31 & John Picacio"

If you find time, check out my website: WillowRaven And if you like VidFolios, why not subscribe to my YouTube channel, too. I'll subscribe back. :D

Comments (40)

Faemike55

12:36PM | Sun, 31 March 2013

Very beautiful cover and truly fascinating narrative Happy Easter to you and your family (if you celebrate it)

pregiato

12:37PM | Sun, 31 March 2013

Great job my friend.

LivingPixels

12:47PM | Sun, 31 March 2013

A most excellent piece of work my friend!!

Savage_dragon

1:12PM | Sun, 31 March 2013

Great story! Great cover, too. ")

cvrad

1:12PM | Sun, 31 March 2013

nice work My father is Hungarian but, we are not of a any gypsy clan but I'm sure there is some gypsy blood running through my veins despite my fathers claim o the contrary.