LostintheDataStream

I had the chance to ask Ryan Andrews, the cover artist for Intergalactic Gazette, a few questions about his work as a graphic artist and designing the cover for the book.

How were you asked to work on the cover art?

Well Madeleine and I met in the game industry and she let me know she was working on the book and wondered if I would like to give it a look over when she had finished it. Of course I said yes. She’s a great writer and a really fun co-worker and I couldn’t wait to read it. So as it got closer to finished she mentioned to me that she wouldn’t mind if I took a whack at the book cover. I went through school for illustration and graphic arts and it’s been something I have been wanting to do for a long time. So I told sure I’d love to and the rest as they say is history.

How did you come up with the design for the book cover?

From the time I started reading it, the mailbox scene jumped out in my mind vividly. It really is the most important moment in the book as far as I am concerned. I found as I kept reading I kept coming back to that image as the genesis of all this. So I decided that was going to the covers content. I loved the Cosmic Ray Traveller Idea and the way she writes the world just reminded me of the way people in the 50’s and 60’s looked towards the future. Everyone is so unimpressed by all these awesome things around them. It just really made me think of the old illustrations of people taking spaceships to work and living in ultra modern Frank Lloyd Wright Bungalows. So I wanted the house to look really subdivision like but still kind of have a bit of the space needle in there. I also wanted the old action comics style lettering for the title, kind of splashed across the top and the curvature of the house would work really well to echo that; and of course a rocket in the driveway. Beyond that the story really told me the rest.

What sort of process went into the creation of the art?

Well I have been a 3D computer artist for quite a while now and I used 3d graphics to create the image. I first sketched out the composition of the cover. Then I chose the colour theme I wanted to use. I was really drawn to the warm reds and warm greens. something about those colours make me think of that era I was trying to echo. Then I went looking for some good reference to use to help me define the more nitty gritty details of the assets I was going to create. The Cosmic Ray Traveller’s inspiration for instance was a bunch of different old bikes like Schwinns and Trail Blazers as well as some really awesome old Indian motorcycles from WAY back. Then I sketched out different designs for the bike until I was happy with the final result. I used that type of process for all the assets in the image. Then did all the modelling and material work and lighting etc. The original Idea for the sky was for it to be obviously not earth. Colour was my first instinct but I found it took away from the image so I decided on going with the multiple moon idea instead and then I had to make sure they didn’t get in the way of the title. I also work with some really fantastic artists and they gave me some great feedback and critique as I went. I really had a fun time working on the image.

How did you get started in the gaming industry and how long have you been at it?

Well I started looking to be an illustrator way back in the 90’s sometime. I went through school for graphic arts and illustration. I really lucked into the job I have now. It was thirteen years ago and back then there really wasn’t much in the way of schools or training for game art and 3D modeling etc. I mean it was before Toy Story was even made so it was all pretty learn by the seat of your pants. So I got hired based on my traditional art portfolio. I got into it an found I really liked it. Since then I have always tried to keep up on the industry as a whole and I have always done a lot of my own artwork at home. Doing some book illustration is something I have been wanting to do for a long time so when Madeleine asked me I was more than happy to give it a go.