This was an unused cover for what was going to be the second book in a series for Naomi Judd's "Gertie the Goldfish" children's book. We illustrated the first book and designed the characters. They wanted "Disney style" so that's what we gave them. (What's that hiding between that line? Do you see something?) Anyway, they asked us to do up some sketches for the second books cover and then once they picked one (Rob did some, I did some) we were asked to do up a final cover image for their catalogs and websites. We did. A couple rough versions I did are above and the one they picked was inked by Rob and colored by our colorist of choice, Jon Conkling. Again, they like that airbrushy look so that's what they got. After we finished it all, they told us the book was canceled. It happens. ( I said "it".)
Don't these Nashville folk know it's "Gertie the DINOSAUR" ? (goldfish ? goldfish ? .....)
ReplyDeleteawesome cover. i like. i like.
ReplyDeleteI thought "Gertie the Dinosaur" was Wynona's nickname? Anywho, awesome stuff. Thanks for showing your sketches. Maybe the publishers were thinking of the lifespan of real goldfish when they cancelled the book. You know, the ones that you get at the fair, then you bring them home and two days later they've got gill flukes or a fungus all over them from bad tap water. How's Gertie gonna teach the Golden Rule when she can't even swim in a circle anymore? Regardless, I think they should've greenlit the book based purely on your cover. Killer stuff.
ReplyDeletebabyjesus is right, this looks exactly like Pongo from Beauty and the Beast. you should be flogged sir! FLOGGED I TELLEM YEZ
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, I traced it I admit it! BUT I was tracing a drawing of Ariel, and I just can't draw very good! You got me. The funny thing is that we did a bunch of versions of the fish, some more realistic and some more cartoony. Naomi picked this one. Just goes to show you, if you don't want something picked, don't show it.
ReplyDelete