I agree, the first thing I thought when I saw this cover was, “Nipple!”
Catie
10 years ago
Putting this in the Art for a refregerator is a bit unfair. It’s a quite well drawn image, if we disregard the hands and the unfortunate head chopping. It’s certainly not done by an amateur, you don’t get to draw the hair this well without some serious practice.
I agree it’s not the average amateur quality; however, it’s not really book cover quality either. His torso angle, the fingers on both of the near side hands, and, as someone mentioned above, the glaring nipple, need a little more work. I’m not sure there’s a ‘close but no cigar’ art category here, but it would be more appropriate. There have been a few I’ve seen here that would better fall into a category like that.
The artist definitely has a problem with hands. I have to admit I didn’t notice the nipple until someone pointed it out, but hey, it’s a romance novel, not a Batman movie, so it’s not really inappropriate. The thing is, professional quality cover illustrations are really expensive. If this was a bestseller (or at least #100 in its category), it would be worth spending that money. As it is, the author got a decent cover that’s not just two stick figures groping from a less expensive but also less experienced artist. Could it have been better? Sure, particularly the hands, they’re terrible, but for an indie book on the budget, I’d say it’s decent enough. I doubt it would sell better if the hands were perfect. I took a look at her other covers, and while the art is not quite there yet, the artist’s style is pretty recognizable. The whole series has the same look and feel to it, even the color pallete is the same on all of them. You can tell it’s a series just by looking at the covers. I think that’s more important than having the perfect artwork that’s not so easily recognizable.
“The thing is, professional quality cover illustrations are really expensive”
Then don’t use an illustration. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a decent cover. There’s a few places worth checking out. There’s a list at the end of this blog post.
Part of what we’re getting into here is semantics, and I agree with you on some points less on others. The BIGGEST problem with this one is one of design not art (though I can see why it got a ‘less than professional art’ designator, which was what I was trying to say in my last post.) If they had made the art a little smaller and put his head on the thirds line, the arms and his gaze would have brought the reader’s eye into her face then down to the title and name. They probably would have had to lower the title a little, but that would have brought it closer to a third’s focal point. The hands and nipple would have been in less of a focal position, which, without changing any of the art beyond size would have helped. With the current lay out the flaws in the art become much more of a focal point.
But WHY do the males have to be either partially shown
at best or completely cut off while the girl is always
shown complete? I may not be an afficionado on romance
novels but I think it’s bullsht. Yes, I’ve seen a lot worse and
Barbara Cartland Harlequin Romance covers have their cheesy
appeal but these headless torso covers are starting to piss me off.
Yes it is. (However, there are some amateurs that are better than most professionals. Which is not the case here.)
“you don’t get to draw the hair this well without some serious practice”
Yes you do. You might think it’s “unfair”, but some people get really good at something with little with little to no practice.
Anyway, if you have a lot of practice on something, it does not mean you’re not an amateur.
James F. Brown
10 years ago
Gawd. I’m getting soooooooo sick of romance novel covers with some buffed-out bare-chested guy, with or without a woman also on the cover. This cliche is on a par with staring wolves. C’mon, rom-writers, let’s use some imagination and abandon this dreadful, cookie-cutter type cover. Thank you.
Yes, but it’s a cliche that works. Think about it this way: you’ll never buy this book by mistake, thinking it’s something other than a romance novel. I love those kinds of covers, I get to see some nice abs, and I know as soon as I see it that it’s not what I’m looking for. I don’t have to waste my time on the description or the sample chapter. You can’t get a better cover than that.
![cover[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cover171.jpg)
“Love’s True Fate”, as the hero stealthily lifts his sword to her exposed neck…
Oh well. At least we get to see HALF his face this time
Careful. Don’t cut that braid!
properly positioned phallic symbol, but why is he holding it?
Why is his nipple in such clear focus? It’s like an eye, staring at me. *shudders*
I agree, the first thing I thought when I saw this cover was, “Nipple!”
Putting this in the Art for a refregerator is a bit unfair. It’s a quite well drawn image, if we disregard the hands and the unfortunate head chopping. It’s certainly not done by an amateur, you don’t get to draw the hair this well without some serious practice.
I agree it’s not the average amateur quality; however, it’s not really book cover quality either. His torso angle, the fingers on both of the near side hands, and, as someone mentioned above, the glaring nipple, need a little more work. I’m not sure there’s a ‘close but no cigar’ art category here, but it would be more appropriate. There have been a few I’ve seen here that would better fall into a category like that.
The artist definitely has a problem with hands. I have to admit I didn’t notice the nipple until someone pointed it out, but hey, it’s a romance novel, not a Batman movie, so it’s not really inappropriate. The thing is, professional quality cover illustrations are really expensive. If this was a bestseller (or at least #100 in its category), it would be worth spending that money. As it is, the author got a decent cover that’s not just two stick figures groping from a less expensive but also less experienced artist. Could it have been better? Sure, particularly the hands, they’re terrible, but for an indie book on the budget, I’d say it’s decent enough. I doubt it would sell better if the hands were perfect. I took a look at her other covers, and while the art is not quite there yet, the artist’s style is pretty recognizable. The whole series has the same look and feel to it, even the color pallete is the same on all of them. You can tell it’s a series just by looking at the covers. I think that’s more important than having the perfect artwork that’s not so easily recognizable.
“The thing is, professional quality cover illustrations are really expensive”
Then don’t use an illustration. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a decent cover. There’s a few places worth checking out. There’s a list at the end of this blog post.
Part of what we’re getting into here is semantics, and I agree with you on some points less on others. The BIGGEST problem with this one is one of design not art (though I can see why it got a ‘less than professional art’ designator, which was what I was trying to say in my last post.) If they had made the art a little smaller and put his head on the thirds line, the arms and his gaze would have brought the reader’s eye into her face then down to the title and name. They probably would have had to lower the title a little, but that would have brought it closer to a third’s focal point. The hands and nipple would have been in less of a focal position, which, without changing any of the art beyond size would have helped. With the current lay out the flaws in the art become much more of a focal point.
Side note: I am assuming that his head and the cut off portions of her head are completely drawn but off the bleeding edge.
But WHY do the males have to be either partially shown
at best or completely cut off while the girl is always
shown complete? I may not be an afficionado on romance
novels but I think it’s bullsht. Yes, I’ve seen a lot worse and
Barbara Cartland Harlequin Romance covers have their cheesy
appeal but these headless torso covers are starting to piss me off.
Look at his fingers. That’s all the justification I need.
“It’s certainly not done by an amateur”
Yes it is. (However, there are some amateurs that are better than most professionals. Which is not the case here.)
“you don’t get to draw the hair this well without some serious practice”
Yes you do. You might think it’s “unfair”, but some people get really good at something with little with little to no practice.
Anyway, if you have a lot of practice on something, it does not mean you’re not an amateur.
Gawd. I’m getting soooooooo sick of romance novel covers with some buffed-out bare-chested guy, with or without a woman also on the cover. This cliche is on a par with staring wolves. C’mon, rom-writers, let’s use some imagination and abandon this dreadful, cookie-cutter type cover. Thank you.
Yes, but it’s a cliche that works. Think about it this way: you’ll never buy this book by mistake, thinking it’s something other than a romance novel. I love those kinds of covers, I get to see some nice abs, and I know as soon as I see it that it’s not what I’m looking for. I don’t have to waste my time on the description or the sample chapter. You can’t get a better cover than that.
If only the author HAD a say! Publishers make those decisions…
Her neck is a log.
Oh dear God yes it is.
I am not a self published author and though
I may not know the lingo, I DO know good design
and I believe this isn’t it.