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In this book we had very clear what we wanted for the cover and completely lost about the title. In my next book you will see that happened the other way. We are completely sure about the title and lost with the cover. (but that´s another story).
Since the book is meant to be given as a gift, and works as greeting card so to say, on early stages we worked with the title "FOR YOU...on valentine´s day" . On the book you would find, roses, chocolates, cakes, music....etc. and every text page would start with the phrase "for you". BUT..as almost everytime happens in the publishing world, there are TON of changes during the process of creation. So we decided to take off every reference for valentine´s day on the cover and go with another title that would have more "identity"...."for you" was just too generic, too boring.
On one of the appointments with the editor he told me that one of the cupid´s hair, would look like "cotton candy" and from that momment we both love the titles, as it is short and I think this book has much to do with sweet things, (I have been told many times that it would be amazing if the doll would smell like strawberries or other sweet smells).
On the first drawing of the cover I forgot that the publishing house name would have to be placed on the left and I left tha space to fit it in, on the right!. So when the drawing had to be traced I just flipped the image. The logo would then be had to be reduced. As they have their own corporative sizes and that techincal stuff you have to follow the rules. On the middle you can see the cover with some of the first colors and without details and textures.
After many options the cover on the left was chosen. The cupids would be kind of a "guava" color and the background red. If you are a designer you know that one of the main issues of our profession is finding that the final project is printed right. Because after you deliver it to the printer it´s out of your hands...so anyway when I received the final book printed I almost had a heart attack because the colors didn´t match the original. The cupids instead of guava look more like magenta and they got lost against the red background. I was so pissed off for days, but finally If I don´t tell you anything you wouldn´t notice it because this is just from a very specific eye that knows the difference like me. But it worked fine anyway. but this kind of thing happens every day If you work at this profession. It´s very hard the get to the 100% the accurate color you want.
If you need more information about Cotton Candy please check my profile.

Here my part as a graphic desinger comes in. In my mind for the cover I had very clearly what I wanted, perhaps it was very predictable but the fonts were designed with very fluffy, cotton candy-like letter. (top right). But when we used that letter, it would compete with the illustration of the cover. It was just too much cuteness, to much fluffyness...., so we had to find something more simple, and something less "childish" like the sketches in the middle (in pink). So I went with very very simple fonts. like the ones of the top left. And everyone liked this option. Finally we choose between the editors and the publishing house stuff, a font that was simple but was also "retro" looking, for me this font gives the idea of old fashioned circus, pop corn car, fair. And everyone was pleased with the choice.
If you need more information about Cotton Candy please check my profile.

This was an early pic of my adored dummy that was very very important to me, during the process of creation. It´s so important to have it physically made and in the real size. If you want something you dream of and you are working on it, I really recomend to to something that will help you keep track of your progress. It will help you in a way you don´t feel lost and in a way you see your dream materialized. If you leave for example a file on the computer you just forget it. I really recomend printing it, you make a correction, you make a progess, then print it again!!! it´s a way to keep you motivated and see were have you been using your time.
If you need more information about Cotton Candy please check my profile.

There are illustrations that give you a headache, that you fell stucked, that you can´t work that day, that the paper gets broken from all the times you erease. and that you feel unfocused. Well this wasn´t the case. This was a drawing that was flowing all the time. It was one day of work from morning to night, and If I made a correction it was very small from the finished illustration.
If you need more information about Cotton Candy please check my profile.