From Drab to... Fab? Blog 4

My re-designed book cover for Evicted

Okay... this was a struggle. I originally tried to create this on paper and after an hour and a half I had destroyed anything resembling a moderately good book cover.

The trashiest attempt at art

So... after the long period of struggling to maintain and gain back some dignity I decided to create my cover via the internet. I knew from the beginning that I wanted big block letters to give a powerful message. On the current book cover:

(Reference)

The letters stand out against the plain background and since my background involved other colors and many different buildings, I decided to put the letters in big BOLD letters. I chose to have the city skyline in the back colored a light blue for two reasons. 

1. It stands out from the basic black/white/light gray that are the only other colors (I have reasons for that I promise).

2. Blue and purple are stereotyped as "royal" colors and I wanted to make sure that the back city represented the areas of Milwaukee that are not falling deeper into poverty. 

The black building represent that poor areas of Milwaukee, a place where it is impossible to escape the darkness of eviction.

So, the reason that I used only one "real color". (I find the idea that black/white/gray are not real colors appalling... but you know people *eye rolls*). The original cover is simple, yet it is so perfect for the book. I wanted my version to be simple too, and decided that the best way to do so was to limit the bright colors that pop. 

The figures/families on the bottom represent some of the people that were featured in Evicted. The first family represents the Hinkstons, a family of different ages and opportunities. The second group represents Arleen, a single mother, and her two children whom she struggles to provide for. The third group represents Pam and Ned, a couple that struggles economically and emotionally. The last group represents Scott and Teddy, a young man and an older man who depend on each other to survive. 

Evicted is a book about struggles and loss. I won't be sad to see it go, but if you enjoy learning and current issues... you might enjoy it. Well, that wraps it up folks. Bye bye to my book about rooms. Bye bye to independent reading. Hello to... enrichment. Later dudes.