“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
In the late 70s Weiser published five novels by Dion Fortune, pen name of English occultist Violet Firth.
In three instances I had the opportunity to create full-color air-brushed art for wrap-around book-covers: The Goat Foot God, The Sea Priestess, and Moon Magic. These three cover arts are quintessential Alden, a cross between my early fashion illustration and an emerging Arcadian naturism that was
manifesting in my painting, along with a bit of Egyptiana thrown in there for good measure on the last two books, since this pair dealt with the mythology of Atlantis and its residual influence on Egypt. The Sea Priestess was the first of the three to be done, my most
ambitious air-brush project to date. Above is the printed wrap-around book cover. At left, a photo showing how the air-brushed artwork looked sans type; from a faded 4×5 transparency that is the only record I have of the artwork, showing the vast differences that often exist between the mediums of print and film. Below the
original artwork that was initially submitted for concept approval, painted with regular brushes; the only piece still in my possession. Tomorrow, a special posting on Moon Magic, the last of the Dion Fortune novels illustrated, which is my own personal favorite book cover of the many created over the years. By the way, to answer a question several friends have posed: did I have to read the books before I created covers? No; however I did read all five of these books, since much of my reading at the time was for entertainment, rather than knowledge. The books combined theoretical elements from the Perennial Wisdom traditions with the romantic tradition of the western novel, an interesting mixed bag of elements. Truth to tell, these three covers for The Goat Foot God, The Sea Priestess, and Moon Magic came closest to fulfilling a secret desire to become an illustrator of “Harlequin Romance” book covers when I grew up. 😉
“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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