Made and Found Objects
My Name is Asher Lev Book Cover
The Decision
Ultimately I wanted to choose a novel that would be something I enjoyed reading, otherwise I wold not be able to fully communicate the message of the novel with my own creative twist. I initially wanted to do The Secret Garden because it is one of my favorite novels. However, I found it difficult to communicate its themes effectively through text using real objects. I remembered another novel I was very moved by. My Name is Asher Lev is packed with multiple themes, and having a deep understanding of the novel made me confident in my creative thought process.
Research
Having read and discussed the novel with classmates, I have a deep understanding of Potok's message, and the reader's response to it. I have felt what he is trying to communicate personally, and I wanted to try and communicate my own understanding through the choice of different fonts, colors, and images. To draw more inspiration, I looked at different covers and noted what I liked, and what I could do differently.
Although I understand the font is intended to remind you of talmud, I felt like it clashed with the background and other fonts, so I wanted to avoid the crowding and flamboyant font. A takeaway is the inspiration of the title.
Out of all the covers that I viewed, I actually enjoyed this one the most. I really enjoy the easy to read font, the colors, and the overall feel. I enjoy the background used because it seems like something Asher would see and gives you an outside, looking through a window view. The takeaway is some of the simplicity and color.
Hands-on
The focus of this project was to interact with type. It is to take everyday objects and communicate the themes of the novel. I thought of charcoal, cigarette ash, paint brushes, bits and pieces of nude and crucifixion paintings, but I ultimately decided on oil paint as the main inspiration. In the novel, oil paint marks the good and bad of Asher's artistic gift, it is also a turning point in his hunger for individuality, and it reveals the lengths he is willing to go for his passion. Oil paint was really fun to work with, and I initially wanted to only use oils, but I decided to experiment with paint brushes too. Using paint and brushes, I was able to create different fonts, and allow Asher's name to stand alone to represent the individuality his gift expresses, and how he is different in the community he was raised in.
I was not satisfied with the overall look of using the brushes and paint for this part of the text. I kept adjusting, but it didn't sit right, so I took to paint.
I was far more pleased with the oil paint for "My Name is" because it was a natural flow, and I love the texture. Setting that text apart from "Asher Lev" also reminded me of a name tag or introduction to what is more important.
Final Product
After fumbling around with different ideas, making a few different sketches, choosing different backgrounds, and font, I created the final product. I still need more practice using photoshop, but I do like my own take on the cover because it feels fresh without falling off the wagon.
