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05-30-2008, 08:24 PM
| | |  Mary GrandPre talks illustrating Harry Potter book covers
US Harry Potter illustrator Mary GrandPre was interviewed recently by Time Magazine, during which she was asked about her progressive work on the book series over the past ten years; this is in accordance with the release of the tenth anniversary edition of Sorcerer's Stone, for which she drew a new cover with Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised (seen here). 
In the interview, Mary talks about how she received the job of illustrator for the Harry Potter American editions; with whom she consults when drawing the covers for the books, of which she says that when she receives them - months before they are released to the public - it is under the highest level of security and that she is not allowed to divulge a detail about them to another soul; her experiences with disappointed fans; her limitations as to what she can and can not do when drawing the book covers; and the fact that she only started watching the movie series after the books were completed so that the actors' portrayals would not alter her mental image of the characters.
When asked about what it was like to go back and draw an 11 year-old Harry for the anniversary cover, Mary had this to say: Quote:
It was really a nice opportunity. As Harry grew, I always wished I could go back and make a new piece for each book. So when the anniversary cover idea came up, I was really excited to do that. It's like getting to do a new portrait of this old soul you really know
Mary explains her thought and artistic process to draw the covers (including how she would draw Harry at an older age): Quote:
Sure. It takes time to draw and redraw, and to study his facial structure. The more I draw Harry, the more acquainted I become with him in my head. I try to use each previous drawing as a map for the next one. I need to start drawing to know what he'd look like. [Plus, J.K. Rowling] is such a visual writer. I've always looked to her writing as the main inspiration for the drawings. For a storybook or cover illustrator, the first responsibility is to draw from the writing. She makes it really easy because she's so descriptive.
I worked out a system where, as I read, I'd highlight different things — descriptions of characters, cool scenes — in different colors. Then I could scan by color for what I needed to find. I'd start sketching real loosely, with pencil on tracing paper. I'd do a series of tracings on top of that, and on top of that, until I had what I felt was a good-looking character. It's really just sketching and re-sketching, and paying attention to the words and descriptions. Harry Potter fans are so in tune. They pay attention to every detail, and if you mess up, you'll know about it the next day.
Mary gives detail to the amount of time taken to draw out the covers: Quote:
It's usually rushed; it seems like the artist is usually the last one to get the assignment. I'm not a fast reader, so I usually gave myself about two weeks to read and digest and make notes on the manuscript. Then another week for cover sketches, and another week or two for all the chapter headings. So I think you're probably looking at a couple months for reading it and creating all the artwork.
The anniversary edition of Sorcerer's Stone will be released September 23, 2008.
Source: The Leaky Cauldron  | |
05-30-2008, 08:29 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| Formerly: im_dans_girl07  Abraxan
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Raving♥
Posts: 6,242
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Asher Weston Hawthorne
Graduated
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Kenedie Taryn Hawthorne
International Cooperation | The Todd *high five* l l Mmmm... bacon.
Great interview! Her artwork has always been beautiful with HP.
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05-30-2008, 08:30 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Abraxan
Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mystic Falls
Posts: 5,974
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Third Year
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Ric Davis
Magical Law Enforcement | <('_'<) (>'_')>
sweet! i will defently need to buy this edition
__________________  I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once. | |
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05-30-2008, 09:05 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Erumpent
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,395
| Ultimate Potterite Original original
The anniversary cover for Sorcerer's Stone is very nice. All of her work is beautiful!
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05-30-2008, 09:19 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Dugbog
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 633
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Marie Alice Victoire
Third Year Department of Mysteries |
Great interview! This new edition looks amazing.
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05-30-2008, 09:22 PM
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#6 (permalink)
|  Portuguese ModeratorThestral
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Neverland
Posts: 39,943
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Margaret Jacqueline Atkinson Morris
Fifth Year | Potter’s Princess A+ FangGirl
Wow. Looks like she does have too little time to do all of that :/ I love her covers though! 
__________________ I gotta go back to the muggle world,
they're gonna try and tell me this wasn't, that none of this happened,
but you know what? It was real. It did happen.
We spent time here. We made friends here. That's a part of us.
Cause Hogwarts is bigger than any of us, of any of it's founders,
and it's going to be around long after we're gone.
Maybe we'll see our kids come here one day.
That's the thing about Hogwarts.
No matter how long you're away from it, there's always a way back. | |
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05-30-2008, 09:51 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In a pineapple. <3
Posts: 18,267
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Emerson Gray.
Fourth Year | G1GGL3R! *giggles* My GarBear
Great interview. I always loved the work she did for the covers.
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05-30-2008, 09:51 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| K.O. Harry's crush on ChoRecent SBFC MemberKeeper of Hermione's Patronus Hippogriff
Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In a box.
Posts: 3,482
Hogwarts RPG Name:
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Fourth Year |
Loved the interview. And the anniversary edition or Sorceror's Stone as well. She really is a wonderful artist; her work is beautiful.
__________________
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05-30-2008, 10:38 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Leprechaun
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cloud 9,000
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Fourth Year | *snortles* MAMA!Shroom
I always did love her illustrations  Quote:
and the fact that she only started watching the movie series after the books were completed so that the actors' portrayals would not alter her mental image of the characters.
Hmm interesting choice. I would commend her for making a choice like that, since alot of people who work on the producing the books or films in some way don't read them.
I also always loved how she did Umbridge 
__________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION YO.
Last edited by FoxFire; 05-30-2008 at 10:45 PM.
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05-31-2008, 12:11 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Ramora
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In the arms of my knight.
Posts: 385
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That was a great interview! I always loved her cover illustrations.
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05-31-2008, 02:49 AM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada
Posts: 2,425
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I LOVE that cover! It's so cool and just.. beautiful.
Great interview!
Quote:
The anniversary edition of Sorcerer's Stone will be released September 23, 2008.
Aw man...
The DAY before my birthday! It would've been so cool if it came out on the 24th.
Looks like I have something else to get my parents to buy and send to me cause I'm not buying that book in France - it needs to be English for me
__________________ 
Siggy from Lissy and Anna's Shop of Super Frazzling Graphics | |
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05-31-2008, 04:37 AM
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#12 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX
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great interview,m she is wright the drawing takes time especially if its for a book thats going to be released.
__________________
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05-31-2008, 05:35 AM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Fwooper
Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 9,271
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Alex Eagleson
First Year  x1
| Heart of a Claw
Good interview.
She did a really good job on all the covers
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05-31-2008, 05:35 AM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Dugbog
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In a house, duh
Posts: 667
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nice interview.....
great drawing.......
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05-31-2008, 10:35 AM
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#15 (permalink)
| Eager Russian Learner Jobberknoll
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poland ^^
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Evangeline McHarris
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Sweet ;P great interview ;p
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05-31-2008, 11:07 AM
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#16 (permalink)
| | Ashwinder
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Denmark..
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Ashley Noir
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Great interview ^.^
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05-31-2008, 12:46 PM
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#17 (permalink)
| | Poltergeist
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Graduated | Kaplinski Rival Sorting Hat Machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by MalfoyzBeloved  I LOVE that cover! It's so cool and just.. beautiful.
Great interview!
Aw man...
The DAY before my birthday! It would've been so cool if it came out on the 24th.
Looks like I have something else to get my parents to buy and send to me cause I'm not buying that book in France - it needs to be English for me You wouldn't be able to anyway; it's only releasing in the U.S.
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05-31-2008, 03:58 PM
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#18 (permalink)
| Ministry Department Head
Faerie
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: down @ the dumps ://
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i worship the ground this woman walks on  | |
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05-31-2008, 07:10 PM
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#19 (permalink)
| | Abraxan
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Florida
Posts: 6,226
| My Cherie Amour
all of her work is beautiful. And her character drawings match the books' descriptions.
__________________ Cherie  | |
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05-31-2008, 07:56 PM
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#20 (permalink)
| | Thestral
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: District 7
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Lovely interview!
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06-01-2008, 11:47 PM
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#21 (permalink)
| | Fwooper
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bohemia<333
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She is an amazing drawer!
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06-02-2008, 02:32 AM
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#22 (permalink)
| !!!!Awesome!!!! Faerie
Join Date: May 2004 Location: in Howarts offcourse
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great interview!!!
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06-02-2008, 05:15 AM
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#23 (permalink)
| | Plimpy
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In London with Matt
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cool interview.
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06-02-2008, 01:13 PM
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#24 (permalink)
| | Bicorn
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edward's volvo <3
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Nice interview 
I love her artwork, she does some amazing covers
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06-16-2008, 11:10 AM
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#25 (permalink)
| | Ramora
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: jakarta
Posts: 377
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First Year |
great interview!
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