The year 2020 will have been a truly special year.
As far as I’m concerned (like a lot of scribblers), the confinement hasn’t changed much except maybe in the rhythm. Projects have become scarce, delayed and sometimes canceled.
Suddenly, a little more “time” to do things and another approach … That of pleasure.
In 2006, the very first game I had illustrated came out: Mr. Jack by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc published by Hurrican.
In 2009, Mr. Jack continued his misdeeds in New York for a more “strategic” version of his London version. This game is still and always one of the most complicated I have had to play in my 15-year career. A bit locked in the kind of cartoonish style we wanted from the start, I wanted to break free from it on the game’s cover to make it more “mysterious” and disturbing. At the time, I was very proud of it and the more the years go by, the more my gaze devalues it. Color level, anyway, I had pushed the sliders a little to the extreme.
Moreover, that will not necessarily be the subject here, the set of the New York version is hell. It is very “empty” (because the players make it emerge as the turns go by) and it is still supposed to represent the American capital …. It was badly missed … Like … Really.
in 2016, we gave the “London” version a “10 years” version to refresh the visuals a bit … It dangled in my face that we had to do the New York version 3-4 years later .. And that was a huge stake for me. Make a nicer and more “contemporary” cover and later, try to miss my tray less (this will be the subject of a future article)
For the 10-year version of the New York cover, I had a brief … and then, the kind of brief that I love:
“We would like a New York at sunset, under the snow”.
I let you imagine that a sunset under the snow, it quickly becomes complicated. However, strong from this starting point, I got down to the task and I started to put ideas on the screen … Look for the photo doc … Worse by posing a few lines, then others , then by quickly applying colors to try to find the atmosphere that I was looking for … It fell roughly as you will see it on the box.
So, I didn’t have “carte blanche” on the project at all … But, by necessity, I “granted” myself in a certain way. My sketch was much too summary to present it … And suddenly, I started on the “final” drawing even before showing it if I remember correctly. Worse if it did not please, too bad, I will do it again.
I was very happy with my framing on my final drawing but it really didn’t do much without the colors … So, while waiting for the return on the drawing and the color sketch that I had ended up sending .. . I launched into the colors … Without stopping … For about twenty hours … And what you see on the final cover and more or less what came out of my tablet after this session. Rarely have I had this feeling of “understanding” and “knowing” what I had to do … when I was doing it and there, puff … A little by magic, it came out exactly as I did. wanted it …
It’s rare that I say it (and even less than I think) but I’m pretty happy and “proud” of the result. The pleasure was great the moment I made it and I think it is felt .. At least, I hope so.
Year 2020 requires, the releases are shifting, things are moving and taking time … Suddenly, a few months after having completed everything for the game … I learn that the cover will change format, the box will be square . Spent 5 min cursing, complaining and worrying about having to redo and rethink … The image lends itself very very well to this new format with few changes … Even can be “better” ….
So there you have it, that was the cover of “Mr. Jack – New-York” 10 years version … Soon, I’ll be back on the set … This hell of the set in 2009 was more lenient in 2020? Have I lost the little hair left on the top of my head? did I cry? Is it ugly? ….
Stay tuned
(If you’ve read this far, well done! Leave a little comment, a funny little smiley … Don’t hesitate, it’s always nice.)
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