Cover illustration done for the pulp science-fiction novel Pale Imitators by Ilia Epifanov. My work here was to create the base cover illustration that would then be used in the cover design made by Adrian M. Gibson.
The client requested a retro style for the piece, and a composition that highlights the character and creature. I decided to go with bold contrast and unnatural colour choices to mimic illustrations featured in Metal Hurlant and other science-fictional releases. The desert setting was perfect for that, as I could freely contrast red and green without it looking overly disturbing.
The alien in the foreground was designed following the same vintage logic: I took the archetypal little grey alien man as a starting point, and inserted it into a human to act as a parasite exploding out of its host. Following the client’s description, I added 4 claws on each finger, and a hostile head popping out of the body. The main character in the background was based on a previous illustration made for the client, and placed at the centre of the piece to act as the key element tying the front and back together.
To read more about the novel, follow the author: https://www.instagram.com/ilia_writes/
