Mary GrandPre Talks "Deathly Hallows" Cover and More
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
In a new interview with the Pioneer Press, artist Mary GrandPre discusses the cover art she created for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She says the whole process of creating her work for the last Harry Potter novel took two and a half months, as she says she "first does "pencil roughs" (drawings on tracing paper) and then her medium of choice, pastels on paper."
As one of the few who have read the book, Mary Grand Pre says of "Deathly Hallows" :
"I really do like book seven," she says. "I really, really did. Not that it was easy to read. There are some very sad things in there, and I can't say what they are. But I think it was really well done."
Emphasising that she has "to be careful to not give anything away as far as what's going to happen," in the overall cover art, the illustrator of the Scholastic editions of the series notes:
"There are just a few of us who have read book seven," GrandPre says. "The manuscript is flown down to me. I keep it in a safe once it gets here. I don't talk to anybody about when I get it or where I keep it. I sign a paper promising that I won't. It's all very legal and protected, and I have to sign confidentiality agreements. It's very serious stuff. Because if it gets out, if there's any kind of theft or leak, that's huge."I do get nervous," she says. "But my family - we don't even talk about it. My friends don't bring it up. I'll get calls, from reporters or people who know it's coming up, and they'll ask me who dies. Of course, I can't answer. I can't even say I know."
So what can she say about book seven?
"Nothing, pretty much," she says, laughing.
Please note, the article does confirm a detail first mentioned on Pottercast regarding an element from the cover art for "Sorcerer's Stone," that she used again on this last cover art for Deathly Hallows. Hence, a slight spoiler caution is given for those wishing to read this entire interview, here
cool! i love when we hear from her!
for anyone worried about the small spoiler...well you wud have already heard it kinda speculated on in a pottercast, and it is not something that will be in book 7 it isn't really a spoiler at all, so read the article cause the "spoiler" part is very cool, but doesn't mean anything really to the plot.
Interesting to read how she pays such attention to character descriptions, etc. when reading the draft. I really am glad I get to read strictly for pleasure.
I was wondering when we'd see an elaborate interview with this highly gifted artist with regard to the final installment. I really do appreciate all that she has done for this series - her work has been exceptional.
Too bad she hasn't earned enough money to afford her daughter's college education, because, with what she has done for the books, I think she is more than worthy. Oh, well. Money does not truly express how wonderful her work has been.
Sammy, there is a lot of speculation as to where the scene depicted on the cover of DH takes place. Many (including myself) believe that the final battle takes place behind the veil, and that is what is shown on the cover.
So when Mary says that about the curtains, that may hint at some involvement of the veil.
Leaky was right in warning us, because those who have theorized about that chance would pick up that remark as a type of spoiler.
Wow! That does have quite an effect on the veil theory, doesn't it.
She said it was difficult to read because there were some very sad things...I'm getting scared. I so want to read it (obviously), but I'm both dreading and anticipating the sad parts.
I don't care if there are sad parts in the middle of the story. I just don't want a bad ending. I don't wanna be dusappointed by the ending.
I hope we get to hear from the UK illustrator too.
I especially liked the bit where she said she has grown with the books.
While I don't really like the US covers for the first three or four books, I think Mary's covers for book 7 (Harry -v- Voldemort) and the limited edition (The trio on the dragon) are simply wonderful. It is brave to run a single image across the whole cover space, but the images themselves are strong, striking and carry a powerful message.
Mary, if you are reading this: thank you. Thank you for all the time you put into these books. I hope the reward is more than just money.
And thank you especially, for taking time out from your new daughter to bring us these wonderful images.
I will not read the rest of the article even though I`m DYING to! :] lol!
thanks!
I agree when she said she'd 'grown' with the books. I really don't like the first few covers, but six is nice and seven is really the most beautiful picture ever. I'm even considering getting the US version just for that (I live in Eurpe and so get the UK version by default)...
