Captain Jack's Treasure: Meet the artist behind Captain Jack's Treasure

It's my pleasure to introduce Anna M. O'Brien, the artist who produced the cover for my new book, Captain Jack's Treasure. This is book #2 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series. This new book will be released on Monday, August 15.

A writer sees images and words in his head. When you approach an art project for the first time, what are some of the elements that you see, or consider before you begin painting or drawing?

I might see a vague idea in my mind but the type of artist I am does not allow me to create unless I know what that image may really be like in reality. I had an art teacher who would set up still life's with old bones, chairs, material, flowers anything she could get her hands on. I always drew or painted what I saw, I believed what God created could not be made better by my hand. So I study what is out there. You might get an idea for a background from the image of a drop of blood in a slide, or an enlarged blade of grass.

Explain the different steps you took in producing the cover art for Captain Jack's Treasure.

1) Communication, talk to the author, and the publisher

2) Research, Library, Movies, web all inspire

3) Fonts that work with the art style and content

4) My desktop (desk) can be littered with hundreds of images

I use acrylics, pen & ink, photos (some my own, some from http://www.dreamstime.com or scan separate images into photoshop to manipulate.

5) Above all Ask for God's help to see what the author and publisher have in mind

You've also done cover artwork for Lost Island Smugglers and River Rampage. Can you tell us more about those projects?

Lost Island Smugglers was fun to do. I learned a lot about island coves, boats and boys appearances at different ages (God gifted me with girls)

River Rampage was difficult. Water, especially fast moving water, is difficult to capture, along with fire, another difficult image to capture. Photoshop is great to create effects. This is one of my favorite learning sites:http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/web/dark-futuristic-photoshop-effects/

My pictures from the Rocky Mountains and Gatlinburg also helped.

Authors talk about facing writer’s block, where it seems impossible to go forward with a writing project at times. Does an artist ever experience this sort of creative block? And if so, how do you get past it?

Absolutely. I have done 25 different covers for one author unable to strike the perfect image. You clear them out of your mind throw everything away, get on your knees and start over. Mainly I find when I am trying to create what I think is good, I miss what the author, publisher and especially God would say is the BEST. Try never to argue with any of the afore mentioned-- they are always right.

What would you say was your biggest challenge in creating the artwork for the Captain Jack's Treasure book cover?

Creating an image that appeals to all - a treasure that you just have to get into no matter what the cost

How do you know when you've found the best solution for an art project or assignment?

Usually I have certain peace and the author and publisher love it.

You also did some pen & ink illustrations for the interior of Captain Jack's Treasure. Could you talk about those, how you approached each subject, and any other details that readers might find interesting?

Again research. I tend to have an idea in my head of what I think a captain might look like (for example, I thought he was a thin crusty old man with a pipe) but the author's image is quite different. Study the people around you. My daughter is a member of a pirate group, renissance group and a steampunk group. They love to dress in period costumes and are a great source for inspiration. Another example ie: my daughter and her exboyfriend were my source for sketches found in The Curse of Captain LaFoote. They were the right age group and I could get them in certain poses, take pictures and then sketch on the period dress.

Could you tell us about your art training, background, experience, and some of your other work / projects?

I have a fine art and Commercial art degree from Phillips High Technical School, and Art Instruction School Minn, MN. I actually granted with a full scholarship to Birmingham Southern but my dad was old school --girls did not need to go to college. So I learned from the school of hard knocks. It was quite different years ago - pictures and type were separate, rubber cement and exacto knives, my first job was Stockham Value and fitting catalog... do you have any idea how many values and fitting they are? I thought if this is what it means to be an artist FORGET IT. But my first art director was a very wise man, he knew-- you take the good with the bad and make it something wonderful.

What are your hopes and dreams for your art in the future?

I love doing book covers, they reach people I may never meet and I pray over every cover.

My personal goal is to illustrate a book about the bible for my grand kids.

Many people want to know how they can break into the writing and publishing field. How would you advise young people who are interested in a career in art or illustration?

It really was a gift from God. Today connections, networking are so important althought I am not good at it.