I take on one or two illustration projects per year, approaching them in an integral way—from cover design to typography choices. I also create portrait illustrations of the authors, adding a personal dimension to each project.
I begin by reading the manuscript, immersing myself in its themes and atmosphere. Then, over a coffee or mate, I discuss the story with the authors, ensuring the visual identity resonates with their vision.
Pen and ink illustration – Cover design and typography
With complete creative freedom, I set out to visually interpret Cosmic Horror, a genre often represented by tentacled monstrosities. Instead of relying on traditional imagery, I explored a more psychological approach.
The cover depicts the act of staring into the abyss, inspired by the famous Nietzschean quote: "When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." Here, the real monster is not an external entity, but the reader themselves, confronting their inner fears.
Pen and ink illustration – Cover design and typography
This cover was designed to evoke the Giallo aesthetic, the distinctive Italian film genre known for its bold use of red, dramatic lighting, and unsettling gazes.
Beyond the cover and back cover, I created six chapter-opening illustrations, each reinforcing the themes of mystery, voyeurism, and tension that define the genre.
Digital illustration – Cover design and typography
This was the second edition of Los Gigantes, and I was commissioned to redesign its cover. The concept behind the illustration is that among all people, some hidden "giants" stand out—not for their size, but for their kindness, wisdom, or presence, often overlooked at first glance.
To convey this, I referenced The Iron Giant (1999), subtly placing him behind the title, reinforcing the idea that true greatness often remains unseen.