Illustrator Mary GrandPré, who drew the art for Jennifer Dewing’s latest children's book,
Goodnight Little Elizabeth, recently
discussed the artwork she did for the first U.S. editions of the
Harry Potter series, dating all the way back to 1998, when
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released. GrandPré commented on the style of art for the first three of the installments compared to the final four, and how much input author J.K. Rowling had with the renderings.
In the Potter books, there is one overall color to your cover illustrations. Where do you come up with that color — discussions with publisher, J.K. Rowling, or your own interpretations of the tone of the book?
GrandPré: Yeah, I think it is the tone of the book. A lot of times with J.K. Rowling’s writings, she’s very descriptive and there’s a lot of visual clues throughout the book. The first three books were kind of a mix of jewel tones, and then the art director and I thought for the remaining books it might be nice to call each one out with a specific color.
The fourth one was the green, fifth blue – and that was that moody time when Harry was going through puberty and it was an emotional time; almost draining. And then the sixth book was green, and I just think there was a lot of descriptions using green, ‘the green light coming from the cave’ and all of that, and the last book was that warm golden tone that kind of [symbolized] that final, triumphant color. We kind of tried to find a color that was symbolic of the story and use it on the cover.
I loved the curtains that started with the cover of the first book, like a play about to begin, and how it came full circle with the art for Deathly Hallows. Did you always have that planned?
GrandPré: Yes. I thought it was a good way to close the series the same way it opened. I liked that; that was fun.
I assume you didn’t talk with J.K. Rowling?
GrandPré: No. Well, not directly. I met her during the series while she was touring the U.S. She was always part of the approval process for the sketches, but the art director was the one who talked to her.
Were there Harry Potter fans in your life that it was hard to keep a secret from?
GrandPré: Oh yeah! I had to sign confidentiality agreements and not tell anyone I was working on it. I had to keep the manuscript in a safe. It was all very hush-hush; very odd. …It’s been quite a ride, that’s for sure.
Have you had a chance to see the new 15th anniversary covers?
GrandPré: I got a little preview of them before they came out and I think they did a really nice job. I think they just wanted to give it a new look without straying too far from what I had done. I think it was a pretty smooth transition. I’m happy with them; I think they look great.
.jpg)
Mary GrandPré talks drawing art for Harry Potter U.S. first editions, J.K. Rowling 
x12 
x12
