Book Illustration — Oz 2: One Wizard's Carnage
Project Scope & Deliverables
Client: Hope Swan (Author)
Project Scope: Novel Cover Graphic Design, Complete Internal Book Illustration & Technical Layout Print-Preparation
Medium & Style: Digital Illustration, Brush, Pencil & Ink Hand-Drawn Style (Adobe Photoshop)
Client Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia
Studio Base: Melbourne, Victoria
The Challenge: Evolving a Dystopian World
This project was about returning to the world created by author Hope Swan for the second instalment of her series, Oz 2. The objective this time was to deepen the visual narrative and show an Oz under siege.
The main creative challenge was maintaining the desolate, grayscale aesthetic we established in the first book while escalating the stakes. I needed to visualise a war-torn Oz—complete with bombed cities, prison alcoves, and a much more battle-hardened rebel crew. The visual language had to feel timeless and otherworldly, while grounding the high-stakes drama of Hope's contemporary reimagining.
The Solution: Sustained Narrative Consistency & Full Cover Layout
To bring the story to life, I delivered a comprehensive suite of internal grayscale illustrations alongside a high-impact, "fiery" contrast cover design. Working in Photoshop, I used a highly tactile brush, pencil, and ink style, playing with heavy contrast and deep shadows to heighten the sense of danger and rebellion on the page.
Operating as an off-site art department, my role went well beyond the actual drawing work. I handled the complete technical layout for the full-wrap cover, ensuring the spine and back-cover elements integrated flawlessly. I also managed the technical backend, optimising all the internal artwork assets to meet strict Amazon KDP and premium print-on-demand publication standards. This project is a great example of how I manage visual continuity across a multi-book series, giving authors a turnkey creative solution from the first sketch to the final print run.
Book cover design and illustration
Hope’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/hopeswanauthorofficial
