Fahrenheit 451 Book Cover

Haydn has illustrated and designed one of his favourite science fiction fiction books of all time, 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. The story follows Guy Montag, a fireman, but not a fireman as we know it. It's not his job to put out fires, but to start fires, and destroy any book he encounters. In this world the television rules, and literature is an illegal commodity. When his wife attempts to commit suicide and a close neighbour suddenly disappears, Montag starts to question the world around him.

It's this vivid world that Bradbury describes that inspired Haydn to produce this book cover illustration.

After mind-mapping, rough sketches, and idea generation, Haydn came up with the idea of subtly showing book cover spines in the heart of the fireman's mask. Drawing thumbnails in his sketchbook to work out the illustration's composition, below shows a series of B&W roughs and colour roughs. This is all part of the creative and illustrative process, and is the same process for clients or personal work.

Communicating a sinister approach, Haydn has used warm and deep colours to represent Montag's world in the shape of a fireman.

If you haven't read this wonderful book, Haydn highly recommends!