Book: How to be a Difficult Bitch (Illustrator)
![Header image for T.L. Luke's intro as illustrator of the cover and headpieces of book How to be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-illustratorcoverheadpieces_47074da1-5055-46b4-9ebf-b7ba9d8be1ab.jpg?v=1682787433)
Book Cover & Chapter Headpiece Illustrator /
Illustrated 2020 / Published 2022
Title: How to Be a Difficult Bitch: Claim Your Power, Ditch the Haters, and Feel Good Doing It
Authors: Halley Bondy, Mary C. Fernandez, Zara Hanawalt, Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group / Zest Books
Art Director: Danielle Carnito
Graphic Designer: Kim Morales
Illustrator: T.L. Luke
![Header with TL Luke round one sketch examples for book How to be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/round1-sketches_6e4cc46b-ba06-4323-9c21-d0063c59788a.jpg?v=1682788018)
PROJECT SCOPE
Age Range: 10-15
Deliverables: 10 full page chapter openers and one color cover
Specifics: Wide variety of women, equal representation of skin tone, ethnicity, gender fluidity, disabilities, etc. Trading / tarot card style, illustrating the type of "bitch" described for each chapter. Zine-like, referenced my Girls in Space Series.
Minor Adjustments
I like to think of the first sketch round as a solid base for my client to jump off from. During this project, my round one sketches had only minor edits, including "please make them 'bitchier'" as seen above.
![Disability research for T.L. Luke's illustration in book How to Be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-disability.jpg?v=1682789833)
Disability Research
In order to assure we accurately represented a prosthetic-using middle-income teenager, I consulted friend and prosthetic limb technician, Trevor Kuborn (Minneapolis, MN), and together we determined the best choice of prosthesis was a split-hook.
![T.L. Luke's cover rejects from book How to Be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-coverrejects_d5a20cfd-5545-49fb-84ca-da7c45ede2cb.jpg?v=1682793353)
Cover Rejects
First impressions are important, so I drafted a few cover options. Not selected (above): floating heads, buddha-woman with arms representing each 'bitch' from the book, and a modern Black woman on a fantastical dragon.
![Round two header of T.L. Luke's inked and colored chapter openers from book How to Be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-round2inkcolor.jpg?v=1682793033)
Digital Inking & Coloring
Tools: Wacom Cintiq Pro 24" Tablet
Program: Photoshop CC
Style: In 2020, my illustration style included heavy texturing, bold colors, and black line work.
![Cover color matching example in T.L. Luke's book How to Be a Difficult Bitch.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-covercolormatch.jpg?v=1682793839)
Color Matching
Graphic Designer Kim Morales mocked up a dark purple gradient for the cover's background so, for consistency, I matched all chapter headpiece backgrounds with the same dark purple, and selected a complimentary/tertiary palette from there.
![T.L. Luke's call for collaboration header](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0422/5476/2146/files/htbadb-collaborate.jpg?v=1682795004)
Let's work together! / Here's what to expect:
* Exact quantities determined by project budget.
Email all inquiries to
T.L. Luke at tl@tl-luke.com! Thank you!