nice.  very nicely done.

but you seem to have forgotten that commonly used, yet often secret,  
ingredient:  drops of bright, red blood.

at least it's a common ingredient on *my* projects.

best,
bill

On Apr 26, 2011, at 9:49 AM, stephen@f... wrote:

> I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.
>
> http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/ 
> FrontCoverV11.jpg
>
> What do you think
------------------------------------------------------------------------

too funny...roflol

----- Original Message ----
From: Gary K 
To: oldtools 
Sent: Tue, April 26, 2011 12:43:19 PM
Subject: Fw: [OldTools] New Book cover

I don't know: do you have a clean copy for me to look at?

(ducking and running!)

Gary K
Albion NY, USA
----- Original Message ----- From: 

I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/FrontCoverV11.jpg

What do you think

I have the honor to remain,
moft refpectfully,

Stephen A. Shepherd

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I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/FrontCoverV11.jpg

What do you think

I have the honor to remain,
moft refpectfully,

Stephen A. Shepherd
------------------------------------------------------------------------

It looks a bit haphazard to me - better to have overlapping rings of
paint, shellac, etc caused by cans that were poured and not wiped dry.
If you look at the benches of some very old furniture refinishers you'll
know to what I'm referring.

-- John

John Eaton http://modernwoodworking.blogspot.com "OK, any time they're
getting ready to light off seven-and-a-half million pounds of thrust
under you and you aren't a little bit anxious, you don't understand
what's going on."- John Young, 1981
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Apr 26, 2011, at 1:07 PM, Yarrow, Gary wrote:

> I like it...it looks like some of my books that hang around my shop!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/ 
> FrontCoverV11.jpg

how about just picturing a couple of plane totes with white and green  
paint on them - we all have a couple

Ed Minch

------------------------------------------------------------------------

One never knows when someone asks for opinions whether they are really
soliciting opinions or just want affirmation.
I will take Stephen at his word and choose to believe he wants honest
critique.

I like the artwork. The typography... not so much.
1) Centered. People center text as a default, when they don't know what else
to do. Centered text is the least pleasing to the eye because it doesn't
give us any of the nice alignment lines that we find so pleasing. (The
alignment line is invisible/implied down the center of the text).
2) Too many fonts. 3 lines. 3 different fonts. A design mistake from the
days of the first Macintosh laser printer.
3) None of the fonts suggest 19th Century to me, which would be appropriate,
given the subject line.
4) Not a typography issue, but... the color scheme is from a limited
palette. It needs some contrast to jump off the shelf (or web page at you).

If I may be so bold to suggest some fixes to the above...
http://www.antiqueauto.org/assets/covercomparison.html

The font suggests 19th Century. One font, various sizes, provides design
repetition. The right-aligned text gives us a nice sharp alignment line down
the right hand side of the page, to which every line cleaves. The colored
box provides some needed contrast (the color can be experimented with. I
think it should suggest a milk paint color, and the overlaid title text must
contrast well with it.)

Darren Addy
Kearney, NE
------------------------------------------------------------------------

When we dream up a new idea, we all need, and hopefully want,
intelligent criticism. When I come up with a new piece of work, I
usually take it to a couple of people whose work and ideas I respect
for criticism. I usually come away with better ideas than I had
originally. I wish I were perfect, but I'm not. That distinction
belongs to someone else.

Congrats the gentleman who asked for honest criticism. We all should
be so open.

P.S.  I know Eric was joking. :>)

On Apr 26, 2011, at 1:52 PM, Erik von Sneidern wrote:

> All that criticism for the cover? Wait until the Pentax guy reads the
> text. ; )
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

My wife gave you one of my shirts!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:49 PM
Subject: [OldTools] New Book cover

I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/FrontCoverV11.jpg

What do you think

I have the honor to remain,
moft refpectfully,

Stephen A. Shepherd
------------------------------------------------------------------------

All that criticism for the cover?  Wait until the Pentax guy reads the
text.  ; )

-- 
Erik von Sneidern
www.disstonianinstitute.com

On Tue, 2011-04-26 at 13:24 -0500, CheekyGeek wrote:
> If I may be so bold to suggest some fixes to the above...
> http://www.antiqueauto.org/assets/covercomparison.html
> 
> The font suggests 19th Century. One font, various sizes,

------------------------------------------------------------------------

And sticking that comma in where it belongs.  Go, Darren!!  Nice
critique, and then to put your ideas to work.  We all should have
someone who goes as far to help.  Nice.

Regards,

Dwight (grammar OCD)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks nice. Sort of like my workbench.
When are you releasing and who is publishing it?

On 4/26/2011 9:49 AM, stephen@f... wrote:
> I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.
>
> http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/FrontCoverV11.jpg
>
> What do you think
>
> I have the honor to remain,
> moft refpectfully,
>
> Stephen A. Shepherd
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r...
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
>

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen,
I admire anyone who has the guts to put their original thoughts on paper 
with the intent to share same.
The mere act of putting together a string of cogitations long enough to fill 
a book is more than I will ever do.
Then to bring your book cover ideas out and ask for my opinion, truly a 
brave act.

I like the concept of the cover. If it is to be self published then I 
believe an offering of canvas bound editions with original art would be well 
received.
I would like to offer several samples for your approval.
Dark blue cotton with green paint splashes. My wife borrowed my t shirt.
Denim with white and green splashes. My wife borrowed my pants.
Both red and green plaid with white, green, and red splashes. The shirts she 
borrowed for the previous house painting.

I'd offer red painted fur but she managed to wash off the dog before it 
stuck.

All kidding aside I do like the cover.

Dave N
aka Old Sneelock
dnighswander.blogspot.com

I got the artwork for the cover of my next book.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii105/shepherd1857/FrontCoverV11.jpg

What do you think

I have the honor to remain,
moft refpectfully,

Stephen A. Shepherd
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------