Project

Altar of Time

Personal Book Cover · Japanese Mythology 2024
Altar of Time — Illustration by Zeeshan Ahmad

A wraparound jacket telling the myth of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi — the sun and moon, torn apart by betrayal.

The cover treats the myth as a diptych split across the spine: Amaterasu on one side, Tsukuyomi on the other, framed by golden cloud forms that read as both decoration and barrier. Both figures face away from one another, each haloed by their own celestial body, each holding their grief in the same posture.

Worked in a limited palette — deep indigo, warm cream, gold — to keep the cover quiet enough to hold long stretches of text on the back.

Thumbnailing

Thumbnailing — Initial ideation and composition planning.

Value Comps

Value Comps — Establishing the lighting and focal points.

Color Comps

Color Comps — Exploring mood, palette, and atmosphere.

Mockup — Illustration by Zeeshan Ahmad

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