While most readers — at least most American readers — are familiar with the luscious, sweeping, iconic Harry Potter book covers illustrated by artist Mary GrandPré, British graphic designer Olly Moss has taken over as the de facto wizard behind the new image for J.K. Rowling's magical book franchise. Moss' covers were officially unveiled on Friday, Dec. 11.
Known for his regular contributions to Empire and his movie posters designs — samples of his work include Thor and the poster for the latest Star Wars film, The Force Awakens — as well as being one of the co-founders of the video game studio Campo Santo, Moss already has a substantial fan following, which made him an easy pick as the artist given the gargantuan task of following in GrandPré's (as well as British artist Thomas Taylor's) footsteps.
A fan of the books himself, Moss recalled his first experience with the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in an interview with Pottermore.
"Harry Potter has always been my favorite. I skipped [Philosopher's Stone, published in the U.S. as The Sorcerer's Stone] because I was being a weird snob about it — I was 10," recounted Moss. "Then by the time Prisoner of Azkaban was out, I remember my mum saying I should read them."
"We were going on holiday and she bought [Azkaban] for me, but she got me the adult covers of the first two novels because I was still being a snob," added Moss.
Moss' formidable talent has garnered the graphic designer considerable praise among others in his field.
"He's a great gig poster designer. He's the guy that really turned me on to the double image approach to things," said Jason Munn, an artist behind posters for indie bands like Andrew Bird, Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse.
Along with Munn, Moss counts modernist designers Saul Bass and Paul Rand among his influences.
Check out some of Moss' new HP covers below.
Via: Pottermore
