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GrandPré will miss Harry 'in a good way' 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2005 at 10:42 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Herald Today
Mary GrandPré, illustrator of the U.S. editions of all the Harry Potter books discusses
her creative process for the covers, not watching the movies, being asked to work on the books and how she will feel when the last book is published.
On her creative process for the covers:
I am looking for a scene that shows excitement, that shows Harry and that has an intriguing atmosphere. I have to be accurate. Kids will point it out if I make a mistake. They don't miss anything.
They [Scholastic] choose one and they're usually agreeable. I do the final art in color, in pastels. It takes about four weeks to get a final color cover and another four weeks to do the chapter headings, so the whole process is about two months.
Scholastic Creative Director, David Saylor, on why GrandPré:
It was a eureka moment. I loved the book and I wanted to make sure someone would do a good job with the design and all of the details. She had to illustrate the magical, but the books are also very much set in the real world. Her vision is so perfect. At that time, it was just a book. We didn't know it would be so enormous.
On being asked to work on the books:
When I got a call from Scholastic about eight years ago, creative director David Saylor said he wanted me to illustrate a book about a boy with magical powers. He had seen my work and liked the way I used light and color and atmosphere. I said I didn't think I could do it. He offered to send me a manuscript and asked me if I would think about squeezing it in.
GrandPré on missing Potter:
The Potter phenomenon has taken over parts of my career and it's sometimes frustrating. It will be kind of like getting a kid off to college and out of the house when he's 18. I'll miss him in a good way.
You can view her site here
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226-245
Witch
Points: 619
dance_girl says:
We'll all be sad when the last book and the last movie comes out. This is a great story! Yeah its true, the people who make the covers for the books or make the movies must be really careful not to leave anything out
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:44 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2119
hpchik898 says:
Yeah she's amazing. I have her calendar, and the pics are great. I think it's funny ow she just needed to squeeze it in.
~Hpchik898
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:46 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2161
Prydwen says:
That must be soooo much fun working on the front cover. I'm not much of an artist, so I wouldn't be able to do it. But it must be suvh an honor and priviledge to be able to do so.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:46 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
~*Veela Grl *~ says:
I love all of her book covers and calendars. She is awesome Toodles!!!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:47 AM EST
Hermione's Twin
Points: 5064
*Miss Hermione Granger* says:
AWWWWWWWWWW!!! I will too! its my favourite books and I love the movies and stuff.I will really miss it.ITs something that a lot of people are going to miss a lot I think.Its a pity there is not any more books
Unless JK will suprise us but she has said she will not and when she sais No it means NO!!I will really miss it when the seventh book comes out but I think it would have to sink in..
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:48 AM EST
Insufferable Know-it-all
Points: 4984
Happy Hedwig says:
We will all miss it =! When the series ends...I will be in mourning.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:49 AM EST
Squib
Points: 112
Maximum says:
We will all feel sad when the last book is out, the last book is read, the last tear shed. Ha! I made an accidental poem. Ha, Ha... I'll mis Harry.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:50 AM EST
Witch
Points: 590
Hufflepuff's Pride says:
Oh I admire her cover. I loved the Prisoner of Azkaban and I tried to draw buckbeak and I did. It was so nice that I hanged it in my room. I am so proud of it. I can't believe she didn't watch Harry Potter and she was that good. She must have a crazy and creative imagination!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:52 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1415
smart hermione says:
When the last book comes out, I'll be sad and happy at the same time. Sad cause there wouldn't be more hp books to look forward to and happy cause I'd know how the story finished (providing its a happy ending, of course) !
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 10:56 AM EST
Witch
Points: 613
chrissytine says:
She seems really nice!!!!! It is cool that she never sees the moives if she did her drawings would probably be different but i don't know how she does it never seen a hary potter movie wow! i bet thats one of the things she will do once she finishes drawing for the 7th book.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:00 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2558
hbluvhp says:
It is so interesting to see how HP has affected all of the people involved in its production. I think GranPre is a fantastic artist and I love her illustrations.
Oh I can't even think about HP being completed...so sad!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 603
kat_123 says:
Wow! It would be amazing to be doing the pictures for harry potter! It'll be really really sad when the last book comes out and there will be no more Harry Potter!! *tear*
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:01 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 464
Glastea says:
I've only seen the US book covers on Mugglenet, but they look good. However, I like the English covers better... but then i'm biased because I own the English covers so admire them more
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:04 AM EST
Student
Points: 234
hpfan#3 says:
She seems really nice!!!!! It is cool that she never sees the moives if she did her drawings would probably be different but i don't know how she does it never seen a hary potter movie wow! i bet thats one of the things she will do once she finishes drawing for the 7th book.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:07 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 516
King of Potter Knowledge says:
Everbody will be sad when the Harry Potter aventure is over because it will be like losing many friends all at once.
It will be a sad sad day for all us Harry Potter fans.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:08 AM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3148
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
I never really thoght about what Potter ending would be to her. I was more caght up in JKR's grief and that of the fans. She's my favorite illustrator out of all those that do the HP books. I hope to see her work somewhere else after B7 is done.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:08 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1741
HarryAssistant says:
She has done awesome illustrations for the books especially for the cover of HBP. Plus, I will also miss Harry when it ends but there will probally still be a couple more movies after the final book comes out.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:09 AM EST
Witch
Points: 816
Y:h. says:
Hiya!
Well ... I think she did good work! It's hard for her to let Harry go. Did anyone aks US!?
I fear the day, Harry Potter ???, book seven will be released. And much more I fear the moment that I close the book and I know: "Now it's all over. Harry Potter is over. It's done."
Probably I'll be crying. Perhaps I won't. It's all upon J.K. now. hach! I don't even want to think about that! ... Potter ... no more Harry Potter?! ... unbelievable.
But HEY! There are still at least 12 months left!
Let's hope, the ending won't be like ... like ... och, I dunno.
So long, Y:h.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:10 AM EST
Magical Owl Rising
Points: 4504
Hoots says:
I love her illustrations. I like seeing the picture and trying to guess what the chapter will be about. Then after I read it, I go back and look at what hidden things the pictures might have.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:11 AM EST
Squib
Points: 148
RonLovesMe! says:
I'll be soooooo sad when the last book comes out! :( It will be strange not having another book to look foward to. She does amazing pictures. Can't wait for GoF! I LOVE RON!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:12 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2334
Chahat says:
Well I think she is a great illustrator. I simply loved the back cover of HBP. In GOF (British Version) the back contains Hogwarts and Peeves. It such a blend nothing seems out of place.
I will miss HP when 7th book comes out but I can't wish it to be delayed.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:13 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1234
Krum says:
I love Mary Granpre. She is such a good artist, and she seems so nice.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:16 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 314
~*Cedric Diggory*~ says:
In England, we have somebody else illustrating the covers, but I do agree, I do like all the American Harry Potter covers, especially the Order of the Phoenix one. I will be beside myself when the series ends, but we'll still have all the films to look forward to!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:19 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1465
Moon Dragon says:
I'll cry at the end of the last book and movie!
The american book covers and illistrations are great!
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:24 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 331
cckeimig says:
It's funny how she almost didn't squeeze Harry in. Imagine! I guess it'd just be someone else, but she'd be kicking herself about now, I should think. I'm glad she *did* manage to find the time, because I think she does the best artwork of all the covers I've seen, and I just love her chapter drawings as well.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:31 AM EST
Squib
Points: 178
ravenclawrox says:
We all want the seventh book to come out but in a way, I do not want it to come out because then it will just not be so exiting. When the seventh book comes out but we will all be really really sad. boo hoo. I hope he doesnt die.
Posted Sep 25, 2005 at 11:38 AM EST
226-245
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