New Asylum – front cover

31/07/2019

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to offer thoughts and comments on th ecover choices for The New Asylum that I had posted here.

I was delighted and a little astounded at the wonderful response, and it has helped me to make cover decisions based on renewed thought about the mood and tone of the contents of poetry collection.

I’ll keep you informed of prograss as it happens. Meanwhile don’t hesitate to keep in touch by following this page, signing up to my newsletter or simply getting in touch through contact forms wherever our paths may cross.

Cheers,

Frank

56 thoughts on “New Asylum – front cover”

  1. Claire Tennant

    Hi Frank I’m drawn between first picture on left and the final Somehow, though I think the final picture with the empty cupboards and the windows above the bedsl would be more effective because it creates an interest in the topic What does he have to say about this rather than “another hospital story”.

    Looking forward but ordering a box or two of tissues.
    Claire

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Claire.

      It will be interesting to see how the choices play out.

      Not so much of tissues in this one, at least not in the way Devil In The Wind was.

    2. James Thomas

      Hi Frank, I’m no sort of expert on aesthetic matters, but I felt more comfortable (for want of a better word) with D9 on the right. Congratulations on this new publication. cheers
      James Thomas

      1. Frank Prem Post author

        Thanks James. It’ll be interesting to see what it ends up being.

        I appreciate your comment.

      2. Frank Prem Post author

        Thanks so much, James. I’m grateful to you for your time and consideration. Much to ponder.

    3. Frank Prem Post author

      Hi Claire. Thank you.

      The bleakness is there in all of them, isn’t it? I guess the choice comes down to fundamental optimism or pessimism. We’ll see.

      1. Claire Tennant

        Oh Frank ultimately it is your choice , your work Clearly it us a story that should be told.

        1. Frank Prem Post author

          All true, but it’s great to have the advantage of so many thoughtful responses, Claire. It helps a lot, I think.

  2. Jade Li

    I like image 1 and image 2. image 1 is a “colder/creepier” one, image 2 is a little warmer but still shows something is amiss with the flaking paint. I’m not sure what the tone will be for your book. If it is more creepy/clinical I’d go with image 1. If it is more humane/story centered, I’d go with image 2.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Jade.

      There will some of all of that, Jade. Strange and shocking as well as warm and caring.

      I appreciate your help, as always.

    2. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Jade. Appreciated (as always!)

      There will some of all of that, Jade. Strange and shocking as well as warm and caring.

      I appreciate your help, as always.

  3. Sue Vincent

    I like both pictures… and the differing effects applied to the first two make statements about the tone of the book only you can judge. The third cover seems less overtly cruel but infinitely sadder…but I don’t like the title font on that one.

    (Guest post when you are ready to promote, Frank?)

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      And a guest post, for sure, Sue, if you’ll have me.

      It will be a pleasure.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Hi Marje.

      I’m forming my views even as I go through these responses.

      There is such a difference between writing because you have a thing to pin down, or a conclusion just reached, or a thing witnessed still in front of mind, versus what statement will the collection make, what message do I want to send with it (assuming anyone takes an interest.

      My conclusions are veering a little to the dark and the bleak, I think, but I’ll have to ponder further.

      Could be something for us to discuss.

  7. willowdot21

    Hi Frank at first I thought definitely D4 but after reflection I think D9 says it all. The decay, neglected space and yet the ray of light. That is how I see mental care these days.
    I have had dealings with mental care albeit as relative to patient and friend in another instance. Mental care is the poor relative of the NHS here in the UK and I am sure it is the world over.
    The middle photo reflects that too me… A little ray of hope. Wishing you every success with the book.💜💜

    2. Frank Prem Post author

      It’s the poor relative over here, as well, Willow. We’re just having a Royal Commission into it, at the moment.

      When I listen in, I hear all the complaints, and the disasters being recounted. Very depressing because I don’t believe there is anything like a meaningful solution for service provision in sight.

      Thanks for your thoughts. Appreciated.

  8. Mick Canning

    Although I think D4 has the best balance and I think the title looks great that way, the other two give a clearer indication of the institutionalised nature of the asylum, and of the two I think D6, on the left, works better – again because of the nature of the subject – just because the colours are a little colder.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Mick. Much appreciated. I’m starting to worry a little about just how dark the collection is, overall. Quite dark, I’m starting to conclude.

  9. Ellen Best

    D9 the second one. The light hints that though things have lightened and are in a place where they should have improved they really haven’t. The room in this cover drags us back to the horror that comes from such institutionalisation. Will we ever learn, I hope my view helped and the best of luck with this, the most interesting of subjects.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Fantastic. Thank you Ellen. I appreciate your thoughts and time for this. I have a lot of contemplation to do, I think.

  10. Joy Lennick

    I plump for the middle one: D9, There is clarity and hope in the shot – much needed with such a subject, surely?! The very best of luck with your book, Frank. Cheers.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Joy. I appreciate the time and your thoughts. It will be interesting to choose not just on the aesthetics, but the mood that I think I concluded with. Tricky.

  11. Maria Parenti-Baldey

    Hi Frank
    The sepia photo on right with the empty war time beds & shelf reeks of the old days after WWI where everything wooden was painted one. The sterile light colour creates an quite lonely and ghostly atmosphere.

  13. Tracy

    I like 1, Frank. I’ve seen the asylum at Beechworth. It gave me the creeps. The blue tones fit.

    Also, I am not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for many people with psychiatric illnesses. The fact that psychiatric medication has such adverse side-effects is appalling in my opinion.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Tracy. They come down to interesting choices, I think. Optimism/pessimism. Sunshine/darkness.

      Very real ideas for me to sort through.

  15. Paula Fiorentini-Carter

    I go for D9 because it has warmth. D6 is cold and bleak and D4, well, the beds look so uncomfortable!

  16. Daniel Roy

    Hey Frank,
    I prefer D6. However, I’m not taken by the “stencilled look” for the title. I would rather see the title in the area just above your name. If you go for the angled text in the same location, is it possible to make it appear separated from the wall?
    Cheers,
    Dan

  17. Carolina Russo

    Hi Frank, as a visual artist and illustrator myself I see many feelings in all the three images but they are not all captivating the same way. It depends of what type of impact you want the reader to feel when he/she sees the cover of your book. What type of vision and thinking your cover will bring to the mind of your potential reader, you have one image “The Cover” where you can give all and nothing at the same time plus a dose of depth and intriguing feelings that opens doors to curiosity. The cover has to captivate the wish to want to know more about what will happen in your Memoir and want to read your book. Of course you want them to think about Psychiatry and everything that comes with it, creepy, darkness, emptiness, fear, hope and so on…. so for me my favorite image is D6 that is the only one I would consider if was my choice. In that image I like the layout, the colors, the lighting, the cold feelings overall, the font of the title on the wall! That image has to my opinion all the characteristics that will bring all the feelings to the reader, is creepy and cold, but also the light of hope coming through the window, the peeling paint on the wall that can represent the layers of the psyche to peel off to reach the depth of the mind and also the color blue which has a great meaning in the meanings of colors, blue “It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven” . So Frank after all my technical and descriptive talking I hope I helped you a little but this is only my vision of it and my opinion of course you have to chose! My Cover choice is D6

    2. Frank Prem Post author

      I thought I’d replied, Caroline, but can’t see that I have.

      Thank you for such a wonderful artistic and analytic assessment. This is tremendously helpful.

      (hugs)

      Frank

  18. Ellen Jennings

    D6 strikes me as the best choice. I’ve not allowed myself to read the others’ comments before I make mine.

    The Title on the wall—the font and color are striking, and the angle gives depth to the image.

    Comparing D6 and D9, the light is well balanced. There is a hint of getting past the asylum horrors to the light, out the other side. D9 seemed glaring to me; maybe that is more like real life, but I find D6 tells a better story.

  19. Richard Dee

    One of the first two, Frank. The stark outline of the bed and the poor state of the decor brings home the institutional atmosphere for me. They make the room look like it’s as unloved and helpless as the patient may be. The last one could be in a therapists, not an asylum.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Richard. I think you’re right about the 3rd pic. I really like the warmth of it, but the beds don’t seem right. As you say – more for a clinic than a dormitory, so that has to be a factor. Appreciate your time and thoughts.

  20. Kirstyn Ellis

    Frank I personally feel D9 is my favorite. Being that it’s called the new assilum the lighter colour shows signs of hope in some brightness while the imagery of old style furniture covers that time in history about the bleak reality of life in the assilum. My memories of being a child in the 80s visiting a family member was a bright dormitory style room but no doubt a sense of feeling the benefit of being able to walk away and go home from somewhere that made you feel uneasy.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Thanks Kirstyn. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. The asylums were such strange places. When I started work, they were in the throes of converting open dormitories into partitioned private space with a bed and a couple of drawers and hanging space.

      It was still very bleak.

  21. acflory

    I kind of liked D4 in terms of composition but…I found the ‘fuzziness’ a bit uncomfortable to look at, as if the photo were slightly out of focus. Was that a deliberate choice? Honestly though, all three are very effective.

    1. Frank Prem Post author

      Hi Andrea. Thank you.

      My initial reaction was also D4, because of the warmth, I think.

      Seems like the choice will come down to my own assessment of the overall mood of the collection.

      Glad you think all 3 have merit. Makes it easier to focus on what I want to reflect.

      Hope all is going well with your work, too.

  22. Chris Titheradhe

    D6 D9 D4
    Hi Frank. My initial thoughts when looking at all 3 together was D4. But it depends if the stories are colder, more clinical & sader, if so I’d chose D6 because of the blue tones.

    The other two are warmer softer tones but if I had to choose between them it would be D4, no idea why I was just drawn to it.

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