Oranges

Developing the thumbnails, I started off with the hand that I had drawn; scanning it in and tracing over it to get a larger digital version:

Here's a sheet of potential mock ups using the hand. This also includes another hand I did but decided against using since I preferred both the expression in this hand and the drawing itself.

Of these I like the red one the most as it provides an interesting break up of shape in the composition without the change in colour being too jarring as it is on the black version. Even just glancing at the thumbnails, it's clear that it is the most striking and eye catching choice.

I discovered Kim Roselier the other day and find his process really nice - a good way to get clean gouache paintings without pencil lines showing through. I decided to try it out myself to get this rather nice looking hand, since I don't want digitally painted elements on the cover:

I quite like it and the colours so I think I'll use it.