Emmett Till’s Secret Witness
I was commissioned to illustrate the book cover for Emmett Till’s Secret Witness by author Bonnie Blue. From the beginning, I envisioned using charcoal on newsprint to evoke the look and feel of an old newspaper—something rooted in the past. I aimed to convey a sense of loneliness throughout the composition, intentionally creating space between the focal points to amplify that emotion. This project was my first published cover, and it taught me so much along the way. Below are some of the initial sketches and layout concepts I explored.
