Abhijit Chowdhury

Photo: Prabir Das

Tell us a little about your processes and preferences for creating the cover of a book.

I definitely need to read the story of a novel before I sit down to design the cover for it, because I intend to be particular and meaningful in my approach. I think of different colours based on the different characters and situations in the novel. Even though technological advancements have made things easier and more flexible for cover artists, I still paint book jackets by hand because I believe that there is a sense of spontaneity to it. I prefer to use my own hand over a computer's hand. Particularly, I enjoy making covers for poetry collections.

Do you think it is important for a cover artist and an author to build a good rapport with one another when they collaborate for a book?

Absolutely. In fact, I have known many authors and cover artists who have had productive discussions and bonded with one another during informal conversations. So, I think a good chemistry between the author and the cover artist is really important. They should make sure that they are on the same page about the project, so that there are no conflicts down the road.

In the span of your career, you have worked with both renowned and emerging authors. What do you like the most about working with young writers?

I think that the majority of the young population is bringing many positive changes and working for the betterment of our country today. I am happy to be able to support them  in any way I can, because I believe in their potential.

What advice would you give to emerging artists for overcoming the challenges that come with working in this field?

Building good communication and networking skills would be my first advice, as we live in a time where it is important for artists to go out on their own, looking for work. I am optimistic about the prospects for young artists in Bangladesh today.