We are pleased to share an exclusive interview with cover artist Kim Herbst, illustrator of the fabulous cover art for Ren Hutchings‘ novella, The Legend Liminal, as well as more upcoming Stars and Sabers solo author works! You can read about the cover reveal here in a dedicated post.

Jendia discovered Kim’s art several years prior, and contracted Kim for a commission. After that, she recommended Kim to Android Press for the cover of her own novel, The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern. Read about Kim’s process for creating the cover for The Legend Liminal.

Images and text shared by Kim Herbst for this post.

We’ve long admired your illustrations, for their variability and for the rich use of color and light. What were some of your influences?

Thank you so much! I’m immensely influenced by Erte, Kay Nielsen, Alphonse Mucha, as well as Harry Clarke (his black and white etchings more so than his stained glass), and Japanese woodblock prints. Out of college, I was very into Kristian Donaldson’s comic color work (the aesthetics from his Supermarket graphic novel, especially), that definitely bled into my own illustration process and has really sort of stuck with me. Since then I’ve been very much influenced by Kat Tsai after taking a Color & Light class from her, and have been trying to find a balance against my own aesthetic.

What is the most rewarding aspect of this kind of work?

I really love visual problem-solving. There’s something incredibly enticing about honing a craft over a long, long time, unsolving its mysteries, bit by bit. And at the end, not only do I get the opportunity to express myself, my emotions, and all that entails, woven into my drawings, but I can put all to aid someone else’s project. There’s a wonderful human connection to that collaboration.

I’ll never forget a note I received from someone who bought a print from me. They saw an illustration of mine while feeling incredibly alone, and said that while in their moment of despair, not only did they find someone on the other side of the planet feeling a similar way, but that another person was able to succinctly depict their feelings on paper, so as to create a connection. And they didn’t feel alone anymore. I think that’s probably the most rewarding feeling: attempting to put my emotions down through drawing, and having another person feel a deep affinity.

With regards to the cover, what was this creative process like? And could you describe some of the design choices you made?

My first step is always asking a client, for the illustration being commissioned, if they can describe the emotions they would like the piece to evoke in 3-5 words, what would they be? Is it happy, are the characters determined? Is it morose or intense? Getting those adjectives out from the get-go really helps narrow down a lot of the work. From there I explore strong compositions that best support those descriptive words, usually with very small sketches in a sketchbook. This is how my sketchbook just ends up with pages and pages of squiggles within a rectangle or square outline. I then work with the client to see which composition they prefer, and continue with that collaboration going through from digital pencils to final color. I want to ensure the piece is not only a strong illustration with solid fundamentals, but also that the client is satisfied and that we’ve both hit the mark for what the cover should elicit.

Where can we learn more about you and your work?

You can find my work on my portfolio site, www.kimherbst.com as well as on various social media sites with the handle @kiwifruitbird (Bluesky and Instagram being the most popular as of right now!)

We are thrilled with Kim’s vivid cover to match the atmosphere for Ren Hutchings’ The Legend Liminal. Thank you, Kim!

Learn more about The Legend Liminal and its author, Ren Hutchings.