Lithuanian illustrator and photographer Natalie Shau has created a set of book covers for The Blessed, a book series by Tonya Hurley.
The dark, thrilling series centers around a group of modern-day teenagers that have been reincarnated as saints. According to Kirkus reviews, "the girls may be saints, [but] they are definitely not angels.” Shau kept this description in mind when designing the covers, merging the unlikely elements of teenage-hood and sainthood together with deftness and clarity.
The subjects have an ethereal air to them -- translucent skin; luminous eyes; a halo; -- that's blemished with the earthly pleasures of sex and intrigue. There is a darkness to the Saints that's not typically associated with Godliness and holiness.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Dark Saint Imagery
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating controversial and provocative religious art that challenges traditional perceptions.
- Reimagining Religious Figures
- Space for disruptive innovation in reinterpreting saints and religious figures in a modern, edgy way.
- Merging Opposing Concepts
- Potential for disruptive innovation in merging contrasting themes, such as teenage culture and sainthood, to create compelling narratives.
Where This Applies
- Art and Illustration
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating unique and thought-provoking artwork that challenges conventional notions of religious imagery.
- Publishing and Literature
- Space for disruptive innovation in redefining how religious figures are portrayed in literature and book covers, appealing to a younger and more alternative audience.
- Fashion and Beauty
- Potential for disruptive innovation in incorporating dark and ethereal elements inspired by the Saints into fashion and beauty trends, catering to those seeking a more unconventional aesthetic.
