Because I adore this book, I wanted to create an alternative cover for Howl’s Moving Castle. My goal was to bring Sophie into the spotlight and highlight her powerful cozy magic through the objects and details surrounding her.
To do this, I incorporated Sophie’s magical tools and symbolic objects into the ornate frame, using them as subtle signs of her abilities. The needle became an especially important motif, as sewing and hat-making are among the earliest expressions of Sophie’s magic. In the family hat shop, her gift begins to reveal itself through the care and intention she puts into the hats she decorates.
Later in the story, her connection to magic deepens further through growing unusual plants, suggesting a more instinctive and evolving power.
Overall, this piece is my tribute to Sophie as a character - her strength, kindness, and the understated magic that shapes the story from within.
