Spectator Christmas Cover 2012

Cover art for the Spectator Australia Christmas Double Issue of 2012:

I originally submitted five thumbnails for different covers, but the editor came up with the idea of having Gillard and Abbott in a parody of the famous John and Yoko 'Bed-in for Peace' of 1969.

Once the thumbnail was approved, I moved onto the rough (above, right), then the inks (below)and what I thought would be the final art. (These are all in a template based on last year's cover.)

But the colours didn't seem Christmassy enough, and the editor thought the background gags were confusing it. I quickly mocked up an all white, red and green version (below, left) before revising the art: removing all the background gags and adding more festive elements like presents, tinsel, and holly.

Thanks for looking!