Levi
Pinfold

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

To celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Bloomsbury are to release four new Hogwarts house themed editions of the book that started it all – with each cover telling a unique story. 

Bloomsbury has just unveiled some brand new designs for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and they’re all about flaunting your house pride.

Designed by award-winning illustrator Levi Pinfold, the covers will have two unique designs for both hardback and paperback, portraying the Hogwarts houses like never before.

Whether you’re Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, you will soon be able to own a copy of the book themed around your favourite, with a specially designed crest uniquely representing each one. As Pinfold explains, each cover tells a different story, with the artist using traditional heraldry from historic coat of arms imagery to delve deep into each house.

A coat of arms is a special piece of art that has been used throughout history to represent small towns, families, countries and more, representing their story through images. Using this tradition, Levi has helped tell an interesting tale about each house’s legacy, with each crest adorned with individual nuances.

In the Hufflepuff crest, for example, there are beech leaves to symbolize tolerance and a little lamb to show gentleness. In heraldry, gold or yellow is seen to represent generosity, which of course is perfect for the Hufflepuffs among us.

The crescent in the Slytherin crest represents glory and honour, and has been used in several coats of arms throughout history, including the Fitzsimmons family, and Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. Slytherin green is for endurance and the dragon-like cockatrice suggests Slytherins are fierce warriors, which we’ve certainly seen to be true.

Gryffindor red is meant to signify military strength, a unicorn is for purity and courage, and the antlers are for strength and agility. We’re sure Harry would like the latter, if his Patronus is anything to go by.

The Ravenclaw crest gets a parchment scroll to symbolise academic achievement, an owl for wisdom, a spearhead for sharpness of wit and a book for knowledge. Owls have cropped up a lot in European heraldry, such as in the Armorial Bearings of the late, great Terry Pratchett.

It was a delicate task for Pinfold, designing these exquisite crests – but also a deep honour.

When he first found out he’d landed this job illustrating, he said: ‘Life was a surreal wonderland for an hour or two, then I realised I had to actually do the work! Harry Potter means a lot to so many people, so it comes with a responsibility.’ His family, endearingly, were staggered. ‘I could tell my family were thinking, ‘What, you?  The kid that wouldn’t wipe his nose and was scared of mud?’ My fiancée said: “Awesome.”  Which it was!’

The very first thing Pinfold drew, he says, was ‘a majestic badger’. That’s because he started with his favourite house, Hufflepuff. ‘It’s got all the best animals in it,’ he says, despite technically being a Ravenclaw, according to the Pottermore sorting experience.

‘I think Hufflepuff is where it’s at.’

We wonder whether Pinfold will get a blue or yellow copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Perhaps both.

These beautiful new editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be available in hardback and paperback, and will be in stores from the beginning of June. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

To celebrate the anniversary, UK publishers Bloomsbury have once again reimagined the books with these special house-themed editions of Chamber of Secrets, as they did with Philosopher’s Stone. And, once again, the jackets have been lovingly designed by illustrator, Levi Pinfold.

So, whether you’re a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin or Ravenclaw, you can make sure your edition is boasting your house colours.

As well as being house-themed, each cover has its own special array of symbols and details embedded within the main crest – so that each house cover is unique.

As Levi explains:

‘The crests are based upon the symbolism of medieval heraldry, so there’s foliage in there, and animals and weird hands, all sorts of strange symbolism that they used to use back in the Middle Ages.’

Have a look at these annotated guides to see what each crest means

As each book is loyal to its chosen house, you’ll also find an illustration of your house’s common room on the back cover, as well as an introduction to that house inside. You can take a look at Levi’s illustrations of the common rooms here too!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This is the fifth offering from Australia-based artist Levi Pinfold, who has been working on these special edition Bloomsbury books since the first book, always being sure to incorporate small details into each cover.

Levi told us earlier this year, ‘I think to get that much detail into such a small space is kind of exciting and kind of cool. It’s just the little tiny details that I really enjoy because they’re so hard to see and I think that really brings it together and turns it into something you feel like you can disappear into.’

You can watch more of Levi’s Wizarding World thoughts here.

The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac

One spread from the Almanac explores absolutely every single member of the Order of the Phoenix: the resistance group formed to put an end to Lord Voldemort. As illustrated by Levi Pinfold, you can take a look at these new illustrative depictions of some of your favourite members, but also some of the lesser-known members of the team that perhaps you might not have seen brought to life before.

We particularly smiled at seeing Dedalus Diggle and his top hat, as there’s sentimental value here. Dedalus is one of the first wizards Harry ever meets in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, when the eccentric wizard bumps into him in the street and bows to him, long before Harry’s visit from Hagrid. Dedalus’s conspicuous headwear certainly made him a memorable character for Harry, who recalled him years later. Which other characters are you excited to see here?

If you’ve got your hands on a copy of our just-released fall issue, you’ll note Catherine Batac Walder’s article on Harry Potter’s twentieth anniversary and Bloomsbury’s new ‘House-specific’ anniversary editions of the book that started it all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Walder interviewed illustrator Levi Pinfold about his inspiration and his artistic process. We’re sharing here more from that interview.

CBW: How are these Harry Potter illustrations different/similar to the work that you usually do?

LP: Normally I don’t work in line, so it was a pleasure to use some ink for a change.

CBW: Related to question 1, did you look at existing illustrations or did you try not to?

LP: I tried to stay away from existing material during the time I worked on the pictures. I found myself looking more to Albrecht Dürer etchings and other work from Renaissance artists for inspiration. I’ve since allowed myself to leaf through Jim Kay’s amazing work on the major illustrated editions, though.

CBW: What difficulties had you encountered in finishing the drawings?

LP: Man’s greatest enemy...time!

CBW: Did you read all the HP books before you got the job/were you a fan? Did you have to know the books very well for this job?

LP: I had read and enjoyed them beforehand, yes. I had also listened to the audiobooks some years ago whilst working. It was fantastic to re-familiarize myself with the books for the job. It definitely didn’t feel like work!

CBW: What kind of research did you do before starting with the drawings? Any fascinating facts about coat of arms that you could share?

LP: The crests are based around traditional heraldic symbolism. Each element has a house specific meaning. For instance--a crescent moon means glory and splendor for Slytherin, or a beehive meaning hard work and industry for Hufflepuff. There are some great resources worth investigating on the Internet, if you like that sort of thing.

CBW: I know that as an artist you cannot really measure the time you work on an illustration as it depends on inspiration, but could you give an idea roughly how long it took to illustrate a cover, to redo it, etc.? What was your working day like?

LP: I was working under a tight deadline with the covers, so the days were long; anywhere between 10 and 18 hours. Most of the work took place at night because it was midsummer here in Australia and the days were just too hot! Generally each cover took around 3 days. Lots of variations and mistakes.

CBW: Would this be the most fun job you’ve ever had? I read your comment about it being a responsibility, will it be one of the hardest jobs as well?

LP: It was about as fun as illustration gets! The audiobooks were playing in the background and it was fascinating to immerse myself in the world and mythology. However, I have never worked on something with such a massive readership, so I have to admit that I found myself prey to a general hum of anxiety throughout the project.

CBW: I understand you also did the illustrations featured in the pages of the books?

LP: I did indeed. Inside and out. The house founders were particularly fun.

CBW: Will you be doing some more work for Harry Potter?

LP: Nothing at the moment, but I would certainly be keen for more.

CBW: How did you get the job and how has it changed your life/career so far?

LP: A combination of factors led to me getting the job, there are lots of people working behind the scenes. I still don’t quite know how the decision was made. My agent, the art director and the rest of the team at Bloomsbury all had something to do with it. Other than that, pure luck!

The fourth volume in Bloomsbury’s series of Harry Potter House Editions has been published, but Levi Pinfold still can’t quite believe he’s illustrating them, as he explained to Carey Fluker Hunt who interviewed him for Books for Keeps.

Like many of his generation, Levi Pinfold’s Harry Potter memories are woven into the fabric of his life. He devoured the first four titles as a teenager after his family returned to the UK from Australia – a reading experience he remembers as hugely enjoyable and ‘a way of reconnecting with English culture’ – and discovered the later volumes while painting tempera artwork for Black Dog, his Greenaway Medal-winning first picturebook. ‘Stephen Fry read me Harry Potter while I was working in the studio,’ he laughs. ‘That last spread on Black Dog took me the whole of The Half Blood Prince!’

Measuring endeavour in ‘Harry Potter units’ might not be standard, but given the boy wizard’s continuing popularity it makes an odd kind of sense. According to a YouGov poll, 68% of British 25-34 year olds are Harry Potter fans. They grew up with the books, they revisit them frequently and now they’re passing on the magic. This year, audiences celebrated a truly multigenerational Harry Potter Book Night – and Levi flew in from Australia to join them. How did he land such an exciting commission? And how does it feel to be picturing the Harry Potter universe?

Despite his many awards, Levi is modest about his achievements and the opportunities they provide. But it wasn’t luck that brought Levi and Harry Potter together. Levi was working with Bloomsbury on AF Harrold’s The Song from Somewhere Else, creating atmospheric artwork for a complex novel, when Bloomsbury asked if he ‘might be interested’ in taking on the Harry Potter Twentieth Anniversary House Editions – four versions of each title, one per House, complete with all-new front and end-matter. ‘I tried not to act too excited,’ says Levi, ‘but it felt like I’d stepped into a dream. It was like there were bluebirds flying around my head!’

Much planning was done at Bloomsbury before Levi could begin, and once he’d started sketching, refining and producing his intricately inked drawings, he was still part of an intensely collaborative process. So far, he’s created a Hogwarts map and four House Crests, together with character portraits, differentiated book-jackets, a design for each common room and more. His illustrations are deeply enticing for anyone familiar with the Harry Potter universe – there’s much pleasure in seeing old friends depicted ‘just so’ – but there’s plenty for newly fledged Potterheads to feast on, too.

Levi’s borders and backgrounds are packed with revealing symbols and details. Significant objects are interwoven with natural forms, recalling woodcuts by anonymous medieval artists alongside Durer and Blake, and ideas as diverse as medieval heraldry and Philip Pullman’s alethiometer have influenced his House-themed crests and book-jackets. ‘I love coded systems and the language of alchemy. It’s saying something specific about qualities, not just concrete things. And I’ve always enjoyed the artistry in heraldry – it’s a beautiful system of expressing complex things simply.’

Each Hogwarts House has a clearly-defined set of values and attributes that must be communicated, so Levi’s interests and his brief are well-aligned – and he’s had plenty of time to ‘get inside’ each House. The Pottermore website sorted Levi into Ravenclaw, but he thinks that ‘Hufflepuff is where it’s at,’ and when pressed, admits to liking his Hufflepuff illustrations. ‘They’ve got these really friendly natural forms like apples and bees …. I love that side of things, it makes you smile when you’re doing it.’ But as he confesses, ‘the stuff that comes out of me the easiest is the dark stuff. I grew up liking comics, so it feels quite natural.’

Levi isn’t alone in having a House preference, and the topic elicits much debate amongst the Potterhead community. ‘Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw are the most popular,’ asserts one fan online. ‘Many of us are bookworms, like Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs are known as lovable, quirky cinnamon rolls. Everyone wants to be a cinnamon roll.’

Some illustrators would be daunted by this level of interest, but Levi has nothing but appreciation for the ‘smart cinnamon rolls’ who comprise the audience for these books. ‘It’s brilliant to be working on something with such a massive readership. Harry Potter fans are really generous. It’s an amazing thing to be around that enthusiasm!’

Levi is now connected to the biggest-ever community of readers, with all the joy and opportunity that brings. Responsibility and pressure could be the downside, but Levi has the tenacity and imagination to embrace the learning opportunities that come with illustrating to such a demanding brief. ‘I’ve found these the most technically challenging things I’ve done,’ he says. ‘But Bloomsbury always pick some wonderful moments – stuff that hasn’t been pictured before, and that’s really enjoyable.’

Responding to the challenges has offered Levi new tools and insights. For his earlier picturebooks, he produced hundreds of loose sketches, followed by big, time-consuming tempera paintings, and although he began work in the same way on this commission (drawing numerous pencil sketches and refining them, then using ink and a tiny paintbrush to produce highly detailed artwork) he soon realized that he needed to speed up. These days, most of Levi’s sketches are done on a digital tablet. ‘It was a case of learning from my experience of doing things traditionally, and applying them to a digital mindset… basically layering everything up in the way you would do a painting. Every time you make a mistake with pen and ink you have to start again, so I’m just cutting that step out. But it still requires the hand, and it still requires that delicate touch.

What does the future hold for Harry Potter and Levi Pinfold? Illustrations for The Order of the Phoenix have already been delivered and Levi is currently working on interiors for the sixth book, to be followed by The Deathly Hallows and what he describes as ‘more exciting projects with Bloomsbury.’ He’s also been working on a picturebook with Walker – Paradise Sands – so it’s a busy time. But as he says with a grin, ‘I’m extremely passionate about this stuff!’

And if passion is linked to successful work – as Levi believes – then we’re in for more treats.

The spellbinding magic continues as we present Levi Pinfold’s illustrated house editions of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, published by Bloomsbury on 23rd January.

Kate Greenaway award-winning illustrator Levi Pinfold brings J.K. Rowling’s epic fourth adventure to life, capturing the essence of her masterful storytelling with his complex cover designs. The central image depicts, of course, the Goblet of Fire which is carved of wood and spits magical fire when it is making its decision.

“Dumbledore now took out his wand, and tapped three times upon the top of the casket. The lid creaked slowly open. Dumbledore reached inside it, and pulled out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup. It would have been entirely unremarkable, had it not been full to the brim with dancing, blue-white flames.”

Each border pattern draws inspiration from the four Hogwart’s house Elements; Ravenclaw’s Beauxbaton carriage – represents Air, Hufflepuff’s Maze – represents Earth, Slytherin’s Durmstrang Ship – Water and Gryffindor’s Dragons from the first task – depicts the Fire element. Levi has created these stunning illustrations encapsulating the novel with iconic imagery across all four covers as well as some interior character portraits…

Talking to Levi Pinfold, award-winning illustrator of Bloomsbury’s new Harry Potter House Editions

The fourth volume in Bloomsbury’s series of Harry Potter House Editions has been published, but Levi Pinfold still can’t quite believe he’s illustrating them. Like many of his generation, Levi’s Harry Potter memories are woven into the fabric of his life. He devoured the first four titles as a teenager after his family returned to the UK from Australia – a reading experience he remembers as hugely enjoyable and “a way of reconnecting with English culture” - and discovered the later volumes while painting tempera artwork for Black Dog, his Greenaway Medal-winning first picturebook. “Stephen Fry read me Harry Potter while I was working in the studio,” he laughs. “That last spread on Black Dog took me the whole of the Half Blood Prince!”  

Measuring endeavour in ‘Harry Potter units’ might not be standard, but given the boy wizard’s continuing popularity it makes an odd kind of sense. According to a YouGov poll, 68% of British 25-34 year olds are Harry Potter fans. They grew up with the books, they revisit them frequently and now they’re passing on the magic. This year, audiences celebrated a truly multigenerational Harry Potter Book Night - and Levi flew in from Australia to join them. How did he land such an exciting commission? And how does it feel to be picturing the Harry Potter universe?

Despite his many awards, Levi is modest about his achievements and the opportunities they provide. But it wasn’t luck that brought Levi and Harry Potter together. Levi was working with Bloomsbury on AF Harrold’s A Song from Somewhere Else, creating atmospheric artwork for a complex novel, when Bloomsbury asked if he “might be interested” in taking on the Harry Potter Twentieth Anniversary House Editions – four versions of each title, one per House, complete with all-new front and end-matter. “I tried not to act too excited,” says Levi, “but it felt like I’d stepped into a dream. It was like there were bluebirds flying around my head!”

Much planning was done at Bloomsbury before Levi could begin, and once he’d started sketching, refining and producing his intricately-inked drawings, he was still part of an intensely collaborative process. So far, he’s created a Hogwarts map and four House Crests, together with character portraits, differentiated book-jackets, a design for each common room and more. His illustrations are deeply enticing for anyone familiar with the Harry Potter universe – there’s much pleasure in seeing old friends depicted ‘just so’ - but there’s plenty for newly-fledged Potterheads to feast on, too. 

Levi’s borders and backgrounds are packed with revealing symbols and details. Significant objects are interwoven with natural forms, recalling woodcuts by anonymous medieval artists alongside Durer and Blake, and ideas as diverse as medieval heraldry and Philip Pullman’s alethiometer have influenced his House-themed crests and book-jackets. “I love coded systems and the language of alchemy,” he says. “It’s saying something specific about qualities, not just concrete things. And I’ve always enjoyed the artistry in heraldry - it’s a beautiful system of expressing complex things simply.” 

Each Hogwarts House has a clearly-defined set of values and attributes that must be communicated, so Levi’s interests and his brief are well-aligned – and he’s had plenty of time to ‘get inside’ each House. The Pottermore website sorted Levi into Ravenclaw, but he thinks that “Hufflepuff is where it’s at” and when pressed, admits to liking his Hufflepuff illustrations. “They’ve got these really friendly natural forms like apples and bees …. I love that side of things, it makes you smile when you’re doing it.” But as he confesses, “the stuff that comes out of me the easiest is the dark stuff. I grew up liking comics, so it feels quite natural.” 

Levi isn’t alone in having a House preference, and the topic elicits much debate amongst the Potterhead community. “Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw are the most popular,” asserts one fan online. “Many of us are bookworms, like Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs are known as lovable, quirky cinnamon rolls. Everyone wants to be a cinnamon roll.” 

Some illustrators would be daunted by this level of interest, but Levi has nothing but appreciation for the ‘smart cinnamon rolls’ who comprise the audience for these books. “It’s brilliant to be working on something with such a massive readership. Harry Potter fans are really generous. It’s an amazing thing to be around that enthusiasm!”

Levi is now connected to the biggest-ever community of readers, with all the joy and opportunity that brings. Responsibility and pressure could be the downside, but Levi has the tenacity and imagination to embrace the learning opportunities that come with illustrating to such a demanding brief. “I’ve found these the most technically challenging things I’ve done,” he says. “But Bloomsbury always pick some wonderful moments – stuff that hasn’t been pictured before, and that’s really enjoyable.” 

Responding to the challenges has offered Levi new tools and insights. For his earlier picturebooks, he produced hundreds of loose sketches, followed by big, time-consuming tempera paintings, and although he began work in the same way on this commission (drawing numerous pencil sketches and refining them, then using ink and a tiny paintbrush to produce highly detailed artwork) he soon realized that he needed to speed up. These days, most of Levi’s sketches are done on a digital tablet. “It was a case of learning from my experience of doing things traditionally, and applying them to a digital mindset… basically layering everything up in the way you would do a painting. Every time you make a mistake with pen and ink you have to start again, so I’m just cutting that step out. But it still requires the hand, and it still requires that delicate touch.”

So what does the future hold for Harry Potter and Levi Pinfold? Illustrations for The Order of the Phoenix have already been delivered and Levi is currently working on interiors for the sixth book, to be followed by The Deathly Hallows and what he describes as “more exciting projects with Bloomsbury.”

He’s also been working on a picturebook with Walker - Paradise Sands – so it’s a busy time. But as he says with a grin, “I’m extremely passionate about this stuff!” And if passion is linked to successful work - as Levi believes - then we’re in for more treats.

The editions will contain fascinating facts about the houses of Hogwarts, and three specially commissioned house illustrations from Levi Pinfold per book. Check out what Levi had to say about working on these new Harry Potter editions:

How did you feel when you found out you would be creating artwork for the books? 

Life was a surreal wonderland for an hour or two, then I realized I had to actually do the work! Harry Potter means a lot to so many people, so it comes with a responsibility.

Where did you start with the project? What was the first thing you drew?

A majestic badger.

What is your favourite piece of artwork from the Harry Potter universe that you have created?

I like the Hufflepuff crest.  It’s got all the best animals in it.

Which house crest was the most fun to design?

Slytherin. I’ve always wanted to draw a cockatrice and I’ve never had the opportunity.

Did you base any of your illustrations on real people or things?

Nope, it’s pretty much imaginary, aside from some architectural details that I stole from old woodcuts or engravings, and I did take some inspiration from heraldic imagery. As for people, I suppose when you work from your head the odd likeness of someone you know can creep out.

Which image was the most difficult to create?

Gryffindor.  It took about 20 different versions until it looked right.

Is there a person, place or beast from the Harry Potter world that you were not able to illustrate but would have really liked to?

Gringotts goblins, weirdly enough.  I find them fascinating. I suspect that they’re the guys who really run the show. Even if Voldemort had been successful I expect he’d have to answer to them in some way.  Aside from that, the Forest of Dean in the last book – it’s where I come from.

Who is your favourite character from the Harry Potter universe?

I’m a Dumbledore man, and one day I too will sport such a magnificent set of whiskers.

What Hogwarts House do you think you would be in?

Pottermore tells me I’m a Ravenclaw, but deep down I think Hufflepuff is where it’s at.

How did your family and friends react when you told them you would be creating artwork for the books? 

Ha, well I could tell my family were thinking, ‘What, you?  The kid that wouldn’t wipe his nose and was scared of mud?’ My fiancee said: ‘Awesome.’  Which it was!

Did you always want to be an illustrator? What kind of things did you draw as a child?

Like most boys, I drew a lot of superheroes, motorbikes, barbarians gripping severed heads and the odd corpse.

What were your favourite books as a child?

I loved Winnie the Pooh when I was very little, then I loved The Lord of the Rings and just about every comic I could lay my hands on, then I accidentally read The Shining and things have been deeply confusing ever since. I just missed out on Harry Potter when I was growing up, which is a shame, because I would have loved it too.

How would you describe your own art style?

Time-consuming!

What tips would you offer to young people who are keen to become artists/illustrators?

Practice.  Every day.

Do you have a daily routine when it comes to illustrating?

I wake up at 8 every day, and work until 6 in the evening.  If things are going well or there’s an extremely tight deadline to meet I’ll return to work after dinner and work until 3 or 4 in the morning.  It’s hard work!