From theCanvas to the Cover.

I’m John Lam, the artist behind Salt Water and Secrets Digital Designs. My work as a digital illustrator was recently recognized as a 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Finalist, but my foundation is built on 15+ years of marketing and design strategy.

I’ve spent nearly two decades collaborating with passionate folks, both individually, and in the Non-Profit realm, to translate complex missions into visual stories. Now, through SWandS, I’m bringing that experience to the world of indie publishing.

My upcoming YouTube channel is a space for authors and artists to master the art of book design and marketing—bridging the gap between a writer’s vision and a professional, high-impact design that captivates readers.

Check out the video below for a sample: A faux-book trailer and cover design, character and setting artwork, and a short introduction by a talking head (it’s mine!). And make sure to subscribe and hit that notification bell so you won’t miss the upcoming tutorials when the channel officially launches this spring. You can even see an even shorter sample of an upcoming piece in Affinity towards the end.