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Sempervivi “Always Alive” CD Artwork

Sempervivi

Lexington, KY

Since I began my career as a graphic designer, I’ve enjoyed being a CD cover artist. The CD artwork for my own band Sempervivi proves that I am very hands on with personal projects. I departed my previous band Analog Apostles in 2014 in order to start my own solo project. After self producing an acoustic EP, I wrote new songs for this record, which necessitated a full band. I designed my own layout for “Always Alive” in 2017. This album was, in every sense of the words, both a labor of love and a family affair.

CD artwork process for Kentucky rock music

Initially, I only knew that I wanted to use a bright green color for the album’s cover. This is because the record’s concept is evergreen life. I took my time on this project in between other work and music related tasks, since my goal was to hand draw as much of the CD art as possible. At first, I even hand wrote the credits, but I was not happy with how those turned out. However, I drew or traced each and every other element in the CD and jacket composition.

CD artwork incorporating natural elements

Many of these songs’ themes center around family, growing up, and the idea of continuing one’s lineage to future generations. I wanted to incorporate many elements that were found in nature. Therefore, I researched which animals represented immortality in different world cultures. In the end, I settled on the cicada. It is a winged insect which is common here in Kentucky that can be heard chirping loudly on humid summer evenings. I incorporated a pair of these bugs as part of the front cover heraldry.

The sempervivum plant is also known as a succulent or houseleek. I featured it in red, located front and center on the cover. It is a reference to the name of the band as well. “Sempervivum” is a Latin phrase that literally translates to “ever living” or “always alive”.

CD Cover Artist – Fonts and typography for CD artwork

I did not initially set out to draw the word “SEMPERVIVI” with a particular font in mind. Instead, I decided to emulate something I would have doodled on one of my old high school notebooks. I drew, scanned, tilted, and resized the letters a few different times to get the feel just right. The varying sizes and placements of the tall serif characters make it stand out in a way that a conventional font would not.

I set the arched title “ALWAYS ALIVE”, as well as the track listing, in the “Triforce” specialty font. However, I filled in the signature openings of the letters when I traced it. This is in order to give the characters more weight. I then completed the front cover layout with some doodles of light beams and bubbles. I also created a frame to go around all of the elements using the Adobe Illustrator program. Then, I retraced it by hand in order to continue the sketch art theme. The text, frame, and drawings all have a faint white shadow that adds depth, as well as creating a subtle embossing effect.

Jacket CD artwork finishing touches

I sketched a drawing of my young son’s face on the back cover as the focal point. This made sense, since two of the songs center around becoming a father and spending time with him. The drawing offsets the album’s track listing. I used the Paint tool in Photoshop so I could highlight his face and make it pop off of the cool blue background. I also redrew the Bad Apple Records logo, which I designed for the record label in 2002. Finally, many paint splatters blend into the background. My son actually painted them at the tender age of just one and a half years old. Thus, I made sure that he was listed prominently in the album credits at the bottom of the jacket!

Disc CD artwork layout

Last of all, I painted the compact disc itself with a deep magenta hue. It was complementary to both the green and blue backgrounds on the jacket itself. Next, I blended in a few more paint splatters from my son’s art into the background. Then, I arched the artist name and album title, once again using my altered version of the Triforce font. I traced sempervivum stalks from some photographs I found online by using a fine Sharpie marker. The traced Bad Apple Records logo is again featured, centered between the drawings. One more time, I highlighted these elements in a lighter shade of Magenta by using the Paint tool in Adobe Photoshop. After I had put in many a long hour working on it, the album art was finally ready for the press.

CD artwork that screams “YOU!”

All of the elements of this sophomore record, ranging from the songs themselves to the art detailed above, encapsulate the story of who I am. I identify with many roles. Christian, husband, father, Kentuckian, musician, friend, and graphic artist are all labels which describe me.

Do you have a distinct vision of what CD packaging should accompany your next recording project? Let me be your CD cover artist! I have years of experience designing merchandise for bands and musicians in many genres. This includes artists performing everything from country to bluegrass to alternative rock. Whether you have photography and other elements ready or not, I can get the results you need. Contact me today so we can get started on your own CD artwork!

Analog Apostles “The Other Side of the Sea” CD Art

Analog Apostles

Lexington, KY

I designed this CD art for Lexington, KY alternative rock band Analog Apostles‘ debut EP “The Other Side of the Sea”. Since I played lead guitar in the band at the time, it was a no brainer for me to do the artwork. I was also very involved in the music production side.

Ben, the main songwriter and rhythm guitarist, thought of the title long before we recorded the first note. The album name and many of the songs made references to water, so we decided together on a nautical theme.

CD art – setting sail for the high seas

The four panel digipak layout started with an antique style treasure map background. Then, I overlaid a classical pirate ship illustration in brown as the focal point. The “A” monogram mark from the logo I designed was later superimposed onto the ship’s main sail.

After that, I set the band‘s name in an antique “swashbuckling” style font face. The album’s title then materialized in a classic cursive script. I capped off the design with a ghostly image of the band’s “A” icon over the dark blue ocean background in the tray card. Since the record’s theme suggested high adventure, a hint of supernatural mystery put it over the top.

From start to finish, this record truly was a DIY project. We performed every aspect of the production, from the recording process to ordering the album duplication. Ben’s wife Amanda did a great job with the posed band photography. Our fan base fully funded the CD’s production online via Indiegogo, which is a great fundraising tool for artists on a budget.

Hire me to design your CD art

Are you a band or record label currently hoisting the main sails on a new album? Contact me today for a CD layout design that will shiver your fans’ timbers.

50: Country by the Numbers – Digital Download

Wellington Beck Music Group

Nashville, TN

This country music album art complements a compilation of country singles produced by some longtime regular clients. Wellington Beck produced digital exclusive albums featuring cover versions of songs by popular artists like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and others. As with past projects, they gave me a lot of creative “rope” and very few specific guidelines.

Country music album art story

I felt that sticking with a base of primary colors and a text focused design would help the art stand out. The client asked me to make the number “50” the most prominent part of this country music album art. Therefore, I set it in a bold red tall serif. I stylized it with a faint inner glow effect and an opaque shadow in order to give it just the right depth.

On the top and bottom, I typed “Country by the Numbers” in a deep blue shade. For these words, I used the Trade Gothic font in a light weight. In keeping with the Old West theme, I then added a rope “lassoing” it the number 50, swooping in from the bottom to grab it. The rope envelopes the number in front and back, creating three dimensions.

Finally, I overlaid the bold and bright artwork with a rusty, sputtered grunge pattern. There is also a faint outline of arrows flying up and to the right. The background also contains some bright beams of light. I was happy that this art successfully blended primary hues with grunge elements and Western themes.

Contact me for your country music album art

Are you an independent country music artist, a record label, or a publisher? Whether you need a print CD art, or a quick turnaround digital art solely for streaming services, I’ve got you covered. Contact me to get started today.

Stellar Kin “We Need to Know” CD

Stellar Kin

Bowling Green, KY

I made this CD graphic design for Kentucky indie rock band Stellar Kin. I founded the hardcore emo trio in 2000 while studying at Murray State University. By 2002, the lineup was solidified and we began recording and touring. “We Need to Know” was our 2004 full length sophomore release on Bad Apple Records. It features conceptual design and photography by myself, as well as posed photography by the famed Neil Visel. My friend Holly posed for the front and back covers.

CD Graphic Design for Kentucky indie rock band

The album lyrics cover serious spiritual themes. Therefore, the art consists of black and red colors and stone faced expressions. I set the main titles in the tall serif Big Noodle Titling font. The letter spacing varies to fit phrases into each outside panel, which spell out “What we don’t know is hurting us. Now more than ever, we need to know”. I set the CD graphic design’s track listing, along with other information, in the classic Gill Sans font.

The front and inside of the booklet tell the story of a young woman who has been tied up by an assailant. On the front cover, she grasps hold of a kitchen knife while cutting herself free from the ropes that bind her. Finally, she stalks her kidnapper with the knife on the booklet inside. The empty chair sits alone on the back cover. I reversed the words We Need to Know out, using the wood paneling from the photograph.

Lastly, the CD cover features a simplified, one color image of the rope. I simplified the individual band member headshots to grey, which gives them a ghostly feel against the black background. This is same grey hue also fills the words Stellar Kin on the front cover.

Contact me for your CD Graphic Design

If you are a band or a solo artist, then you need professional artwork for your next record. Contact me today to get started.

Nathan Morris “The Say Something EP”

Nathan Morris

“The Say Something EP”

Singer songwriter Nathan Morris is an old friend who hails from Owensboro, KY. I designed this CD slip layout, which he used for his 2004 debut EP. Since “Natmo” dug the previous stickers and pop album art design I’d made for him, he hit me up again to create this CD art.

Pop album art design story

First, Nathan supplied me with the posed photography from a session he had taken at a local laundromat. His only directions to me were to keep it simple. He instructed me to use a color scheme that was both minimal and cool. I combined a mint green shade with a dark sky blue in order to achieve the effect.

First, I converted the front and back photos to black and white. Using Adobe Photoshop, I then cut out Nathan from the backgrounds. I did it in a sloppy, imprecise manner to give it a homemade, DIY feel. By keeping Nathan in black and white, while colorizing the background behind him, I made his image a focal point that really popped. This is ideal to introduce a solo artist via pop album art design.

Throughout the design, I used a combination of two fonts. The main title font has a feel that can only be described as retro futuristic. I supplemented it with one of my favorite fonts, the tall and bold face Big Noodle Titling. At the suggestion of my then-roommate Adam, I tilted the song title list on the back at the same angle that Nathan is leaning against the wall at. I also tilted the main title text on the front of the CD slip, displaying it on top of white strips which mimic electrical tape. Finally, I simplified another photo of Nathan to make a silhouette on the CD face itself. I repeated the white strips as a 90 degree border, and also turned the text itself on it’s side.

Contact me for your pop album art design

Are you an independent musician who is in need of the perfect pop album art design? Why not contact me today? You already have a record that perfectly represents your sound. I’ll make you look your best, too.