CD album covers: Experiments in graphic design

Now this was really a fun assignment, a series of CD album covers designed for the Detroit group ECLECTICA. The band consists of Jeff Clarke, vocals, percussion, harmonica and words, Russ Epker, guitar, bass, percussion and keyboards, Rich Nelson, guitar, bass, percussion and keyboards. Rich is a former Detroit illustrator who now lives in Tryon, NC where he is doing some great paintings, check out his website on my LINKS.
This was not only a fun assignment, it was challenging as well. The group wanted a variety of designs for the covers which made the project even more interesting to me. At the time I was, as usual, doing a great deal of experimenting on the computer, combining photos and graphic design, and was able to utilize some of the resulting images for this project. That's why I urge artists to constantly experiment and to try new directions. In this particular case, it really paid off.
The above image is not photo-based, but actually a collage created from other designs that I had done.



The image on album 2 is a photomontage, part of a series that have been exibited in galleries and art centers. Cover number 3 is another collage created from other designs that I have done. Number 4 is based on an ink line drawing. Covers 5, 6, 8 and 9 are are based on photographs, some extensively altered. Album 7 is a combination of a line drawing and a collage. All these images were created on the computer using Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0





It's hard to believe, but the images on albums 10 and 11 are actually based on very heavily altered photographs.
These images also gave me the idea to do a series of digital collage/paintings. For me, often working in one medium will spark an idea in another.

I used images which were printed on my computer, combined with acrylic paint to create the image below. This collage/painting was one of two that were in the recent Krasl Art Center's exhibit TEXT AS ART.



The two images above are sketches done on the computer for paintings that I will soon start. I won't just copy these images, but will use them as a general guide in which to proceed.



This cover design was also based on altered photographs of a nude figure. The computer medium gives artists many opportunities to create unusual, interesting images.



To top it all off, I also designed a couple of logos for the group.

Digital Experiments with figures

Photography and art can be combined to create some interesting studies in color and design. The computer makes this possible and it's rather easy to do. The first image on the left is a photo that has been altered slightly with color panels added for design interest. The image on the right is actually a negative image of the original.



Simply changing the color on the panels creates a fresh new design. I also darkened her eyes and lips.



Further altering the color gives the whole image a new look.



I like to play around with wild color combinations, often very unique, interesting images result. The computer actually opens up new worlds for artists and designers. Would images like these have any commercial value ? They certainly could be the basis for very strong CD album cover designs or posters.



My next post will show some CD album covers that I designed, some based on various stages of altered photographs.

Coloring a cartoon digitally

The computer medium has simplified many operations such as adding color to line drawings or cartoons. You can even easily do several versions of the same art for evaluation purposes, a real time-saving advantage over traditional painting mediums.



I start out with a black line drawing done with a Pentel Sign Pen, which I scan into the computer. I decide to change the color of the basic drawing to a medium blue. Then I begin to add the flat colors which I can easily change if I am not satisfied with how they look. I am using the Paint Bucket Tool in Photoshop Elements 2.0 to add the colors.



In a matter of minutes I have finished the cartoon which worked out very well.



If I'm not quite sure of the result, I can easily and try several different versions, something that would be very tedious to accomplish using traditional painting mediums. This study is just one example of why the computer is such an exceptional medium for artists to experiment with.

More constructivist experiments

The computer is a wonderful learning tool, utilize this great medium and start experimenting now ! Here are more simple color and design studies that demonstrate how you can spark your own creativity.



Another black and white design that I created with little effort using the Photoshop Elements Line Tool and the Rectangular Marquee Tool.



Creating these multiple color versions was also fairly easy, I could have continued on and easily done twelve more. This type of exercise is an excellent way to experiment with color and design, especially for the beginner.





You can keep the basic designs simple as those shown above or as you gain more confidence you can create more complex designs like those below.





It is beneficial as well as essential for an artist to not only practice, but also to experiment and delve into unfamiliar areas. You will surprise yourself as to what you can accomplish by developing your design skills through exercises like these.

A great way to experiment with design and color

Before the computer, designs like those below would have been very time consuming to create with traditional painting mediums. Doing simple designs can be fun and a good way to familiarize yourself with a program like Photoshop Elements 2.0, which is what I used here.



You can easily create a black and white design on the computer by using the Line Tool and the Rectangular Marquee Tool. For this experiment, just about any simple design will suffice.



I add colors with the Paint Bucket Tool, if I don't like the result I can easily change the color. On the second version I create a white design by reversing the original. This is done by pressing Control and the letter i at the same time.



Another unique black and white design, these are fun to create, just let yourself go wild.



This is a very complex design that takes a bit longer to do, when you add color it's even more interesting. As a final touch I added the white rectangle in the center.



A fairly complex but pleasing design.



With the addition of color the whole design takes on a new character. Studies like these will help to develop your design and color skills. The image on the right is a negative of the first image.

How my cats help my productivity.... in their own words

Hi Everyone,
First, Gloria, Laura, Jpeg, Tiff and I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving Day !

People are always curious as to how I accomplish the amount of work that I do, basically, I can sum it up in one word: CATS.
Read below, you'll see what I mean.











I DO thank you guys !!!! Sorry about being grumpy sometimes.
Well, now you know my secret. For a more productive day get a cat or two, the more the merrier !
It also pays to have more than one project going on, if you hit an impasse on one, you can get away from it for a while and work on another project. Having worked for many years in the crazy ad business probably helps, as I had to produce whether I felt like it or not.

More digital book illustrations

I think that visually, the combination of line art and photography, gives the illustrations a very contemporary look. It's something that just couldn't have easily been done before the computer became available to artists.



I'm very pleased with the way these experiments turned out, the computer has opened up a whole new world for me.



Another drawing of Ben's beautiful cat, Puss'N Boots. I used to call him Irving.



When working you may reach a certain point on your illustration where you are unsure about what to do next, you can duplicate and save your art and then keep working on the copy. If things go awry you can always make another duplicate and try again. This is one of the real benefits of working with the computer.



You can easily do two or three versions of an illustration and then pick out the one that works the best. To accomplish this using traditional mediums would take a great deal of time and effort.



Jeanne and Ben in Venice. Another photo and art combination that works very well.



The ability to easily duplicate your art and try various versions will enhance your skills, it can be a great learning process. When you apply this advantage to creating color art it even gets more exciting. The computer begs you to experiment !