A selection of mock ups:
>S732: The Jam - Art School
I am really pleased with the simple but effective approach i undertook for creating this imagery and finish of these designs for "Art School". I was able to convey the idea of rebellion (the main theme within the Jam's track) and communicate this through crumpled foil. I hope it manages to capture my concept of "screwed up" "crumpled / binned homework" clearly and that the judges like these as much as I do.
If I could do this again, I would probably take longer time deciding and committing to a final or just do a lot less versions. That is the thing I found experimenting with new digital techniques and overlays - the play and editing mean that every new process provides a new alternative to the previous design and I found it really difficult to choose and pass up on any of my designs as an option for a final. That is the main reason I ended up submitting 4 for this one track - I couldn't choose and felt the judges should see all variations.
>S734: Max Richter - Dream 3
This design was my first attempted and I am really pleased with the outcome. I was able to use photography and ink in such a way that helped to capture the sense of atmosphere and "dream like" / "space" themes I took from when fist listening to this track.
What I feel is most successful about this final solution is the amount of depth i was able to create. Using countless layers and blending tools in photoshop - i managed to essentially split my original photograph in to a much sharper foreground and focal point, whilst manipulating the background detail to blur and shift beneath.
>S729: Chvrches - Clearest Blue
This image was a lot of fun to create but extremely fiddly and time consuming. There is probably a really easy way to create a similar effect, however despite the hundreds of individual layers and edits, I am really really pleased with it as a final representation of this lovely track.
I feel the successful elements of this image centre around my concept of repetition, echo and build up - which are what I think of and visualise when listening to this song. It is an electric sounding song, quite structured in its composition with a repetitive steady build to a climax. I have attempted to convey these echo sounds and repetitions by incorporating the various structured squares, positioning them in such a way that they are not linear - but have a starting point and and end...just how the build up in the song does. Each individual square was manipulated separately, adjusting exposure, colour and opacity as an extra attempt to play on the tracks title "clearest blue".
>S731: Jack Garratt - Worry
This attempt at submitting a 3d design had its ups and downs. Initially I was really excited by the prospect, however the overall process took a lot longer than expected and having to restart my design from scratch after finishing and attempting to fix to an actual 7" sleeve I had made - meant that I wasn't able to do much development work.
What I feel works well within the image is how the beads do follow a curved pattern (to communicate the ideas I initially had when first listen to this track). It really does echo elements of the message in the song : the beads may be all different colours but "**** it" they do follow a pattern - so don't worry about it. As described in my initial ideas, (emphasis on the "curvy" bass weighted elements of the track) I was able to use a variety of darker/brighter "key" coloured beads to also accentuate the curves within my marbled design and reference image.
If I was to attempt 3D work again for this brief - as I plan on doing next year for sure - I will now be prepared in knowing that all 3D work needs to be sent in the post to the Secret 7 . A digital image submitted via the website is what will be printed and used instead of a request being made for the 3D artwork by Secret 7 if the artwork won (which for some reason is what I thought and I still don't have a clue if you get the 3d artwork back of you send it to Secret 7 and it doesn't make the cut...something to contact Secret 7 about next year for sure.
>S733: John Lennon - Imagine
This and the Etta James track were definitely the most difficult to creatively convey and design an album cover for. When a song is so famous and has had a lot of impact on the world, as this song has, I found it really difficult to branch away from the already recognisable abundance of album artwork already out there for this track and the obvious cliche approach to imagery that could be used. I think this track was the curveball in the bunch and the main design problem within the secret 7 brief.
To try and combat this problem I decided to go back to a technique that I am quite familiar with -paper cut. I feel what is successful about this overall final design is actually how well it turned out physically and the way the paper cut design element protrudes from the sleeve centre - as if from the centre of the vinyl itself housed within. This is an attempt to communicate the impact this song has had on the music industry, asking the audience to "imagine" along with John and recognise the potential of changing how we treat and view the world and those in it today. Potential shown s the flower blossoming from within the vinyl itself taking the name of the song very literally and pushing the boundaries of what a sleeve can be in an imaginative way.
>S730: Etta James - At Last
I feel that this image is my least successful when looking at the full body of final imagery I created for this brief and it is a shame because i love Etta James! I think the reason I got so hung up with what to create and design is simply because i Know the song so well and without even realising - I would have created something really cliche and obvious - which is not what I think will win the comp.
Saying that - it is a nice enough image and I did my best to try and convey what i took from the track when listening to it. New love literally blossoms as people become more and more acquainted and deeper in love. "At Last" suggesting that that finally love has come along and that it is in the early stages - just like these blossoming flowers. The circle elements suggesting the potential possibilities for a new relationship and new love.
>S735: Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better
Inspired by the artist research i underwent when approaching the artwork for the Tame Impala track meant that I was able to create my designs in a style and visual aesthetic I have always wished I could. am not one for digital edits in anyway, but I instantly knew the value of my marbling experiments and I feel that the Digital manipulation of these prints has really pushed the overall composition to new heights.
I feel the success of these 2 designs that I submitted lay in the use of colour, which has been a personal mission of mine to improve upon and apply in my practise as well as the use of interesting and unique subject matter as well as dynamic compositions.
For me these images hit the brief - I feel the reflect the up beat synthetic tone of this psychedelic track and the designs feel nice to look at - just like the track is very catch and nice to listen to.
Submission & Confirmation
Evaluation
I have to say entering this competition brief has been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences. Being able to dedicate my time to new processes and enjoying what really inspires me - has given my confidence and sense of my artistic and creative ability a new lease of life. I needed this - to go back to basics and just enjoy the playing and experimenting.
I have been really surprised by what I was able to achieve in terms of artwork for this brief. Every step of the way I really tried to step away from processes that I know and develop my skills in areas I have never even thought of doing before.
I feel like my favourite and most successful images are all above - and I reached this conclusion after many days of deliberation and filtering though my many hundreds of "slight opacity", "hue changes" and "final version 1.1.6 real.final" versions. I think the way I will to try and combat getting lost in the never ending an ultimately limitless vortex that is digital editing in Adobe Photoshop is
- learn new tricks. I have learnt so many new digital skills for this brief and entire module come to think of it that this may be a little silly to try and do anytime soon - however i would at least try and develop and master all I have learnt and try and apply this to more creative pieces in the future (where appropriate - cant get ahead of myself here, I am still an analogue media girl after all!)
This way I feel I will slowly begin to learn which processes work best for what job and i wont get lost making many "just incase" versions of the same pieces of artwork.
-be more decisive. I need to evaluate my work as i go along and see what is working the best and try to develop these areas further. If I don't like something - move on. Don't spend all my time trying to force something decent out of a creative design or approach that isn't working. It can put you off al together. Hopefully making key "keep' or 'bin" choices will result in fewer more considered designs of a higher quality.
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