Working on the artwork for the upcoming Loaded album “Bloodshot Forget-Me-Nots”
I started working on the new Loaded cover artwork yesterday. As usual the timeline is super-tight, especially because I’ll have to leave on a business trip to Sao Paulo and Boston for my day-job next saturday. Anyways, things start to look good so far…
Here is the rough process of how things develop over time.
Original First Sketch
This was the first Sketch I used to discuss the theme and vibe of the cover with Loaded’s mastermind Nick. He liked it a lot, so I went on.
So after we agreed that this sailor guy will be on the front-cover and that the artwork should have a “timeless” but vintage vibe to it, I had to take off to a business trip to Berlin for 3 Days.
Almost finished front cover
This is a first version of the front-cover I might change some minor things like color or paper structure, but this basically sets the scene. So we agreed on the blueish color more or less as well as on the old yellowish paper structure. A little more red is what Nick wants, we’ll see.
For the CD this of course will be a booklet, so there is a front and a back for that. Here’s what I cam up with. I always like it when designs wrap around the front and back of books or gatefold LPs, so I had to think about what to do with the brick wall that extends to the back of the booklet. Well that was an fairly easy decision, a classic Loaded Poster of course introducing the band!
Back Cover first Version
That would be the first version of the back-cover artwork. We needed to finish the Promo-Packaging while I was in Berlin, so I was working on this in the evening at the hotel – ouch, my back hurt ’cause they just had an armchair and no proper desk there. Anyways, I think it turned out great, and so does the band and label.
First Pages of the booklet
these are 2 versions of the first pages of the booklet. unfortunately it is recommended to not have type run across the fold, because it is very likely that the alignment will be off rendering it unreadable when the booklet is stapled. So the upper version will probably be the final one. I’m planning to add some beads later on as an additional reference to New Orleans, but I’ll have to see how all the lyrics will fit in, so I keep that for later.
This is pages 5 and 6 of the booklet. Also in 2 Versions. I’m not yet sure if I like the rasterized red dots of the 2nd design, but I definitely will keep the type and the beerbottle-cap as it is a reference to the “Proper Villains” lyrics. People from the band’s hometown will get that. Also I figured that I will probably not be able to fit all lyrics into an 8 page booklet since the band wants to have some band-pics as well. I hope it is OK to make it a 12 pager, if not I will have to step back from individually designed pages and make more room for text. We’ll see…
The Inlay Card (CD-Tray inside)
This is the inside of the inlay-card. The tray for the CD will be transparent so this is where the CD will be placed. The Idea of course is to place the CD on that turntable and if you take it out to see the record player. The band approved, so this is final.
The Inlay Card (CD Outside / Back)
This is the backside of the album. or the outside of the inlay card. It is similar to the one used for the promo-sleeve but has a little more detail. It also is a little wider since a CDs are not square – those little fuckers!!
The CD Label
This is the CD itself. Nick wanted to have ti look like an old 45 vinyl label. I didn’t want to do anything too fancy and leave it rather simple. Maybe I’ll change it again, but for now this is it.
While you wait for the 28th October to buy this great record, why don’t you stop by the bands soundcloud page and listen to the new LP online: http://soundcloud.com/getloaded/sets/bloodshot-forget-me-nots/