Common Album Cover Styles

In album art, there are many different styles and themes that are commonly used. There are so many to list, so I will be picking the most popular choices to look at in this blog, and talk a little bit about each. The choices are as follows.

1. Portrait/Photographic
2. Simple/Flat
3. Painted
4. Drawn
5. Abstract/Experimental

Some of the most popular and widely used styles, are listed below with examples.

Portrait/Photographic:
Portrait/Photographic album cover themes include a portrait, and/or photograph images as part of the design.
All of the albums in this section include this, as you can see. Some also rely on text a lot, for example stating the band, or artist's name, as well as the album title.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/93/Glen_Campbell_Old_Home_Town_album_cover.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.cynical-c.com/archives2/bloggraphics/peterappleyard.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.peggyleediscography.com/p/images/Radio/Others_Frank_Sinatra_Songs_By_Old_Gold_3.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://federicodecalifornia.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/8a82ee6516a002926779ef1995d.jpg < image reference at this link.

Simple/Flat:

This style often uses shapes a lot, as well as bright colours. The artwork comprising of the three multicoloured shapes on a black background is a perfect example of this. This flat style reminds me a lot of 1950's illustration, which is something that I have researched in the past.

http://tessasnart21.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/bruno-mars-doo-wops-hooligans-album-cover.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://netdna.webdesignerdepot.com/uploads/album_artwork/yes.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Album_cover,_How_To_Build_A_Clock.jpeg < image reference at this link.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVY2WOrtE-SjGS9l-D5ApS65gOQ0k7yVQQAeK4e23Z8VBn4GIOZCy7Pdywj-pcvGm2ASS9Y3eqb9B3NEx5RiJ3TvyT-LikdvQDyW-5sVyRvXmI1g-I5fK_AJMqBxCsd5s7C4337csjBEM/s400/jason_mraz-we_sing_we_dance_we_steal_things.png < image reference at this link.

Painted:

Painted album covers of course use paint themes, where a part, or all of the album cover is produced using paint of some kind. Below are a few examples of album covers created using elements of paint. You may see a few that you recognise, some may use existing images, which you can see immediately below this text, on Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' cover. The original painting used is called 'Liberty Leading the People'.

The good thing about using paint in my opinion, is that is expressive and colourful.
The use of paint can vary a lot by using different palettes of colours, as well as using different materials to paint with.

A lot of painted covers appear very contemporary, which is what my design should follow.

http://loretod1group3.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/vivalavida.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link.

http://hssayer.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/2/7/21270710/5753722.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link.

I found this advert on the back of the music magazine, Mojo. It is painted as you can see.

http://www.redefinemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013_Washed-Out_Paracosm.jpg < image reference at this link.

Drawn:

There exists album artwork that is created through drawing. The images below are perfect examples of drawn artwork.
Usually artwork that has been developed using graphite/ink appears quite monochromatic compared to other styles.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/65/1f/01/651f017ac6a4cfb665cd957ba0d94b54.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://static.gigwise.com/gallery/revolver.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0950600041_10.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.xk9.com/wp-content/pix/12/05/BR-sketch.png < image reference at this link.

Abstract/Experimental:

Abstract and experimental album covers are quite well used in contemporary album design. They are usually eye-catching due to their strange appearances.

The often feature a lot of colour like other styles, for example, in the album cover by Muse.
They also feature washed out colours, for instance, the album directly below this text has a lot of 'cool' blue tones.

Abstract and experimental covers have been used in the past as part of Kate Bush's covers,
as the contemporary style began rising in popularity from the 1970's onward. Since then it has become quite a common theme for album covers.
On my own accord, I would like to experiment with implementing this theme into my cover interpretation as well, I really adore this theme on album covers, as I can have fun with placing 'hidden' messages in the illustration.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link.

http://wallpapers87.com/wallpapers-n/smoke-valley-album-covers-experimental-progressive-metal-Progressive-rock-_603922-11.jpg < image reference at this link.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/common-design-styles-used-in-album-artwork/ < image reference at this link. 

http://musictrajectory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/alt-j-an-awesome-wave-album-cover.jpg < image reference at this link.

After looking at a few examples of the types of album cover styles, I have decided to keep an open mind, this way I can experiment with what works best.

There is however a style that I will exclude from trials. This is the style of Portrait/Photographic.
There are a few reasons to why I have decided to do this.

• Firstly I believe that it is overused on a lot of albums, she has had a few albums featuring Kate posing for the camera. The artwork can be interesting, for example however, especially in the ways that she ties it into her music, but I feel that there could be so much more done through other, more expressive styles.

• Secondly, I would prefer more of a challenge. I feel that going down the route of photography would be quite easy to do, especially over other routes.

I am really a fan of the simple/restricted palette design covers, however I also love a few elements from some of the other styles.
I like the texture and fine detail from the drawn style, the theme of the abstract/experimental style, as well as the albums that have little stylised typography.

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=508248 < image reference at this link.

Kate Bush is a very serious artist, and even some of her first album covers are contemporary by todays standards. I also know that my design must be contemporary, and I would like to try using a mix of styles if necessary, and see how it works out.










Thomas.