Death Bipolar
Got the awesome opportunity to create an album cover for the band Stedman’s Army. After getting sent some inspirational pics I started to draw out some ideas. In my head, I was seeing a surreal play about life and death mixed with tarot and fortune tellers.
ABOVE: First sketches playing around with ideas.
One of the first things I do when coming up with preliminary sketches for a commission is to see if I could incorporate the commissioner's name. Here, I was using the letters S and A for Stedman's Army. The fish is the S and the worm around the fish makes an A. In some cultures, fish are believed to be messengers of the spirit world. Ended up going with a more in your face, Angel Fish.
So here is another sketch as I was planning the cover to @stedmansarmy's Death Bipolar album (OUT NOW).
Again, you can see me using the letters S, this time for the serpent. They symbolize rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing while the woman represents fertility and life. I need more death, so I got rid of the pretty face.
Another sketch from the @stedmansarmy album cover for Death Bipolar. At this time, I was playing around with images from a Missalette. I went to a Catholic school, and they made us read these every day. The drawings are the only things I remember from them, and I always wondered what the hell is the circle around their heads, lol. Anywho, I wanted to bring that part into it, which eventually became a crystal ball. Apple monkey sunshine lips...just wanted to see if you're still reading.
OK last post about my behind the scenes. I know everyone is busy with their families and loved ones right now.
So the Starman aka Lil' Bowie...he came to be when I took ST from Stedman's and AR from Army. I wanted him to be like a fallen star or angel. Thus, the reason why there's a star shaped hole in the sky.
I had fun working on this. For me, the art is all the planning and sketching and ideas and stories that go into the piece. For you, the audience, the art is the final stage where I let go and you get to enjoy over and over again.
