ATOM'S WRLD Album Cover Curation

As previously stated in the introduction to my project ATOM'S WRLD, the concept for this is an audio representation of the experience you would have when being somewhere in the unknown and out of your comfort zone. This was the basis of the concept I created in my mind for what I wanted the visual aspect of this project to be; and to my luck I was able to get in touch with graphic design student Shailey Brown, who offered her service to help bring my vision to life.

Shailey and I both use similar project planning strategies, I simply supplied a short and extremely brief description of the concept I'm looking for and we were on our way. Due to the album plan being a journey through an unknown place and the use of unique sound design work, I decided that I wanted "an outer space/metallic/unearthly landscape". Although Shailey felt most comfortable with character art and animation, she was open for trying something different due to the confidence she has in her digital painting ability and use of Photoshop.

This is some of Shailey's previous work...

On Friday the 5th of April, 2019, after agreeing that she would help me in designing my album art, Shailey asked for any reference images. Luckily I was already expecting this due to similar project planning strategies that I use for my own work. I supplied her with the following images of cover art from an artist known as Oski.

Shailey Loved the idea and colour-way! "Easy enough haha, its some playing around with oil painting settings on photoshop by the looks. As its three base colours then a reflective lighting." So far in this project everything has worked smoothly between the two of us because we both seem to share similar workflow strategies. For example when I was asked about perspective preference and lighting colour for the reflection, it was extremely easy to get my vision across because we simply understood each others terminology and expectations. I said "Think, 1st person view of a post apocalyptic landscape looking onto the horizon" and sent her a link to a demo of the opening song from the album titled, Nowhere (click for preview).

Sure enough, an hour or so later I was given these drafts...

After reading all of the notes sketched on each image, it was decided that the image in the bottom right box would best suit the concept. Shailey even asked me if there were anything I would like changed on the idea, but knowing that the colour way and concept have been well communicated and that she has better knowledge of freehand sketching and photoshop than I do, I allowed Shailey freedom to simply follow her creative flow from here. To ensure the project stays on track I have been checking in with Shailey via Facebook every day or two for an update on the design.

Update 1: The design for the atmospheric view has been established and the foundations for the image are being laid

Update 2: Slight refinement in colour way to the original plan, I am still pleased with the overall idea so far.

Update 3: I acknowledge Shailey has other commitments with her studies and that this is simply a side project she is doing in her free time. Very impressed with the texture of the bubbles that are floating around the atmosphere.

Update 4: Shailey is currently creating some background cover using oil spills as reference and finishing the bubbles.

Reference image for oil spill:

References:

oski, I., oski, T., oski, O., oski, F., oski, S., & oski, K. (2019). oski. SoundCloud. Retrieved 10 April 2019, from https://soundcloud.com/oskimusic

Blog | Atom. (2019). Atom. Retrieved 10 April 2019, from https://jordanbayne.wixsite.com/atom/blog/atom-s-wrld-album-part-a-introduction