After researching in to different artist's album covers, I found even more so that I wanted to use the idea of Line Art, to create my album cover. I like the simplicity, yet striking effectiveness that Line art can hold amongst an audience, in order to learn more. Also it follows Ed Sheeran and his brand, as from research I found his videos and album covers are very simply created, and look almost 'ameutr.' I was also very interested as my video is edited in black and white, so the black lines, and white background could resemble this, making it an iconic figure of Ed Sheeran. Also the lines could symbolise his journey and the underground lines that he takes.
Here is a definition I found on line about line art: "Line art is any image that consists of distinct straight and curved lines placed against a (usually plain) background, without gradations in shade (darkness) or hue (colour) to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects. Line art can use lines of different colours, although line art is usually monochromatic. Overall it is a great piece of art and refreshment for those who love painting. It is also called line drawing."
As you can see I used the video effects to put it on a black and white/greyscale effect, I had to do this to every single video captures, even ones that I did not eventually use. I feel that the quality of the video looks better also, as when it got darker, the lighting became very dim due to no flash.
The next process of creating a Digipak was to look at similar artists and their cover work for CDS/Albums. This would help me too get further inspiration and creative ideas by looking at examples of the iconic music genre (Altervative Folk Pop/Rock). From looking at these, I instantly knew that I wanted to create a digipak that would be simplistic - in the sense it is not too 'busy.'
Above is an image of pop, soul and alternative rock artist Jason Mraz, for his 2008 album 'We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.' The cover is very similar to Ed Sheerans in the way it contains a black and white edited effect, and also similar within the sketch/creativity that it holds of himself. His name stands out in bold, the image is of himself, and the album name is slightly smaller, but still noticeable.
Above is a smaller group called 'Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly' in which the cover art work is also very creative, and looks very abstract. It does not hold distinctive figures about the band, for example images of them. I really like the line work that is covering half of the cover, its very different and memorable, it also looks like it is set for the younger generation. It makes me want to hear there music, and look further into the band.
Ben Howard, an English folk, rock artist album is slightly more different to Ed Sheerans, in that it doesn't have any form of drawing on, instead it has photography shot of somebody under water. I like the unique, vintage/alternative look that the image holds, through the editing choices. I like the big font, and the choice of having the font white makes it stand out and appeal to the audience. His audience is a younger generation so I feel it fits well to appeal to them.
I also then looked in to elder artists that are in the music genre, to see how it has developed/ or in some cases stayed similar. I looked at covers that where also of different genres, as the covers generally interested, and appealed to me.
This the album for 'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd released in 1973 - an English progressive rock band. The sleeve was designed by Hipgnosis and George Hardie. Richard Wright had specifically asked for a cover with something 'smarter, neater - more classy' and something 'simple and bold.' I found online this section about the cover: "the gatefold design also includes a visual representation of the heartbeat sound used throughout the album, and the back of the album cover contains Thorgerson's suggestion of another prism recombining the spectrum of light, facilitating interesting layouts of the sleeve in record shops." I like the simplicity of the art work, and how eye catching it is. It does not give away too much about the band or their music, which appeals to the audience too listen further. I also like how the artist has visually represented the meaning of heartbeats etc, I think that its very effective and cleverly done.
After spending time carefully planning, filming and editing the video I have finished with a final outcome. To view, watch below.
Soon after posting the video, i received messages through all types of social network media, they are all very similar, one of the first ones I got through is held below:
"I think this video shows the viewer a really good story. By filming the "mystery" persons white trainers, you instantly want to know more - such as who is he? whats his journey? I like the use of editing also, how the scenery changes but relates again on the chorus by using the chorus signs. It makes the whole story/footage come together. It does a great job of appealing to the younger audience with its black and white effect making it easy to view - such as the trainers standing out more, chorus signs, using a younger person as main character! I love it!!!"
As you can see I have uploaded the video on to Youtbe, social media platform for sharing videos with others worldwide, from this I could share the link on my Facebook and Twitter account, which would also be available to the public. By advertising this way, meant that I could connect to the young generation who are more in use with
these social network sites. Below are screen shots from doing so:
To begin to get ideas for my final piece, I found a picture off of Google of a drawn black and white animated landscape of London/Buildings. I put this on to Photoshop and Google Paint, and began editing, finding ways to make it look interesting - so that I could gather new and original ideas from it. See the pictures below to view/click to enlarge.
I also was very fascinated by images of the London Underground Tube map, and how he follows it whilst making his journey - Also I like the line art that is held within it - which is something that I would look to include in my digipak. I used Photoshop and Google Paint again to edit it, I wanted it to look different/distorted and more modern and interesting to the young generation of my target audience as well as recognisable to resemble the song title.
Before creating my own Digipak, I looked at Ed Sheeran's current/previous cover work for his music, to gain influence in creating a digipak in the style of Ed Sheeran.
The cover above is for his latest album '+' which as you can see is very appealing and eye catching to the audience. His face is the main focus of the cover, instantly relating the album to his work. The album name is only a small detail in the corner of the cover.
I then looked in to Ed Sheeran's CD Covers for the released songs from his album '+' to gain further inspiration to follow in the style of him to make it iconic and memorable. The CD covers are all very similar and simple, in the way that it is a white background with sketching/drawing of things relative to the song, including a screen shot of 'The A Team' edited into a sketch, a drink for 'Drunk' and a sketch of himself for 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' as it is about himself. Also for his song 'Lego House' the center image is also sketched, with lego bricks. I was very interested in the idea of sketching/drawing and the line art that is within it, also the effect of black and white as my video is edited this way. See the pictures below for exampls, click to enlarge.
Below are the key points/narrative of my music video:
The City - City Landscape, London
Signs - Words
Black and White
Pavement - Journey, Shoes
Mysterious Boy - Unknown, 'Lost in the Crowd'
Map of London - Highlight routes of where he travels, Lines, Roads
Now below is some bullet points of ideas that I had thought of for my Digipak;
- Layers of city landscape skyline - City landscape continuously through digipak sides - London map faintly showing with a red or black line showing his route/journey - Collage of signs/words with 'The City' standing out in the middle - Sketch of trainers/London bridge - Collage images related - Write in capitals - Bold - Graphic = Simple = Will be remembered -City lights?
I have decided to use 'Windows Movie Maker' as it is a sufficient and an easily accessible editing software for me to use. I have used the software previously, and I have a very good understanding of how to use it properly in order to achieve a great outcome of work. I also decided to use this video software because after finding research into Ed Sheeran's past videos, that they look of a low price quality, so finding a priced or more complicated software would be unnecessary.
A Digipak is a type of CD/DVD case with packaging usually made from a thick card/heavy paper material against shattering like usual jewel cases. They are bigger than a usual kind of CD, as they open up to reveal more sleeves as if flipping like a book, allowing more room for the musician/label to add more graphics reaching to their market audience.
