Back on 01 April this year I wrote about the CD artwork I had done for Steve Case. It may have been April Fool’s Day, but the article was deadly serious. I live in Australia by the way, so I know a thing or two about deadly. Well it’s 01 November now and I’m here to tell you that I’ve successfully created another piece of CD artwork for Steve Case. I’m like a graphic designer or something. Seriously (because there’s no such thing as November Fools). … Steve Case CD artwork—Wooden Grove
Amplitoon graphic novel (Issue 1)
I decided to create digital graphic novel (of sorts) around the AmpliTube software that I use regularly on the iPad. I shared the booklet with IK Multimedia (creators of AmpliTube) who then shared the pages with their fans through social media. The booklet was created using screenshots from the AmpliTube iOS app and the Strip Designer iOS comic strip layout app. The rest was put together by me in InDesign.
… Amplitoon graphic novel (Issue 1)
AmpliToon … My AmpliTube ‘How to’ graphic novel
I love graphic novels. I’ve always found them to be one of the greatest story telling mechanisms available to man. I also happen to love playing guitar through my iPad. I’ve found the iPad to be an incredible tool for people such as me, to improve their skillset and experiment with tone, recording, sharing and constructive criticism on a global scale. All of this got me thinking. What is surely going to be the best way of reminding myself how to use some of my favourite iOS software and possibly help others do the same?
Well, because I’m a giver, I made AmpliToon … An almost graphic novel about IK Multimedia‘s AmpliTube application for the iPad. … AmpliToon … My AmpliTube ‘How to’ graphic novel
Steve Case (Wooden Grove) CD artwork
This was the second CD design I worked on for musician Steve Case. This job required a simple single fold cardboard sleeve. The front and back cover were made to look like a leather bound book while the inside spread looked like the inside of the book cover. The inner-left panel contained a printed message from Steve Case while the inner-right panel allowed him to write a personal message (plus signature) for anybody who purchased a CD from one of his live performances.
… Steve Case (Wooden Grove) CD artworkScarebear (the artwork) by Xaizently
This is somewhat self-promoting, but I had to share this story. Why? Because I don’t believe it is actually about me. It’s about a talented artist I came across on deviantART named Xaizently.
Almost two years ago I was wondering what I should do with all these points I had accumulated on the deviantART website. The points are worth very little in real-world currency, but I had accumulated somewhere between 30-50 of them. Surely I could use them for something! … Scarebear (the artwork) by Xaizently
Steve Case’s latest EP—artwork by me
Recently I was given the opportunity to design the artwork (including the disc, jewel case and 16 page booklet) of Steve Case‘s latest EP Somewhere Where I’m Not. I worked to Steve’s creative brief—combine the effect types often seen in apps like Instagram with something more artistic for the cover—and was lucky enough to be able to use some of my favourite iPhone and iPad image enhancing apps in the process. The apps I used were ToonPAINT (for iPhone) and PhotoToaster (for iPad). The ToonPAINT app was used to create the CD and booklet cover image (which you can see in the iTunes store).
Woo hoo! I have designed something you can get through iTunes! … Steve Case’s latest EP—artwork by me
My custom Grover Allman guitar plectrums
Today is a good day. Not just because it’s Good Friday either. It’s also the day I get to write about the awesome Grover Allman custom plectrums I ordered recently. They arrived in the mail yesterday and came with a handy sticker of the Grover Allman logo—you’ve got to love that logo with its clever reversed plectrums (look at the whitespace between the cross patterns)—and a black Grover Allman wrist band. Personally I’m a big fan of black rubber wrist bands. They don’t damage your guitar while you’re playing hard.
The plectrums themselves? Well, I think they’re awesome! … My custom Grover Allman guitar plectrums
Custom guitar plectrums from Grover Allman
I’ve wanted to get some custom guitar plectrums for quite some time now. I’m not in a band and I’m not famous, but I’ve wanted some all the same. Why? Because thanks to Grover Allman I can! It’s simple when you look at it that way. You can order directly from the Grover Allman website or you can order using their own iPhone app. Either way, you can submit your own artwork and the plectrums are produced for you in no time at all. That’s what I’m hoping for anyhow. … Custom guitar plectrums from Grover Allman
Steve Case (Somewhere Where I’m Not) CD artwork
My first attempt at CD artwork—for anybody let alone Steve Case—was this jewel case design for the Somewhere Where I’m Not CD. The project included a 16pp booklet, CD design and jewel case design. The brief was to create something that appeared real and natural—the kind of thing people were generally creating and sharing on social media through the likes of Instagram. All supplied imagery was manipulated and became part of the design you see here.
… Steve Case (Somewhere Where I’m Not) CD artwork
Customs House ceiling
Customs House in Brisbane is a beautiful-looking building. When inside the building, I was drawn to the shapes the ceiling and its sole hanging light made. Without knowing what you’re looking at, it’s still an interesting photograph.
Photograph taken on the iPhone 3 (filters applied in Instagram).