"Control Control" – Cover Art

I designed a custom cover artwork for a jazz single, blending hand-crafted illustration with layered collage-based graphic design to create a refined yet contemporary visual identity for the release.

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At the center of the composition, I illustrated king and queen chess pieces (as requested by the client), using high-contrast lighting, sculpted shading, and subtle wood-grain texture to create depth and realism. Crisp linework separates the illustration from the softer background elements, while a subtly outlined gradient cast shadow anchors the focal point within the composition.

The background was constructed as a ripped-magazine-style collage using five client-approved images. I blurred and color-graded the imagery with a retro-inspired gradient map, incorporated pencil-drawn texture overlays, and layered paper textures to achieve a tactile, analog feel. Two of the images featured the performing artists — a portrait of the lead vocalist and a photograph of the saxophonist — subtly integrated into the collage narrative.

Typography for the song title and featured artists was designed to ensure legibility while complementing the overall tone of the composition. The client’s existing logo was incorporated into the upper-left corner to maintain brand continuity.

The final design was informed by visual references provided by the client as well as independent research into classic and contemporary jazz album artwork, ensuring the piece honored genre traditions while feeling modern and distinct.