Fundamentally Sound – Cover Art

Illustrated a single cover artwork inspired by the group’s music video, capturing a snowy lakeside performance against the Madison skyline.

✦

This project involved illustrating song release cover artwork for a Madison-based University of Wisconsin a cappella group. The concept was inspired by a scene from their music video, which featured the group performing and dancing on a frozen lake with the Madison skyline stretching across the horizon.

To reflect the setting authentically, the client requested that recognizable buildings be emphasized in the background. During the initial digital sketch phase in Adobe Photoshop, I annotated the composition to clearly identify and confirm the inclusion of specific architectural landmarks. This ensured alignment before moving into final rendering.

Once approved, I refined the linework and developed the full-color illustration, incorporating hand-drawn typography for both the song title and the group’s name. Through vibrant color blocking, intentional highlights and shading, and careful compositional balance, I created a dynamic winter scene that captured the energy of the performance while highlighting the distinct architecture of the Madison skyline.

The final artwork translates a live-action moment into an expressive illustrated environment that feels celebratory, local, and visually cohesive.