Larry Merculieff tells of re-discovering the old ways and the vitality and power of women, of going into nature and being still.

So still that the creative flow becomes visible.

via Unabashedly Female

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
- Confucius

Of the things that have fallen into my sphere of observation, the things that I remember tended to have made some sort of lasting impression. These are the top four album covers that reside in my memory as being beautiful or compelling or interesting illustrations. Limited somewhat by what music I’ve even heard, nevermind seen the album artwork for, there is a Katana-colored bias in this list- but hey, we are in Katanaville. Trying to pull up album covers from my memory proved which ones impacted me; if I can’t remember it, it obviously shouldn’t be on my Top List.

4.  Korn – Follow the Leader

Artist: Todd McFarlane

Korn- Follow the Leader

The success of this illustration is that it is the album title: “Follow the Leader.” The familiar symbols of childhood are laid out to draw the eye up the hopscotch squares leading to the little girl in the red dress, about to fall into the orange space where the album title is written- a masterpiece of a composition. The secondary children characters are done in the sepia tones of the ramp, so as to make the red dress a more compelling focal point. The boy in the baseball cap turns your eye past him, and then back up the hopscotch squares. This artwork is a beautiful doorway into the experience of the album where the conversation started visually will be continued musically, a continuity I find exceptionally satisfying.

I also found a link for custom-painted shoes, if you want to play hopscotch/Follow the Leader, Korn-style. It’s at the bottom.

3. Michael Jackson- Dangerous

Artist: Mark Ryden

Michael Jackson- Dangerous

What a wonderfully complex image. It has all the gilt and glamour that Michael Jackson possessed, in one image, with a balance and symmetry that are not lost in the myriad details. The general composition is memorable even when I couldn’t recall what the image was about- all I could remember was that it was gold, complex, and swirly, and that I’d read an interview with the artist that created it. I was surprised when I looked it up and found it was Mark Ryden, who I know as an artist who specializes in doe-eyed doll-like damsels. This image was much bolder and wild than the art I’ve seen from him otherwise, leading me to wonder about the impact of collaboration and commissioned work on an artistic vision.

I found a link that details all the imagery going on in the image, check it out at the bottom.

2. AFI- Black Sails in the Sunset

Artist: Alan Forbes

AFI- Black Sails in the Sunset

I love this image- I had it in a tiny frame in my home for years and years, up until my most recent move (long story!). The simple colours- the complementary blue and orange with that strong black; the thin long round clouds, in their directional perspective, point to the ship on the horizon, where the waves are small in the distance; the triangular gestures that water makes in the ocean stylized beautifully, especially in the foreground- all show the skill of the artist. Simplicity- choosing only elements necessary to communicate a mood and an idea- are challenges that provide wonderfully powerful visual statements when they are solved. Forbes also created the album artwork for The Art of Drowning, which I also enjoyed (but this is my favorite one).

1. X Disciple X a.d. – Blood Fued

Artist: Dave Quiggle

X Disciple X a.d. – Blood Fued

I chose this album cover because it contained my favorite elements in Dave Quiggle’s work. He uses visual cliches- angels, snakes, skulls, hearts, daggers- in a way that is uniquely his own, renewing tired symbols to again become powerful and emotionally evocative. He uses color very deliberately, with simple color schemes and rich textures, and lots of layering. This album cover is number one, because it’s Dave Quiggle- he’s so influential to me that I had a hard time choosing one CD cover to show- and I couldn’t find some images of his work online, at all. If Dave Quiggle was doing a tattoo for me, I would hand over both arms and say “Have fun!” Check out the work Quiggle’s done for more prominent artists, as well- xDx is a (defunct?) hardcore band, and my favorite song “Candy Apple” is seemingly unavailable online.

Further Reading:

(Links I used to research this article)

Todd McFarlane on Twitter

Album Covers by Cartoonists

Customized Korn High Top Sneakers – all the better to Follow the Leader with.

Mark Ryden’s Official Website

The Imagery used in the album cover for “Dangerous”

More Album Artwork by Alan Forbes

Dave Quiggle’s Tumblr

Dave Quiggle’s Official Website – wonderful image gallery links top-right