Desain Packaging Cd

Cover Illustration for new Snapdragon Records band 12 Summers Old. They asked for a 50’s sci-fi horror B movie poster with a bikini clad girl, so that’s what I gave em.

Posted in Print, New Work | 1 Comment »

VENNA - CD Packaging

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

I’m really proud of this one, so I’m going to talk about it a bit.

I get the opportunity to write songs and play music with my wife Heather in a band called Venna. Our debut EP was just released on Common Cloud Records and some of the songs on this disc have been working their way towards a proper release for over 5 years. Needless to say we were extremely thrilled about this release and wanted to do something extra special with the packaging to celebrate it.

With the band’s aesthetic being very DIY and personable (shows are usually played in the corners of venues, off of the stage and away from amplification of any sort) we wanted to go that direction with the visual presentation of the music, right down to the recycled, eco-friendly packaging materials and rock ‘n roll zine-style photocopied insert. Here are some photos of the assembly process and the final pieces-

Heather took on the task of running each 8 page zine/insert through a sewing machine to give them a hand-bound look.

Every leaf and vine of the cover illustration was drawn in Illustrator and took about 5 days worth of non-consecutive work to finish.

VGKids in Ypsilanti, MI did a fantastic job of hand-printing the 1 color silk screen for the exterior illustration, as well as some complimentary promo stickers.

All the printed materials were assembled by Heather and myself and then lovingly wrapped in a coordinating green twine.

I can’t help but think that this is closer to how these things should be done more often…

Posted in Print, New Work | No Comments »

YOUR BEST FRIEND - CD Packaging

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

At the beginning of this year I said to myself that I should dust off the pens and brushes and try my hand at doing more do more “physical” art to accompany all this digital stuff. Along those lines, here are some recent watercolor paintings for a stellar little band from MI called Your Best Friend. I’m pretty pumped about how this project is turning out so I figured I’d give everyone an early look at it.

Apple & Arrow spot illustration -

Background Painting -

Tray Card design -

I’ll post the entire project soon. Thanks!

-marky

Posted in Print, New Work | 1 Comment »

A FAREWELL RESCUE - CD Packaging

Friday, January 11th, 2008

Design for A Farewell Rescue’s 07 release Never Meet Your Heroes.

Posted in Print, Past Work | No Comments »

BASTIAN - CD Packaging

Friday, January 11th, 2008

One of my favorite releases that I’ve had the pleasure of working on, Bastian’s ‘06 Full Length Stay Quiet.

Posted in Print, Past Work | No Comments »

FIREFIGHT - CD Packaging

Friday, January 11th, 2008

Here’s the cover for the upcoming FIREFIGHT release, titled Natural Disaster.

Posted in Print, New Work | No Comments »

MAJI SONGS - Website Design & CD Packaging

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

www.MajiSongs.com - Seasonal site designed to accompany the CD Packaging that we put together for Maji, a holiday super group featuring Joe Puerta of Bruce Hornsby & The Range and Ambrosia. Designed to drive digital as well as physical sales of their debut CD Christmas Dreams. Songs from that CD have been heard on the TV show E.R. and have received national radio attention.

-marky

Posted in Print, Web, New Work | No Comments »

FROM THE HEADLINE - CD Packaging

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

This is one of my all time favorite pieces that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on. I guess it helps that From The Headline is also one of my favorite working bands at the moment.

This project was a blast from the beginning because the band gave me full artistic freedom to come up with a design based off of my interpretation of their music. I chose to go the route of dark, yet whimsical. Serious, yet lighthearted in a creepy sorta way. I ended up coming up with these 4 custom illustrations that look like stills from a children’s movie or a storybook from a forgotten era where children were still disciplined with belts. Awesome.

See the whole project here.

-marky

Posted in Print, Past Work | No Comments »

FLOWERS FOR DORIAN - CD Packaging

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Flowers For Dorian’s EP release Phone Calls, Car Rides is out now.

This project was especially fun because the band wanted me to emulate one of my all time favorite graphic artists, Scott Hanson (ISO 50). Hopefully it’s more of a tribute and less of a direct rip-off. Hmmm…

Anyway, you can view the entire project here.

-marky

Posted in Print, Past Work | 1 Comment »

NEWSBOYS - CD packaging design

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

MidwestLove was asked to design the packaging for the newest release from EMI / Sparrow recording artists, Newsboys. The ‘boys wanted something classic, simple and timeless to represent this greatest hits disc. It hits shelves in November.

Take a look at the full project here.