Album Cover (Rough Plans)

• Today I drew up two rough plans of possible Country and Western album covers:

•  Although this album cover is very simple and needs more development, I have tried to include strong Country and Western conventions and stereotypes to create the overall required image. The artist captured in the middle of the album cover is dressed in a cowboy type outfit, with a cowboy hat and straw in his mouth. I have captured the shot outside in the country, this relates to the free-willed, raw nature of the music and its history. I centered the artist to express his importance and overt the audiences attention to him. The name of the album is in bold, making it stand out and to inform people as to what the new album is called. I think for my final, finished album cover I will make the artists name larger, as this is vital information, and from my research of existing Country and Western album covers, it is always very clear and bold.

• This rough drawing of a Country and Western album cover is slightly more creative. I have captured the artist to the left of the cover to challenge angles and make the cover more intricate and interesting. The artist is leaning against a tree to represent the casual, outdoor spirit of Country and Western singers and musicians. I have included the guitar, cowboy hat and cowboy boots on the right of the shot, to further express and emphasise the Country and Western stereotypes, and to also create a degree of humour due to the creation and creativity of the shot- with the hat on top of the guitar and the boots sitting next to the guitar. The sun in the background is there to make the album cover seem joyous and reflect the happy, up-beat rhythms of Country and Western songs. I decided to write the Artists name, the album name and the genre of music inside the sun, as I believe it fits well, and is clear and attracts the audiences attention. 

• Although both these drawings are very rough and cartoon like, I constructed them to just get an idea of shot angles and positioning, as well as prop creativity. I am going to carry on researching and constructing my album cover. I am also going to consider appropriate fonts and colouring's for my album cover.