How does geometry, color, graphic design, the concept of “love” and perhaps a touch of nerd-ism shape an album cover? Well…that’s a good question!
Any idea what geometric abstraction is? Surely you’ve seen it on album covers, right? But that’s a tough phrase, so here’s a little help before I send you off to your record collections to sift through your favorite album covers for enlightenment.
One definition is: “The pictorial language of geometric abstraction is based on the use of simple geometric forms placed in non-illusionistic space and combined into non-objective compositions.”
Yeah, I know: if you’re not a fine arts major or mathematician — or perhaps even if you are — that is equal parts headache, coma-inducing or perhaps hilarious. BUT (there’s always a but…) there’s so many album covers that are designed-based upon this premise. They *are* in your collection, regardless of your preferred musical styles, I promise you.
I’ve worked with Peter Baldrachi, an independent Boston-based musician and songwriter, on a number of projects over the past few years, and this is a direction he wanted to explore for his latest single “The Sweeping Hand Of Love.” However, “love” for me, always suggests less cubism, less geometry, less structure and a more organic feel and look. So…what to do?
Well… I did offer up several geometric concepts incorporating human elements with stock photography within the shapes, but they were not exactly the feel Peter was looking for. So.. I went for something resembling geometric cubism abstract. After several color combinations, shapes, scale and type treatments, Peter was “all in”” on the one that became the cover: “LOVE it. That’s the one” the email read.
But here’s the thing: perhaps it was in only in my subconscious. I can’t say for sure whether this was a design strategy or simply instinct on my part. — artists often work instinctively, moving before thinking. However, the colors on the chosen cover *were* meaningful and did somewhat consciously convey an interpretation of love as a contradiction to the coldness of geometric abstraction.
You see. one shape is “pink,” historically a color reflecting the feminine side. The other shape, exactly the same size is “blue,” and obviously a more masculine-associated color. The box below these two shapes morph from the two squares above them to form a singular rectangle. And, of course, as we all know, red is the color of love, although, in color theory it is Magenta and Yellow that form red but stick with me on the concept here. You join two different pieces to get a singularly powerful thing. Love.
Sometimes, you have to think about concepts like geometry and abstraction in art and design. It takes much less to think about the concept of Love — that’s more instinctive — although no less complicated. And note: I suck at anything “math.” Creative direction lies somewhere in between these concepts, at least for me.
Still,…pretty cool, huh?
PS: And, yes, we are both huge Dream Syndicate fans…
Listen (and buy!) Peter’s music here.