Album Covers, Logo Designs, and Other Music-Related Artwork

[Jacob Kobryn]

Hi,

I decided to make this thread a generic thread for me to post my music based works. I will create at least nine in the next year based upon music for school and likely very many during my own time or as payed works.

I thought I would make a thread for this as well as posting it in my sketchbook because it's not a mere sketch (in my opinion). I spent about 14 accumulated hours on this piece over the course of 2 months or so. It's pen and ink on bristol board and the original is 18x24.

When I saw Isis recently (at The Great American Music Hall) I ran into a brilliant artist there by the name of David D'Andrea (http://dvdandrea.com/) who was selling prints of a gig poster he had created. I asked of him how he was able to obtain this job and he said to me that all you need to do is email the band and ask their permission. "You need to need to make back your money," he advised me, "but it is ultimately a very fun way to utilize your artwork." About a week later two concerts of the Experimental/Drone band Sunn O))) (pronounced simply Sun) were announced, one in San Francisco at the Independent which is sadly a 21+ only venue, and an other at the historic (and proclaimed haunted) Brookdale Lodge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I decided to create a gig poster for the Brookdale gig, and I immediately emailed Greg Anderson, one of two founding band members, for permission. Once he obliged I immediately began work and the end result was what is seen below. Ironically, D.D'Andrea will also be selling a gig poster at this concert... :(

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/sunnposterweb.jpg

This web version is slightly smaller than the actual prints which are approximately 11x15. The text at the top (the logo) says Sunn O))), it is the ambigram that I created, the bottom left text says,
"The Accused and Eagle Twin
The Historic Brookdale Lodge" and on the bottom right it says, "08/09/09" The text is purposefully unreadable...

Parallel to the poster I created an ambigram for the word(s) Sunn O))). If you print this logo out and turn it 180 degrees, the image stays exactly the same!

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/SunnOAmbigramweb.jpg

Here are the band's websites:

http://www.myspace.com/flightofthebehemoth/
Southern Lord Records (which was founded by the members of Sunn O))) ) (http://www.southernlord.com/)

Also I am going to be featured in an upcoming issue of Imagine FX: International Fantasy Art Magazine!

Take care!
Jake

[grue]

Sunn O))) are absolute geniuses and that poster invokes exactly the feelings that their music does. Deep dark and menacing.

5 stars for a totally in the theme poster.

[Ian Barker]

Very good image, does a nice job of representing Sunn O)))'s sound. Only thing is that the band name is very dificult to read.

[Crass]

Good work, it looks great, and it's very fitting for this band.

[NathanLong]

As art, it's fantastic. As an advertisement for a gig, it's not so successful. Even staring at it for a while, it's hard to read where and when the gig will take place. The type is too cluttered and hard to read. People might not even recognize that its a flyer.

And the name logo, while clever, is unreadable to the uninitiated (me). Which of course might be the point. If you're part of the in crowd, you get it. If you're not, you don't. Maybe that's what you were going for.

[Carbono]

As Nathan stated, this is a cool art.
But I can't manage to read the band's name and the information about the show.

[Jacob Kobryn]

And the name logo, while clever, is unreadable to the uninitiated (me). Which of course might be the point. If you're part of the in crowd, you get it. If you're not, you don't. Maybe that's what you were going for.


Well actually... haha... yeah. That is essentially the point of most "metal" (which Sunn are not but they deeply draw upon it's aesthetics and culture) , "kvlt", and "obscure" band text. This text is actually a fair deal less hidden than most within that area, check out some other band logos to see what I mean, all of these actually say these words: Xasthur (http://www.battlekommand.com/gallery/xasthur%20logo.jpg), Wolves in the Throne Room (http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/les%20goupes/W/Wolves%20In%20The%20Throne%20Room/pics/275217_logo.jpg), Krallice (http://www.metal-archives.com/images/3/5/4/0/3540258039_logo.jpg). [I don't know why I'm highlighting depressive/atmospheric black metal which all of these bands are... :P ] Now I've personally been able to decipher the latter two logos but I still can't decipher the first.

Besides, this piece is more a representational piece than an advertisement because everyone who is going to be purchasing and seeing it will already be at the concert.

[t i m]

Nice work Jake!

[Jacob Kobryn]

I got the prints made of the poster today and they look (to my infinite relief) quite astonishing! They are 11x15 on high quality 90 weight satin/matte paper and are hand signed and numbered and extremely limited to 51 copies!

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/SunnPrints1.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/SunnPrints2.jpg

[Interceptor]

Our little Kobrin is growing up so fast! :yayca:

[the3d3mocrat]

nice job congratulations on mastering the style, keep drawing your skill are getting very good!

[guggemmaneuver]

GO))) JAKE))) GO)))

fa reals though this is an awesome looking poster! And having Sun O))) as a client / contact is pretty sweet!

m

CONTINUE TO DESTROy))))))))))))))))))))))

edit: they're playing some old churches here this September!!! EXCITING!!! earplugs or no??? The answer is probably an emphatic and demonic-droning "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" that stretches to the very end of the moors at universe's end...

[NathanLong]

Wow, those other logos are amazing. They're like... anti-logos.

Printed poster looks fantastic, like something from Gustave Dore.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Well Sunn O))) was just amazing live, as I knew they would be. It was the most atmospheric concert I have ever been to, and that is what they are famous for. Attila is a complete badass! I had no idea he could sing that well!

I only sold 7 posters which isn't great but not bad. Some people stole two of my posters, the fucking sneaky bastards, which was a bummer. Later, O'Maley told me that some stuff was stolen from Sunn O))) as well.

The guys from the bands absolutely loved my poster!

I put the rest of the posters up on Ebay, which you can see here: RARE LIMITED EDITION SUNN O))) POSTER ORIGINAL PRESSING (http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-LIMITED-EDITION-SUNN-O-POSTER-ORIGINAL-PRESSING_W0QQitemZ180395826454QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a006ddd16&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14). Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz and Amoeba Music in San Francisco are selling copies of my poster as well.

[Aly Fell]

I love it Jake! Spot on atmosphere!

[Jacob Kobryn]

A belated thank you to everyone who has commented on this thus far! I'm so glad you guys like it!

I found a video of the concert that I thought I'd share:

SUNN O))) Live @ Historic Brookdale Lodge - Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/6044602)

That way you can compare my poster to the actual event. :)

Also again... if you guys like the poster, buy one! ;)

Jake

[Samuel Gray]

Hey Jake, I am glad to see that you are starting to take initiative in getting yourself noticed and going after it. If someone had better talent than you but didn't have the drive to go outside and try to meet and expose themselves they wouldn't get that far. I can see from looking at your myspace, facebook, and what not, that you are trying to get out there at a young age. Just be humble and educate yourself about it and I see your skills taking off with your career. Always be teachable my friend.

[GriNGo]

nice stuff d00d. Whats the name of the band again? I kinda think you misplaced the bands logo... it should be more to the top of where it is now (like more aligned to the moon).

[Yngling]

Very nice, both the piece and the experience! At this pace, I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years, you'll be a working professional in this field. Seems you're quite able, both in art and business skills!

[Dusty]

I only sold 7 posters which isn't great but not bad.

It's not bad at all considering it's your first time.
Never think of it from the monetary angle with the limited print thing, dude. You'll only frustrate yourself. Think of it like getting yourself out there.

That is 7 people who will have a piece of your art for a long time, possibly hanging on their walls, that had no idea who you were before. In my opinion, art should always be for yourself anyway...and when people appreciate your art that is flattering and awesome, but it shouldn't be the goal to get flattered by people.

I sold some prints of my work earlier this year at a comic con, and I didn't even sell half...but I made my table fee back plus a little more and I was VERY pleased with that. It's all about showing people who you are and what you do, man.

Don't forget that. Sounds like you had fun, so I call that a success.
(Sucks that some people stole some, though...)

Great job, btw.

[jdillon]

Oh awesome, I remember seeing your work on myspace! I didn't know you were on conceptart, too. :) This design turned out so well. The murky ink washes are perfect. And man, those are some damn gorgeous prints. Great job! I hope you do more of these!

[vibhas_virwani]

awesome stuff jake !! :)

[Jacob Kobryn]

Hi,

I decided to make this thread a generic thread for me to post my music based works. I will create at least nine in the next year based upon music for school and likely very many during my own time or as payed works.

This is a logo I designed for a San Francisco based record label known as The Flenser. They are not currently active but they are aimed at being a label supporting black metal and noise musicians.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Flenser_Logo_Large_vectorized-1.png

Jake

[Dished]

hey man! really great work! that poster is sweet!

[Jacob Kobryn]

Hello,

I have worked with Nuclear War Now! Productions (http://www.nwnprod.com/) to create the album cover for the release of the recently uncovered SIXX "Sister Devil" Demo.

SIXX “Sister Devil” LP and Picture LP
ANTI-GOTH 136

" “Sister Devil” was conceived and executed by the same evil entities that were responsible for VON’s legendary “Satanic Blood” and “Blood Angel” demos. Now 15 years after in was initially recorded, this lost recording by SIXX is presented for the first time. Although retaining VON’s penchant for darkness and repetition, SIXX deviate from the black metal form and opt instead for a sound reminiscent of Joy Division, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, and Samhain.

" Both the black vinyl and picture LP versions come with reverseboard printed jacket, A2 poster and 12″x12″ insert. Die hard double 12″ 45 RPM version with case wrapped jacket will be back in two to three weeks. All versions will also be available at the NWN fest in November. "

Jake Kobrin
Illustration and Design
info@kobrinkustoms.com

[Jacob Kobryn]

And here are the links to purchase the album if you want. The CD is not going to come out for another month or so.

Regular LP: http://www.nwnprod.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5755

PicDisk: http://www.nwnprod.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5756

[Dusty]

Congratulations, man. That looks like a really slick package there.
A lot farther a long than I was at your age, that's for sure.

Keep up the good work!

[Jacob Kobryn]

By now, Von’s impact on the development of black metal is undisputed, and their work is universally praised. Shortly after the release of Von’s “Satanic Blood” demo, the members of Von shifted their focus to another project that would come to be known as Sixx. The obscure “Sister Devil” demo, the only recording produced under the Sixx moniker, represents a distinctly different approach to music, but retains, nonetheless, many of the same elements that characterize the style of Von. Like two poisons that attack the body in different yet equally lethal ways, Von and Sixx produce similar effects on the listener while pursuing two divergent paths of execution. Sixx do not play black metal, but the atmosphere cultivated on “Sister Devil” is every bit as nihilistic and void of light as on “Satanic Blood.” Sixx instead play a style of music most closely resembling the genre known as death-rock. And while traces of Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Samhain, and Joy Division can be heard in Sixx’s music, “Sister Devil” conveys a decidedly more satanic approach than any of the aforementioned bands’ work. Also, in much the same way that Von utilized trance-inducing repetition as one of its primary tools, Sixx also rely on the same technique with similar results. The instruments and vocals are recorded clean and the focus is on the melodic character of the songs. The melodies employed, however, are pure in their bleakness. Lyrically, Sixx revel in themes that could have been equally applicable in a black metal context, and the listener will notice that “Sister Devil” also features spoken word interludes like those heard in the recordings of Von. Moreover, while the performance of the instruments may be clean, the lo-fidelity recording quality demonstrates the same stark simplicity of the Von recordings. When Sixx recorded “Sister Devil” they were a band without an audience. These were not the highly regarded forefathers of black metal that they are perceived as today, but rather, young musicians struggling to find a voice in an era in which no other band’s approach to music adequately represented their vision. For black metal purists, “Sister Devil” may only be a curiosity to examine for its historical relevance. Even for this purpose it is valuable. Hearing Sixx certainly elucidates many of the influences that coalesced in the sound of Von. For those listeners who place value in genres of music related to, but still outside the sphere of metal, this demo is of even greater importance. It stands up to the recordings of other bands within the death-rock genre of music, but still demonstrates an appreciation for the aesthetics that were influencing black metal at that time. Indeed, Sixx’s music would stand on its own even if it were not related to Von. Whatever purpose one may have for stepping into the suicidal and empty universe measured out by their music, the effect of Sixx’s “Sister Devil” demo is profound. After having been completely abandoned and forgotten for 18 years, NWN!, with the cooperation of Goat and Kill from Von, has unearthed this legendary demo which is as potent today as it would have been when it was originally recorded. Remastered by James Plotkin and accompanied by new artwork created by Jake K., “Sister Devil” at last will receive the presentation and distribution it rightfully deserves.

God damn, why can't they write Kobrin??? It'd be hard to find me by just typing "Jake K. Art".

[Jacob Kobryn]

Here are some more pictures of the LP, including the poster. I'm sorry for "whoring" this out so much...

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/NWNPROD/SIXX%20sister%20devil%20LP%20CD/100_6799.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/NWNPROD/SIXX%20sister%20devil%20LP%20CD/100_6792.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa219/NWNPROD/SIXX%20sister%20devil%20LP%20CD/100_6790.jpg

[GriNGo]

Man that Sister Devil LP looks incredible! Good job, and I hope you got payed well for it!

[Jacob Kobryn]

Here are some logos (or anti-logos, rather...). The first says "Lords of Chaos" and the second says "Faugg". The Faugg one was a bit more experimental.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/lordsofchaos-black.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/lordsofchaos-black2.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/lordsofchaos-white.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Faugg-3-1.jpg

[Jacob Kobryn]

Here is a logo design for Khi Darag!, an awesome psychedelic/middle-eastern/experimental rock band from San Francisco. I HIGHLY recommend checking them out, especially if you're a fan of Secret Chiefs 3 or any bands from the 70's Raga Rock/Indo-Prog scene (or any mid-east psyche really). I'll be creating some other illustrations for them in the future, as well.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/KhiDarag-Texture-small.jpg

Their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/khidarag
Order their new EP: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/KhiDarag

Jake Kobrin
Illustration and Design
info@kobrinkustoms.com

[stinky 07]

Nice work Jake. Gotta' love those Metal Bands.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Nice work Jake. Gotta' love those Metal Bands.

Actually, so far there hasn't been artwork for any metal bands in this thread. :p

[arttorney]

Well, non-metallic-metal then. lol (I like experimental too. Just joking around.)

I just posted to say spell it like this: Copyright

The "write" part is kind of contained in "Copy" and what we are actually talking about is a right. Kick some ass. That is all.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Hello,

Here is a t-shirt that I designed for one of, if not my favorite band, Ulver. It is a mixture of pen and ink and digital.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Ulver_T-Shirt_Jake_Kobrin_small.jpg

If you do not know of Ulver, you poor, poor person, then check them out their myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/ulver1) or better yet, purchase their entire discography and listen to it chronologically...

Jake Kobrin
Illustration and Design

p.s. There's still no metal in this thread. Ulver are experimental/electronic. :P

[Jacob Kobryn]

Here's a poster design for a little band you may have heard called, Muse...

:android: *Android* :android:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Jake_Kobrin_Live_105_Muse_Poster-2.jpg

[Jacob Kobryn]

Here are a couple of things that I originally created for clients but for whatever reason, the project never went through. I've waited a rather long time to post these...

The first was going to be an album cover, it's depicting a Satanic ceremony of some kind.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/satyr.jpg

The second is a logo for a band. I won't post the name, but if you can read it then GOOD FOR YOU!

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/IntotheSea1-1.jpg

I needed to un-purify my artwork after creating the Muse poster so I created a piece that reflects the kvlt aesthetic of trve black fvkking metal! (Yes, I'm kind of kidding, but anyway...) This is probably my gnarliest piece yet...

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/blackmetalillust_lowrez.jpg

Jake Kobrin
Illustration and Design
info@kobrinkustoms.com

[Jacob Kobryn]

It's been a while since I last updated this thread but here is some work that I completed relatively recently.

This is a logo and album cover design for the Irish black metal band Fuil Na Seanchoille through Me Saco Un Ojo Records.

http://www.myspace.com/fuilnaseanchoille
http://www.mesacounojo.com/

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/FuilNaSeanchoilleLP-small.jpg

This is another album cover (and sleeve design) I completed recently, for the debut album, titled The Hill, of black metal band Autolatry.

http://www.myspace.com/autolatry

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Autolatry-The_Hill-Light-Cover-Small.jpg


Here are some logo designs I have done for the progressive metal band The Faceless. The first is an ambigram (it remains the same if rotated 180 degrees.)

http://www.myspace.com/thefaceless

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/faceless.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Faceless1_Small.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Faceless-Draft-1-Outline-1.jpg

And this logo was made for psych-rocker's Sects (also an ambigram.)

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Sects_WebPreview-2.jpg

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn312/JakeKobrin/Sects_WebPreview-bw-2.jpg

[Jacob Kobryn]

Also, I'm going to have a 2 page spread in the upcoming issue (38 - November/December 2010) of Zero Tolerance Magazine. http://v2.ztmag.com/

I posted the full interview on my blog: http://jakekobrin.blogspot.com/2010/11/interview-for-zero-tolerance-magazine.html

[Serpian]

Congratulations, man, you seem to have a full on career going on here! I hope you get paid handsomely for these, they look very professional!

[Dusty]

Cool interview, Jake!

[Velocity Kendall]

Cool logos. I love Sun O)))

[Carnifex]

damn,that's some slick designs. damn good work with the textures too.

[Jason Manley]

Keep it up Jake. Your progress with your work is strong.

I can't help but think you have a secret stash of strawberry shortcake drawings with happy clouds and butterflies somewhere. :)

[Jacob Kobryn]

Yeah they're stashed away with my Abba records... ;)

I DO have a few pads full of still lives and figure drawings, though, that I'll post later (in a different thread.)

[Jacob Kobryn]

The issue of Zero Tolerance Magazine that has a two page spread about my artwork was finally released! If you watch the preview slideshow thing, you can see a preview of the pages. To be honest, I don't know when it's going to be released in the states (or if it has been already,) but I DO know that my local Border's stocks this magazine so there's that. :P Also Agalloch and Lustmord have features! :D

http://v2.ztmag.com/current.html

http://v2.ztmag.com/images/38spread8.jpg

[Bossmosis]

Impressive sense of design, you're very suited to album covers.