I wanted the illo to tie into the Exile in Guyville record in some direct way, since the show in Boston (and the tour) features Liz performing the entire album to celebrate it's fifteenth anniversary re-release. I went down the list of song titles, and immediately track 1 , "6'1"", jumped out at me. I thought about a shot of Liz, all sexy and defiant, standing in front of a police lineup wall. Simple and effective. But maybe too simple?
I sketched it out, and then another idea occurred to me...the second to last song on the record, "Stratford-on-Guy", is probably my favorite...where Liz sings very descriptively and atmospherically about being aboard a plane taking off at sunset, enjoying a drink as the lights of the city grid become visible through the opposite window. So I took that as inspiration and kinda illustrated that scene. But I thought it might be too much, too fannish...I know people familiar with the record might get it and dig it, but it might leave everybody else too much in the dust.
Kevin, knowing I was a fan, gave me carte blanche to go with whatever direction I thought was best...truly a thrill to know an art director has that much confidence in you. In the end, I decided to go back to my original idea, and I think the results are pretty swell. Hope you agree.
13 comments:
The first two illos didn't come up. Problem?
Reminds me to whip out my copy of the CD and give it a spin. Thanks.
Great Illustration, and yea sometimes simple is best.
now I need to give those albums another listen. I have seen her concert twice, once with a band and once solo. You illo captures her early essence well.
Fixed! And thanks, guys!
Yup. The first instinct, and the final product, the best.
Hells yes! Good to hear of another old Liz fan who got off the bus with Whitechocolatespaceegg. And right on about "Stratford-On-Guy."
If you wouldn't have told me who it was, I wouldn't have guessed. And I like Liz Phair a lot.
That's so very cool Robert. Nice work here!
Paul
"If you wouldn't have told me who it was, I wouldn't have guessed. And I like Liz Phair a lot."
Yeah, as I've stated before, capturing a likeness is sometimes a tough go for me...if I'd have gone the straight caricature route, it might've been easier. Liz, despite the baggy eyes and buck teeth, is a knockout in real life, but her beauty is hard to capture using those features. I must've drawn that face 20 times!
I don't think it was entirely successful, but I feel like I managed to capture her attitude, at least...and truthfully, once that deadline hits, it's gotta go out the door, quibbles or not.
Still, thanks for the free art critique, "anonymous".
Nice one.
Awe to da some. You nailed her strong chin. (That sounds wrong. You done drawed it real good.)
Exile in Guyville was the soundtrack to my life for about six months solid when it first came out. Best album of that year, one of the best albums of the '90s.
There are too many good songs to name 'favorite' but I'm listening to "Divorce Song" now.
Great stuff. Great work on the illo, too.
I like how she stands 6'1"
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