My 2023 favourite book: Jazz Covers
Because art and music history have an impact on what we do today.
Hello my friends,
If you know me, you know I do read a lot. And I get a lot of inspiration in books. Even more than on social medias. I mean, is social medias inspiration really good for your creativity? I saw an interview of Stefan Sagmeister few days ago on Arte saying that looking for inspiration in our field was impoverishing our creativity. I think it is partly right but I do also think that knowing the history of our Art is important.
Here is the video I talk about. This is a great documentary about creativity and happiness. You can find it in French and German but I am sure you can turn on English subtitles:
So today I wanted to talk a bit about art history and something really special to me: Jazz Graphic Design.
It all started few years ago when I discovered the work of Alex Steinweiss who was one of the first designer to create an illustration for a music album cover. It was around the 50s. Taschen even says he is “the inventor of the Modern Album Cover”.
And that is how I discovered the work of Jim Flora, one of my biggest influences, who was hired by Steinweiss to design album covers and especially Jazz album covers.
These are the 2 artists that made me discover Mid Century Modern Art and….. Jazz!! I always listened to Jazz before but getting really interested in these works up to the 70s, made me listen to Jazz even more. And at a point that right now, this is like a meditation for me. I listen to Jazz while working, driving, and even while doing yoga :)
Lately I even started an Instagram account to bookmark everything I discover about Jazz Graphic Design history.
So that was logical that I get that bible from Taschen about Jazz album covers :)
This is a HUGE and heavy book, full of the history of each cover featured. The beginning of the book starts with some essays and interviews of people who had a great influence in that niche. Thes share their own experience and I discovered many people who did design album covers. We know some of them and others were anonymous and it is so good to discover their work too.
For each cover, you have a short story, when it was done and by who. And I am always amazed to see the creativity that music style had on graphic design. It was maybe influenced by Steinweiss and friends. I am even sure of that. But this way to practice graphic design is still relevant today!
You can find great illustration, but also great photography and typography. And you are never sure if it was made during the 50s or the 80s or even 90s. Today you still have artists that do that kind of design, just like if it gave the music another dimension. Here is an example with an album from Matthew Hallstatt:
So if you are interested in Graphic Design history, you have to read that book and see how graphic design can influence a music movement and how that music movement did influence graphic design. The relationship between the 2 is really narrow.
Here are some pages of the book:
So now you just to go to your local bookstore and buy or order it hahaha :D
Last night “Draw with me” session
I want to thank everyone who came last night to my first DWM session. You were around 30 and that was a great experience for me to draw in front of you. I am also really happy that some of you tried to follow me along to create their own artwork. I did not insist enough on this and I could have given feedback but well that was the first time I do this so that lets room for improvement for the next time :D
Because there will be a next time. I don’t know when exactly but I would really like to do it regularly, and for free. So stay tuned, I will communicate around it.
An IRL workshop soon?
I am also thinking of making a new workshop at the studio. I am not sure yet when it will take place but I would like to create a weekend event where we would create a lettering piece on Saturday and create a print or a t-shirt out of it on Sunday. This could be screen printing, collage, maybe Riso or letterpress/lino. I did not think too much about it yet but I already asked to book the meeting room we have here in the building, so it is on its way :) Again, stay tuned for more news about this.
This is it for today. I hope you got some inspiration through these nice album covers. Maybe you already ordered the book? Haha.
Enjoy the weekend, take that nap you need, take that walk you wanted to do for some time and listen to Jazz.
Take care,
Francis
All in for the weekend workshop!
It was fun!