More and more artists are discovering the upsides of self-production, self-campaigning and self-creative direction. And it makes total sense – means to produce high quality content are out there, available, more or less easy to get a grip on.
This, along with current brutalist trends of creating wildly raw, aesthetic blends of content enable DIY artists to basically whip up a whole package of music related media. All within their own means and abilities.
If you’re the type of artist that is looking into conceptualizing, producing and implementing your own artwork content, this article may offer some food for thought.
Let’s start with structure:
Timetable design
One key to continuous DIY artwork design is setting up a timetable and keeping oversight over when what has to be delivered.
This means – being aware and getting a feeling for how long you need for conceptualizing and producing the media. Obviously, if you’re just starting off – you’ll go through an initial phase of experimentation. And it might even vary from artwork to artwork.
Set up a timetable – much like a music production timeline – and try to map out when various artworks are needed, according to releases that are going to drop.
Tools of the trade
Depending on how deep you want to dive into the subject of software tools – be aware that the Adobe Suite is a whole cosmos in itself. A cosmos that needs time and effort to explore. And if you don’t feel like digging into it, you’ll have to come up with alternatives quite fast.
Typically, artists work with various forms of imagery and text, and artworks form collages of these elements. You can start off by loading a square project in InDesign, and start feeling your way into the new work environment. Download royalty free images via websites like unsplash.com, and use a font that you dig and find appropriate.
Remember – especially in our current atmosphere of brutalist design freedom, there are hardly any no-gos. Do whatever feels right, and remember – you don’t have to explain anything. If it’s different, it’s definitely good.
Platform needs
An incredibly important factor of DIY artwork design is keeping in mind the specs and backdrops of various streaming platforms. Creating imagery that merely works on Vinyl or large formats just won’t do in our streaming age.
That’s why you should train your eye to think in thumbnails. Visual complexity is beautiful, but recall value always wins. That’s why you see so many minimalistic covers with intense colors that create a “pop” effect.
If you work on your artwork on a large screen, chances are high that you completely blend out the fact that most of your listeners will consume it in a completely different way. This doesn’t mean your artwork can’t be complex, multifaceted and detailed. Just be aware of the way it is ultimately presented.
Define your palette
A great way to come up with effective artworks and holistic aesthetics is using a tool/site like paletton.com to find and define the main color palette of your artwork.
That doesn’t mean you are bound to this pool of color, but it really helps creating this overall “look and feel” that so many creatives are striving for.
It also offers wildly compelling variations and inversions, so even an unschooled creator can whip up some pretty impressive complementary variations.
Once you define your palette, you can also spread this concept out across your social media channels. Sometimes the creation of one artwork can lead to the re-design of an entire brand. Play around will paletton, and see where your musical style is at home within the spectrum of tonal possibility.
What are your thoughts about DIY artwork? Let us know in the comments below!