Model Lycie wears a silk green pant suit with ‘Trista Peck’ on the back. She steps through what seems like a doorway into a colorful and vibrant world layered with a golden brick road, lemon bushes, and mountains. She seems to turn into the cartoon world she steps into. The building surrounding the world has blue brick and an image of the Tacoma skyline with mount Rainier in the background. The image is scattered with colorful butterflies.
Artist: Ian Beck
Album Cover of the Month |
March
Elton John’s
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
This month’s cover was Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ released in 1973. The fame of this record was said to be the equivalent of the Beatles’ ‘White Album,’ for Elton. The cover image is a combination of color pencil and watercolor done by Ian Beck. He also used a polaroid photograph for inspiration in Elton’s positioning.
I was initially drawn to this cover because of the illustration and use of watercolor. I also loved the idea that I would start with a photo shoot and then evolve my creative process from there. I had thought I might try to produce the image as a watercolor. However, I found myself uninspired with the outcome and decided I to create a composite image of different art elements. My image includes elements that are hand drawn, photoshopped magazine clippings, photography, and embossing.
I tried to keep my version true to my aesthetic. I included a skyline of Tacoma on the left, my fujifilm camera on the bottom, a vintage colorful silk suit, and of course my name on the jacket. The model, Lycie is pulling away the remnants of last month’s album cover as an homage to growth and moving forward. I also decided to make her shift into a cartoon as she enters the colorful world. The yellow brick road is seen melting onto the pavement. As a symbol that there is always an exchange of energy in our evolutions. We are collectively effected when one person evolves grows into their best selves. Needless to say I was elated to have my model for this shoot. She is my beautiful cousin and stepped into the role of Elton brilliantly. The original photoshoot inspiration was taken on our trip in early March to visit family in Santa Paula, California. My favorite images from the shoot are the most colorful. I feel it gave a dreamy vibe as she is in this dry and mountainous environment. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
