original cover design
- Sleeve 039/100: A Day at the Beach (2020)
- Studio Album by Airbag
- Label: Karisma Records
- Genre: Progressive Rock (with a bit of electronic)
- Original Cover: Photography by Anne-Marie Forker
This post is part of the 100 Sleeves: One hundred Album Covers Re-Designed project, a personal challenge I created for myself at the end of 2020. The goal is to create 100 album covers, a new one every week, inspired by the music I’m enjoying at the moment.
I first heard this album upon its release in 2020, but for some reason, it didn’t stick with me. I thought it was good, I just didn’t come back to it. On a second listen I was like “OMG let’s put this on loop!”
I blame my mood, which was rather low. The sound is of progressive rock interlaced with some 1980s electronica and new wave, and the lyrics, as usual of Airbag, are very gloomy.
By the title, one might think this is a content or hopeful album, but the original art cover of teddy bears with their heads buried in the sand makes a clear statement of the kind of ride to expect.
That’s why for my version I went for a woman floating in the ocean surrounded by a shiver of sharks. Are they her friends or is she floating unaware of danger? could it be both?
Album Cover Redesign by franzmori. This is fan art, no copyright infringement intended.
I really like the teddy bear theme Airbag chose for this album, and I wanted to reference back to it with the floaty. I think it also serves a bit as comic relief.
Painting the water was my favorite part. I was determined to achieve the caustic effect and I spend quite some time on it. I didn’t want it to look hyperrealistic, but convincing enough. I’m delighted with the final result.
animated GIF with part of the process
Would you like your own Album Cover design?
I’m available for commissions!
Listen to the art! I’ll be adding a new album each week to this Spotify playlist HERE.
To know more about my personal project and see the rest of the cover designs in this series, go HERE.