Amaterasu

Illustration & Motion Graphics

April 22, 2021 - May 6, 2021 & January 19, 2022

Overview

Amaterasu is an album cover made for a client named DeiZen from Lionz Inc. DeiZen is an independent New York music artist specializing in Spanish Music.

This animation is the final version of the album cover. It uses loop animation.

Lana Rhoades is a song made by DeiZen.

DeiZen posted this video on his YouTube Channel.

Process

Research

The Original Image

This image is the original.

I happened to find this image on his personal FaceBook. This image inspired me DeiZen said I could work on this one.

He wants it in black and white. But I can have the creative freedom of how I want to look.

Initial Sketch

This image is the outline I did for his album cover. Yet, this image will render when the time comes.

I considered using the left side as the devil wing and the right side as the angel wing. I thought it would look cool.

I removed the bandana for a hat because I worked on a previous album with him named “Ota Oppitunidad.”

The program I used to make this is Adobe Photoshop.

I wanted to keep the posture the same because that posture is what inspires me to do something cool-looking.

Otra Oportunidad

This was the previous work I did for DeiZen. He was wearing a hat.

I was using this hat as a reference.

Initial Versions

Version 1

This image is the first version of the album cover.

I create it in black and white for the color pallets, except for red. It made DeiZen’s eye the focal point of the whole image, allowing them to focus on his face.

I added the flames in the background to make it more demonic-looking. I did the same thing with the blank talisman.

With that, he loved my work but wanted me to offer some critiques.

  1. The hat looks flat.

  2. The beard is too thin.

Version 2

With his change, I only added the hat because I was too focused on other areas, so I would tackle them later.

The changes I made are:

  1. I render the hat. The results look more 3D looking.

  2. Second, I colored in the angel wing. The first version looks flat.

However, DeiZen wants me to make some changes.

  1. Change from hat to beenie.

  2. Thicken the beard.

  3. Add some designs on the blank talisman.

I did ask him how he would want to title it. DeiZen chose the title name “Amaterasu.”

Version 3

I did the change he asked me to do.

  1. I thicken the beard using only strokes from the brush tool.

  2. Secondly, I changed from the hat to a beenie.

  3. I added some designs to the talisman to make it more stylish.

For the typography, I used a real Sumi brush to make it. Both the Kanji and the letter for the title.

This version was the final version at the time till January 19, 2022.

This image is handmade with Bristol Paper, black ink, and a Sumi brush. I did use a T Square Ruler to measure the lines and marked them with a pencil. I straighten the typography in Photoshop on Version 3 of this album cover.

Typography Sumi Brush

This image is handmade with Bristol Paper, black ink, and a Sumi brush.

I did use a T Square Ruler to measure the lines and marked them with a pencil.

I straighten the typography in Photoshop on Version 3 of this album cover.

Changes

Initial Changes

On January 19, 2022, DeiZen added some changes to his album.

  1. He added the barcode on the talisman.

  2. He added the body part of a 2D butt to the talisman.

  3. He added the title of the song “Lana Rhoades” in the bottom left corner.

  4. He added a filter that changes from grayscale to light blue.

DeiZen is not a Photoshop specialist. So I offered him that I could rework the album cover since I still have the PSD file. On top of that, I can add animations for his song.

Version 4 - Final

This image is the final version of the album. The changes I made were:

  1. Set the barcode behind the flames. The barcode DeiZen placed was overlapping the fire.

  2. I changed the butt to vector and made it black.

  3. Remove the background color from the butt image.

  4. Change the font of “Lana Rhoades.” I do not know the font, nor did DeiZen know.

The animation you see at the top is an animated loop. He posted this song on YouTube with the album cover.

Conclusion

DeiZen and I were happy with the result of the final product for his album cover. But, it did not get many views or comments on YouTube.

He has put this song on Apple Store, Spotify, and other stores that sell music.

If you want to check out DeiZen, follow his links here.

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