Although artist Yoshitomo Nara grew up in rural Japan far from art museums, he found artistic inspiration and grew his imagination from what was available to him—the art he found on album covers and the music he listened to! Today, we are going to design an album cover for our favorite song.
Step 1
Gather Supplies:
- Sturdy paper—cardstock or cardboard is best—cut in a square (record albums are usually 12" x 12")
- 2 sheets of copy paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
The decorative materials are up to you. Gather what you have, no need to buy anything new!
- Colored pencils
- Markers
- Paint (don’t forget a paint brush, water cup, and paper towels)
- Glue
- Tape
- Stencils
- Collage materials (used wrapping paper, magazines, leaves, flowers, etc.)
Step 2
Pick out your favorite song! We chose the song "Bein' Green" by Kermit the Frog.
Listen to your favorite song a few times. Pay attention to the lyrics and the mood of the song. On a piece of paper, write down some of the words. Doodle! Use your imagination.
Step 3
On a new sheet of paper make a mock-up. (A mock-up is where you practice your ideas before making your final piece.)
Start by drawing a square on your paper.
Quickly sketch out your design.
Think about:
- Colors to include
- Images or pictures
- Texture
- Layout—where you want pictures and words
Step 4
Go through your art supplies and pick out a few to start with. You can add more later.
Step 5
Add the elements you sketched in your mock-up.
Step 6
In big letters, add the name of the song.
Tips for making words stand out:
- Pick a color that contrasts with the background (for example, black marker on a light background, or white pastel on a dark background)
- Outline the letters
- Write bubble letters
- Go back over your letters
Step 7
Play the music again while looking at your artwork. Is something missing? Add it!
Step 8
Display your art on a wall in your home.
If you share your artwork on social media, tag us at @lacma! We love seeing your art!
Join artist Katie Lipsitt on Sunday, January 24 on LACMA’s YouTube channel to learn how to Express that Mood!