Field Notes for the pulse, Studio for what’s still becoming something — published here instead of scattered across platforms.
This album cover started with a question: what should New York feel like for Sundate?
I began by gathering client references and defining the world around the musician — the setting, atmosphere, pose, and clothing. From there, I explored rough sketches and alternative poses before narrowing in on the composition.
The first draft was about finding the right balance between the character and the city. A tighter crop brought more attention to the musician, while the wider view kept the New York setting present. Once the line work felt right, I began testing the color direction: a warmer sunset, brighter and punchier tones, and stronger shadows and highlights to give the illustration more depth.
The final cover came together through that back-and-forth process: reference gathering, questions, sketches, composition studies, and color tests. Each stage helped move the piece closer to something that felt personal to the artist.
September 29, 2026
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