Client Goal
Bristol Live Magazine, an independent music publication celebrating the local underground scene, commissioned a commemorative cover for their 50th issue. They wanted an illustrated piece that visually captured key artists from their “most memorable performances” list, compiled since the magazine’s inception.
My Role
I was hired to create a custom illustration that blended stylized portraiture with a nostalgic, crayon-simulated aesthetic. The goal was to maintain a cohesive, hand-drawn quality throughout—including the magazine’s logo and headline text—while honoring the individuality of each featured act.
Process & Deliverables
Using a spreadsheet of reference images, I rendered each artist or band in individual Illustrator layers, broken down by color and key facial features (e.g., separate layers for eyes in some cases). I designed a cream-toned, lightly textured background to reflect their typical print stock and maintain visual warmth.
All text and logo treatments were recreated in the same illustrative style and organized on their own layers to allow for editorial flexibility. Final deliverables included:
Print-ready files: A6 size (105 x 148mm) + 3mm bleed
File formats: AI, PDF, INDD, CMYK JPG (300 DPI), and transparent PNGs with and without background
This project balanced nostalgic visual storytelling with structured, layered production—delivering a unique editorial piece that honored the magazine’s legacy and underground ethos.
