This was a multi-faceted project for jazz guitarist and singer Tony Davis, creating key visuals for two of his album campaigns: "Cloud Nova" and his latest release, "Jessamine." My work included creating animated cover art for his social media and directing a promotional photoshoot to build a compelling visual identity that could fit both albums.
The project presented two distinct creative challenges. For the photoshoot, the goal was to capture the album's surreal and dreamy theme while still creating images grounded in the jazz world. Using advanced Astera Titan tube lights, I painted with colored light to produce unique, moody portraits that stood out, while also shooting a set of clean, classic images for general press. For the motion graphics, the challenge was to bring the existing static album art to life. Working from the designer's layered Photoshop files, I had to devise subtle, natural-feeling animations that would be engaging on a social media feed without distracting from the original artwork.
The result was a complete and cohesive visual package that supported both the "Cloud Nova" and "Jessamine" album campaigns. The animated covers provided dynamic content for Tony's social media, helping to build anticipation for the new music from both records. The photoshoot delivered a versatile set of images, giving the artist both striking, color-rich photos that matched the albums' themes and a selection of professional portraits for more traditional use. Ultimately, the work provided Tony Davis with a strong visual identity that set his projects apart while still honoring the aesthetics of his genre.
Watch the video featurette below.
