Today, I am pleased and proud to release another piece from the archives.
Heaven & Earth, an original artwork by Herm the Younger.
The tracklist for the I May Be Some Time album is created using a very special technique. Each letter is cut out and arranged one by one, just like they would have been with letterpress printing during the early 1900s – the same era the album is inspired by.
The process allows granular control over the letters and spacing, producing an effect that is impossible to achieve with a technically perfect computer font.
This video provides a look at how it was done:
The album (with a myriad of original artwork) will be released on July 5th.
Credits
Patron
Million Moons
Design
Herm the Younger
Looking through old work to inspire the new.
My 2019 artwork Formations was all about exploring symmetry and composition. The stars are made from simple drawings, mirrored across six lines. Smaller stars are scattered around them to complete the effect.
A tall, vertical banner was the perfect setting for these beautiful shapes:
Not only was this proof that you can make something out of nothing, but it affirmed that the best art is made that way. Limiting your means stimulates deep creativity.
The process itself created some lovely surprises. When the drawings were scanned in, they appeared to glow. As it happens, this effect was caused by my settings being wrong:
Were I to remake this artwork now, I would retain much of this texture and lighting in the final piece. Yet the simplicity of this series does not offend five years later. It inspires, and that is the ultimate achievement of art.
To those who are reading:
Make good work.
It is all worth it.
I'm pleased to reveal the cover I designed for Voice of the Wild by Million Moons, the first single from their second full-length album.
The album is heavily inspired by Antarctic voyages of days gone by and tells the story of a doomed polar expedition. After digging deep into public archives, I found the remarkable photography of Frank Hurley (1885–1962), an adventurer and photographer present on those same missions.
From the official press release:
“Herm the Younger created the album artwork, collaging archival photographs from Antarctic expeditions to create a haunting landscape that conveys the beauty and isolation these explorers encountered.”
The main album artwork and covers for all seven tracks will be released with the album on July 5th.
The full case study is now live:
I May Be Some Time
Credits
Patron
Million Moons
Art Direction
Herm the Younger
Photography
Frank Hurley
I was honoured to be featured this week in the Semplice Showcase. To everyone coming from there, welcome and I hope you enjoy exploring my work.
You are encouraged to download the artwork you love, save it to your mood boards, and reach out directly if you have ideas for collaboration.
I've built several websites using Semplice since 2018. The plugin allows deep (but simple) customisation, it's a one-time payment, and their support team personally help you when you have questions.
It's a lovely feeling to find a well-designed, functional, and affordable tool. Semplice is exactly that. I highly recommend it for building design portfolios and other websites that need a special touch.
Special thanks to Tobias van Schneider and the Semplice team for featuring my work.
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New artwork – entitled Break – coming soon.
When working on an album cover, I always present two or three design options. Not only does this allow the musician to choose the best artwork, but it pushes us to explore several directions which interpret the music and brief in different ways.
Seen below are a selection of these from past projects:
From here, the favourite design is chosen and either finalised or refined further into the finished artwork. Work carries on patiently until something truly special is arrived at. That's what makes the difference.
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If you have a design project you'd like to work on, please reach out:
h@hermtheyounger.com
I would love to hear from you.
Based on the significant danger it poses to art, reality, and meaningful human labour, I oppose AI in all forms for creative work. This refusal will be practised and is not negotiable.
The proliferation of artificial imagery is undermining our dignity (for example, by “generating” and distorting human faces and forms). It poses a significant threat to the fundamental truths we all hold in common.
I promise to continue making exceptional work. I will strive to present a more meaningful alternative to our children, giving them a future that is true and beautiful, not false and compromised.
Every word and image I publish is made by myself.
I accept full responsibility for my work.
That will never change.
— Herm
I had the special opportunity to design both the inside and outside of Mike Futcher's first novel. The book, called Void Station One, will be released on November 1st with a case study showing the artwork we created in detail.
I was honoured to design the cover for Casey Well's debut album Impermanence, complete with CD packaging and a wealth of original artwork. This project is the culmination of several years of creative collaboration between myself and Wells.
Five singles* that I designed artwork for appear on the album. Never before printed, they are woven through the booklet where they accompany the lyrics of each song.
A full case study for this project will follow when the album is released.
*These singles are: Keep It Coming ⬩ Moving On ⬩ Brand New Age ⬩ TMB ⬩ Archives
Credits
Patron
Casey Wells
Design
Herm the Younger
Portfolio — About — Archive — Blog — Wallpapers
Herm the Younger is an artist and designer from the UK.
For inquiries and commissions please contact:
h@hermtheyounger.com