An illustration for an album cover reads “Salvia Plath” and “The Bardo Story”. A yellow, surreal figure with a face stands in a red corridor, while a colourful bird flies beside them. The scene is framed by two orange and black chevron-patterned pillars.

Graphic Design: Psychedelic album artwork from designer Robert Beatty

Words: Liv Siddall
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Date: 19 December 2013; Work
Graphic Design

Sure this isn’t the most conventional kind of graphic design, but when you’re creating pupil-warbling posters and vinyl artwork for bands with names like Salvia Plath then it’s probably a good thing. Robert Beatty is flying the ripped, stained flag of classic, mindbending album artwork of yore. Soft fades, strange creatures, mystic doorways, incoming clouds – you name it, Robert’s work is like the locker door of a 1970s YES fan. With new work featured in the latest Mould Map and a whole bunch of amazing artwork made for bands including his own, Robert seems to be hacking away at this niche nicely. Hack away, friend. Hack away.

An illustration in shades of orange and yellow featuring surreal, organic forms. A distorted hand reaches down towards a ribcage, while a fragmented face floats in the upper right. — Above
Robert Beatty: Brad Laner: Nearest Suns

An abstract digital composition on a purple background. A red square frame contains a yellow organic shape and glowing white lines of light that curve and intersect. — Above
Robert Beatty: Steve Moore: Pangaea Ultima

An illustration of a minimalist, dark grey room with high walls. A glowing rectangular pillar stands to the left, while a dark open doorway and a single blue-lit window break the silence of the space. — Above
Robert Beatty: Oneohtrix Point Never – R Plus Seven

A 3D render of a pink, grid-like structure shaped like a stepped platform. The words “Ellie Herring” and “Kite Day” are integrated into the blocks in a bold, white typeface. The structure sits against a swirling, psychedelic background of pink, green and blue. — Above
Robert Beatty: Ellie Herring – Kite Day

An illustration for an album cover titled “Salvia Plath: The Bardo Story”. A yellow, fluid figure with a face floats inside a red room, while a green and orange bird flies beside them. The scene is framed by a border of orange and black chevron stripes. — Above
Robert Beatty: Salvia Plath – The Bardo Story

An illustration of a tarot card titled “SOFT TIMES.” A figure holds a small photograph over their face, while a golden beam of light shines from a sun onto their hand. Above them, a golden chalice sits within a square maze. — Above
Robert Beatty: Matt DUncan – Soft Times

A 3D render of a red, cratered sphere floating above a pink grid landscape. A beam of light connects the sphere to a dark, concentric circular void below. Text at the top reads “RAINBOW ARABIA” and “F.M. SUSHI”. — Above
Robert Beatty: Rainbow Arabia – FM Sushi

Above

Robert Beatty: The Chicago Underground Film Festival

Further Info

www.remainsstreet.com

About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

Graphic Design: Psychedelic album artwork from designer Robert Beatty

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