Audio File

Between trips to Baltimore, I worked on illustrating the June cover for Audio File Magazine. It’s a treat to do a magazine cover, and double that it’s local, just a few blocks from Casco Bay Lines.

The June issue highlights golden voices, the outstanding narrators of audio books.

I did a PILE of sketches, since the theme was pretty wide open, and included stars. How about five megaphones? Shout out?

Or a fun vintage metaphor?

Or the interior landscape of birdsong…

Another version, in which the birds circle the ear.

Groovy sound waves finding entry…

Summer listening, poolside…sporting headphones with a star-studded bathing suit.

I went back to the bird motif…with a chorus of birds within a large single bird perched upon a cord.

Same idea but with colorful sound waves that unite the birds.

Sometimes you just work a singular motif…another lyrical bird perched upon a headphone set.

More looping earbud cord, and a fanciful bird with a human eye.

I circled back to the star again.

Or a star with a flock of birds and sound waves.

For one of these roughs, I suggested a starry background. THAT was the thing that caught the attention of Editor/Founder Robin Whitten and Managing Editor Jenn Dowell. They asked for more ideas involving stars. That particular week, a black hole had been discovered, looking like a cosmic eye. Here is my black hole with an ear constellation.

I also tried Northern lights with an ear constellation over a dark landscape.

A listener to the galaxy…

Shooting stars…

Comets? I had a blast researching all of this.

The northern lights with comets got the green light, pun intended.

They asked for hand lettering, so imagine piles of lettering attempts here……

And voila, here is the June issue, fresh off the press.

Don’t worry, no sketch is ever wasted. I made this philatelic songbird for my Irish penpal. Ideas may float and sink, but sometimes find a new purpose.

Many thanks to Audio File for a starry venture. Check out their list of golden voices here and go listen!