Shaman Azul
Client Project, Album Cover Design
Commissioned by Miami-based band Inca Spirit, Shaman Azul is a meditative album inspired by Andean heritage and the element of water. The design translates Peru’s Rainbow Mountains into a flowing, monochromatic landscape that reflects the band’s serene, healing sound.
"Shaman Azul: Front Cover", Digital art, 4.75 in x 4.75 in, 2024
"Shaman Azul: Back Cover", Digital art, 4.75 in x 4.75 in, 2024
Concept & Research
Guided by the concept and early listenings to the band's soothing, culturally inspired tracks, my goal was to focus on keywords such as meditative, blue, calm, and water. I researched Peruvian cultural symbolism, landscapes, and the band's earlier albums for visual continuity.
Blue Shaman Concept 1
Blue Shaman Concept 2
Blue Shaman Concept 3
Early concept designs for the album's front cover, exploring different cultural influences and visual directions
Design & Process
In my early drafts, I sketched out three different ideas for the originally titled Blue Shaman:
1. The final blue rainbow mountains concept.
2. A sun embroidery: circular motif inspired by Peruvian textiles
3. A tribal pattern study: playful geometric shapes influenced by traditional motifs
After researching Andean, Peru, I was inspired by their unique Rainbow Mountains with multi-colored stripes to create them in a sweeping blue-toned illustration. The layered stripes of the terrain informed both the color palette and the clean, weight-balanced typography, which mirrors the thickness and rhythm of the mountain bands.
Tools: Procreate, Adobe Illustrator
Role: Lead designer, sole illustrator
Outcome
The artwork was featured on Inca Spirit's website to promote the album's upcoming release and will be used officially for the physical copies of the album. This project strengthened my experience in professional client communication, cultural research, and delivering a fully realized visual identity from concept to final artwork.
