Travis Smith

American heavy metal graphic artist
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroAmerican heavy metal graphic artist
PlacesUnited States of America
isDesigner Artist Graphic designer
Work fieldArts Creativity
Gender
Male
Birth26 February 1970, San Diego, USA
Age54 years
Star signPisces
The details

Biography

Smith's artwork for Nightmare was considered one of "hard rock's greatest album covers" for 2010 by Revolver.

Travis Smith (born February 26, 1970) is an American graphic artist best known for designing heavy metal album art. He has been called "renowned" by Alternative Press and "unquestionably one of the most talented graphic artists in metal today" by Chronicles of Chaos. Smith has done work for many established rock and metal bands, including Death, Devin Townsend, Katatonia, Nevermore, Opeth, Anathema, CKY, Soilwork, King Diamond, Novembre, Avenged Sevenfold, Strapping Young Lad, Persefone and Riverside.

History

Travis Smith was born on February 26, 1970 just outside San Diego, California. Growing up, Smith had no formal art education aside from a semester in high school. He got his start designing album covers for his friend's band, progressive metal group Psychotic Waltz. As of 2005, Smith has worked with nearly 100 bands. He currently resides in San Diego. When asked what his favorite artwork is at the time, Smith has responded: "Devin Townsend's Terria, Opeth's Blackwater Park, and Katatonia's Last Fair Deal Gone Down."

Art

Smith's work base primarily consists of album art for metal bands. Smith is known for a "dark and introspective" style that is largely photography-based, digitally composed with various other media. For example, in creating his art for Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare (2010), Smith "did a few actual painted textures with acrylics and watercolor, scanned them, and blended them with the whole picture. For some specific parts, like the skull and the girl," Smith "would digitally paint over photos and blend them into their originals."

List of works

YearAlbumArtistCredit(s)
1998Elements of AngerSadusArtwork
EyesoreSkinlabArtwork, cover typeset
Firestarter (Century Black compilation)Various artistsArtwork, design
Identity Four (Century Media compilation)Various artistsArtwork
Something Wicked This Way ComesIced EarthArtwork
The Sound of PerseveranceDeathArtwork
1999AdagioSolitude AeturnusArtwork, design
Alive in AthensIced EarthArtwork
Demons and WizardsDemons and WizardsArtwork, design, layout design, logo
Disembody: The New FleshSkinlabArtwork, design
Dreaming Neon BlackNevermoreDesign, photography, illustrations
The Fragile Art of ExistenceControl DeniedDesign
NecroshineOverkillArtwork
Still LifeOpethPhotography, booklet design
Tonight's DecisionKatatoniaDesign, layout design, illustrations
2000Black EmotionsBeseechCover art
BloodlettingOverkillDesign, illustrations, layout concept
Dead Heart in a Dead WorldNevermoreDesign, illustrations, layout coordinator
Identity 6 (Century Media compilation)Various artistsArtwork
Kings of the WorldCJSSCover art
LightbringerPower SymphonyIllustrations
ManifestationMalevolent CreationDesign, illustrations
Only Law Is SurvivalHate PlowCover art
Thane to the ThroneJag PanzerCover art
2001Blackwater ParkOpethDesign, cover design
Dark GenesisIced EarthArtwork, design, layout design
Death's DesignDiabolical MasqueradeArt direction, design
Horror ShowIced EarthLayout design, illustrations
Identity 7: Deadly Sins (Century Media compilation)Various artistsArtwork
Into the Deepest WoundsWithered EarthLayout design
Last Fair Deal Gone DownKatatoniaDesign, photography
Mechanized WarfareJag PanzerArtwork
Novembrine WaltzNovembreCover art, Art direction, Layout design, Illustrations
Praying, Hoping, NothingDecemberArtwork, art direction, design, cover art concept, layout design
ProfoundemoniumTrail of TearsLayout design, cover design
RaptureDragonlordArt direction, design, layout design, illustrations
ResonanceAnathemaSleeve art
Tonight's MusicKatatoniaPhotography and design
Sweet Home TransylvaniaThe Bronx Casket Co.Images, image design
TerriaDevin TownsendDesign, layout design, illustrations
The Towers of AvariceZero HourArranger, producer, design, layout design, illustrations
Winds Blow HigherSleeplessDesign, cover art
2002Abigail II: The RevengeKing DiamondArtwork
Conceived in FireLiving SacrificeArtwork
Deadsoul TribeDeadsoul TribeDesign, layout design, illustrations
DeliveranceOpethDesign, photography, execution
Despise the SunSuffocationArtwork, cover art concept
Envenomed IIMalevolent CreationCover art
Forgiving EdenA Triggering MythDesign, illustrations
Karma in BlackThe DefacedCover art
Natural Born ChaosSoilworkArtwork, layout design
No ReplyDaylight DiesPhotography, layout design
Reflections of the IWindsDesign, layout design
Resonance 2AnathemaSleeve art
Resurrection Through CarnageBloodbathDigital editing, design
Souls HighwayBeseechCover art
This Is My BloodSoul EmbracedPaintings
To Welcome the FadeNovembers DoomArtwork
Tribute to the GodsIced EarthArtwork, design, layout design
TrinityPrototypeArtwork, package design, layout design
The Will to KillMalevolent CreationArtwork
Words as CarriersMatt ZaneArtwork, layout design
Wrecking EverythingOverkillDesign
2003Accelerated EvolutionThe Devin Townsend BandGraphic design, layout design
DamnationOpethCover design, booklet design
EmergentGordian KnotVisuals
Enemies of RealityNevermoreArtwork, layout design
Exit Through FearSociety 1Artwork
Fall, I Will FollowLacrimas ProfunderePhotography, layout design
The Glorious BurdenIced EarthLayout design
Identity Eight (Century Media compilation)Various artistsArtwork
Keepers of Jericho: A Tribute to Helloween, Pt. IIVarious artistsCover art
Killbox 13OverkillDesign, layout design
LabyrinthLabyrinthArtwork
MetamorphosisZero HourIllustrations
A Murder of CrowsDeadsoul TribeDesign, layout design, illustrations
The Puppet MasterKing DiamondArtwork
RedemptionRedemptionArtwork, layout design
SummoningTwelfth GateArtwork, logo
Strapping Young LadStrapping Young LadVisuals
Viva EmptinessKatatoniaArt direction, design
Where Lovers MournDraconianLayout design, cover art
2004AccelerationAge of SilenceArtwork, graphic design, photography, layout design
Delores LesionLilituArt direction, design, photography, illustration concept
Feel. Melt. Release. Escape.Anti-Depressive DeliveryIllustrations
GlowUnjustLogo
Gone ForeverGod ForbidConcept, illustrations, logo
The Imaginary Direction of TimeWindsGraphic design, images
In an OutrageChastainCover art
diEversityEntwineCover art and design
Insect SongBeyond the EmbraceArtwork
The January TreeDeadsoul TribeLayout design, cover photo
A Natural DisasterAnathemaProducer
Of Malice and the Magnum HeartMisery SignalsIllustrations
Out of MyselfRiversideDesign, layout design, illustrations
Temporary Psychotic StateSubterranean MasqueradeLayout design, illustrations
Twice SecondSymphorceArtwork
2005AlienStrapping Young LadArt consultant
Arcane Rain FellDraconianLayout design, cover art
The Black SessionsKatatoniaDesign, layout design
Ghost ReveriesOpethArt direction, layout design, illustrations
ImmersedSinai BeachArtwork
ReliXIVOverkillLayout design, cover art
Torn Between DimensionsAt War with SelfLayout design, illustrations
2006EclipseAmorphisArtwork
The Great Cold DistanceKatatoniaArt Direction, Design
MateriaNovembreCover art, art direction, Layout design, Illustrations
Opeth Collecter's Edition SlipcaseOpethDesign, photography, cover design, images, booklet design, execution
AloneSolitude AeturnusCover art
The New BlackStrapping Young LadArtwork and photography
2007The BlueNovembreCover art, art direction, Layout design, Illustrations
Live ConsternationKatatoniaArtwork
Ziltoid the OmniscientDevin TownsendArtwork
Viides Luku – HävitettyMoonsorrowArtwork, Layout
Silent WatersAmorphisArtwork
2008Cynic ParadisePainCover art
Godspeed on the Devil's ThunderCradle of FilthDesign producer
The Wacken CarnageBloodbathArtwork, art direction, design
WatershedOpethCover design
2009AddictedDevin Townsend ProjectArtwork
Anno Domini High DefinitionRiversideDesign, layout design, illustrations
Bloodstained EnduranceTrail of TearsArtwork
Carver CityCKYArtwork
SkyforgerAmorphisArtwork
The ColdFlotsam and JetsamCover art
Night Is the New DayKatatoniaArtwork
Snowfall on Judgment DayRedemptionArtwork
2010MonolithIn MourningArtwork
Curse of the Red RiverBarren EarthDesign, cover art
Everything Remains as It Never WasEluveitieArtwork, cover photo, back cover photo
The Evolution of ChaosHeathenArtwork, package design, layout
IronboundOverkillCover design, layout
The Obsidian ConspiracyNevermoreCover art
OmenSoulflyLayout
MonumentsNorthern OakCover design
NightmareAvenged SevenfoldCover design, tray card art
A Thin ShellOctober TideArtwork and layout
2011HeritageOpethCover illustration
The Beginning of TimesAmorphisIllustrations
Bloodbath over BloodstockBloodbathIllustrations and layout
The Sound of Perseverance (reissue)DeathIllustration
Night Is the New Day (reissue)KatatoniaIllustration
Last Fair Deal Gone Down (reissue)KatatoniaIllustration
2012Dead End KingsKatatoniaArtwork and design
Throes of Absoluton7 Horns 7 EyesArtwork
2013The Complete WorksStrapping Young LadCover art and design
WholeSOiLCover art and design
Shrine of New Generation SlavesRiversideArtwork
MythosSoul EmbracedArtwork
Ghost ThiefLiving SacrificeArtwork
2014Casualties of CoolCasualties of CoolArtwork
Pale CommunionOpethArtwork and design
2016SorceressOpethArtwork
Selves We Cannot ForgiveBlack Crown InitiateArtwork
2017AathmaPersefoneArtwork
2018Garden of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks AmphitheaterOpethArtwork
Shadow WorkWarrel DaneArtwork
2019In Cauda VenenumOpethArtwork
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article on 10 Apr 2020. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.