Websites

the covers

music as art

Stacey Smith

2023

Person in High Heels Walking on Golf Field

It Started With Flowers

It did!

As a freelance illustrator & designer by day I often take to just winding down and drawing with ear phones on by night....or at least I used to!!

Music is in my DNA, it is one of my biggest passions in life, it has always been there like an invisible friend to lift me and has really had my back through most of my life experiences.

In 2015 my then husband and partner of 10 years (to whom I had just opened a music venue with) shuffled off this mortal coil rather suddenly. Since then my shuffled cards have dealt me year after year of very close loss. Amidst the madness that was my personal grief, I had somehow lost the music....

One night I popped the radio on and 'Flowers' by Sweet Female Attitude came on, it bought with it a kind of crazy rush that I hadn’t felt in such a long time, it had instantly teleported me back to my 19 year old self. In that very moment something magical happened to me, life seemed like it could fill with some colour again, I then realised that I had been missing something very important to me.

Instead of dancing which was my immediate response, I picked up my Ipad and started the song again whilst making painterly marks for the duration, when it stopped so did I and this was the result. I hadn’t thought about it, I had just done it.

From there this project has grown and enabled me to once again face the music I had been struggling to listen to, I had been yearning I think for the day that I could get through one whole song without that rising lump in my throat or tears forming at the edge of that dusty tear duct.

So here I find myself not only hearing the JOY of music again, I've found myself drifting and really seeing the colour again. I'm making new marks again!! The stories that songs bring in this meditative process are once again soothing my soul….

Music IS love....

The Requests

You have engaged with this project so much that I have started to make requests for people. I feel like I’m becoming some sort of ‘art DJ’ and I LOVE it : ) If you have a song that means something to you, I would love to hear from you, making custom pieces of art from your chosen songs is a dream!

I enjoy listening to it ALL of it, everything from 1st dances, pillow cry tunes, smash & burn angry anthems and indeed your songs about loss. If you think it’s something you would love me to do for you or to gift to someone else then please get in touch.

thecoversart@gmail.com

Project: Nothing Compares 2U

Produced for Kay

A song that brings memories of her late father wishing he could see her in this new rich place in her life and share the joy.

Project: Wish You Were Here

Made for Jay

"If it's not too sad a song Stace"

Project: Gin & Juice

Made for Steph

‘It reminds me of sticky floors”

Project: Yellow Brick Road

Made for my mother

‘Addiction & overcoming was a thing that happened in our family home, Elton was a master at that”

The Portfolio

Thanks for looking!! Examples of the project so far which everyday expands. All art is made to the duration of each song. All work is available to purchase as prints in various sizes up to A0, please contact me for original commissions

All art is printed professionally onto FSC archival quality smooth art paper - sizes 6x4 up to A0

If you see a piece that you like then please free to contact me via Instagram or email with any enquiries or to place an order.

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie 1972

Across The Universe - The Beatles

On Tour

Latest exhibition at The Hop Vault Stourbridge 5th Nov - present.

I love popping up in various locations, if you would love to collaborate with me, then please get in touch.

Love Stace

thecoversart@gmail.com

Blog

What's Coming In 2023?

Time IS the answer..

A total exploration of process is something

I'm excited to dedicate some quality time to

this coming year. Easier said than done with

the cost of living crisis! However I'm a firm believer in reframing and allowing this to be a gift to myself this year where I can.

GIFT TO ME No.1

Get physical

As part of my fine art practice I used to paint a lot, we've seen how this series of work lends itself to using digital paintbrushes to allow for creating work in a very short space of time. I aim to branch out and get the physical paints out and perhaps tell my stories of albums in their entirety. Full album length canvas paintings is where I see myself towards the end of the year. I'll need time brushing up on painting and I’m really looking forward to this. I would love the opportunity to show others this process too.

GIFT TO ME NO.2

Develop

Explore everything, research, read, visit galleries, find new genres, discover, reach out and allow TIME for new ideas to fly....

Time IS the answer....

Blog

What's Coming In 2023

Man in White Button Up Shirt Standing on Beach

Record Player on Top of Flower Wallpaper

Close-Up Photo of Woman With Floral Art Tattoo on Her Face

Coming Soon

Telling My Stories Through Songs -

I have many life experiences, travelling through music & songs can take you to any destination. It can remind you of something, a memory an object, a colour, an event or person. I'll be exploring my own personal experiences from chosen pieces, writing, painting and making in response to it..also there might be dancing : )

The importance of music to our mental health-

Music has been proven to impact positively on wellbeing. The knowledge is there, so much research leads us to this and above all we know this about ourselves and our own joys associated to our own music. I want to explore the depths of this knowledge here, I'm really interested to learn the real impacts and what could be done more to implement this into the lives of people that may find it of great use.

Telling your stories-

The bit where you tell me your song choices and why they mean the world to you..who knows one day there could be a podcast or some sort of workshop here. I have loved your stories so far.

The Christmas Collection

Available as a 6x4 set of 4 greetings card or as singles