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 PressHeisel, Scott (March 31, 2006). "All That Remains announce title, release date for new LP." Alternative Press. and "unquestionably one of the most talented graphic artists in metal today" by Chronicles of Chaos.Azevedo, Pedro (January 14, 2002). "Chaotic canvas of creation." Chronicles of Chaos. Smith has done work for many established rock and metal bands, including Death, Devin Townsend, Dead Industry, Katatonia, Nevermore, Anathema, CKY, Soilwork, King Diamond, Novembre, Avenged Sevenfold, Strapping Young Lad, Persefone, Riverside, Overkill, and Opeth.
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.Glenday, Duncan (March 31, 2005). "Cover art and cover artists" (Part 1 of 3). Sea of Tranquility. 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.Glenday, Duncan (June 1, 2005). "Cover art and cover artists" (Part 3 of 3). Sea of Tranquility. 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."Bennett, J. (November–December 2010). "Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare: Guitarist Zacky Vengeance and artist Travis Smith live a dark dream." Revolver. p. 106.
List of works Year Album Artist Credit(s)"[ Travis Smith – Credits]", "[ Travis Smith – Credits]". Allmusic. Retrieved May 31, 2010."[ Travis Smith – Credits]", "[ Travis Smith – Credits]". Allmusic. Retrieved May 31, 2010.1998 Elements of Anger Sadus Artwork Eyesore Skinlab Artwork, cover typeset Firestarter (Century Black compilation) Various artists Artwork, design Identity Four (Century Media compilation) Various artists Artwork Something Wicked This Way Comes Iced Earth Artwork The Sound of Perseverance Death Artwork1999 Adagio Solitude Aeturnus Artwork, design Alive in Athens Iced Earth Artwork Demons and Wizards Demons and Wizards Artwork, design, layout design, logo Disembody: The New Flesh Skinlab Artwork, design Dreaming Neon Black Nevermore Design, photography, illustrations The Fragile Art of Existence Control Denied Design Necroshine Overkill Artwork Still Life Opeth Photography, booklet design Tonight's Decision Katatonia Design, layout design, illustrations2000 Black Emotions Beseech Cover art Bloodletting Overkill Design, illustrations, layout concept Dead Heart in a Dead World Nevermore Design, illustrations, layout coordinator Identity 6 (Century Media compilation) Various artists Artwork Kings of the World CJSS Cover art Lightbringer Power Symphony Illustrations Manifestation Malevolent Creation Design, illustrations Only Law Is Survival Hate Plow Cover art Thane to the Throne Jag Panzer Cover art2001 Blackwater Park Opeth Design, cover design Dark Genesis Iced Earth Artwork, design, layout design Death's Design Diabolical Masquerade Art direction, design Horror Show Iced Earth Layout design, illustrations Identity 7: Deadly Sins (Century Media compilation) Various artists Artwork Into the Deepest Wounds Withered Earth Layout design Last Fair Deal Gone Down Katatonia Design, photography Mechanized Warfare Jag Panzer Artwork Novembrine Waltz Novembre Cover art, Art direction, Layout design, Illustrations Praying, Hoping, Nothing December Artwork, art direction, design, cover art concept, layout design Profoundemonium Trail of Tears Layout design, cover design Rapture Dragonlord Art direction, design, layout design, illustrations Resonance Anathema Sleeve art Tonight's Music Katatonia Photography and design Sweet Home Transylvania The Bronx Casket Co. Images, image design Terria Devin Townsend Design, layout design, illustrations The Towers of Avarice Zero Hour Arranger, producer, design, layout design, illustrations Winds Blow Higher Sleepless Design, cover art2002 Abigail II: The Revenge King Diamond Artwork Conceived in Fire Living Sacrifice Artwork Deadsoul Tribe Deadsoul Tribe Design, layout design, illustrations Deliverance Opeth Design, photography, execution Despise the Sun Suffocation Artwork, cover art concept Envenomed II Malevolent Creation Cover art Forgiving Eden A Triggering Myth Design, illustrations Karma in Black The Defaced Cover art Natural Born Chaos Soilwork Artwork, layout design No Reply Daylight Dies Photography, layout design Reflections of the I Winds Design, layout design Resonance 2 Anathema Sleeve art Resurrection Through Carnage Bloodbath Digital editing, design Souls Highway Beseech Cover art This Is My Blood Soul Embraced Paintings To Welcome the Fade Novembers Doom Artwork Tribute to the Gods Iced Earth Artwork, design, layout design Trinity Prototype Artwork, package design, layout design The Will to Kill Malevolent Creation Artwork Words as Carriers Matt Zane Artwork, layout design Wrecking Everything Overkill Design2003 Accelerated Evolution The Devin Townsend Band Graphic design, layout design Damnation Opeth Cover design, booklet design Emergent Gordian Knot Visuals Enemies of Reality Nevermore Artwork, layout design Exit Through Fear Society 1 Artwork Fall, I Will Follow Lacrimas Profundere Photography, layout design The Glorious Burden Iced Earth Layout design Identity Eight (Century Media compilation) Various artists Artwork Keepers of Jericho: A Tribute to Helloween, Pt. II Various artists Cover art Killbox 13 Overkill Design, layout design Labyrinth Labyrinth Artwork Metamorphosis Zero Hour Illustrations A Murder of Crows Deadsoul Tribe Design, layout design, illustrations The Puppet Master King Diamond Artwork Redemption Redemption Artwork, layout design Summoning Twelfth Gate Artwork, logo Strapping Young Lad Strapping Young Lad Visuals Viva Emptiness Katatonia Art direction, design Where Lovers Mourn Draconian Layout design, cover art2004 Acceleration Age of Silence Artwork, graphic design, photography, layout design Delores Lesion Lilitu Art direction, design, photography, illustration concept Feel. Melt. Release. Escape. Anti-Depressive Delivery Illustrations Glow Unjust Logo Gone Forever God Forbid Concept, illustrations, logo The Imaginary Direction of Time Winds Graphic design, images In an Outrage Chastain Cover art diEversity Entwine Cover art and design Insect Song Beyond the Embrace Artwork The January Tree Deadsoul Tribe Layout design, cover photo A Natural Disaster Anathema Producer Of Malice and the Magnum Heart Misery Signals Illustrations Out of Myself Riverside Design, layout design, illustrations Temporary Psychotic State Subterranean Masquerade Layout design, illustrations Twice Second Symphorce Artwork2005 Alien Strapping Young Lad Art consultant Arcane Rain Fell Draconian Layout design, cover art The Black Sessions Katatonia Design, layout design Ghost Reveries Opeth Art direction, layout design, illustrations Immersed Sinai Beach Artwork ReliXIV Overkill Layout design, cover art Torn Between Dimensions At War with Self Layout design, illustrations2006 Eclipse Amorphis Artwork The Great Cold Distance Katatonia Art Direction, Design Materia Novembre Cover art, art direction, Layout design, Illustrations Opeth Collecter's Edition Slipcase Opeth Design, photography, cover design, images, booklet design, executionThe Fall of IdealsAll That RemainsCover art AloneSolitude Aeturnus Cover art The New Black Strapping Young Lad Artwork and photography2007 The Blue Novembre Cover art, art direction, Layout design, Illustrations Live Consternation Katatonia Artwork"Katatonia: Spanish Dates Announced" (July 17, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 19, 2009. Ziltoid the Omniscient Devin Townsend Artwork Viides Luku – Hävitetty Moonsorrow Artwork, Layout Silent Waters Amorphis Artwork2008 Cynic Paradise Pain Cover art Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder Cradle of Filth Design producer The Wacken Carnage Bloodbath Artwork, art direction, design Watershed Opeth Cover design2009 Addicted Devin Townsend Project Artwork Anno Domini High Definition Riverside Design, layout design, illustrations Bloodstained Endurance Trail of Tears Artwork Carver City CKY ArtworkCleveland, Karen (Summer 2009). "A Guided Tour of Carver City." Urban Male Magazine: 64–65. Retrieved July 18, 2009. Skyforger Amorphis Artwork The Cold Flotsam and Jetsam Cover art"Flotsam and Jetsam: European Dates Announced" (June 26, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 19, 2009. Night Is the New Day Katatonia Artwork"KATATONIA: New Album Pushed Back To November" (August 18, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved August 19, 2009. Snowfall on Judgment Day Redemption Artwork"Redemption: Snowfall On Judgment Day Video Teaser Available" (June 29, 2009). Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved July 19, 2009.2010 Monolith In Mourning Artwork Curse of the Red River Barren Earth Design, cover art Everything Remains as It Never Was Eluveitie Artwork, cover photo, back cover photo The Evolution of Chaos Heathen Artwork, package design, layout Ironbound Overkill Cover design, layout The Obsidian Conspiracy Nevermore Cover art Omen Soulfly LayoutFor We Are ManyAll That RemainsCover design Monuments Northern Oak Cover design Nightmare Avenged Sevenfold Cover design, tray card art A Thin Shell October Tide Artwork and layout2011 Heritage Opeth Cover illustration The Beginning of Times Amorphis Illustrations Bloodbath over Bloodstock Bloodbath Illustrations and layout The Sound of Perseverance (reissue) Death Illustration Night Is the New Day (reissue) Katatonia Illustration Last Fair Deal Gone Down (reissue) Katatonia Illustration2012 Dead End Kings KatatoniaArtwork and design Throes of Absoluton 7 Horns 7 Eyes Artwork The Electric Age Overkill Cover art and layout2013 The Complete Works Strapping Young Lad Cover art and design Whole SOiL Cover art and design Shrine of New Generation Slaves Riverside Artwork Mythos Soul Embraced ArtworkAcoustified!Deron MillerArtwork Ghost Thief Living Sacrifice Artwork2014 Casualties of Cool Casualties of Cool Artwork Pale Communion Opeth Artwork and design White Devil Armory Overkill Cover art and layout2015 Love, Fear and the Time Machine Riverside Artwork A Dream in Static Earthside Artwork2016 Sorceress Opeth Artwork Selves We Cannot Forgive Black Crown Initiate Artwork2017 Aathma Persefone Artwork The Grinding Wheel Overkill Cover art and layout2018 Garden of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater Opeth Artwork Shadow Work Warrel Dane Artwork Wasteland Riverside Artwork2019 In Cauda Venenum Opeth Artwork The Wings of War Overkill Cover art and layout2020Redneck Vikings from HellÆther RealmArtwork2021 Paranoiattack 96 Bitter Beings Artwork2022 Black Bile Sinnery Design, layout design, illustrations2023 Let The Truth Speak Earthside Artwork2024 The Last Will and Testament Opeth Artwork2025Floodgate Imminent Sonic Destruction ArtworkFrozen Heart ~ Burning World Earthside Artwork
References
Additional references
Tagmatarhis, Alekos; Tsakonas, Giannis (January 16, 2005). "Interview – Travis Smith." Metal Perspective.
External links Seempieces, Smith's studio