Rolling Stone Magazine Cover

For this assignment, I was asked to illustrate an artist of my choice in a visual style that aligns with both the artist’s identity and the established aesthetic of Rolling Stone magazine. The goal was to create a cover illustration that feels contemporary while remaining recognizable within the magazine’s iconic visual language.

I chose Lana Del Rey as my subject due to her cinematic persona and lasting influence on modern music culture. The illustration was created with a limited, editorial color palette and simplified forms to evoke a timeless, print-forward quality that reflects both her image and Rolling Stone’s legacy. The restrained use of color allows the portrait to remain striking while maintaining balance with the magazine’s bold masthead and cover typography.

Throughout the design, careful attention was paid to hierarchy, contrast, and composition to ensure the illustration integrates seamlessly with the cover lines and overall layout. This project strengthened my skills in editorial illustration and reinforced the importance of adapting personal illustration style to fit an established brand while still honoring the subject’s individuality.