How DREAMY is the JUST RELEASED cover art for Katy Perry's second album? I love it. Katy channels her inner pinup girl here, managing to strike the PERFECT balance of sexy and innocent. The cover art was designed by well-known contemporary artist Will Cotton and unveiled Wednesday at the artist's Lower East Side Manhattan Studio (with Katy Perry present). The artist, who often uses candy-coated inspiration in his work, inspired the overall theme of Perry's "California Gurls" music video, where Perry actually poses on a cotton candy cloud much like on her album cover. Says Cotton:
“My collaboration with Katy started out as a mutual admiration society. I'm delighted that my paintings are the inspiration for this video. My work is about creating a utopia where all desire is fulfilled all the time, but where pleasure and delight can turn dark and dystopic. Katy embodies the archetypes that I look for in a subject. It was thrilling to work with her and to see her inhabit my landscapes.”
Cotton was hired as Artistic Director on the "California Gurls" video, where he worked with the set designer to create scenery based on his own artwork. Pretty cool and Perry has LOTS of respect for him as well:
“The day I found Will Cotton, I knew I wanted to live in his cinematic cotton candy world. A fantastically art-directed music video and one piece of timeless album artwork later, I can proudly say I am more than a fan. Will has been a sweetheart every step of the way and always open to collaborative ideas. I'm so happy to have discovered his candy-land, and so excited about our creative future together”Nothing wrong with a little mutual admiration! The album, entitled Teenage Dream, will be released on August 24th, preceded by a second single, title track "Teenage Dream" on August 3rd (the same day as Ke$ha's "Take It Off"!). This week, Perry's single "California Gurls" sits at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the sixth consecutive week. Way to go Katy! Chances are second single will be just as successful...not that I've even heard or anything. I am actually quite shocked and surprised that I haven't heard the track yet, considering it leaked last week. I do like a good surprise. In the mean time, why don't you go and check out the single artwork for "Teenage Dream." I'll be having me some sweet dreams tonight.
= Check out Katy Perry on the web: