Mallrats – Blu-Ray Cover Artwork 2021

Robert Sammelin made this Blu-Ray cover artwork for Mallrats, I imagine digitally, sometime in the recent past. The rendering of the figures is so clean, so smooth, it almost looks like a photograph, yet the heavy outlines and comic-book lettering of the title add a graphic dimension, creating a push and pull between styles. I’m drawn to the way Sammelin uses color to create depth and dimension. Look at the folds in the blue trench coat, they're built up with layers of darker and lighter shades of blue, creating a sense of volume and texture. The figures are staged against a white background, which makes the color pop and gives the whole image a feeling of lightness and airiness. Sammelin's work reminds me a little of Alex Ross, with that same attention to detail and commitment to realism. But there’s also something very contemporary about his style, a kind of playful self-awareness. Art is such a beautiful conversation.