I'M PIERRE-ALAIN DURAND, A FRENCH DIGITAL ILLUSTRATOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER BASED NEAR NANTES. I'VE BEEN CREATING ARTWORK FOR MUSIC, BOOKS AND VARIOUS VISUAL PROJECTS FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I'M PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO DARK, ATMOSPHERIC AND DREAMLIKE IMAGERY, BUT I ALSO ENJOY WORKING ON VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROJECTS.

MOST OF MY WORK REVOLVES AROUND MUSIC AND PUBLISHING, BUT I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED EXPLORING OTHER CREATIVE FIELDS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHY, WEB DESIGN, PROGRAMMING AND VIDEO. A BLOGGER ONCE DESCRIBED ME AS A "ONE-MAN GRAPHIC ARMY" - PROBABLY BECAUSE I LIKE GETTING INVOLVED IN ALL SORTS OF CREATIVE PROJECTS. I ALSO CREATED AND RAN A MUSIC WEBZINE AND ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR SIX YEARS, AN EXPERIENCE THAT GAVE ME A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON MUSIC AND ITS MANY DIFFERENT SCENES.

Services

From album and book covers to complete layouts, posters, photography, digital graphics and print design, I work on all kinds of visual projects. Sometimes conventional, sometimes a little less so.

Every project is different. If you have something in mind, just get in touch and tell me about it.

General

Location: Europe, France, Nantes. Birth: 1978.

TOOLS

Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, After Effects, Inkscape, camera, graphic tablet, time and coffee.

References

I’ve worked for various clients from over the world such as : bands, labels, authors, trailer music companies, book publishing companies, magazines and more.

Bands

Some of my clients include: Scar Symmetry (Sweden), Solium Fatalis (USA), Kronos (France), Desultory (Sweden), Unflesh (USA), Kamelot (USA), Withering Soul (USA), Dismal (Italy), Mynskh (Austria), Dimlight (Greece), Rising Storm (Germany), Spire of Lazarus / Dayum (Austria), Whyzdom (France), No Return (France), Kami No Ikari (France), Queen Demon (Spain), Septarian (USA), Ayra (Spain), Dark Prism (USA), Sipario (Italy), Gohrgone (France), Psynonemous (USA), Nimrød (France), Neshorn (Poland), Seize the Vatican (USA), Evocatus (Australia), Assayer (USA), Solborn (Canada), Bliss in the Abyss (Sweden), Anabiosis (USA), Hybrid Sheep (France), Causing the Exile (Norway), Enemy of Reality (Greece), Conflict (Russia), Beyond the Shore (USA), Benighted Soul (France), End of the Dream (Netherlands), Zeroclient (USA), Burn Down Eden (Germany), Trustfall (Sweden), Deadline for a Murder (France), Slave One (France), Into Shadow (USA), Elysium Theory (USA), Thorns of Sin (USA), Sworn (Norway), Necrodeath (Italy), Ecnephias (Italy), Silentlie (Italy), The Burning Dogma (Italy), The Crawling (Northern Ireland), Mutum (Mexico), Sentience (USA), Montra (USA), Myrah (Sweden), Cyrax (Italy), Baht (Turkey), Hteththemeth (Romania), Taer (France), Díthreabh (France), Henriette B. (Switzerland), Mudface (USA), Thundra (Norway), Aboriscor (France), Cage of Torments (Norway), Chabtan (France), Nöhm Island (France), Rising in Vain (Norway), Heretical (Italy), Dysfunctional (France), Era of Hate (Slovenia), Heresic Synopsis (France), Whisper of Ba’al (France), 23rd Grade of Evil (Switzerland), Aldaaron (France), Mechanical Seed (France), Memories of a Dead Man (France), Salving Thy Amiss (France), A Strength Within (Belgium), Xeroderman (Belgium), Aexylium (Italy), Age of Athena (Canada), Agonize the Serpent (Sweden), Anima Dorme, Artas (Austria), Ascend the Hollow (Ireland / Germany / Netherlands), At the Dawn (Italy), Bayview Suspect (Australia), Before Us All (Austria), Birth of a King, Black Hole (France), Blackfall (USA), Brainblast (Colombia), Burning Ground (Italy), Cor Serpentii (France), Crimson Blaze, Crucify the Faith (Finland), Cybervoid (United Kingdom), De Profundis (United Kingdom), Deliria (USA), DV8R (USA), Eclipsing Eternity, Elegy of Madness (Italy), Elysatium (Denmark), Eternal Delyria (Switzerland), Gernotshagen (Germany), Impavidus (United Kingdom), Jade and the Astronauts (Hungary), Lesmor (Chile), Logical Terror (Italy), Łzy (Poland), Marhold (Switzerland), My Missing Half (USA), Nefastis (Italy), Negacy (Italy), Nightmare of Sovereignty (USA), Null Valley (USA), Nullingroots (USA), Ocean of Plague (Germany), Oceans on Orion (Israel), Okeanoz, Old Firm (Slovakia), Overdrunk (Canada), Protogonos (France), Red Fraction (Italy), Resurrection of the Wretched, Scars of God, Severus (USA), Shadow of Nyx (Australia), Sheogorath (Austria), Skindeep (United Kingdom), Slovenly World (France), Strained Nerve (Switzerland), Terminant (USA), Theta, Tragederia (Sweden), Trinity Site (Germany), Tyranny of Hours (USA), Tyrants of Chaos (Canada), Unscarred (France), Vagrant (Germany), Warpit (Canada), Wolfchant (Germany), Your Chance to Die (USA), Zenobia (Spain), and many more.

Music LABELS

Nuclear Blast, Unique Leaders Records, Metal Blade Records, Galy Records, Bakerteam Records, Scarlet Records, Kaometry Records and more.

Book companies

Oracom Editions, Fleuve editions, Pocket Editions, 10 | 18 Editions, Univers Poche, etc…

Others

Hell & Heaven Festival (Mexico), PSD Mag, Hex Magazine, Photo Creation, and more…

Exhibitions

Damned Exhibition @ Detroit (USA)

Books

  • “Pandemonium. An extreme metal art gallery” by Cristian Campos (Republic)

  • “Savoir tout faire avec Photoshop Vol. 4” (Oracom Editions)

  • “Graphiste World artbook #1” (Oracom Editions)

  • Various press & magazines features

  • PSD Mag tutorial + cover feature

  • Photo Creation Vol. 10 (interview + cover feature)

  • Hex Magazine #10

  • Interview for Reign In Art

  • Interview for Danish Fotograf blog

  • Interview for Heavy Metal Artwork by Alex Milazzo

Musical influences

Tool, Opeth, Satyricon, Gojira, Vader, Dead Can Dance, Equimanthorn, Cult Of Luna, Pantera, Porcupine Tree, Katatonia, Damageplan, Lamb Of God, Sepultura, Septic Flesh, Shining, Sunn0))), Arkhon Infaustus, Electric Wizard, Novembers Doom, Kylesa, Ghost, Inquisition, Drawbringer, Horseback, Gorgoroth, C17H19NO3, Faith No More, Edge Of Sanity, AC/DC, Motörhead, Diabolical Masquerade, Hypocrisy, Nile, Pitbulls In The Nursery, Necroblasphème, Minushuman, Arkan, Anaal Nathrakh, Destinity, Nevermore, Neuraxis, Code, Torche, Burst, Cathedral, The Melvins, Ufomammut, Aghast, Grotesque Through Incoherence, Noir Desir, Isis, Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana, Darkspace, Orthodox, Lisa Gerrard, Cannibal Corpse, Moonsorrow, Immortal, Finntroll, Korpiklaani, At The Gates, Bloodbath, Arch Enemy, Vital Remains, Orange Goblin, Emperor, Carnival In Coal, Brutal Truth, Krisiun, Vomitory, Eradicate, Gronibard, One Life Crew, Hatebreed, North Side Kings, Irate, Cataract, Purgatory, The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ulver, Dälek, Alice In Chains, Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles, Death In Vegas, Fantomas, Portishead, Björk, Massive Attack, Punish Yourself, Fania All Stars, Jaco Pastorius, Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Paco De Lucia, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Wes Montgomery, Weather Report, Assassin, Beastie Boys, and so many more… Also a lot of movie soundtracks.

Top five albums of all (this) time

  • Tool – Lateralus

  • Opeth – Blackwater Park

  • Electric Wizard – Dopethrone

  • Pantera – Far Beyond Driven

  • Nile – Annihilation Of The Wicked

Anything else?

Just ask !