‘Next day the earth shook and
The steeple crumpled
Outside my tent, eyes asparkle
Face up was a gargoyle
I’d woke with the rumble
Praise be there was only a goat killed
I feel pursued by a shadow
A giant, its footfall right behind us’

‘A Tightrope Walker Falls to Their Death in 1237’
Durham, Come Save Me
Faithful Johannes @fjwords
Out 3rd July

At this point I felt that the whole concept needed simplifying to look a lot less cluttered and have more impact.

Deep down I knew that Elizabeth Lee, the Edmundbuyers witch, was probably going to adorn the front cover. However, as Hob the tightrope walker was floating around my head since the start of the project, I thought I’d give him a last chance to make his claim.

I wanted a much more dynamic illustration if hob was to become the front star, so I sketched him from below, so he takes up most of the cover, with the central tower, towering over him and framing him in the shot.

I don’t know how well it reads on here, but I also quickly sketched out a silly cartoon, where our hero @fjwords replaces Hob the tightrope walker.

Finally, and for no particular reason, I did a quick sketch of @fjwords from a photo that I found on his socials.
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Pre-orders for the CD with a lyric sheet/ download available now at: https://faithfuljohannes.bandcamp.com/album/durham-come-save-me