A chance phone call in June 2024 led to an unexpected collaboration for Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration faculty Dominic Avant, one that would ultimately contribute to a Grammy Award—Best Jazz Vocalist Album, Portrait.
Avant was contacted by Kyle Geon, producer for jazz vocalist Samara Joy, who asked whether he would be interested in creating the album cover for her upcoming release. Initially skeptical, Avant soon realized the opportunity was legitimate after a Zoom meeting with Joy and representatives from Universal Records.
“I remember being taken aback by how young and soft-spoken Samara was,” Avant said. “My first thought was that I felt like I was talking to one of my students.” At the time, Joy was just 24 years old and already had multiple Grammy Awards under her belt.
Curious about how his work had come to her attention, Avant asked Joy how she became familiar with his art. She explained that she discovered his work on Pinterest and was deeply moved by his series depicting African American women in a positive light. Joy was particularly drawn to Avant’s use of oil paint, feeling that the traditional medium naturally aligned with jazz, a genre rooted in history and currently experiencing a resurgence.
While excited about the opportunity, Avant faced a tight timeline. He had approximately 10 days to plan and complete the album cover. His usual process involves an in-person photo shoot with the client, but due to scheduling constraints and geographic distance, that was not possible. Instead, Universal Records provided reference images for him to use as a starting point.
The project unfolded from there through a series of Zoom meetings. In an early session, Avant shared a charcoal drawing rendered with a painterly approach, along with several color ideas to establish the overall mood. No final direction was selected at that stage. During a subsequent meeting, Avant presented several digital color studies designed to replicate the look and feel of an oil painting. Joy immediately connected with two of the options but found it difficult to choose between them. Ultimately, she placed her trust in Avant to make the final decision.
“There was no art director involved—it was just Samara and me going back and forth,” Avant said.
Back in his studio, Avant made the final selection while listening to Joy’s music on repeat, allowing the sound and mood to guide his creative decisions. Over the course of three days, the final oil painting came together.
The last Zoom meeting was dedicated to approval. Avant recalls watching Joy’s reaction as she saw the completed cover for the first time. “Her eyes lit up,” he said. “She absolutely loved it.”
The album would go on to win a Grammy Award, marking a significant milestone in both Joy’s and Avant’s professional careers. Reflecting on the experience, he describes the collaboration as both affirming and inspiring.
“Having the opportunity to work with such a talent as Samara Joy was a blessing,” Avant said. “I look forward to what’s to come.”
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