Vincent - Don McLean
Vinyl Sleeve Design During a turbulent time in his own life, McLean wrote this song after reading the life story of a certain Vincent van Gogh. Moved by his tale and eventual tragedy, he produced this beautiful and vulnerable single as almost a love letter to the artist. Originally released on the studio album American Pie in 1971
Don McLean wrote Vincent on a brown paper bag after the sudden urge to tell people that van Gogh wasn’t crazy. The lyrics are inspired in particular by the painting Starry, Starry Night.
By swirling deep blues, yellows and white, I was able to mimic the fluidity of the night sky that van Gogh managed to capture in his famous painting. Especially after deciding to pour them over the crinkled paper bag with McLean’s lyrics on.
Vincent notoriously cut off one of his ears, so on the sleeve’s behind there is single ear painted in the same technique as the front. Buying a silicone prop ear was indeed a first time purchase for me.