As far as I could remember, I've always heard the rumor that Vanity was the one to do the artwork on the 1999 album cover. Denise loved to draw and was an artist that created intricate art pieces like the sculpture she made for Prince that was shown on the Regis And Cathy Lee show. https://youtu.be/WfvWsQP50IQ She was also inclined to draw erotic illustrations and had one of her provocative drawings featured in the 1992 Actors As Artist book along with some very well respected A-list actors. Her artwork is usually very complex, layered, unique, and provocative. The 1999 album cover with its hidden depictions, and multiplex artisanship was certainly that! The drawing is similar to and parallels some of her other work.

In a 2017 Live Stream, Jill Jones touched on Denise's influence and work on the 1999 cover. She said Denise was a phenomenal artist and Prince who was cutting pictures from magazines to initiate the art, was inspired by some of Denise's artwork to start what he did on the cover. She said he had it in his office and some of the people who came around doodled and drew on it. Denise corrected it and added a lot of work to the layout. Jill's reflections came right on the wings of an interview by Steve Parke, where Steve shared and confirmed that Prince told him that Denise was a very good artist and was actually the one who drew the artwork on the 1999 album cover. Listen to it here starting at 27.25. https://youtu.be/eD4axJzigHE.

[Edited 3/31/19 19:02pm]

Thanks

bsprout said:

bsprout said:

endiadj said:

luvgirl said:

jazzz said:

One of the most fascinating items on the My name is Prince expo in Amsterdam was a polaroid photo of the 1999 cover art in progress. It looked like a much larger piece, with many more drawings and cut out magazine photos. Even one of Marilyn Monroe. There were drawings of a red corvette, a woman with a horse head, an indian, bass guitar, sky scrapers, rockets, womans legs with something in between that looked like a large p*n*s and much more ... and a shining sun between the famous words PRINCE and 1999. These latter words were next to each other, not above/below. Also the graffiti words UPTOWN from the DM album. Yes, how come I remember this so well...? Hope this photo will be published soon...

Here it is. Some interesting cut outs presented for sure.

In the liner notes of the album it wud have been nice if Vanity was given credit 4 her contribution. "Album Cover Art by Vanity". When the people around u make an effort, highlight this, it's called being a team player.

jazzz said:

jungleluv said:

jungleluv said:

In the liner notes of the album it wud have been nice if Vanity was given credit 4 her contribution. "Album Cover Art by Vanity". When the people around u make an effort, highlight this, it's called being a team player.

And Jesse 4 playing Guitar on "1999"

luvgirl said:

jazzz said:

bsprout said:

jazzz said:

TheTruth123 said:

jazzz said:

. https://images.app.goo.gl...AatKQLY9EA . Well... look at the way the sun in drawn on this note and compare it to the 1999 polaroid. It’s not about who is right or wrong, or how great Vanity can draw, or who said what. It is just about using your own eyes and making your own judgement. That’s also what people do who judge the authenticity of a Rembrandt. [Edited 4/2/19 22:10pm]

I was just going to say... the sun looks like Prince’s drawing.

Right. There is much evidence of Prince's talent in art as well. We have the thread here of one of his oldest notebooks that includes his art from 1978-1980, and pictures of many other notes/papers with his drawings on them. I'm sure that Vanity may have inspired and/or helped with some of the cover, but I have no doubt that Prince was primarily involved in the design. He usually gave art and design credit to those who created his album art and/or other designs, so I think he would have done the same on this record.

TheTruth123 said:

bsprout said:

Wow, that’s great. Especially in light of the comment Prince made about her when he was memorializing her at the Piano and a Microphone concert: the one about loving her ‘for the artist she was trying to be’. I thought it was such a backhanded compliment. I know she meant a lot to him but I remember reading this in the paper the next morning and being pissed for her.

That’s just the way Prince spoke. He was a very honest man.

Right. I think he was just referring to her trying to be a successful singer/performer, which he had already accomplished. He was not referencing her drawings or paintings. He was the one who persuaded her to go into singing/performing when she had actually been pursuing an acting career.

violetcrush said:

violetcrush said:

jungleluv said:

In the liner notes of the album it wud have been nice if Vanity was given credit 4 her contribution. "Album Cover Art by Vanity". When the people around u make an effort, highlight this, it's called being a team player.

yeah,I can't see why he didn't give her credit.It makes people happy to know that their contributions are appreciated and properly credited.

luvgirl said:

violetcrush said:

Right. There is much evidence of Prince's talent in art as well. We have the thread here of one of his oldest notebooks that includes his art from 1978-1980, and pictures of many other notes/papers with his drawings on them. I'm sure that Vanity may have inspired and/or helped with some of the cover, but I have no doubt that Prince was primarily involved in the design. He usually gave art and design credit to those who created his album art and/or other designs, so I think he would have done the same on this record.

I absolutely think that Prince had a hand in the cover art. Of course he did. He’s Prince. He probably did draw the sun on the draft, but there’s no denying that Denise had a strong affiliation - doing a lot and most of the artwork on the 1999 album cover. So much so, that Prince wanted to acknowledge her work to Steve Parke. Yes, Prince had a roll in the art. Not really looking to get in a battle about that... I shared Jill Jones comment about Vanity being a big influence in regards to the design and that she drew a lot of the artwork on the album. I shared the link to the interview where Steve Parke said Prince told him that Denise drew the artwork... No reason why two separate Prince associates supporting the same claim shouldn’t be believed. There’s a reason why Vanity's name has always been entangled in the 1999 cover artwork, and there's a reason why Prince told Steve Parke that she was the one to draw it. [Edited 4/7/19 4:56am]

I agree with that. He had Susannah do the cover art to what would have been the Dream Factory album, so it seems he did take inspiration from, and/or use the art of his girlfriends/muses for his album cover art during that time. Denise was into painting and sculpture too, so it makes sense.

bsprout said:

violetcrush said:

Right. I think he was just referring to her trying to be a successful singer/performer, which he had already accomplished. He was not referencing her drawings or paintings. He was the one who persuaded her to go into singing/performing when she had actually been pursuing an acting career.

I didn’t think he was referencing her drawings or paintings; I interpreted it as he was referring to her artistic ability in general. The reality is none of us will ever truly know what was in his head. We can only speculate.

Okay. To me, it's pretty literal with regard to his words. Denise knew nothing about singing or performing when he met her. She started as a model and wanted to be an actress. Prince convinced her to move to MN and to lead his girl group concept. She had to learn from him. She had stated in interviews that she knew she was not a great singer. I have no doubt she spent long hours practicing and improving her vocals in order to perform. Even when she did start performing she had Jill Jones behind the curtain singing backup to enhance the songs.

*

He was just being honest with his comment. It wasn't meant to be demeaning or critical.

luvgirl said:

jazzz said:

One of the most fascinating items on the My name is Prince expo in Amsterdam was a polaroid photo of the 1999 cover art in progress. It looked like a much larger piece, with many more drawings and cut out magazine photos. Even one of Marilyn Monroe. There were drawings of a red corvette, a woman with a horse head, an indian, bass guitar, sky scrapers, rockets, womans legs with something in between that looked like a large p*n*s and much more ... and a shining sun between the famous words PRINCE and 1999. These latter words were next to each other, not above/below. Also the graffiti words UPTOWN from the DM album. Yes, how come I remember this so well...? Hope this photo will be published soon...

Here it is. Some interesting cut outs presented for sure.

So, it looks like Prince had the basic concept at the top, along with many other images he had cut out, and then decided to just use the "Prince 1999" styling on the cover.

*

I guess Denise took that original styling, moved the text, took out the sun, and added the shapes/features inside the text and the color scheme. Although, it looks like many or most of the figures inside the text are already there in this picture. Wondering if Denise originally drew that piece or if she just added the colors. It just looks very "Prince-esque" to me - very much his style.

Thanks to Steve Parke for sharing what Prince told him. It does looks like something Vanity would do if you look at her sculpture with all those hidden compartments. That chick got something hidden in all the crevases. Kind of like this cover. I wonder if Steve Parke talked about this in his book too? All around this album is amazing and different. The drawing, the songs. I'll never stop loving the song Little Red Corvette. This drawing looks like the writing on the Little Red Corvette single he gave to Vanity too. It said on the auction site that either Prince or Vanity drew it. Go figure.

violetcrush said:

luvgirl said:

Here it is. Some interesting cut outs presented for sure.

So, it looks like Prince had the basic concept at the top, along with many other images he had cut out, and then decided to just use the "Prince 1999" styling on the cover.

*

I guess Denise took that original styling, moved the text, took out the sun, and added the shapes/features inside the text and the color scheme. Although, it looks like many or most of the figures inside the text are already there in this picture. Wondering if Denise originally drew that piece or if she just added the colors. It just looks very "Prince-esque" to me - very much his style.

.

Interestingly, the polaroid photo is attached by tape to a bigger sheet of paper. Besides some remarks by typewritter at the top of the paper regarding music credits, on each side of the "Prince 1999" drawing, next to the photo, there is a marking in purple pen together with the handwritten remark: "Prince - is this the lettering?". This proves that he did not only drew this "very Prince-esque" work, but also was in total charge of the final way it would be presented on the sleeve.

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BTW: the "Prince 1999" text on the polaroid is already completely finished, i.e. in the same state as later presented on the LP cover. it is hard to see on the uploaded image though...

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luvgirl said:

jazzz said:

. https://images.app.goo.gl...AatKQLY9EA . Well... look at the way the sun in drawn on this note and compare it to the 1999 polaroid. It’s not about who is right or wrong, or how great Vanity can draw, or who said what. It is just about using your own eyes and making your own judgement. That’s also what people do who judge the authenticity of a Rembrandt. [Edited 4/2/19 22:10pm]

It is noted that Prince started the initial draft. It's quite logical that he started with the drawing of the sun. It did not appear on the album cover however - which Prince himself specifically acknowledged was drawn by Denise Matthews. [Edited 4/3/19 3:34am]

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The sun DID appear on the album cover ... twice at least ... look again in the letter "P" using your own eyes...

It's there, along with "the ladder", "the symbol" and "The Revolution"! Oh yes, all concepts Denise came up with. And after finishing the drawing, she continued to compose "Purple Rain" and "Kiss!