I recently bought an album and thought cover and inside sleeve work was amazing. Its by a guy called Bastian Sobtzick, I think its screen printed, I love the style and most of his covers are for heavy metal bands which helps...
Ikko deserves a mention as his use of shape, composition and space has really informed my work, also Japanese culture in general, there is something about his work how things just sit right that I think I sub-consciously strive for in my own work...
I thought a quick word about some of the people who have inspired me in the 1st year of my study mite be a good place to start. Matisse is definitley somebody I should mention as I really like using shape and silhouettes in my work and theres no-one betterthan Matisse for that...