One Size Fits All

The Cover Art

Calvin Schenkel interviewed by Steven Cerio, Seconds #32, 1995

One Size Fits All was basically an illustration based on a story, with some input from Frank as to what he wanted to see in it. Then there's interplay, too, where I would have ideas beyond that preliminary state. On One Size Fits All, the back is pretty much my concept.

Nik Zierenberg, "A Report On Cal Schenkel And His Beautiful Dog Ralf"

Cal explained to me briefly how one of his favorite Zappa album covers was done.

- Frank gave him a call saying it was time to start work on another album.
- The concept is established for how Zappa would like the album, entitled One Size Fits All to come out.
- The main concept came from a song on the album called Sofa
- Starts work on a rough drawing, through various thumbnail sketches
- Zappa & Schenkel exchange a few more ideas.
- More elaborate sketches are drawn, but not full scale... but more detailed visualizations then the thumbnail sketches were.
- The main piece on the front of One Size Fits All is a giant red sofa, which Cal used photo of his own sofa to draw from.
- Cal got the ideas for the back of the album, which is a twisted and deranged astrological kind of looking star map from old National Geographic sky charts, but everything is changed.
- A color rough was done called a study to show how the colors were to work
- Then the final piece was done... for the covers, and painted on panels.
- Then he did the type-setting, deciding fonts and sizes etc. and all was well.

One Size Fits All Stars

DRANO

A drain cleaner product. See also "I'm Lost In A Whirlpool."