I of course love Crispin Finn's minimal and slightly retro approach, but also admire and dig their dedication to a color scheme. The UK based duo really has a clean, yet fun, style. I especially love this bag, this poster (of course), this tea towel, and this planner.
DKNG Studios recently did a series for Dead Rockstars: A Tribute to the Mortal Gods of Sound. Their contribution is "27 Club", a collection of 4 of the most iconic musicians that died when they were 27 years old. I really love (of course) their minimal treatment, and especially like the subtle addition of the DKNG letters in each print. Above is Jim Morrison; check out their blog to see Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain. As a commenter on their site pointed out, Cobain's birthday may be wrong, so slight deduction on the total score. Still an awesome set of posters.
I hate using the word "cute", but this series by Aled Lewis is just that. But also funny, and clever, so that balances out the super saccharine side of things.
You can check out more his work here, as well as buy prints here. More images after the jump.
Technically it may not be Summer yet, but Memorial Day has just passed so I say it's close enough. The air smells like BBQ, the heat is edging toward the oppressive triple digits, and I have two swimsuits I'm mulling over in a virtual shopping bag. It's hot and this means I have popsicles on the brain. I have an internal clock that seems to strike at various times of the year, creating romanticized images of activities that I have an overwhelming desire to incorporate into my day. Right on time, I'm gearing up for my multiple viewings of Jaws and am ready to eat sweet treats while wearing my cut offs. Welcome Summer! It will probably be a short-lived joyous affair but I bet we'll squeeze in some fun before saying adieu.
How gorgeous and simple is this print. The Best Part has disassembled images of the moon and rebuilt them into a diamond. Really. You can check out the detail of the work or buy a 24" x 24" print over on TBP's site.
Here we go again. In a part 2 to this, I am bringing you the dastardly shapes that will kill you. The options were sort of limitless... yet I settled upon these. I almost wish I had kept going and made it extra long, but I wanted to stick with 20 as with the other poster. But come on.... French FRY would have been a great follow to the "french foe". I'm not going to strain my brain about it though; I just knock these weird things out try not to look back. I sometimes feel like I have an inner voice after making this stuff that says, "ok do you feel better now" and then I answer "meh, sure I guess". And that's that. P.S. My brain is sort of like a generic brand of tapioca today... lots of work, no sleep, many power outages, and dull flat-lining thoughts. Apologies if it turns out I accidentally posted a grocery list or cute photos of dachshunds doing cute things that only I would care about. Oh and while I'm dolling out apologies... sorry Australia. You're great, and I'm not scared.
I want everything Mark Weaver makes but this print would be especially nice to have. Made exclusively for the Impossible Project in a limited run of 48, it's hand-numbered and signed. Buy here.
I continue to have some unfinished business from childhood, or have some yet unidentified condition that urges me to obsess over shapes and draw any parallel I can to objects across the world. The project is pure nonsense, and again it may be an exercise that only makes sense in my head, but in this instance I'm making a series that essentially categorizes the shapes in our life. It's called "These Shapes Will (________) You".
I started with "Cure". Prescription ads on TV seem to be burned into my mind. You have an ailment, they make a pill for that. You think you have an ailment, there's a pill for that. You want to prevent an ailment, there's a pill for that. In other words, there are a bunch of pills out there. I'm not downplaying the merits of modern medicine... someday I will probably need 1 or 10 to keep me going, but when you look at the options all together or lose the ability to filter out the number of possibilities, well it's a lot. A lot of big business, a lot of questionable science, a lot of money.
But I can't pretend that I had some grand statement to make in coming up this, that I'm trying to simplify what has grown into an overwhelming jigsaw of remedies ... I just like shapes.
Today is officially the last day of summer. Really, it feels like it came and went weeks ago. Thankfully it has been cooler here in Texas; usually fall-like weather doesn't present itself until a cold front putters in around December, so this is a nice change of pace.
As far as summer goes I had many goals I did not meet... far too few popsicles, no tubing, only a handful of BBQ's, and just one movie at the Paramount. Going to San Francisco rebalanced the fun scales thankfully. I did also manage to watch Jaws and Jaws 2 roughly 7 times, collectively. It's sort of a right of passage and my inspiration for this poster. I just love the sails from the 70's and most of these are a rough translation of what was shown in the J2. If you've never watched these films, 1) really?!?!, and 2) find it on Netflix now and grab yourself a cold treat as you bid adieu to summertime.
Mr. T was recently quoted as saying that he did not approve of the violence in the new A-Team reboot. And while I'm pretty sure he doesn't have an issue with the amped up action (it's more about being true to the wholesome spirit of the original?) the former wrestler must know that the secret to many a gun slinging movie, especially one that aspires to be in the franchise hall of fame, must have a healthy dose of kills. So get on board T and welcome the magical ingredient that makes mothers cringe and movies rise to the top. This is summer; it's the way things have to be. Just ask Rambo... who's on what, an upcoming 5th installment of the series. Now that guy can blow things away.
Sorry no videos to accompany the post this week. I didn't even know where to begin and quit looking before I really tried.
With the release of Karate Kid today, I decided to dedicate this week to the wonderful remake trend. I mean once really isn't enough. Sequels aren't enough. Let's make a new improved version and start the whole process over again. It's hard coming up with an original story. Tweaking a script and filling the roles with super relevant up-and-coming stars is a great strategy. Release in a warm sunny climate for optimal results. It's a perfected science.
I don't know about you but I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for: Fright Night Arthur Footloose The Thing Overboard Red Dawn The Warriors
I meant to post this last Friday, but I ran out of time. Then I got sick. And now, well here we are. These movies don't have much do to with summer films -- a theme I've been sort of trying to stick to -- but it's the first thing that came to my mind in keeping with the theme of the (last) week. Food is not the main character, but makes a memorable cameo. Dig in.
Movies geared towards teens don't really go for it like they used to... pants off, hormones ready to dive-bomb anything with a pulse. The closest thing I can think of is the American Pie series, and that was what, almost 10 years ago. Where are the films that are full of gratuitous nudity, raging parties, inexperienced horn-dogs with clueless friends as sex mentors, and maybe a hot tub or two. Cartoony and sexually amped-up, the 80's undoubtedly mastered one of my favorite comedy sub-genres. Yes, they're over the top and usually lacking much of a plot, but they're the perfect match for summertime... teenage hi-jinks and the quest for a little nooky. I guess nooky is putting it mildly (yes, I'm secretly 80 years old).
Un-Hughesian, they're good in that bad way, like spiked punch or coconut scented tanning oil, not at all sweet or poignant. Not coming-of-age, but coming of, well nevermind. I'm almost shocked that parents weren't on a constant dose of anti-hypertensives. But, I saw a lot of them as a kid and things worked out ok. Right? Anyway, my best guess is we can thank an onslaught of STDs for almost killing this kind of movie. Thank goodness for late night cable to keep the memories alive.
There were so many to choose from but I think I've managed to select the greatest hits. BEWARE, the 80's were less censored when it came to trailer content, so there's some jiggle and horizontal dancing in a few.
Now what would summer be without a disaster movie? Explosions, time running out, you against the world (or a madman, or technology, or health epidemics, or nature's wrath...), and of course a plethora of horribly dramatic one-liners and bad decisions. Maybe there's something special about the unbearable heat outside that makes our hankering for cheesy nail-biters stronger. Maybe it's heat stroke.
And movies like Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Armageddon, Dante's Peak would be nothing without Irwin Allen and the 70's. Once again the decade that brought you a killer fish also laid the groundwork for another film genre. In the 70's however, the movies generally touted an "all-star" cast... sort of a bolder precursor to The Love Boat.
Movie trends of course come and go, and interest has waned a bit since the late 90's early 00's, just as it did in the early 80's, but as the recent (and so realistic) 2012 reminded us all there's an expiration date on Earth, and as long as that clock is ticking we will be interested in things that go boom.
For a taste of the best of the best* see below:
*yeah, China Syndrome may not be a textbook disaster movie but close enough...
Hey, remember me? I could throw out a bunch of excuses explaining my absence but it would be boring or redundant so I'll just leave things at "hello!" and get on with it...
So, the other night during the block of TV time that hosts the crème de la crème of crap I came upon the movie Tentacles. I was flooded with excited thoughts... what IS this garbage; how have I never seen this; why does this somehow feel familiar. Final thought, why does this stuff make me so very happy. Then I think I fell asleep about 15 minutes in. I vow to finish what I started by summer's end.
Anywho, seeing part of this movie made me think of an actual favorite movie, Jaws, which made me think of the obvious... summer movie season. As someone obsessed with all things movies (and I fear a sometimes deterrent in overcoming laziness, but will nonetheless remain an endless love) I've decided that I'm going to do a weekly post showcasing some of the summer's best/worst/classic/etc offerings. As my list is being compiled I'm noticing it's very 70's heavy but I've come to think that's where the blockbuster trend truly began.
Jaws in many circles is considered to be the movie that started it all, and in regards to this particular post, not only did it raise the bar for event films and sky-high grosses, it buried the bar in its endless "don't go in the water" knock-off inspirations. I wouldn't have it any other way. Behold some choice examples below. P.S. Extra points to the screenplay writers for "Ocean Beach" and "Lost River Lake"... solid names. But maybe that's the least of their transgressions.
This year I vowed to finally make my way into the Flatstock poster show part of SXSW. Somehow in years past I have missed it and I couldn't let that trend continue. With excited eyes opened and a determination to keep my wallet closed I walked into a little bit of paradise. Nearing the end of the line I came upon a wall of posters that made my heart happy and I knew I had arrived at The Small Stakes/aka Jason Munn booth. And manning it was none other than the designer. Being my usual unsmooth tongue-tied self I professed my undying love for his work, sounded like an A-1 jackass, and of course broke the promise to myself to not spend money. How could I walk away empty handed. So I bought the above Why poster and I do not feel one bit guilty.
My new oath was that I only purchase one poster. I stuck to that (mainly dictated by my thinning stash of cash) however really liked what I saw, especially from the following designers:
I'm so thrilled about my recent partnership with Austin record label Artifact Workshop and musician Neiliyo. I made the poster and graphics for the "album" (see below). Tomorrow is the CD release party at Club DeVille and it should not disappoint. Between AW's atypical (and creative packaging) and flair for creating an interactive experience, and Neiliyo's non-stop explosion of pastel energy will be a night to remember.
The CD's tracks will be available through a time-sensitive link which is printed on one-of-a-kind slap bracelets (which I have blurred in the above photos). SLAP BRACELETS! I never dreamed that anything I made would appear on such a tacky (in a good way) relic of youth, but I am elated. Seriously. The theme for the evening is "Game Night", which ties into the album, and a variety of games will be happening throughout the evening. Hopscotch, telephone, musical chairs, spin the bottle are the featured attractions, but I believe board games will be available as well. For more details check out Artifact Workshop's site or the Facebook Event page. Last but not least, to get you in the mood AE is also offering a free download of one of the songs, Hopscotch. Check it out here.
Hope to see a big turn out. If you want to say hi I will probably be the jackass trying to remember how to play hopscotch and failing miserably.
