Swans @ Metro 2012

I was asked by the amazing , heavy, lyrical, legendary, storied, and dark band Swans to make a poster for their most recent show in Chicago this past week.  After, what 25 years or so as a band they are making their best music.  Listened to the recent release "The Seer" many times while working on this. 
The poster I made for last year's show at The Bottom Lounge was the first, or second, depending on how you look at it, part of a story the two posters make.  Traveling up above the clouds on a ricketly ladder to then leave your possessions and live in the life beyond....or the reverse.  A descent from paradise into contemporary life.  The posters were meant to hang next to each other in this regard.

Here's the new one:

 

and here is the poster from last year:

 

The posters are 18 x 24 and are available in my shop, Here, and Here.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Life During Wartime

I was asked by Rich Meisenheimer of Blank Space gallery in Connecticut to contribute a piece for an upcoming show, "Same As It Ever Was", dedicated to the music of the Talking Heads. I  immediately picked "Life During Wartime", off of the seminal record "Fear of Music".
It's a song filled with imagery, hilarity, and horror.

"Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons, packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway, a place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance, I'm getting used to it now Lived in a brownstone, lived in the ghetto, I've lived all over this town
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around No time for dancing, or lovey dovey, I ain't got time for that now
Transmit the message, to the receiver, hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas, don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading, everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime, I might not ever get home
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around This ain't no Mudd Club, or C. B. G. B.'s, I ain't got time for that now Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit? Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peanut butter, to last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no headphones, ain't got no records to play
Why stay in college? Why go to night school? Gonna be different this time Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard, I can't write nothing at all This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around I'd like to kiss you, I'd love you hold you I ain't got no time for that now
Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock, we blended with the crowd
We got computer, we're tapping phone lines, I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives, or in a suit and a tie I've changed my hairstyle so many times now, I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender, we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving, you ought to get you some sleep
Get your instructions, follow directions, then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day, whatever you think is best Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks? They won't help me survive.
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace, the burning keeps me alive Try to stay healthy, physical fitness, don't want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don't take no chances, you ought to get you some sleep..."

 The print will be available from me in about a week or so, after the gallery show has come down.

Andrew Bird @ Charleston Music Hall

This is a poster commissioned by Andrew Bird for his concert at the Charleston Music Hall in Charleston , S. C. on October 6th, 2012. The poster is a 3 color affair, with a sweet and subtle transparent metallic silver layer.

18 x 24, edition of 125. Small number to sell online.


Available now in the shop!

Dirty Three @ Lincoln Hall

 

This is a poster for a performance by the legendary , incendiary, and downright amazing Dirty Three. The poster is 18 x 24 inches, is printed in shades of golds and coppers and is a signed and numbered edition of 150. A Robin. In Cat's clothing.

Available now in the shop!

Melvins Lite

 

This is a poster commissioned by the Melvins for a show as Melvins Lite- the lineup of Buzz Osbourne, Dale Crover, and amazing stand up bassist, Trevor Dunn. The poster is part of the 51 States/51 Days tour, an attempt to get in the Guinness Book of World Records!
The image is a Crow In Wolf's Clothing. 2 color screenprint, s/n edition of 200. 18 x 24 with metallic gold/copper background on Ivory stock.

Available now in the shop

Explosions in the Sky @The Chicago Theatre process video

My pal Nate Azark was kind enought to lend me a camera with a stop motion type feature on it AND edit all the footage down into this video for you who are curious about the process I use in scratchboard and screenprinting.  Guest starring my kids and shop assistant Tom Kelly!

Guided By Voices @Metro

 

A chance to make a poster for Guided By Voices  is one I never pass up.  Here is a poster for their recent show with Chicago's excellent Radar Eyes at a Metro 30th anniversary concert.  I took a sketch from a recent series I've dubbed "The Analog Army" and used it as the basis for this poster:  walking Marshall Stack, bag of tools, bolt of lightning.  Ready to go!  2 colors, metallic gold and black on heavy ivory stock.  18 x 24.   The posters sold out at the show- I have my remaining copies up in the shop for sale now.

Thought Gathering

 

"Thought Gathering" art print, available now in the shop.  4 colors, 18 x 24 with metallic golds and coppers.

Fortress of Solitude

"Fortress of Solitude"
A print built around the idea of finding a place, any place, where you can think and find clarity and peace of mind. When I was a kid reading Superman comics, Superman would have to fly to the NORTH POLE to that insanely huge palatial fortress crammed with memorabalia and sheer amounts of STUFF. He could have spared himself the trip and pared down his needs to a mountaintop and a tent. Or a backyard and a blanket thrown over his head.
The print is 12 x 24 inches on White cover stock. It is 3 layers of screenprinted magic, the second layer being a metallic silver. Signed and numbered in an edition of 200.



Available now in the shop.

Glen Hansard @ The Vic Theatre

 

I was commissioned by Glen Hansard to make a poster for his sold-out show at the Vic Theatre as part of his solo tour. I'm a big fan of his work from the Frames through the present, so this was of course, a fun piece to make.

The poster is 4 screens with metallic gold and copper , and is a signed and numbered edition of 160. I have approx 50 to sell. The size is 18 x 24 inches.
These are up in the shop now.

Explosions in the sky- Chicago Theatre

 

I was very pleased to be asked by Explosions in the Sky to make a poster for their performance at the historic Chicago Theatre in Chicago.
The poster is printed with blue and metallic silver and is a signed and numbered edition of 175, most of which went to the venue the night of the show. Size is 18 x 24 inches.

I have a small number available now in the shop.

Back from Bonnaroo, New Mogwai poster

Mogwai Bonnaroo poster held up by good pal Lance Saunders of SLC

Just returned from the annual trek to Manchester TN, to participate in the American Poster Institute sale at Bonnaroo 2012.  Many thanks to all the kind folks I talked with about music and art as well as a hearty thanks to those who purchased work from me.  The support always means a great deal.
Its always a crazy affair, running a tent from 10 am to 2:30 am 4 days in a row at a music festival.  One nice thing this year is that I was afforded the opportunity to make a poster for one of my favorite bands, Mogwai.  They put on a sublime and magnificent performance, one that seeing from 3 feet away left an indelible impression on me.  I chose to go "old school punk rock" on the artwork for this poster, keeping the style raw and bold, taking cues from the song title "How to be a Werewolf" off of "Hardcore will never die, but you will (2011)"

I have approx 12 copies left from the edition , they are up for sale now in my shop.

Fortress of Solitude Process

Final drawing for "Fortress of Solitude" print, which is being printed this week!

Fab.com Sale!

 

I have a new flash sale up on Fab.com that launched today.  That means the sale is over in 2 days, folks.  Head over for some good deals on my prints, posters and shirts!

Fortress of Solitude Process

Started the drawing for a new print, "Fortress of Solitude"

Test Prints

More Test prints that I've put up in the store:

The Velvet Underground for GIG show

Warner Brothers Records presents
GIG
A poster makers all-access pass to the Warner Brothers Records catalog.
Curated by Michael Coleman

Warner Brothers Records invites an international collection of artists, graphic designers and printmakers, currently working in the medium of contemporary hand-printed gig posters, to create an edition of silk screened posters representing your ideal fantasy gig poster for ANY of the musicians represented over the history of the Warner Brothers Music catalog. These posters will be exhibited at the iconic Warner Brothers Records headquarters in Burbank, CA. May 4 - June 29th, 2012, with an invitational opening reception Friday, May 4th, 2012.

I chose the Velvet Underground, naturally.  The "fantasy" gig is the band playing on my actual date of birth at the Grave of Charles Baudelaire, who was a heavy influence on Lou Reed's writing.

There are 2 versions, metallic silver on white paper: Edition of 50:

 

And an edition of 75 with gold metallic inks on manilla stock: 

 

My copies of these posters will go on sale shortly.

Moog Monster in Blue

Moog Monster 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the Moog Monster.  I decided to run another colorway and here it is: The Moog Monster in his blue period.  Up now in the shop in a limited edition of 100.  S/N.  18 x 24 on French Blue stock.

Test Print Sale Blowout !

 

Ok.  Did I really just use the word "Blowout"?  Sigh.  Well, I am listing a ton of really rad test prints we have had in the flat files for a while.  Ive listed about 65 so far, more going up over the next few days.  Check em out in the store! http://groundup.bigcartel.com/category/test-prints

Retribution Gospel Choir Revolution Tour poster

5 color screenprint tour poster for Retribution Gospel Choir

Tour poster for the excellent Retribution Gospel Choir.  Pick one up this week at one of their shows!!!  And go to their site to download the new Revolution EP for free!

3 Floyds Dark Lord Day Poster 2012

Original Scratchboard drawing, 16 x 20 inches.

2 Color Screenprint on White Stock

2 Color Screenprint on Manila Stock

Commissioned by the honchos at the Mighty 3 Floyds Brewing Co for this year's Dark Lord Day party.  Each year , for those of you not in the know, 3 Floyds brews up and releases for ONE DAY a very special brew known as DARK LORD.  Its delicious and inspires many around the country to come in for this annual event just over the border in Munster , IN.
The art direction received on this poster asked for Cold War era russian and american ski troops embroiled in a struggle over the Alaskan Prudhoe Bay Oil Fields.  My mind immediately went to the Eagle and the Bear Symbols, which quickly devolved into a Russian Bear and Sam the Eagle (from Muppets Fame) engaged in a stiff Karate fight.
In addition I was inspired by 1950's comics and Gary Panter's comics from the 1980s  to make it a faux 3-D looking poster, adding to the jarring beer goggles effect.

The poster is 18 x 24 inches and is a signed and numbered edition  of 650.  Most of the edition was sold at the Brewery on DLD.  I have my remaining copies for sale here in my shop.

Test print /first layer

In addition, the first 20 orders will also get a bonus test print showing the first layer in red!

Fought Dog!

The Fought Dog. My dedication to the massive ongoing argument: Mustard or Ketchup.

18 x 24 on Red stock, edition of 200. UP now in the store.

Trampled By Turtles!

I love this band. Their new LP Stars and Satellites just came out, and its great, building on the greatness of Palomino. I was pleased, very pleased to make this poster featuring an outhouse rocket and a snowy owlstronaut for tonight's show at the Metro.

Scratchboard original:


Finished 3 color poster (Metallic silver doesn't show up too well in this jpg)



Close up of OG:

White Denim at Lincoln Hall

Nonagon

a poster for the excellent Chicago Band, Nonagon!

Post Flatstock SXSW SALE!

Post SXSW Sale!
To help out those who couldn't get some of the deals I offered at SXSW, here's one for the next two days- Spend at least $60 in the shop (2 prints, essentially) and you get a $10 discount! Enter the code: GIMMIETEN at checkout to receive the deal. Good till midnight Weds!

The Great Washington Heron (Monument Removal Technician #2)

So, a few years back I made this super rad poster for Dinosaur Jr. At the time I wanted to republish it as an art print, and made plans to do so....and of course it went on the back burner. Finally got around to publishing it and it turned out great! There will be a series of these over the next few weeks. (#1 is the Buffalo from my Sonic Youth Poster from 2008) These are Monument Removal Technicians, creatures from my superfuture mythos that spins in my head. Beasts whose job it is to gather up the giant detritus of man and remanufacture and remount it somewhere else.

This guy is the Great Washington Heron, basically a Great Blue Heron evolved into a beast that moves the Washington Monument from location to location in perpetuity. The print is 4 colors, with 3 split fountains. (fancy print talk ) and is 18 x 24. S/N edition of 175. Up now in the store!

Spring Cleaning Tube Sale!

5 prints picked at Random! From 1999-2011. Work that needs to move out of the shop, dog eared prints, prints with a thumbprint on them, test prints, Almost perfect prints, comically mis-registered prints, you name it, this tube has it. There are some special surpises in almost all of these!

Buy them HERE

#@*! You, Mask Man!

"#@*! You, Mask Man!" Lenny Bruce piece for "Is This Thing On? 2" at Gallery 1988 Los Angeles . The Title refers to a classic Bruce skit: "Thank you Maskman"

Lawrence Peters Outfit/ Cloudbirds

A poster for the most excellent Lawrence Peters Outfit and Cloudbirds , at the Hideout!

The Kills Riviera Theatre Chicago

I was commissioned by The Kills to make a poster for their Chicago show at the Rivera Theatre. Its a three color poster with a metallic gold overlay, 12 x 24 inches. It is up for sale in the shop for $20!

Umphrey's McGee NYC poster

This a poster commissioned by Umphrey's McGee for a pair of sold out shows in NYC. The poster is 3 colors (2 split fountains, one metallic gold/silver) and is 18 x 24 inches. Artist edition, signed and numbered edition of 40, there are 25 of these for sale in the shop.

Year of the Dragon!

On January 23rd , the Chinese New Year begins. The year of the dragon. In honor of this, I rebooted a print from a couple of years ago in a new colorway. I think this was more successful than the original on green. Up in my shop now!


Some Camera Phone pics from the shop as we printed each layer: