Crewkoos Rock Poster Artists Interviews

Lastleaf (US)

2012-01-27T11:12:00.000+01:00

Lastleaf (US)

ADid I already tell you about the magic of Facebook ? Yes, I am pretty sure I already told you, but once again, it is thanx to this little site that I discovered the work of Mathias from Pueblo, CO. The magic of Facebook is also to let you know that Mathias is about to (or maybe has already had, when you read those lines) a baby. I just wanted to congrat him and his wife and tell them the Crewk sympathizes with them, as we know nights are going to be shorters and ears will suffer ;)

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

-Currently as i answer this interview, The Rapture, however i listen to whatever band i am currently doing posters for. its a requirement at my shop that the current client is on the box.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from,

-Mathias Valdez. Artist and printmaker at LASTLEAF custom print and design. From Pueblo, Colorado. Born and raised.

i have one employee/friend here at the shop named Inaiah Lujan. we are LASTLEAF.

what do you do?

-I am a graphic artist that specializes in silkscreen print making.

When did you start drawing?

-Early in life. I was originally a painter, but started to learn about silkscreen printing while touring with my former band Son Of Man. we used to make our own merchandise to save money on the road. i just kept doing it after our disbandment in 2008.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins

of your schoolbooks?

- I liked my marketing classes and creative classes, music and arts of course.. but yes, there were plenty of doodles on my desks

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

-LastLeaf is my sole income. i do logo design, branding & identity and any other sort of design work asked for (book covers / layout projects etc.. ) for other business and custom silkscreen printing.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

-No.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

-I suppose my favorite print house is PrintMafia, among others, but i think my main influence comes from my peers. other printmakers and gigposter artists.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

-I do everything in house from design/illustration to set up to pre-press to printmaking. all done start to finish in my shop/gallery

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

-little of both or lots of both, however you look at it.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

-Depends on how long it takes the client to approve the art. sometimes it takes a day sometimes a month, but once i get approval i usually crank out the whole edition in a day or two.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel

like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses
running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are
you up for it ?

-there is a certain amount of integrity that i refuse to give up, but generally i do what is asked. to be honest i hate when a client says "i love your work, do whatever you want!" because 9 times out of 10, they dont like what you come up with. for gig posters, i always like a bit of direction from the band. it helps to make the art something the band has a part of.

For which band have you already worked for?

-I have done posters for The Fray, O'death, Brown Bird, The Haunted Windchimes, Sleeping in the Aviary, Mason Reed, Decker., and quite a few more. I have also done some fun commission work for other things like The City of Sleepy Hollow New York, ArtCrank at the interbike convention in vegas, a private school in California, a Marching band from Wyoming among others.

For which band would you love to work?

-I suppose any band that would be willing to hire me, even if i am not a huge fan, no matter what type of music, my love lies in gig posters. I suppose David Bowie or the Rolling Stones would be damn cool to work for, but there are thousands of great bands out there i would love to work for.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

-I am my own worst critic.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

-No, We are all just trying to make a living doing what we love.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we

see your work , on the web or in real life?

-LastLeaf is located at 213 S. Union Ave in the historic downtown of Pueblo Colorado.

I can be reached my phone at 719.583.4194 or by email at lastleafprinting(at)yahoo.com

My website is www.lastleafprinting.com

you can also find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/lastleafprinting

The best praise you received lately?

-a fella wanted to move across the country to have a chance to come work for me, i thought that was pretty rad, but i dont think it is worth all that.

What can we wish you for the future?

-I just want to be able to continue making a living as a poster artist. i would like keep getting bigger clients and have bands know and like what i do and be a viable option when they are looking to hire a artist and printmaker to do a poster for them.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Dilek Baykara (TK/US)

2012-01-24T12:34:00.000+01:00

Dilek Baykara (TK/US)

It is sometimes not that easy to choose which way to go to introduce an interview, sometimes because there are not so many things to say about the artist and his work speaks by itself. With Dilek, it is exactly the contrary, not that her work is not stunning, it is definitly stunning, but because a turkish american artist is not that common, a female artist is not common neither and if you add that Dilek is only 21 y/o then you will probably understand why I am so honoured to welcome her on the blog !

Hello, of course as every Crewkinterview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visityou?

I’ve been listening to RudimentaryPeni, Kiss, Melvins, Wipers, Pig eyes, and Madball this morning.. I’m seeingMadball tonight, which makes it even more exciting for myself.

Can you tell us more about yourself,who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I’m a Turkish- American woman, mostpeople assume I’m a guy because of my foreign name through emails. Born andraised in New Jersey. Specifically Sussex County, which is the northernmostcounty in New Jersey. It’s surrounded by farmland and forest, which is unlikethe rest of the state. I currently live in Brooklyn and I love it here, Irecently turned 21 earlier this month, which surprises most people. I’mcurrently attending my third year of college in New York City at SVA.

When did you start drawing?

I started drawing as soon as I wasold enough to hold a writing utensil. I never stopped since, All my books fromchildhood are covered with drawings.

Did you follow any course or did youimprove by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I didn’t really take too many classesother than when I was around 12, I took some classes at The Kubert School andthe environment I was around really grabbed me at that age, I was always raisedwith a pressure to excel in whatever I did, but it wasn’t until I saw an olderstudent sketching these incredible images of animals in my class where I feltthis intense feeling of wanting to be in his place, especially the attention hebrought to his talent, everyone was in complete awe of his ability to renderanything he wanted to. After then I just kept drawing, fantasizing of the day Iget to impress others with my work. When I turned around 14 I decided to makethis my life. Before I knew it, each art teacher I ever had began to notice aspecial spark within my abilities and it progressed from there, it has becomemy one true love ever since.

Today are you living from your art,or do you do something else for a living ?

Not yet, that is my biggest goal inlife. I’m still a student and I work at the school in the computer lab. I do makemost of my money from my art, though.

Are you collaborating withmagazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not yet, I haven’t done anything fora ‘zine. Though I would like to branch out a little to become accessible formagazine editorials. That’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

Where does your influence come from?Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are yourinfluences?

My influences change constantly, butmy all time heroes are Vania Zouravliov, Audrey Kawasaki, and James Jean. Inhigh school I would obsess over their work, and I think that definitely shapedthe way I approach anything by seeing what they have done. I recentlydiscovered Sveta Dorosheva who is my current obsession. Music also plays a hugerole in what I draw or how I draw.

What are the principal steps in yourwork?

It really depends on what I am doing,I always send sketches when there is a commission, which is the generalprotocol of working with a client. I mainly work on tracing paper and layerdifferent line drawings. Poster making is entirely different for me, I reallylisten to every song by the band and interpret my favorite songs. The imagerythat comes to mind is almost instant for me. Sometimes I find it hard to interpret some songs with vaguelyrical content, but since I love a challenge I always work to deliver.

Do you do everything by hand or oncomputer?

Everything I create is done by hand.The computer helps when it comes to cleaning up an image or adjusting/enhancingcolor but that’s really as far as it gets with me. I don’t really considercomputer art true “art making.” Though I can appreciate the work that goes intoit, It completely robs the artist of the experience of putting your heart andsoul into your work. I believe that should be done with your hands. Not acomputer mouse.

How long does it take you to do aposter?

I’m generally pretty fast with drawinga poster, The longest I have taken is 3 weeks… I’d probably take less time if Iwasn’t also a full time student with a job.

Though my work leans towards thedarker side of things, I would be interested in doing anything. I’d love totake an idea someone has and work at it to give it justice, I’m always up for achallenge. Of course the work I like to do is evident in the subject matter Idepict in my works. I also would love to draw some pieces with differentsubject matter in color, which is what I am currently experimenting with in someof my classes.

For which band have you alreadyworked for?

I’ve done posters for Pentagram,Eyehategod, Ghost, Weedeater, and Masakari.

For which band would you love towork?

I’d love to do a poster for Melvins, TheMars Volta, At the drive-in, Electric Wizard, and any other band I happen tolike. I’d also love to do something for a band outside of the metal genre,since it would be great for me to tackle something that I haven’t done before.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

I usually contact others since I amjust starting out. It’s really exciting when others reach out to me.

What is the most difficult part indesigning a poster?

The most challenging parts are theset up of the whole image, the font, and the placement of the text. I reallylove drawing intricate borders by hand, and always try to make them conform tothe image of the band, or the song I am depicting.

Do you think you are part of a"Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

I’d like to believe that I am, thoughI am living in two separate worlds. I am a student in my studio classes by day,and I am also an illustrator and printmaker that works on commissions andposters at night. Therefore I am not really sure how noticed I am in terms ofthis world I want to be a part of, it really excites me when I get emails forcommissions and interviews like this. I’d love to be like Florian Bertmer forexample. Which is ideally someone who works with bands as well as working foreditorials and commissions from clients outside the music world.

A bit of self-promotion, takeadvantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in reallife?

You can see my works on my website,blog, and web store:

www.dilekbaykara.us

www.dilekbaykara.blogspot.com

www.dilekbaykara.bigcartel.com

The best praise you received lately?

The kind words I hear from peoplemean a lot to me, the first compliment that really floored me was when thesinger of Ghost told me I was talented, and that he had one of my pieces as thedesktop background on his computer. I don’t think I ever got that excited overa compliment in my entire life. There was another instance where I was goingthrough my old messages on Facebook and someone from Australia had my artworkfrom the first Eyehategod poster I did tattooed on his entire arm. It wasincredibly surreal. Being someone who has their favorite artists work tattooedon them, it was unbelievable to see that someone I had never met do the samething I had done as an homage to my biggest influences. I was completelyshocked. I even called my mom and showed her the picture he sent me.

What can we wish you for the future?

More success and happiness, Moreposters and work with lots of bands, as it is something I really love to do.Commissions outside of the music world, more egg tempera paintings, morepersonal pieces, More art prints as well as t-shirt art prints.. I have manythings in the works.

Thanks for answering my questions andsee you soon on the website !!

Thank you for this engaginginterview! Cheers!

Bryan Proteau (US)

2012-01-23T17:39:00.003+01:00

Bryan Proteau (US)

Sludge ? What's sludge ? If you are asking the question I think one of the best way to discover it is just to take a look at Bryan work as it perfectly define the background. Of course you are more than welcomed to grab one or 2 albums by...let's say Eyehategod for example, mixing both medias you should be closed to the perfect definition ;)

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Right now I'm listening to a dark ambient/experiemental folk band from Ireland called Burrows. Really great stuff.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from what do you do?

My name is Bryan Proteau and I draw for Natvres Mortes Illvstration. I also write for a music and culture webzine called CVLT Nation, as well as photograph concerts for my photography blog called SF Sludge. I'm from Napa originally but have made San Francisco, California my home.

When did you start drawing?

I started drawing when I was very young and fairly consistently throughout most of my life. I lost steam somewhere along the way but am now back into it 100%.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I took art classes in high school and have a partial education from San Francisco Art Institute, but I never graduated. Drawing in the margins was always way more fun ha ha.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Absolutely not. I have a soul-sucking day job just like everyone else. My clientele are mainly underground bands who I know are poor like me so I feel bad for them. I work very cheap. The money I make from doing art isn't very substantial and usually will go back into materials.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not really, I mainly do designs for band merch, album art and the occasional. flier. There is a zine that asked me to do a logo them, but that hasn't really moved forward. I should e mail them back, actually.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

A lot of my inspiration comes from classic sources, Francisco de Goya being the main one but also printmakers like Albrecht Dürer and Gustave Doré. As for contemporary artists I really admire Denis Forkas Kostromitin, Reuben Sawyer, Glyn Smith, Sin Eater, David D. D'Andrea, John Dyer Baizley, Justin Bartlett and Aaron Horkey. To name a few.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Basically after coming up with an idea I do a basic line drawing in pencil and just ink it using a nib pen, brush and black tattoo ink. I hope I understood the question correctly.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

All drawing is done by hand. Occasionally I'll do hand-drawn text but if I'm doing layout for a project, the text and sometimes borders will be digital. Computers are very handy though and still an important part of what I do.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It depends on how much information is going to be on it. The more bands and info that needs to be on the poster the longer it's going to take. Making the drawing is the easy part but adding in everything else is when things slow down.

you up for it ?

Haha I would definitely not be up for it. People come to me because they like the style within which I already operate. Changing mediums or my style that drastically I feel would be sort of pointless.

For which band have you already worked for?

I have worked with Deafheaven, Lycus, False, Gottesmorder, Obolus, Atriarch, Heirophant, Vattnet Viskar, Nigh, Mourner and Pallbearer.

For which band would you love to work?

Horseback, definitely. But they kind if have their own artist already. I would love to work with Chelsea Wolfe, Thou, Vestiges, Burrows who I mentioned earlier...

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Yes, essentially. Deafheaven and Lycus were friends whose bands I already connected with on an emotional level so I offered to work with them. Bands that I'm not already familiar with I check out to make sure that I like their music and can feel good about illustrating for them. Like I had never heard of Gottesmorder from Italy before, but they released a brilliant EP and am now a fan of theirs.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Definitely design/layout/text. I really don't have much of an eye for that sort of thing and that's where having a graphic designer roommate comes in handy. Sometimes when I'm making a drawing for a flyer I don't want to think about where information is going to go. So I end up with a really busy drawing and you either see more of the drawing and can't read the text well, or be able to read the text but some of the drawing is sacrificed.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Sort of. There is a good handful of illustrators in the world working in this sort of dark, detailed style. But more locally to where I live Kevin Gan Yuen of Viraloptics does some amazing work, Ross Sewage from Ludicra/Impaled is an excellent screen printer, Alan Forbes and David D. D'Andrea are famous rock poster artists from the Bay Area. D'Andrea was especially influential to me,

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

You can see all of my works digitally on clovenhoov.tumblr.com.

The best praise you received lately?

Doing this interview. It's still weird to think that people would be interested enough in my work to want to interview me. Also a couple friends have gotten one of my drawings tattooed on them and other people have expressed wanting work of mine tattooed. To me there is no greater compliment than that.

What can we wish you for the future?

I'm learning how to tattoo so hopefully lots of tattoos. In April of this year I'll be showing artwork at a two day music and art festival in Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA alongside Reuben Sawyer of Rainbath Visual.

Viral Graphics (Greece)

2012-01-23T11:51:00.000+01:00

Viral Graphics (Greece)

I have to apologize to all our super politicians and other Standart and Poors self proclaimed rulers of the world, but Greece definitly deserve a AAA rate. His assets are strongs as we already see here or here, and, if it was not already enough to show that we can be perfectly confident for the future of Greece, let me introduce you to Viral Graphics...

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Between the two of us in Viral, you'll find us listening to everything from old psych to death metal. Our average setlist can start with the 13th Floor Elevators, move on to Kerasphorus, and end with Black Sabbath. We can brainstorm along to the Melvins as much as we can to German Oak.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

We are Alexandros Pyromallis and Konstantinos Psichas, born in Athens, Greece and seeking to evade this sinking ship. We do analogue illustrations for record covers, gig posters, t-shirts and anything else that might come our way. We hold traditional media and themes in high respect, while always striving to create something unseen and fresh. Currently struggling with tendonitis due to extreme stippling sessions.

When did you start drawing?

Probably from the time we could actually hold a pencil, drawing demons, barbarians and owls. We got 'serious' with it about 5 years ago and still continue to do so, luckily enough.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Both of us went to art-related courses, but they were mostly useless to us in the long run, as they dealt with more soulless practices. We saw that people were actually still drawing and crafting things to complement our favorite music and that's what pretty much lead us to hone our skills in order to do the same. The fact that an Austin Osman Spare or Nick Blinko piece inspire us more than anything created with vectors, is absolutely what sparks the fire in us to grab a pen and keep at it till it gets better.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

We no longer do other things for a living. Working at mainstream graphic design agencies, is an experience we wouldn't wish upon anyone. But, that doesn't mean we are currently making a living from our art. Ideally, we will be able to do so in the future, helped by a great deal of patience, good work and perseverance.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not really, although we are currently in the process of making our own fanzine called Bacteria. It will focus on hand drawn illustration and will be a printed zine. We've managed to include work and interviews from some of our favorite artists including David V D'Andrea, Santos, Simon Fowler, Glyn Smith and more.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

We gather influence from a wide variety of sources. The world around us is one influence. The fauna and flora surrounding us, are something we always love to examine, interpret and transform through our art. We are also affected by the invisible world around us and internally, as much as the visible. Another influence is definitely music, of all types, as mentioned above. Music also accompanies our drawing sessions. The feel, atmosphere and rhythm of certain music is something that finds it's way into our work. Movies have some influence too, mainly older stuff by Fulci, Jodorowsky, Dreyer, Rollin, Lang, Kubrick, Fisher and more. As far as visual artists, there are many, but for the time being we'll mention just a few that inspire us with their craft : Vania Zouravliov, Alan Forbes, David V D'Andrea, Austin Osman Spare, Gustave Dore, Ralph Steadman, Aaron Horkey, Denis Forkas Kostromitin.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

It really depends. The nature of the piece and desired outcome, whether it's commissioned or self-initiated and our mood at the time, all dictate how we will go about producing our work. Generally, we start our rough design in pencil, but not completing all elements of the piece. We then proceed to inking with a variety of pens from .005 to 05 tips, sometimes using brushes and markers as well. Afterwards we either scan into Photoshop and Illustrator for colors and layout, or we color with analogue materials, again depending on the piece.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Although our work was a mixed bag of techniques when we started off in Viral, we currently do all our artwork by hand, except for in some cases the layout of a record (lyric sheets etc), separations for screen printing etc. Lettering is also done by hand most of the time.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

This obviously depends on the complexity and size of the piece. Normally, it takes us one to two weeks from the day we get the job, to sending off to the printers. The artwork itself, excluding planning, coloring and layout, usually takes us anytime from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. As there are two of us in Viral, we manage to finish before deadlines, without having to compromise on the time needed to craft something worthwhile.

Well, that specific oil painting you just mentioned would be out of the question. We're open minded though and we want to constantly evolve our craft. We would do anything different, as long as it feels right to us and to the identity which we have given to Viral. Projects we are not up for, are things like "will you draw me up a free tattoo" or "draw a portrait of me please". Our style will always evolve anyway and it's more the premise and use behind a project that we'd avoid, than the actual execution.

For which band have you already worked for?

Unearthly Trance, Melvins, Miasmal, Coffins, Moss, Graveyard, Keelhaul, Tombs, The Osedax, Mudhoney, Wolves In the Throne Room, Jucifer, Grief, Nebula, Dephosphorus and more. We've also done work for music festivals like the Amplifier Worship festival in Finland and the awesome Utech Records festival.

For which band would you love to work?

Anything that comes our way as long as it's inspiring. The band also doesn't necessarily have to be something we listen to - the work can still be rewarding artistically. Some random selections though, would be Swans, Earthless, Circle, Bastard Noise, Neurosis, Autopsy and I guess, many more.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

When we first started, we utilized the guerilla tactic of going up to bands and demanding they use our artwork, which kind of worked. Nowadays, we just wait on requests, which we're fortunate enough to have and also be artists that we appreciate. A band that we enjoy sending us an email to ask for artwork, out of the blue, is one of the perks of doing what we do.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

I wouldn't say anything is really 'difficult', in the sense that every single aspect of the poster is a joy for us to create. If anything, the most difficult part is before you put pen to paper. Once the idea comes together in our heads, everything else comes naturally. On the other hand, when creating hand drawn work all elements are very difficult. Setting up the lettering by hand, dot shading almost the whole piece, practicing accurate anatomy are things that although we enjoy doing, are nothing 'easy'.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

We've noticed that our paths have crossed with many artists and that became even more apparent when we started putting together the Bacteria 'zine. These are artists that still put the effort into what they do, that witness and utilize the more esoteric properties of art, that strive to get better with every piece and possibly above all, artists that do this because there never was any other option in the first place. This is what we want to - and have to- do. Artists that view their work as a craft and not a simple light hearted commodity, form what we would consider our 'scene', if any. This scene is definitely not location-based, thanks to the internet and a fixation with traveling. We're proud to be a very small part of a large loose scene of inspiring artists.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

We still don't have a website, which is something we'll sort out very soon, we promise. You can find us at http://www.facebook.com/viral.graphics , email us at viralgraphics(at)ahoo.com and buy our posters from http://viralgraphics.bigcartel.com/ . In real life, you can see our stuff on dusty vinyls and decrepit walls. Also, a lot of our past year's work will be included in the Bacteria art zine which is soon to be released.

The best praise you received lately?

It wasn't exactly 'praise' , but it was a pleasure to meet some of our favorite artists in our travels over the past couple of years. They were great guys above all, excellent artists, they knew and respected our work and we were more than happy to be viewed by them as peers.

What can we wish you for the future?

To be able to continue doing what we do, until we get sick of everything and go live with the wolves.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Münster Studio (SP)

2012-01-23T11:12:00.000+01:00

Münster Studio (SP)

Hey chicos !!! Aqui esta la nueva entrevista de un artisto espanol. Well, in order for everybody to understand and discover the spanish side of poster art, let's switch to english, so, despite his name which could sound a little bit german, please welcome, from Spain, Daniel from Munster Studio !!!!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

As I´m waiting for their new lp, I´m revisiting the last record of Cross Stitched Eyes. In the last days I´ve been pretty obsessed with Post regiment and the new album of La Habitación Roja.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I´m a 30 years old human being from Zaragoza, Spain. I run my own little graphic design studio and I´m a vinyl record collector. Beside that I also play in little DIY bands and organize gigs. Many posters are done in collaboration with a friend of me, Patricia Pascual, who´s in some way part of the studio.

When did you start drawing?

As everybody when I was a child, my grandfather used to give us tons of pencils and brushes. Years after I start collecting comic books, so I drew all my favorite characters everyday.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Basically the margins of schoolbooks were my teachers jajaja I did graphic design in the art school and some courses after that, but I still learning everyday.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I´m full time in my studio. Of course I´m not rich but I live very happy doing something that I love.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not regularly but I love to collaborate with fanzines, they are a really great source of inspiration and a direct communication media, from the producer directly to the receiver so you get a pure and direct message.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Influences came from everywhere, everything that rounds me. In art I love the classic avant-garde movements (dada, surrealism, futurism, etc.), Max Erns, Raoul Hausman, Rodchenko, Klutsis, Josep Renau, Polish posters, Saul Bass, etc. From nowadays I´m into the work of Isidro Ferrer, Alejandro Magallanes, Modern Dog,, Methane, Heads of the State, Aesthetic Apparatus, etc. All this studios doing gig posters and illustration are a huge influence for me. In the other hand punk rock music, attitude and graphics are possibly the reason why I´m doing this, specifically CRASS and his graphic designer Gee Vaucher. I admire all her work and the way she communicates the message.

What are the principal steps in your work ?
First of all hearing the band. Bands music is the briefing for the work, which is great if you love music: getting payed for hearing music jajaja. This first steps are sketches on paper. Once we have the idea we work on it, prepare the layers for print and we screenprint the posters in our own workshop. We also like to work with local artists in collaborations, some kind of split posters. Mainly they do an illustration and we layout, do the final design and screenprint them.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Depends of what I need, computer is just a tool, sometimes we need that "computer look", sometimes not. But we always use computer for layering and pre-press, easier and faster.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It depends, we can be like 3 days thinking about the concept, the idea and then do the artwork very fast or have a good idea quickly and spend days doing it. But we have a media of 3-4 days per poster, more or less.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Design is solving communication problems so if some project needs a kind of oil painting we will have to do it, but the clients that ask us for something already know the way we work, so we figure they expect that from us.

For which band have you already worked for?

Many of the posters are done for bands that play in a local venue called Arrebato, but I´ve also worked directly with many bands like: La Habitación Roja, Litoral, Criatura, Obrint Pas, Picore, etc. All of them spanish bands.

For which band would you love to work?

I would love to do a poster for a reunion show of Post Regiment! Of course big bands that I like, such as Interpol, Wilko, Napalm Death, Wolves in the Throne Room, etc.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

No, I just do everything I´m asked for, which in my opinion is better as you have to deal with different styles so you cannot keep doing the same thing overtime.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

The idea, the concept. Getting the band soul in a image.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else?

At least in Spain, yes. Some of us (gig poster designers) we are working in The poster Collective (http://www.thepostercollective.org/) which is a project to promote gig poster artists and gig posters in Spain. This is helping to us to know each other and appreciate their work, beside collaborations and creating a communication channel for upcoming projects, support, etc.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

On the internet we have some sites:
http://www.munsterstudio.com/
Our blog, where we post pics of our printed posters, talk about the stuff we use, etc.
http://munsterestudio.blogspot.com/
And a facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/M%C3%BCnster-Studio/179439282081037

In real life many of our posters can be seen on walls, bars and clubs of our city. We also sell our screenprinted posters in a shop called Simbiosis, here in Zaragoza.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simbiosis-Shop/219905071403964

The best praise you received lately?

Everytime a band tells me: "do what you want" jaja

What can we wish you for the future?

To keep on going with Münster Studio and keep learning everyday.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Marian Bodenstein (DE)

2012-01-20T15:33:00.001+01:00

Marian Bodenstein (DE)

First time ever an artist give me other pic than its own posters to illustrate his interview, the weirdest is that I have no clue of who is Bob Ross, well he might be a german legend maybe.... If anyone can hemp me, feel free to drop a line !

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Hello!
Right now i am listening to White Fence ,Nerve City, Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees a lot. But some of my all time favourites are Mudhoney , Man or Astroman, the Mae Shi, MC5, the Sonics and Jazzman Stuff.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I am 24 years old , playing in the band "Zhod"(what means centralheating unit of death), and studying visual communications

When did you start drawing?

Like everybody as a kid, stuff like pirateships and knights killing each other.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

In my schoolbooks i did a lot of comics and graffitti, later i also went to some kind of designschool and now i am studying stuff like that.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

No i don´t make a living out of my art, i am still studying and doing little jobs. I am also working in a bar and a comic shop( 2nd best job in the world after Poster designing) .

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

I do illustrations for one of the best magazines around – it´s called Rokko´s Adventures from Vienna, you can check it out here:
http://www.rokkosadventures.at/index2.html
unfortunately it is in german.

There is also a little feature of my stuff in the Klebstoff Mag #3 which is made entirely out of stickers.
check it out:
http://www.stickermag.com/magazine/klebstoff-3/klebstoff-3klebstoff_3/

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

To drop some names:
Charles Burns,ghoul a go go, Daniel Clowes, Aesthetic Apparatus,
Mr. Ed Fotheringham,
Art Chantry, Seripop, Ryan Duggan
To drop some games:

Monkey Island and all of the old fashioned Adventure games

Big Time influence is music, the connection between art and music. the whole process preparing a poster, advertise the show, dance and sweat at the show, getting drunk and having a hangover the next morning

What are the principal steps in your work ?

If i do a gigposter, i listen to the band, watch some livevideos of their gigs and try to figure out some characteristics. then i try to translate this into graphic attributes. i start thinking and later scribbling, i play around with handdrawn type, do some illustration, browse my huge trashpaper-fundus and so on.
if it works out fine i move to the next step, if not i do something else.
the next step is to scan the handdrawn or collage material and go on adjusting it on the computer. if i do a silkscreen-version of the poster, what i most of the time do - i separate the colours of the piece and print the pre - press repro or the film, mostly on cheap transparent paper. Now i can expose the screens for the print, one screen for each colour and finally print that shit.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Most of my process is handjob, but i also use computers even if i hate them.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Between some hours and some weeks.
Average 4days (if i ain´t gotta do something else)

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

If that somebody is him

i am on it!

For which band have you already worked for?

Sons of Cyrus
Thee Oh Sees
Messer Chups
Cotton Ponies
The Feeling of Love
Melvins
Hush Hush
Zu
Batalj
Kayo Dot
Secret Chiefs 3
Dean Dirg
...

For which band would you love to work?

MUDHONEY!!!
MAN OR ASTROMAN!!!
BUNKER HILL!!!

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Most of the time i work for "Eine Welt aus Hack", which is a verrrry nice booking Agency from Germany and they ask me to do posters for their concerts or i ask them.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Time and Money

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Yeah i think there is a growing poster scene, and also a fresh graphic boom.
Who else? Check out Damien Tran!

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Here we go:

my blog : www.fuzzzgun.blogspot.com

my gigposters page:
http://www.gigposters.com/designer/141320_Marian_Bodenstein.html

zhod:
http://zentralheizungofdeath.blogspot.com/

The best praise you received lately?

i am always happy about comments on gigposters.com, and the fact that you are interviewing me is great! Also a nice praise are posters ripped and stolen from public spaces, i like the intervention part about it.

What can we wish you for the future?

that i can make a living out of this mess!
and that MUDHONEY are asking me to some artwork for them!!
and that i can join a Man or Astroman live show!
and that i can go on a BRUISE CRUISE!

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

hell yes - thank you too!

Chris Murphey (US)

2012-01-19T12:48:00.000+01:00

Chris Murphey (US)

AOf course Chris is really a nice person and knows the way to be sure to be published on the blog ;) " I dig what you are doing. Wish I would have thought of it first." he says by the end of the interview. Thanx for nthe appreciation, but I wish I had a quarter of his talent, so, as we have to do with our own specialities, all I can say is keep on doing what you do (perfectly well indeed) Chris, and I'll stick to my interviews ;)

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you ?

Currently on the ipod, I have the Black Keys, Chris Cornell, Noel Gallagher, Ray Lamontagne, The White Stripes, Ben Harper to name a few.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do ?

I’m Chris Murphey. born & raised in Richmond, VA. Got a B.S. in graphic design from Radford University. Currently I’m an art director for an electrical sign company.

When did you start drawing ?

Before I could walk, my parents said they would roll out paper on the floor and I would just scribble away. From an early age, my interest in art was nurtured by my family.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks ?

I would doodle daily through middle school and high school. Friends would pay me to do art projects for them. After high school, I had 4 years of art study at Radford University.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I have been fortunate to be able to make a living from jobs that were on the creative side. From an early age through high school, I learned all aspects of layout and metal fabrication working for my Dad. In college, I worked as an illustrator for a screen printing shop as well as painted billboards and lettered vehicles for a sign company. When I graduated college, I went to work in the prepress graphics for a lithography firm for two years. After this I went to Waldrum School of Neon in Texas to learn the art of neon glass bending. Upon graduation I got back in with the sign industry making neon signs. I did this for about 3 years. And now as an art director for the past fifteen years, I spend a great deal of time designing signs, logos and illustrating. I do all the computer architectural renderings and technical drawings for signs that require engineering stamps.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Nothing currently. I’m always open to illustration work whether its editorial illustrations, advertisement graphics, lettering, logos, graphics for mobile applications, etc.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists you particularly like, what are your influences ?

Comes from different stages of my life. Growing up in the seventies as a kid, albums were such a great visual attraction. The art work was stellar, I would try to draw these all the time. Next came skateboarding and BMX. Nothing beats the graphics by Jim Phillips and Vernon Courtland Johnson., aka VCJ. Also I was really into comics. Loved all the marvel and DC titles. I was a big fan of John Byrne, Jim Lee, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller and Steve Ditko. Then came my teenage and high school years, I was really into music. This was when I discovered the great poster artists, Rick Griffin, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso , Stanley Mouse and so many others. As far as classic artist, Albrecht Durer, Mucha, & M.C. Escher.

I have always been fond of the stylized lettering that can be found on anything from vintage ads and posters, old beer cans, comic books, vintage signs, vintage magazines, etc.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Typically I work out layout and composition with thumbnail sketches, then I ink up the chosen graphic, illustration &type. Scan into computer where I do clean up &color.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Start by hand and finish up on computer.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Varies, usually its last minute. If I’m lucky no more than five to ten hours to flush out the plan, sketch it up, ink, scan and color. Sometimes, I’ll have two , even three designs I’ll work on in tandem. I have folder full of posters half started, that I can use with a different band and pick up where I left off.

It can be challenge to come up with an idea for a poster. So if somebody has an idea for something they want, I’ll see what I can do. You never know what could come out of it. For inspiration, Bo Derek on a horse with the sunset in the movie Bolero comes to mind.

For which band have you already worked for ?

No bands directly, I work with the radio stations mostly for promotional collateral.

For which band would you love to work ?

Any band who appreciates what I do and is ready to spend their money like a true rock star.

Do you choose the artists yourself ?

Working with radio stations, I have advance knowledge of the bands schedule. Depending on available time, I’m able to pick and choose.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

For me, finalizing an idea for a poster. I often start with one thing that evolves into something else.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Never came to mind, I would say I’m part of the getting paid with beer and peanuts graphic scene. I’m just having fun doing what I enjoy.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life ?

I hope to have some shirts, decals and art prints available soon. I’ll try to keep my gig posters account up to date.

http://www.gigposters.com/designer/117859_Chris_Murphey.html

My website is www.murpheycreative.com. Get in touch if you need any graphics, illustrations, logos, lettering, posters, signs, graphics for mobile applications, etc.

The best praise you received lately ?

The request for this interview, thanks for the interest and exposure.

What can we wish you for the future ?

Happiness, a little luck and a sprinkle of fortune mixed with some cool creative projects.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Cheers, take care and keep up the good work. I dig what you are doing. Wish I would have thought of it first. I bet you have quite the collection of posters.

Rich Bernett (US)

2012-01-17T12:11:00.000+01:00

Rich Bernett (US)

When you enter a place where the first sound you hear is ice rattling in whiskey tumblers, you can be sure the interview is gonna be great. Of course this is maybe not the best way to write a proper introduction so, because I am not Hunter S Thompson, I'll stop here and let you enjoy the work of Rich ! Cheers !!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

There's a good chance we are listening to ice rattling in our whiskey tumblers.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I am a 30-something heir of a sod farm living in the Northern region of Little Rock, Arkansas. When not managing seed placement strategies, you can typically find me greasing fulcrum joints at the Little Rock See-saw factory. Or that is a lie. I probably live a pretty normal life just outside of Washington DC.

When did you start drawing?

As a child. Too young to really remember.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

At the same time I was getting poor grades because I drew patterns on my scantron tests, I was also generally taking classes on something to do with art. Photography, sculpture, drawing...my parents were always supportive of my artsy-fartsy tendencies. Not so supportive of my poor grades.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I make my living as a video editor/ promo producer. My poster work is extra credit. Something that I can do that is a bit more therapeutic than my day-to-day gig.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

No. You'll see a few series of posters I did for online entities like Fuzzy Logic and "You, Me, Them, Everybody Live", but not really any zines. Has the internet killed zines? I haven't heard that word in a while.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I'm influenced by a lot of the contemporary artists that work with physical media. There is no shortage of disgustingly talented artists that are being published these days. I have a growing collection of handmade graphic type books that I flip through whenever I need a jolt of artistic inspiration. I've found that huffing brake cleaner just doesn't provide the artistic oomph it used to. I guess that comes with age.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

First I huff a can of brake cleaner. Then I typically wander the streets and pick fights with anyone that looks at me sideways. Usually, somewhere between the process of being handcuffed, and the ride to the police station, I have at least 3 or 4 new ideas for posters. If they let me have my crayons in solitary, that's where the magic happens.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

A good mix of both. Although I use a graphic-pad for a lot of the process, I begin with scanned-in hand drawn, or painted elements that I then manipulate to taste in Photoshop.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It depends on what else I have going on, but I've had posters take anywhere from a single evening, to 3 or 4 nights before I'm happy with the way they look.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I have been lucky enough to work with bands that will just let me run with my own ideas and style. By not feeling pressured to work within certain constraints, I tend to enjoy the process much more. I think that's probably human nature.

For which band have you already worked for?

A bunch. Mostly local DC bands and events.

For which band would you love to work?

If they are well known? Any band that says "I like your style, make me something cool". Otherwise I find that I like to design for local bands that I am familiar with, or know through friends of friends.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

No- I just put myself out there and see who's interested. I have said no to a number of requests due to time constraints and availability, but have never actually asked a band out of the blue. I probably will one of these days - it just hasn't happened yet.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Considering it "done".

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

I'm still pretty green. When you are just starting out, It's hard to consider yourself part of a scene when you are aware of the hyper-talent that exists in the ranks around you.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Mostly here: www.facebook.com/GigPostersByRich
When updated, this will be another dandy site: http://www.gigpostersbyrich.com/

The best praise you received lately?

I received a lot of good words about this show I organized at the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda, MD.
http://vimeo.com/28134913
It was great to see the caliber of bands and artists that came out for the event. They were all people I have met in the first year of my adventures in gig poster design. It was pretty incredible.

What can we wish you for the future?

Well in 2012 I am focusing on producing 3 music videos for 3 bands I met through gig poster design work. As soon as they are wrapped, I plan to dive headfirst back into the gig poster game. I also plan at some point to design a new cover for every Philip K. Dick novel that is currently printed by Vintage Press. Not by commission or anything, just because their current covers are so disappointing. I'll post the printable artwork on my site and let people download them.That will probably be something I do in 2013. I'm not even kidding.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Cheers.

Senor Burns (THE RED CAN COMPANY) (DE)

2012-01-16T16:52:00.000+01:00

Senor Burns (THE RED CAN COMPANY) (DE)

I told you recently that, according to my studies, germany was probably the second most important poster scene after the US. It seems that I was not wrong as I can today introduce you to Senor Burns poster art. Caramba !!!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

- First of all the traffic from outside the street but then out of my stereo it could be something like 13&GOD, The Evening Hymns, Dos Hermanos, Superchunk, Bavarian Folk...

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

- My name is Bernd Hofmann and my screenprint-alias is " SeñorBurns". I live & work in Munich, Germany since I am nine years old but originally I was born a bit more in the north bavarian in Würzburg. After I worked as a carpentry I went to the Academy of fine Arts and got totally into silkscreen printing in 2001 and left there since.

When did you start drawing?

- Like many of us I loved drawing & painting since I was a kid but it took me until I was 26 and starting studying to get more & more kinda professional with it.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

- Out of doing what I did because I was interested in throughout the last ten, twelve years the circumstances went well and as like a tree one thing grew out of another, step by step. I started doing record covers and posters for shows I set up myself together with some friends and was then asked to do it for other bands, labels and venues.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

- Beside doing posters and free art prints and trying to get them sold I also do contract jobs for others. Out of running my own label (Red Can Records) I started producing own packaging beside the printing on cardboards and by now it ended by being a small studio where I also do workshops with interested customers and friends.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

- Unfortunately not, yet. Feel free to give me a call!

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

- Of course there are some Artists I've been influenced of, either out of the Pop-Art than also the Gigposter-scene. I hardly try not to copy any of them, which sometimes is not so easy if you look at all the great works of those colleagues. I do respect all the works, though I have my personal favourites.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

- Trying to get the illustration linked to the band - either the band's name, a title of a record or song or my interpretation of what it means to me.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

- I try to do most part of my work by hand, though I work with the computer using it as an additional and helpful tool. But the really interesting thing on screenprinting for me is that there are so many various ways to prepare the layers - sketching, lettering, using stamps, tapes...

How long does it take you to do a poster?

- Generally about two days for illustrating and preparing layers and the one day for the screens and for printing the posters.

- If someone I work with has a clear imagine of what he or she would like to have illustrated I try to work with that. But learning out of the past the better results end out of letting me do what I'd like to with mostly no borders...

For which band have you already worked for?

- The Notwist, Dos Hermanos, 13& Click Click Decker, Bratze, Menomena, Lali Puna, Gorilla Biscuits, Valina, Kitty Empire, Sometree, Timber Timbre...

For which band would you love to work?

- Tom Waits would be great and also Radiohead. Heroes of my past like Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers or Superchunk as well.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

- Out of five posters I do I maybe choose three by myself and the other two are contracts I get from bands or venues.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

- The first idea. And then imagine how the coloured layers will combine.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

- I'm not sure if the "scene" would count me in seriously... but speaking for Germany: the amount of constantly practising poster artists is easy to overview. And since I do meet some of the other artists and having shows together and publishing the "SQUEEGEE"-book (http://issuu.com/senorburns/docs/squeegee) or "Das Räkel" (http://design.mitchum.de/das_raekel.html) as result of working together, I think I'm at least part of the german "poster-scene".

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

- These links http://red-can.com/senorburns/ and http://senorburns.wordpress.com/ show most of my works and current shows. In personal I'm easy to meet at Flatstock Europe, at Coloured Gigs in Dresden or at the Feierwerk Farbenladen in Munich in May 2012. Or, if in Munich, on each Monday I have my studio opened from 12am to 6pm for buying records and posters.

The best praise you received lately?

- That in 2011 more people liked and bought my posters than the years before.

What can we wish you for the future?

- "Make some nice work, get people happy while watching them and sell more then in 2011!"

Thanks again for inviting me!

Crosshair (US)

2012-01-15T17:45:00.000+01:00

Crosshair (US)

For many artists I interviewed so far, Crosshair is really a big source of inspiration but, this said, I know absolutly no other designer dealing with posters the way he does. For sure many of them have a unique style, but he is really number one when it comes to identify a designer at first sight, just have a look below and you will see what I mean...

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Right now I'm listening to Circle, a band from Finland. I think they are probably the strangest and best band in the world right now. I listen to Circle entirely too much and my friends are tired of hearing me talk about them all the time. In the last few days I've also listened to Codeine "Frigid Stars", Galaxie 500 "On Fire", Tyrannosaurus Rex "A Beard Of Stars", ZZ Top "Fandango", a band from Chicago called Mannequin Men, Kraftwerk "Trans Europe Express", and Adam Ant "Friend Or Foe". I've always loved that Adam Ant record, since I was young and it was new.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Dan MacAdam and I operate as Crosshair. I was born in Scotland, grew up in Kentucky, and have lived in Chicago since 1995 when I started Crosshair. I'm a silkscreen printer and I design and produce gig posters, record covers, original art, and anything else I can come up with. I'm also busy as a printer of other people's work; fine art, posters, commercial things...anything flat. I'm a trained classical violinist but I play guitar in a metal band. I have two young sons, and I enjoy reading and mountaineering.

When did you start drawing? Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I started drawing for entertainment when I was very young. The best times I remember were when I and some friends would use a big sheet of paper and draw a huge battle, that would evolve as things happened. At the end the whole paper was a huge mess of destruction and you could see everything that had happened since the beginning, presented as though they had happened simultaneously. Years later I was in a Maritime museum somewhere and I saw some huge canvases from the 17th century depicting battles at sea, where every major event is shown together. They were basically the same thing. I enjoy images that look through time, rather than just one moment.

I've never had any instruction, but lots of experimentation.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

This is my only job, but the contract printing is a very important part of it. If I only produced my own creative work, I would live in a box.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

No. If they call, I'll be happy to listen.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I don't know anything about design, design theory, or designers. Nothing at all. When people near me talk about design, my eyes glaze over. I'm sure I would benefit from more knowledge about design, and I enjoy and appreciate it on an intuitive level, but I'm just not interested in studying it, or talking about it.

Bernd & Hilla Becher are a huge influence on my art and thinking, obviously. Also William Christenberry, Walker Evans, Hipgnosis album covers, J.M.W. Turner, American 19th century landscape painters, photocopied punk pliers, Raymond Pettibon, Communist propaganda art, Norman Rockwell, Weegee, the films of Andrei Tarkovsky... lots of things. For rock posters, it all begins with Art Chantry as far as I am concerned.

When I was first learning screenprinting, I was able to see, and actually touch, a photorealist screenprint by Richard Estes. (this one: http://brightcolors.com/?wpsc-product=richard-estes-flughafen-airport ) It blew my mind that it was possible to make a print like that, and I decided then that I was going to learn how to do it. I'm still trying.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

I usually start with the camera, looking for subjects, and climbing over fences. When I am behind the camera I am already thinking of what will work in a poster or art print, how the colors will layer, where I can fit lettering. I try to spend any time I have exploring my environment, and this is an essential part of the creative process.

When I've found an image that will work as part of a print, I decide how many inks I can use, and what order they will print. Then I begin the slow process of separating the colors on the computer. I have my own way of doing this and it involves a lot of experimentation. During this stage I am able to change the image a great deal, and introduce other created elements. It usually comes out looking very different from the photographs I started with. When I am done separating and have finished obsessing over all the little details, I print. The printing is the easy part, where I get my reward for my hard work.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I used to do most things by hand, with drawing, rubylith, and photocopies. As my work has become more based on photography, I am now using the computer for most of the design and separation process. I still draw most of my lettering by hand.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Sometimes I can finish a design in 2 days but the more complex ones take longer than that.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I am fortunate in that now most of the bands or artists I work for, are self selecting: They come to me with a foreknowledge of what I do, and what I am known for, and they want me to do what I do. Usually they leave me alone, and of course I prefer that and think it results in a better product. If someone is paying me well enough, they can have all the horses and sunsets they want. But I think they will probably go to the horses and sunsets person, rather than me.

For which band have you already worked for?

Hundreds of bands. The Black Keys, Willie Nelson, Sonic Youth, Tortoise, Dinosaur Jr.,Trans Am, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mastodon, The New Pornographers, X, Smashing Pumpkins, Tom Verlaine, Wilco, Phish, The Jesus Lizard, Magnolia Electric Co., The Gutter Twins, Swans, Black Mountain, Justin Townes Earle, many bands that nobody outside of Chicago has ever heard...

For which band would you love to work?

Circle! Also Mission Of Burma, Kraftwerk, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young... Codeine is reuniting and I will be doing a poster for them soon, which is a great honor as they are one of my favorite bands of all time.
I always wanted to do something with REM, not because I have listened to anything they have done in the last 20 years, but because they were a big influence on me as a kid in the 80's. I think my art now fits their music, then.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

On occasion, but usually they come to me.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

When I am in the technical part of the color separation on the computer, there is a long time where everything looks terrible. I know that with the process of refining, everything will eventually start to look OK, but it is really difficult to force myself through the early, ugly stage.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

In Chicago we have a community of printmakers and poster artists that I believe to be the best in the world, both in terms of talent, and the personalities involved. There really is nowhere else like it.

More broadly, there is certainly an international scene of gig poster artists. Anyone who participates, goes to Flatstock, etc will tell you that there is a ready and easy personal connection between the artists, regardless of any stylistic similarity in their art. It would be very boring if I only wanted to drink beer with artists whose posters look similar to mine.

Right now, I believe the most exciting development is the growth of the poster scene in Europe. The USA and Canada have been a few years ahead of Europe in terms of building links between artists, but now it is really beginning to happen and there is a wonderful energy taking hold on the continent, and in the UK. I've been very impressed by the posters coming out of Vera in Groningen, from Damien Tran and Bongout in Berlin, Arrache-toi un Oeil in Paris, Luke Drozd in London, Douze in Dresden, Michael Hacker in Vienna, and many others. When artists get together and meet each other, and drink too much, wonderful things can happen.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Much of my work is visible on my site http://www.crosshairchicago.com/, and of course on http://www.gigposters.com/. I always participate in the Flatstock poster exhibitions in the USA and Europe, and anyone who likes posters should make a great effort to see one of those.

The best praise you received lately?

"Your posters look completely different from everything else here."

What can we wish you for the future?

Another poster for The Black Keys, posters for Lucero, Codeine, some record covers, posters for Eric Church (American country star), more art prints...lots of things.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Kiryk Drewinski (DE)

2012-01-14T08:51:00.001+01:00

Kiryk Drewinski (DE)

I had not enough space in the interview to show all the art Kiryk sent me for the blog so the best thinbg to do, to my opinion is, first read the entire interview, then go directly to his website in order to have a better idea of this polish/german guy talent ! But be sure to take all the attention required to the details of each of the posters as they are not that simple as they can seem at first sight

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Well, guess I would have to answer "The Magnificent Brotherhood" as this is the band I am playing guitar and singing in but it wouldn't be true really because I never listen to my own stuff at home. So most probably it would be unknown garage and psych bands from the 60s and some better known ones like The Music Machine, The Beatles, The Byrds, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Collectors etc. Sometimes you would catch me with some jazz maybe. Generally spoken everything before around 1970 when (most) music got more and more boring to my ears.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I'm Kiryk of planet Earth. I was born in Poznan. That's in Poland. Since I'm 6 years old I live in Berlin, Germany. I started to design psychedelic posters at the age of 16 (mainly for my own bands in the beginning). Today I still do posters, record sleeves etc. in that kind of style but I also design other things in other styles too.

When did you start drawing?

Can't remember. Feels like always.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

My father, Lex Drewinski is a poster maker and professor for graphic design so I had the best art/design education I could probably imagine at home as art was something that was always present. But as an artist you never stop learning.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Art and music is what I live for and from.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

No, I don't. At least not very often. What I do regularly for example are posters for "Moonshake Party" that's an ongoing dance concert & party event in Frankfurt's "Ponyhof", my personal Fillmore Auditorium in Germany ; )

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Of corse a huge influence on my work is the west coast rock poster scene of the 60s but especially the art around 1900 (Art Nouveau etc.) appeals to me very much. I could go crazy about people like Aubrey Beardsley, Alfons Mucha Victor Horta, Hector Guimard, Koloman Moser, Eugene Grasset etc. For example: Around 1902 Alfred Roller invented the typical typeface that was adopted by people like Wes Wilson in the 1960s. I also love Ukiyo-e, a Japanese art form which had a strong influence on the artists of the Bell Epoque. So it's hart to tell really. Art is just a wonderful thing at any time and influences can be caught anywhere, even in the cave paintings of Lascaux.

It's maybe hard to believe if you're looking at my stuff but I'm also influenced by reduced design like the work of Shigeo Fukuda. I like the way he plays around with shapes to achieve optical illusions at times.

Another Influence are polish artists like Roman Cieślewicz or the powerful posters of Waldemar Świerzy.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

It all starts with finding the right idea. Then the rest is just drawing and drawing. The last step is to scan everything into my computer to prepare it for printing. That's when I adjust the color and sometimes some other very minor things.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I draw 99% by hand (except where I use photos for collages of course). That's very important to me as I'm not a believer in using ready images or computerized psych typography. Such a poster can be created by amateurs in 30 minutes and that's what more and more people are doing nower days trying to save money.

I use the computer only as a practical tool. For example if you need to have a perfect circle or a 1cm frame around your poster etc. a computer makes life more easy of course.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It's difficult to say because every poster is different. Sometimes I spent days only on finding a good idea and only one or two days on doing the actual poster and other times it's just the other way round. Occasionally I have to take photos as a template which makes the process even more time intense. I also like to experiment so I very often do a few versions of one idea till I decide which one I like best. All in all one week work on one poster is a common thing but as I always work on several things at the same time I can't really tell exactly.

Generally I'm open for new stuff as long as I like it. But to be honest: I hate it to get too much instructions and restrictions. It's like a record company telling their artist what to sing or play. There is a certain point where art stops and prostitution begins. But of course sometimes it has to be a compromise and even sometimes the result can be quite good. But generally I like a customer just to bring me the facts and let me have my own thoughts on it. The name of the band, name of the venue, name of the record, that's all I need generally. Experience has shown that best results can be achieved that way. You know, that's my profession in the end.

On the other hand I know that musicians can be control freaks. I am one myself, so I can also understand the intention to have their "visions realized".

For which band have you already worked for?

Oh, there were many but I'm proud of some bands which are my personal heroes like: Sky Saxon & The Seeds, The Electric Prunes, Brian Auger etc. But mostly you will find groups on my posters like Baby Woodrose, The Flying Eyes, Cherry Overdrive, Kid Kongo, The Fuzztones, Bevis Frond, DeWolff and bands like that whose music I also like very much.

For which band would you love to work?

I like to work for bands that I like music wise of course but the professional answer would be: any. Sometimes it's even more challenging to work for a hip hop band or doing soap packages, bed clothing or whatever.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

No, I never did. Usually it's like that: In the middle of one job the next job is knocking. Wouldn't even have the time to choose. But as I'm specialized in psych art the "right" bands keep contacting me anyway.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

To find an interesting, good, flashy idea. Something that works on spot. The rest is handicraft.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

There sure is a scene but to be honest I don't give a damn about scenes. I just do what I do. Scenes always also mean distinction which can't be too good if you want to progress.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Just go to www.KIRYK.com. There's also going to be a big closing event of an Exhibition in Frankfurt/Main (Germany) which is showing some of my posters. There will be concerts, party etc. So drop by if you're near. Details on this one can also be found on my page.

If you like my posters and LP covers please definitely check out my garage/psych band "The Magnificent Brotherhood" at www.MagHood.com. You might dig it as well.

The best praise you received lately?

Your proposal to do this interview.

What can we wish you for the future?

Some free time maybe ; )

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Thank you!

Cheers,

Frank Zio (US)

2012-01-11T11:20:00.001+01:00

Frank Zio (US)

As I was making a scandalous advertising campain for the blog on facebook, spamming artists walls with links to their own interviews, Frank commented behind one of them, I guess now he was trying to get my attention to his work and, as you may see today, it worked !!! :) So, frustrated designers still waiting for me to contact you to talk about your work, feel free to take the first step, if you are talented as Frank is, no doubt you will be online soon ;)

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

I had recently been listening to a lot of electronic music, namely Skrillex and Pretty Lights for the most part. I got the latest Korn record and that's been on pretty heavy rotation. Yesterday and today I've been listening to Deftones and Pink Floyd on vinyl, and I've been rounding out the mix with Danko Jones' latest EP "mouth to mouth." I think I left electronic music in 2011 honestly.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I draw, fuck around on the computer, and print posters. I'm lookin to do more self-serving art type printing in the coming year, but i freakin love gig posters. (also check my 'about me' on my facebook artist page)

When did you start drawing?

I've been drawing since I was a kid. I used to draw these huge ninja turtles with these nasty markers that could get you really high when i was like in the single digits. I guess it's come full circle. I used to want to be an animator and work for disney and i wold draw little flip books of ninjas and exploding cars and shit in my textbooks. I was super into marvel comicbook cards too and spent all my allowance money buying packs of cards at a trade show in santa ana every 2 weeks.I just loved those illustrations, especially spiderman, he's always been my favorite. I guess that's why i lost interest in animation: I cared wayy more about the illustration than the story. the coolest part about comic books are usually the covers.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I make almost half a living on art these days. I also work as a personal trainer at a small, privately owned gym in downtown oakland. I went to UC Berkeley and was on the swim team there and received my art degree from there, so the balance of art and athletics is something that I've always had in my life.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

nah

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I've been pretty heavily influenced by the artist's who were around when i was learning to print. Obviously Ron Donovan and Chuck Sperry of The Firehouse Kustom Rockart Co. i've stolen a lot from Dave Hunter as well as John Paul Bail, more technically than stylistically. I've tried to keep my own style even when stealing.I love ink illustration and hand drawn text, and Alan Forbes and Gregg Gordon are pretty big illustrative influences.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Like most people, i always start with a sketch. The most recent poster I did for Skrillex started as a dry erase sketch on a white board and all of the main elements are right there in the finished version (i'll inlude some pics) Then i'f I'm drawing I start doing what I call a soft sketch, and then a hard sketch (I usually give these away in my first poster orders, fyi). Then I do the ink. All of the drawing is on a big-assed light table that I built in college. If the design is going to be digital, I may draw some elements, but i will generally do a bunch of image farming or picture taking of things I want to use if I can't find what I want. Or I'll go to the library and dig through reference books. sometimes you just can't find the right shit on the internet. I always listen to the band while I'm working too. that and movies.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

everything is always hand and computer. even if the poster is design totally digitally, it still gets printed by hand.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

My shortest turnaround was 2 days, but usually a rush is 3. I much prefer having more time. For Skrillex from proposal to approval to final printing the poster took 5 days. it was the perfect amount of time.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

This is a job, but it's a job that I love doing. I don't do posters that I think are fucking lame. There are a million people out there who can make a lame poster. When I make a poster it's something that I'm going to be investing a lot of time and energy into, and I want to be able to be proud of the result. It's always expected that there is going to be art direction with a band, and the special thing about a rock poster is that you are making art that has to be in line with a pre-existing aesthetic. but that challenge is what I really find exciting.

For which band have you already worked for?

I'm lucky to have made posters for many bands whom I love: 311, Bad Religion, The Faint, Muse, Skrillex, Social Distortion, Danko Jones, Ghostland Observatory, among others. I'd love to work with these artists again! And it would be dope to do something for Thrice. They went to my highchool and are gearing up for their last tour.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

I do usually choose the artist myself, and generally have to hustle to get the gig. But that's the way it is when you're trying to build a reputation.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Man, the hardest part is hooking up the gig for sure. Honetsly, I find every part to be hard. Illustrating is something that I try to get better and better at, but it's never been easy and I am definitely hard on myself while I'm drawing. Separating is severe tedium, but meditative, and the actual printing can be strenuous, but I love the rhythm and physicality of the process. I fucking love screenprinting.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

I never really feel like part of a scene, although it's great with gigposters you kinda feel part an international community of rockart freaks. I'm pretty young compared with most people who do this, and I want young people to appreciate the art form, which is why I was relaly stoked to work with Skrillex, since his is a very young, t- shirt buying crowd that is not typically an art-buying crowd.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Right now frankzio.com links to facebook but I have a real website under construction where that url will go soon. also my artist page on gigposters.com is a great place.

The best praise you received lately?

The best is when the artist gets it, sees that I get them, and wants to use the art. Recently it was wanting to use the image from the poster for a t-shirt design.

What can we wish you for the future?

Wish me much much more of the same! bigger and better in 2012!

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

thanks yo

T-Bone & Aljax (US)

2012-01-06T18:07:00.001+01:00

T-Bone & Aljax (US)

When I discovered I was about to interview the Jackson brothers, I thought I would have to ask 5 times the same questions in order to let Jermaine, Tito and the others give their own point of view. Then I realized that, unfortunatly for the music industry, I had no longer to prepare questions for Michael. After a few time, I learned that indeed I had to deal with 2 brothers, well... 2, not really 3 would be more precise...oh god... I am quite lost with this TBone story, so, no more bullsh*t, let the artists speak !!!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Please sit. Right now we're serving some Chad Vangaalen, wrapped in a warm, Bon Iver Blanket. Served with piping hot Beastie Boys on the side. For the main course, whoever we are currently doing a project for.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

We are the Jackson Brothers. Tony and Allen (T-Bone &Aljax). We're well rooted here in good old Berks County Pennsylvania with our wives and children. We create with a wide variety of mediums for a wide variety of projects from illustration to video production, primarily for musicians and the music industry.

When did you start drawing?

In the womb.. we would war-paint ourselves in fetus fluid to scare our triplet brother.

Seriously, our earliest memories are of creating art. We grew up drawing and sculpting at all hours of the day, We're the kind of people who won't eat or see natural daylight for as long as we can stand it just because we're that into a project. The rest of the world does not exist while we're in "create mode".

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Art courses are what kept us in school. In fact, if we didn't have an art course that day, we would cut and build forts in the forest instead.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

We've been entirely self-employed for the past 7 years.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

We started doing gig posters for local shows about 12 years ago. We completely stopped in 2005, then did design/ overall visuals for a 64 episode internet show for Heavy.com , as well as random projects such as website design and logos for various products/ businesses. In May of 2009, we met Abnrml (our screen printer) and went full blast back into posters. Also, we got back into creating logos, album covers and music videos for musicians... and have been ever since.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

We have to say primarily comedians. There are artists, musicians, and directors that we go through short lived obsessions with, but then we grow tired of them and seek out new, as well as old artists that we may have missed. We think it shows a lot in our work. It's different with comedy. We can still listen to the same comedy albums we did when we were kids and laugh our asses off. We were floored when we had the opportunity to design a print for Conan O'Brien, that was a good day.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

For the past 18 years it's been Micron pens, mechanical pencils, sharpies and Bristol board. We usually do everything by hand, scan it in, and separate for screens on the computer. Then we'll pick out Pantone and paper /material colors.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Generally 1 or 2 days, but some of them can take 3 to 4 days. It's hard to tell because we're usually working between several projects at once.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

We usually don't work by any specific guidelines, but we can match a style if needed, which is where guidelines would come in. Lately, we really enjoy doing as much as we can with as few colors as possible. But, then we have had bands recently that wanted super colorful album covers, and we enjoy doing that too.

Horse sunset... does it have to be oil? Can it be airbrushed on the back of a jean jacket? We say yes to this.

For which band have you already worked for?

Ween, Chromeo, Queens of the Stone Age, Disco Biscuits, Hot Chip, Elvis Costello, VHS or BETA, Jackson Brown, Duran Duran... this could take awhile, it's really varied.

For which band would you love to work?

TV on the Radio, love them. Or a Yes or Chicago reunion album cover, We always loved their album covers and would love to recreate that style. Also America's $1 funny man.. Neil Hamburger.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

We have, but they mostly contact us.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

The concept! It drives us crazy sometimes.. we're listening to a band over and over, getting a feel for their music, when suddenly, an idea hits... the rest is gravy.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

Clay Hayes contacted us about being in the book in January of last year. I think the hardest part was keeping it a secret until after the book was announced for release... we were pretty excited.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Definitely the gigposter.com crew, they are tight and brutally honest with each other, which we admire. It's good to be part of talented group that are willing to give advice to people with genuine interest in the art form. Plus we hang with fellow PA poster artists Altieri and Zomic from time to time.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

First you could head on over to http://www.tbonealjax.com/, where we have posted our posters, album covers, videos, and motion graphics. Then pop on over to gigposters.com and seek out T-Bone & Aljax. Or, you can connect with us directly at http://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Bone-Aljaxx/37562612841. We know a few of our posters have become permanent fixtures in everything from venues and art galleries to the backs of dive bars and living rooms the world over. You can check out some of the mural works that Allen designed for many Pennsylvanian elementary / high schools with muralist JC Ayala, or some of his work tattooed on the arms of many. We'll take a painting break every now and then too. And we make music with our triplet brother, Andy, in our band "Six O' Clock Saints".

The best praise you received lately?

Being praised for our album artwork for "Eagle and the Worm" on Australia's morning show "The Circle" was pretty cool. We thought "We've reached the other side of the world, now what?"

What can we wish you for the future?

More comedian and video game related work, more animation and motion graphic work. And to be the first gig poster artist astronauts!

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Thanks, we look forward to seeing you from the moon.

Richard Biffle (US)

2012-01-05T11:38:00.000+01:00

Richard Biffle (US)

AI know that if you are on the blog it is certainly not to read about my own private life, but where else can I speak of it ? ;) So, as you may know, the Black Crowes (even if I hate them for not touring in France anymore) is one of my favorite band, "so what ? " you may think, so, I have to thanks them, not only for having wrote My Morning Song (among others), but for having introduced me to the xork of Richard Biffle a long time ago with a wonderful cat poster I never been able to make mine, even after years and years of search...too bad.. :(

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Hopefiully not sirens~ Could be anything~from an audio book~NPR~Classic Rock~Grateful Dead, I like a lot of different things to listen to~ but definately the tele wont be on.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I am From Marin~ Raised in Virginia Beach, grew up there and the outher Banks. I went to Art institute of Atlanta in early 80's~ Lived in Japan and throughout the southern states most of my life~ recently lived with my beautiful wife and Muse at 9,000 feet in the colorado rocky mountains. Ready tpo go where the climate suits our clothes~ I have a 6 year old son the 3rd~ and a Step son who is 11~ I love to create~ all i need is food and creative love~

When did you start drawing?

At about my sons age now~ 6

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

totally impoved my skills by tagging the covers and margins of every book I owned~ even rentals~

Today are you living from your art, or do you do somethingelse for a living ?

I make my living on my art only~

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

older influnces are of course Beardsley,Mucha,LauTrec~ More contemporary influences are Rick Griffin,Alton Kelly,Robert Venosa,Jeff Wood~

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Composition~flare,information

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

mostly tablet now~ I oil paint regulary for myself, but not for jobs and work.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Completely varies~ on entusiasim. I have done a great poster in 3 hours~and I have taken a ridiculous amout of time and had none of it show.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

HUmmmmm? well~ I can paintlike a mf~ so not a problem there~ If some cat came up and said here 30g's paint me some horses frolicing in utopia~ I would say hell yeah~ I will even make them unicorns if you want~ Just dont let me ever see it again and let me make sure the check is good.

For which band have you already worked for?

Grateful Dead, Black Crowes, Santana,Jeff Beck, Mule, Blues Traveler, Keller Wiliams, Widespread Panic~ etc.

For which band would you love to work?

right now~ the Original Black (MF) Crowes

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

When theres too much informaton you gotta put on it. Can really trash a great design.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Yeah, I guess? in my jam band kinda way~

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

We will be set up at Broomfield at the Phil Lesh shows inside. You can comeby and meet and greet~ we will have as much possible available. the website is olcrowstudio.com~ it was richardbiffle.com but someone stole it and it was biffle.com but someone stole that too. you can order new realeases there and look further into the portfolios over the last 25 years. Setting up gallery shows now for 2012 and will be posting that info on FB and the website.

The best praise you received lately?

Sold out in record time!

What can we wish you for the future?

Working on a lot of new projects the main project is a book of my art

Johnny Sampson (US)

2012-01-04T15:47:00.001+01:00

Johnny Sampson (US)

If you guys think that being a poster artist is really a life full of fun, this interview should help you reconsidering your point of view: "considering the exciting career of Postal Worker" seems to be the usual dream of a talented artist, especially a self described asshole one :) Of course, I'm joking but what else could I write regarding Johnny Sampson as everything is already said just looking at his art ?

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Currently I am listening to a lot of Bloodshot Bill, JD McPherson, this Pakistani folk and pop instrumentals compilation I got recently, and the Downtown Soulville podcast from WFMU.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Johnny Sampson, I live Chicago, IL with my wife and two small children. I am a freelance illustrator/designer/printmaker. I also like to play fingerstyle guitar.

When did you start drawing?

I started drawing as a little kid and pretty much kept at it ever since.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I went to college for painting, but the only thing I learned was how to be an asshole. I taught myself how to draw and paint since then. Unfortunately, I'm still an asshole.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I am making a modest living off of my art, though I am considering the exciting career of Postal Worker.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not really, though I do an illustration about once a month for the Chicago Reader, our weekly newspaper

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Mad magazine, Wacky Packs, Norman Saunders, Al Jaffee, old movie posters, horror and sci-fi films, men in ape-suits to name a few.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Everything starts with a pencil sketch. When the concept gets approval, I do a more finished pencil rendering, then finish it with brush and ink. Then scan it in and color in photoshop. Sometimes I do the color seps by hand as well. It all depends on what the design calls for.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Everything is by hand most of the time. Even on the computer, I'm drawing with the Wacom tablet, so that's by hand, too, ain't it?

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Usually the turnaround is about 5 days. What takes the most time is the communication back and forth between artist and band in the beginning concept stage. After that, it's smooth sailing.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I am up for anything. This is a job for me. Being able to adapt to someone's aesthetic, no matter how different it might be from mine, is part of the job description. I would have no problem doing that oil painting, but I would prefer to airbrush it on the side of a van.

For which band have you already worked for?

King Khan and BBQ Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, CoCoComa, Killdozer, Supersuckers, The Ponys, Detroit Cobras, Gossip, King Khan and the Shrines among others.

For which band would you love to work?

Bloodshot Bill, Deke Dickerson, Thee Cormans, Black Lips, Turbonegro, The Kongsmen

Do you choose the artists yourself?

That will be the day.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

For me, it's making it special, not just something I farted out.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

I was graciously asked by Clay Hayes, founder of gigposters.com. Thrilled to be a part of it.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Maybe in name I am, but mostly I feel like I'm on my own. Boo fucking hoo.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

http://www.johnnysampson.com/ has links to all my internet incarnations.

The best praise you received lately?

"Thanks for taking out the garbage."

What can we wish you for the future?

More ups, less downs

Kent Myers (US)

2012-01-04T12:33:00.001+01:00

Kent Myers (US)

Back in the 90s, they were not so many drawing gigposters. Kent was one of them and, even if he is now more focused on creation of interactive design services, the way he is working is finally globaly the same he used for posters if you refer to his website: "I think of each project as a blank canvas. I develop ideas with pencil &paper, I start designs from a blank file, and start web sites from a blank text document. Each project is custom-built to the client's needs, and optimized for final delivery."

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

MC5 - Kick out the jams

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan in the 60s, among some great moments in art history like silver age and underground comics, psychedelic posters, TV animation, hotrod & pop art. That stuff has always influenced my work as a comic book and poster artist. I moved to San Francisco after college, started 'Detroit! Murder City Comix' and progressively tried to make a living from my illustration.

When did you start drawing?

As young as I can remember… kids draw and scribble… I got into it right off the bat. My older brothers could draw great and I copied them. As early as the 4th grade I was pretty active and remember giving drawing lessons in school, selling work to my teachers, and painting murals in the library.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Definitely self taught. I never put much faith in career art at school… I studied mechanical engineering and just preferred to draw for fun at my own pace. I was cartoonist for the college newspaper, loved to spark a friendly controversy yet never took an art class.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I'm lucky to make a living from my art, but now it's mostly commercial web design. My illustration is still mostly for the fun of it and sometimes pays too. My personal art takes a lot of energy. When I work all day on commercial stuff I develop skills, gain inspiration, etc., then it can be relaxing to apply that to my own creative projects.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

I do still contribute although it's pretty infrequent. I have been in several issues of Specious Species published annually by Joe Donohoe (available at lastgasp.com) and I'm currently working on a cover illustration for the 2012 issue. I contributed art to most issues of Filth magazine from San Francisco in the 90s and I'm always threatening to make a Detroit! Murder City Comix comeback with my partner/writer Rick Metcalf. Together we created 7 issues of our comic book.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I have so many influences, here's a few… from Detroit, Glenn Barr and Niagara, Stanley Mouse, Gary Grimshaw and Mark Arminski. Comics/cartoons from R. Crumb, Ed Roth, Robert Williams, Jack 'King' Kirby, Wally Wood, Jack Davis, Walt Disney, Jay Ward, Tex Avery. On a broader scale Sailor Jerry and Ed Hardy, sideshow art, circus posters, designers Paul Rand, Erik Spiekermann, Tschichold, Warhol, the French impressionists Toulouse Lautrec, Gauguin, Monet, the Renaissance's Michelangelo and Da Vinci… it goes on and on.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

1) Concept
2) Sketch
3) Detail studies
4) Final pencils
5) Inks
6) Scan and digital design
7) Color
8) Package and deliver

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

All my drawing is by hand, ink on paper, brushes & pens, then colored on the computer now. I used to color my drawings by painting with "cell vinyl cartoon colors" on the back of a black line art transparency film, but those solid mechanical colors of old comics are much easier on the computer. I do some color paintings with oil on canvas for fun--they look like cartoons too.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It takes me forever, like 50-60 hours for a detailed one.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I do everything and unusual requests are fine with me… I always have fun with it. For my commercial work I think I'm still finding my style--it's hard to tell from the inside at this point. However my illustration has a distinctive style and like it or not, everything I do has that look. Clients for illustration generally want that kent myers urban underground patina when they contact me.

For which band have you already worked for?

For my friends I worked for the Detroit Cobras, Hysteric Narcotics, Demolition Doll Rods, Bootsey X and the Lovemasters and with the Fillmore Posters I have done Iggy and the Stooges, Dave Matthews, House of Pain, George Thorogood, Stephen Marley, and Gov't Mule.

For which band would you love to work?

Iggy & the Stooges. I'm lucky to have already done a poster for them and a comic book (D!MCC #6) and they're still at the top of my list for whom I would like to do more work.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Mostly it's a personal connection or the client approaches me.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

The final execution and delivery can get hectic… dealing with technology and simply playing out a hand. I find the early stages with the blank canvas to be the most easy & fun. As the drawing proceeds there seems to be less creative input and more carrying out the concept. Sometimes an important focus of a drawing can be tough in the inking phase… I may need to psych myself up to do an important component.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Yes, absolutely I feel part of the graphic scene, in San Francisco and nationwide. Art tends to drive my entertainment and social activities. My artist friends include Matso?!, Scott Reed, Jeff Roysden, Chuck Sperry, Ron Donovan, Scott Williams, Luther Thie, Amy Jenkins, Terry Murphy, Rae Douglass, my brothers Brian & Dale Myers, as well as local dignitaries Ron Turner, Spain and Winston Smith.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

posters at http://www.kentmyers.com/

commercial web design at http://www.papaya.net/

The best praise you received lately?

Lately I'm been doing swim event posters for the Dolphin Club in San Francisco, an even smaller niche market than the underground Detroit fan scene. I recently put a lot of effort into an Alcatraz swim poster I had envisioned for a while and it was very well-received. I guess the real joy comes from the public's reaction to my work. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete a drawing… then another bounce seeing the human reaction.

What can we wish you for the future?

Wish me luck, I hope to continue doing more and more art as time goes on.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Intergalactic Medium (Cale Griffith) (US)

2012-01-03T11:50:00.000+01:00

Intergalactic Medium (Cale Griffith) (US)

Along with Rob Fitzpatrick and Christian Bland Cale is, for me, the true child of Wes Wilson and other 60s poster legends (I let you guess who :). If you add to that a sure taste when it comes to naked women, you will easily understand how Cale did his way to the blog ;) …

1. Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Right now I'm listening to ZZ Top's Tejas album... One of my favorite all time bands. Their first six or seven albums are phenomenal. Then the eighties happened.

2. Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Cale, I'm from a small town in Alabama, and a father of three sons.

3. When did you start drawing?

Probably 2nd grade. I was always drawing in school and getting in trouble for doing so.

4. Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Nah, I went to a rural school that offered no art classes, so in the early days it was all self taught. So when I went off to college (the University of Alabama) I jumped at the chance to major in art. Perhaps not the most lucrative field to major in, but it was worth it to study under the great Alvin Sella.

5. Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Unfortunately no. Or not yet, to be precise, there is always hope. My day job is delivery for a wine distibutor. Insert joke here.

6. Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not as of yet, but I've really only been doing this poster thing seriously for a little over a year now, and I have been both pleasantly surprised and humbled by the way it has taken off.

7. Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

My main influences lie in the 60's San Francisco art/music scene. Wes Wilson has to be my favorite poster artist of the era, but there are a lot of fantastic artists out there now, like Kiryk Drewinski, from Berlin, and Jeff Wood from Athens, GA, plus too many more to mention. I am also influenced from artists of other genres, most notably Gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman. You also, in my opinion, must be heavily influenced by the music, because, in the long run, thats what its all about.

8. What are the principal steps in your work ?

I do a lot of research. I want to know as much as possible about the band, venue, etc. that I'm working with, so the poster has some sort of connection to its subject matter. After sufficient research, the poster just seems to make itself.

9. Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I mostly work on computer, but i do some work by hand, and if I had the luxury of more time, i would do more by hand.

10. How long does it take you to do a poster?

How long does it take to write a smash song? It really varies. I've done some in as little as 4-5 hours and some have taken weeks. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how long it might take. The hardest lesson to learn is when to quit, when to call it finished. Otherwise you could tinker with a piece forever.

11. You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Oh, I'm always up for new challenges and new mediums. It keeps the excitement alive.

12. For which band have you already worked for?

Mostly local bands out of Alabama, but lately I've gotten some work from Europe, such as Shizoey from Austria, and Undersmile, from the UK. Currently doing some work for Free Range Humanz, from Toronto.

13. For which band would you love to work?

Any of my favorite bands, of course; Kyuss Lives, Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, SunGrazer, .....i could go on for days.

14. Do you choose the artists yourself?

If I like a band, I will try to contact them in some way, but most of the work I have done so far, the artists have contacted me.

15. What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Trying to keep it within my style, yet making it unique unto itself. That and color. Choosing the best color combinations can be daunting.

16. Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Somewhat part of an online community, but I am very new to this game, so I know very few of the people personally. I would very much like to be more involved in the "scene".

17. A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

I hope to have a web-site going sometime in this new year, but for the time being, Facebook would be the only place to see my work on-line, at https://www.facebook.com/intergalactic.graphics. Or, if any of you are ever in the great state of Alabama, I'm always up for a visit in person! (please call ahead) :)

18. The best praise you received lately?

Wes Wilson saw my work on-line and said he liked what he saw and to keep up the work. That had me floating on clouds.

19. What can we wish you for the future?

That my poster biz continues to grow and flourish in 2012! Thanks!!!

DWITT (US)

2012-01-03T10:42:00.000+01:00

DWITT (US)

Even if I was already really fan of his art, I discovered, thanx to this interview, why Dwitt was so successful with his posters. It is just because he perfectly understand what the client need. If you are familiar with the blog, you might have noticed this "horses oil painting" question I always ask, and, even if I already had good answers to this one, David is the first one who suggest he should better go for a unicorn instead of the horse, meaning he perfectly understood my idea :) …

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

A: Bob Dylan 'The Times They Are A Changin'"

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

A: I am a full time freelance artist living in Saint Paul Minnesota. I draw comics, posters, and all sorts of illustrations for a wide range of clients, including the occasional fine art piece for the heck of it.

When did you start drawing?

A: My first cartoon was drawn when I was around 4. It was a skunk wearing a gas mask hanging out by an onion.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

A: I did a lot of drawing in the margins in addition to going to Bemidji State University to get a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing with a minor in Art History.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

A: I've been entirely self-employed by my art for over 7 years.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

A: I am doing a bi-weekly food review comic strip for the online food magazine Heavy Table (http://www.heavytable.com/). That's the only regular gig, but I am happy to work for any publication if they ask me to do some work for them.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

A: comic books have been a huge influence on me, particularly the work of Will Eisner and Jack Davis. I try to draw like them every day.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

A: I start with a bunch of very rough sketches that would only make sense to me, then I build up a pencil drawing using the rough sketches as a guide, and then I starting inking it with a brush.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

A: I have been doing everything by hand. I plan on learning some more about using the computer with my work this year, but I'll still create all of the artwork by hand, and then using the computer will apply it to a wider variety of applications.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

A: If I were able to work non-stop on a poster, from the beginning sketches to the final printed product without interruption or distraction, I could probably do it in one full day. But it usually takes two or more.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

A: I'll take on a difficult or strange project if I think I can learn something from it. If I don't think it would be fun at all, I'll pass on it. I pride myself on being able to mimic other styles, so I'd probably create that oil painting you described if instead of a horse it was a unicorn.

For which band have you already worked for?

A: that is a really long list.

For which band would you love to work?

A: I'd love to do some work for Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, or Bob Dylan.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

A: That's pretty rare. I am usually the one that is chosen by them.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

A: Trying to make something that looks like the band sounds.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

A: there are a lot of printers and artists in the Twin Cities area. The folks I talk to most are Aesthetic Apparatus, Amy Jo, and Landland, but usually we're all too busy with our own work to do much hanging out, we all just happen to be creating work in the same geographic area.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

A: http://www.dwitt.com/ is my main website. I also have a comic strip blog at http://www.dwittdailys.blogspot.com/ . In real life... occasional t-shirts, coffee shop bulletin boards, liquor store windows, framed pictures in bars and restaurants, newspapers...

The best praise you received lately?

A: someone sent me a picture of a tattoo they got on their arm which was my Last Words portrait of Frida Kahlo. Having your work permanently on someone's body is extremely high praise.

What can we wish you for the future?

A: Good health and a lot more work

Stêvz (BR)

2012-01-02T17:16:00.000+01:00

Stêvz (BR)

Well, I was wondering what kind of new feature I could add on the blog for 2012 and, guess what, Stevz mailed me, so that I had no longer to worry about new feature as I had, thanx to him, a new xountry to add to the blog, so, Happy Brazilian New Year guyz !!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Anything from the Mothers of Invention to Carlos Gardel.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Stêvz, I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and work mainly as a comic book artist and a designer.

When did you start drawing?

As a child, like everybody.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I loved drawing during classes, one can get into a deep level of stream-of-counsciousness production, with the teacher's voice in the background, kinda like a mantra with really big words.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I live mainly from design. Although there are elements of art in it, I guess no, I do not live from my art. Yet.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Yes, I've had several self-published books and magazines, and collaboration in many others, specially here in Brasil.

Some of them can be found here: http://quadrinhosdependentes.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/producao-independente/#

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

The internet can provide a really vast amount of reference, not only in design works, but in photography, movies, etc. I don't know how to name just one influence, I guess everything I see around influences me one way or the other. But I'd like to think I'm doing something particular and sincere of my own.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Usually: Trying to visualize the whole thing, doodling, choosing materials and style, doodling, making mistakes, hating it, scanning, photoshopping.
Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

See above.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

I tend to be minimalistic. Maybe one or two days just thinking about it and planning, and another day to really make it.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I probably won't be up for it. And I usually make my own posters for my own gigs or book releases (is that the term for it?).

For which band have you already worked for?

Brazillian bands Zefirina Bomba, Valdez, Mechanics, Galinha Preta, and mostly my own, Chapamamba.

http://soundcloud.com/chapamamba

For which band would you love to work?

Thee Oh Sees, R Stevie Moore,

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Nope.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

I guess when it needs to display a lot of information, trying to make it readable but still working as one picture.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Maybe in independent brazillian comics, wich, you know, is a growing scene and all.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

I have a blog (written in portuguese, sorry. but there's a google translate button somewhere down there)

http://cumulusabsurdum.blogspot.com/

a flickr account

http://flickr.com/stevz

a soundcloud

http://soundcloud.com/stevz

vimeo

http://vimeo.com/stevz

and a collective blog in http://revistabeleleu.com.br/

The best praise you received lately?

Someone liked my status on facebook.

What can we wish you for the future?

Payed authoral work!

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Thank you!

Lance Lester Design (US)

2012-01-02T11:45:00.000+01:00

Lance Lester Design (US)

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 !!!! You have been more than 46.500 poster lovers to visit the blog last year and I would like to thank you all for the support you showed. As the end of the world is planned for this year according to the internet, I'll try to interview as many artists as possible before it happens. If you are yourself a poster artist, if you know someone you really appreciate and cannot find on teh blog or just to say hello, feel free to drop a line, I will consider any suggestion/request. But for the moment, HAPPY NEW YEAR once again, and enjoy Lance interview !

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Right now, I’ve been going back into my hip-hop roots and listening to Wu-Tang Clan a lot. I’m a big fan of what they were initially, a collective of rappers brought together by music, kung fu movies and comic books. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Saul Williams and Justin Townes Earle lately.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I’m Lance Lester; I live in a suburb of Dallas, TX, Richardson. I’m from a tiny little town in Oklahoma called Tishomingo. To pay the bills I’m a web developer. I love building sites and figuring out how to get them styled correctly where it’s a piece of art on your screen. I would do web design too, but, once you have a client who makes several changes to a design you initially love, and is beautiful, it ends up becoming unrelatable and far away from your original vision.

When did you start drawing?

I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid. I would draw on anything I could get my hands on, scrap paper, and shopping bags, whatever. In class I would always draw on the margins of my paper. The older I got, like in middle school; I really became fascinated with graphic logos and would draw them all the time. I use to love the old Nike Force logo and would draw it a lot and the Converse “Energy Wave.” Oh, God I’m dating myself.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I took some art classes in high school. But, it’s not like I went to design school. I’ve just learned by constantly working at it and trying to get better.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living?

I’m not living from my art yet. I would love to be able to at some point soon.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

No.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

That list is pretty long at this point and gets longer every day as I find other artists whose style I love. I dig Jason Munn, Heads of State, Todd Slater, Ames Bros., Brad Klausen, Aesthetic Apparatus and David O’Daniel are some of the artists who I’m always trying to keep up with visually. I love to try and deconstruct their work and see if it’s something I could use in my work down the road.

Todd Slater has been particularly helpful. Although I’ve never met him personally he’s been more than willing to answer any questions I’ve had for him via email and it’s something I really appreciate. Dan from DKNG has also been kind to me.

What are the principal steps in your work?

Typically I look at what the band has done before and see if I can get a feel for their style and take some queues from that. Some of it also involves listening to their music to get a feel for who they are; a lot of ideas come that way to. I don’t really have a set approach to the way I go about it, it can be different every time. But, it’s the best feeling when I get a flash of what I want to do for them and then I can keep building on that flash.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Mostly. What I do by hand is basically sketch it out on paper, whether it’s a Post-It Note or a full size piece of paper. I’ll sketch out the layout so I can at least get an idea of how it will look as far as where elements are placed and how they may look with each other.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Man, that really depends. I’ve done some where they came together really quickly and I was finished in two hours. Right now I’m working on one and I’m about seven hours into it and I’m still working on it. Sometimes when I think I’m done, I’m so not. I will let it sit for a bit and take a second look and just not like how it’s coming off and I’ll start over with the same design just trying to get it perfect. On the one I’m working on now I’m hoping I can finish it tonight after a few more hours of work.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Thank you, I hope that’s a good thing… I would imagine it is. I usually do what I feel with little input from the artist. I’ve found that if they’ve decided to go with you as a designer they trust you and what you’ll come up with.

For which band have you already worked for?

I’ve worked with Beirut, Eisley, The Weepies, and will be working with Justin Townes Earle for this 2012 tour. A lot of the work I’ve done has either been for the venue or promoter. Hopefully if Old Crow Medicine Show gets back together I’ll be working with them as well. I was scheduled to do work for a couple of their shows this past Fall and they unexpectedly went on hiatus. I love those guys and their music so I hope they everything worked out.

For which band would you love to work?

There are two: Pearl Jam and Spoon. Hands down Pearl Jam. Their Ames Bros. designed posters are the reason I initially wanted to do graphic design. They’ve been my favorite band since I was young and continue to be despite their last two albums being not-so-good. But, I digress.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

The only time I’ve been able to do that was when I reached out to them myself. I’m hoping to establish myself a little bit more, keep improving conceptually and artistically and they will come to me.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

Just coming up with a concept or idea that I feel will work with a particular band. Sometimes it comes quickly, but when it doesn’t it sucks to beat your head trying to figure something out.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

If I am part of the scene, I’m a small part of it. The people who are part of the “scene” are my influences like Todd Slater and Jason Munn. Designers of that ilk are the scene and I think it’s probably a bit harder for a lesser known designer like me to become known. But, it all comes down to quality of work, ya know? If you are putting out a shitty product then it will be harder to elevate your name and visibility. I think it’s also important to keep practicing to get better at your craft and trying to constantly improve.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work, on the web or in real life?

http://www.lancelesterdesign.com/

The best praise you received lately?

I had a band manager for a well known artist tell me this week they love my work. Now, it could just be them being nice, but, it really means a lot to me.

What can we wish you for the future?

That I can continue to get work and raise my stature in the game.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website!!

Odd (Oscar) (Italy)

2011-12-23T15:35:00.000+01:00

Odd (Oscar) (Italy)

Merry Chrismas to all italian readers and artists. I discovered this year that Italy was maybe #2 poster country, just after the US, hope this will boost the competition for other countries. A very special Merry Chrismas to all the Italian Poster Rock Art team ...

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

These days I'm listening to Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys. Mainly. But there are always five minutes free for NIN.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Oscar, aka Odd, I'm a graphic artist and illustrator from Italy.

When did you start drawing?

I started drawing when I was at school, my diary used to be crowded with funny pictures and teachers' and schoolmates' caricatures.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I started as a self-taught in high school then I attended the International School of Graphics in Venice, and here I learned the basics. But most of the things I do are the result of hours of personal research.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Fortunately I live from my art, sometimes it works great, others a little less, but the satisfaction of receiving appreciations for what I do is priceless.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not much, but maybe i will increase in the future.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I particularly like Shepard Fairy (Obeygiant) and Andy Warhol, I'm heavily influenced by pop art and comic books, but I must say that recently, surfing the web, I've found many talented artists that push a little forward my point of view.

What are the principal steps in your work?

The band or artist, or the management contact me, most of the times they don't set limits and expect me to surprise them. Other times they come with their own ideas and I have to realize them with my style (but it's no so frequently). Then (with the band music in background) I start drawing on paper, scan, retrace all in Illustrator and insert final details to complete the composition, then I choose the color palette. When the work has been approved, we print it.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

First by hand, a final on computer. But I also use a Wacom to draw directly on my computer.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Sometimes it takes 4 hours, sometimes it takes days. It depends on the complexity of the artwork and on how much I'm inspired by the job.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

If I could put skulls everywhere, I would do it... In general, I don't have preferences, but untill now I've not been drawing something I didn't want to draw.

For which band have you already worked for?

I've done poster for Knut, Carla Bozulich, Karma To Burn, Ojm, Vessels, Damo Suzuki, Planet Funk, Premonition 13 (Scott Wino), Heraclite, Aleuchatistas, Zu.

For which band would you love to work?

I'd like to draw something for Queens of the Stone Age, Mark Lanegan or Foo Fighters. But I'd love to work with all the bands that I love, and their soooo much.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

No, I get commissions by promoters or band management.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

Trying to render visually the inner soul of an artist or band and making the poster eye-catching and unique.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

There's a scene even if one doesn't know he is part of it. Thanks to the web is very easy to confront with each other, to be influenced by the work of talented people without knowing their name. I think I'm part of it without being to much involved.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

You can find quite everything I've done, on my website http://www.odd-house.com/

The best praise you received lately?

My son.

What can we wish you for the future?

To keep drawing good stuff and get rich with it. If not rich, I'll settle for a hot meal a day.

Röntgen (X-Ray Vision) (Germany)

2011-12-23T14:34:00.009+01:00

Röntgen (X-Ray Vision) (Germany)

Merry X-Mas to all the german readers and artists I discovered this year, I hope to meet many others in 2012 but, for now, please meet the talented mysterious X-Ray Vision guy ! …

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

We would listen to some rock and roll, old punk rock, sixties soul, garage rock, stuff like that. Probably i would put on something by the beatles at some point, i like them a lot.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I'm 32 years of age and from hagen, germany. I work as a freelance graphic designer and i play in a band called „the separates“. That's how i got into this whole gigposters thing, printing posters for my own band.

When did you start drawing?

I don't think i ever really started drawing, i don't draw that much and i'm not really good at it. I scribble a lot while generating design ideas and layouts but unfortunately i'm not one of the guys that come up with killer illustrations just like that every time they take a short ride on the subway. I mean, i do draw if the job requires it but there are lots of people out there being much better and quicker than me when it comes to drawing.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I know both sides, the good old „get it going“ approach from taking part in punk rock, aswell as the benefits of expanded academic studies. That's a good combination, at least it was for me.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living?

i do my best to make a living from graphic design.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

No.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I guess i was early influenced by rock and rock in general. I always dug the work of alan aldridge, art chantry, rick griffin, jamie reid (to name just a few) without even considering it being design. For me it was just the visual side of the music i grew up with. When i studied graphic design i dipped deep into design theory and that again was a major influence for me. I highly value otl aicher's thoughts on design for example.

What are the principal steps in your work?

For a rock poster? listen to the band's music, sketch my ideas, choose the one that fits the best, finish the artwork, realize that it's not half as good as i thought it was and start all over again. Then somewhere down the road i screenprint the poster and: ta-da!

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I use whatever tool i need to get the result i'm looking for. in most cases it's a mix of analog and digital technics that works fittingly.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

You can't tell that, it varies from poster to poster.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it?

I'm the wrong guy for a horse-water-sunset-painting for so many reasons ...

For which band have you already worked for?

Some of my more recent posters were for the new bomb turks, keelhaul and monster magnet.

For which band would you love to work?

Actually i already made the poster for „the band that i'd love to work for“. That was roky erickson. Roky's music really means a lot to me, so it can't get any better. but if i would have a free choice i would say iggy, of course! And billy bragg.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Sometimes bands or promoters ask me if i can do a poster but mostly it's me who's after it.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

Not to lose money.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else?

i am a member of gigposters.com but i'm not that much an internet guy and so i don't really add something to that community. It's a great website, you can find lots of stuff and assistance there.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Well, i was willing to put up a website for my rock posters for a long time but to be honest, i don't think i will ever come up with it. So all you can find on amazingxrayvision.com is a link to my profile on gigposters.com and an email-adress. By the way, feel free to shoot me a message! You can see my posters on http://gigposters.com/designerposters/42055/1_R%C3%B6ntgen.html and if you want to buy one please get in touch with me or visit http://www.luisposter.de/

The best praise you received lately?

I made a small print for my son's first birthday last year and the little guy was so crazy about it, he took it with him everywhere he went for quite a while. That was without any question the best response to my work i ever received.

What can we wish you for the future?

Physical and mental health.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

thank you, brother!

Graham Pilling (Army of Cats Design) (UK)

2011-12-23T11:51:00.000+01:00

Graham Pilling (Army of Cats Design) (UK)

Merry X-Mas to all our UK friends, just for them...well indeed not just for them but for everybody reading this blog, a new last minute gift by Graham Pilling head of Army of Cats Design, enjoy !!!…

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

I've been enjoying repeated listenings of the new album by Office of Future Plans, which is J. Robbins' new band.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I'm from a Northern town in the UK called Huddersfield but have lived and worked in nearby Leeds for probably 13 years or so now. I enjoy working with anything visual really, so I tend to refer to myself as a 'designer, illustrator, & printmaker', which is a bit of a mouthful. I have also dabbled in Art Direction and Animation.

For the purposes of this fine interview for your esteemed blog - I'm a gig poster artist!

When did you start drawing?

I have drawn since I was able to hold a crayon. My mother informs me that as a child I could be found drawing on the floor in a corner by myself somewhere, furiously humming the Star Wars theme tune as I acted out my own huge space battles on the paper, drawing new fleets of ships one minute and then scribbling their destruction the next.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I didn't actually enjoy art at school as I found it too prescriptive, so improvements were self-initiated. Of course this means I perhaps took a little while to get all my 'bad work' out and start understanding what makes good work (at least from my perspective) but being self-taught has worked out OK so far.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I am lucky enough right now to be making a living from art and design, yes. I work a couple of days a week as an in-house designer for a small company and then the rest of the time work with my own clients or on my own projects.

Gigposters are just a small part of the work I do, although they are certainly picking up compared to a few years ago. I never assumed it was possible to make a living from gigposter work but I'm glad to see that it's starting to be more commercially viable work as opposed to just a labour of love.

I actually just recently taught my first screenprinting course, which I really enjoyed, so hopefully I'll get more teaching opportunities next year.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Some of my work pops up occasionally - the latest issue of Creative Review (which is one of the big UK design magazines) did a feature on some of the Screenadelica artists. The paper fanzine is sadly something of a rarity these days - I say sadly, but it's obvious that digital content makes a lot more sense, and the many drawbacks of old photocopied 'zines are only really considered charming by old farts like me. My work does exist and pop-up online in different places fairly regularly.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I like all art and design, and it all influences and inspires in different measures. In terms of personal or thematic influences, there was an artist called Lowry who used to paint factories and little stick figures and other scenes from Northern towns. We had a few Lowry prints on the walls growing up and I used to enjoy pouring over them - I think I even did a Lowry project in school. Anyway, with hindsight I've noticed that some of those Northern factory scenes, and certainly hills and landscapes, have made their way into my work, which is something I find quite interesting.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

For gigposters, I always listen to the band and start making a list of themes, lyrics, etc. and then see how I can turn those into a visual representation. Then I sketch a lot of ideas, then I take the sketch to the computer to put it all together, output as colour separations and then print.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I still sketch out a lot of ideas by hand, but most of the design work is done on the computer these days, usually on my graphics tablet. I have come to value the time the computer saves me.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It completely varies! Each stage of the process seems to have it's own life, so sometimes the idea seems to take a long time and then actual design work happens very quickly, and sometimes vice versa. Sometimes everything takes a long time and it feels like a long, hard slog through a bog of apathy and indifference...

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I'm always up for trying new things but what I usually do is have a discussion with the client about their objectives and what they want the work to achieve - the goal should be the important thing, not necessarily the means. It may be that when they say they want an oil painting of horses, what they actually want is something that looks hand crafted and painterly.

I think communicating and working closely with clients is a huge part of doing successful design work, as they often don't know how to ask for what it is they're picturing in their minds - they aren't design experts, that why they hired a designer!

For which band have you already worked for?

At this point, I've sort of ticked off most of the bands I had on my 'wishlist' so I am really proud to have done work for The Hold Steady, Hot Water Music, Dillinger Four, Melvins, and Forgetters, as those are some of my favourite bands.

For which band would you love to work?

I still haven't done one for The National, who I love, so hopefully that can happen at some point.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

If there's a band I really want to work with, I sometimes approach them but am just as often asked to produce work by the band directly.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

For me, it's actually sometimes difficult to keep the work simple and to the point. Reminding myself that it's a poster and needs to be bold and effective, rather than getting lost in the details and spending time adding lots of things which might not actually add anything to the overall concept.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

Clay dropped me an email about it and hey presto! I'm very proud and honoured to be involved, I think it's a great book.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

I do certainly think we have a burgeoning gigposter scene over here in the UK right now. Myself and fellow designers Luke Drozd, Chris White, and Bobby Evans are actually putting together an online resource for poster artists and came up with a list of all the active UK poster makers and there are now a surprising number! It's very nice to see more getting involved.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Links to all the places my work can be found are on http://www.armyofcats.com/ - my Blog (http://armyofcats.posterous.com//) and Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/armyofcats) are the places that get updated most often.

The best praise you received lately?

I recently uploaded a picture of Predator that I drew in high school and a friend complimented me on the shading.

What can we wish you for the future?

I'd like to continue to be healthy and happy, creating and making things, and hopefully spreading a little happiness to the people that enjoy my work.

R Black (US)

2011-12-22T17:24:00.000+01:00

R Black (US)

X-Mas time is really close now, so I wanted to offer you a last gift before I leave the internet a little bit for holidays, and I am glad this gift is R Black as the guy is really hugely talented…

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

I'm obsessing about The Black Angels at the moment

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is R.Black. I am a graphic artist from Oakland, Ca. I'm a Gemini, I like long walks on the beach and naming light posts after famous Russian historical figures.

When did you start drawing?

My earliest memory of drawing is around 5, I think i drew Foghorn Leghorn in which there was a giant statue of for some reason at my school.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

More like drawing from cartoon strips, Peanuts, Garfield, Bloom County as well as Disney characters when I was younger, moved into comic books and anime as I got older, and drawing my friends and my characters from D&D and other roll playing games at the time.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

-I do make a living as an artist, but I keep "living" very simple.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

-No at at really, mostly poster work and graphics.

Where does your influence come from?

-Influences usually come form what ever Im really into at the moment. If I like something say like a genre of music or theatre, Ill start doing posters for anything related to it as to be able to enjoy it for free( like I said, live simply), I like to be involved in the subjects I take on

Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

-Im really influenced by art nouveau artsit such as Mucha and Jules Chéret. Neoclassical like Ingres, pop artists such as Lichtenstein. Comic artists like Jim Lee and Kirby. Posters artists like Ewing, Coop, and Fairey.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Ponder, thought , depression, drink, execution, elation.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I used to sketch and ink by hand then color in Photoshop. Then I'd just sketch, scan and then "ink" and color in Illustrator. Now that I'm proficient in Illustrator I just do all the steps at the same time.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Depends on how quickly the idea comes, the labor is the easy part, I do not feel my style is very complicated, its the idea that's the difficult part.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

-As Im a whore for art, i'd do my best to paint what you wanted if the price or the interest is right. i have no idea how to use oils, but I wouldn't back down from a challenge. I'd even make them unicorns with peg legs in you were paying good.

For which band have you already worked for?

-A ton, but generally a poster artist tends to work with a venue and not the band directly, in my experience.

For which band would you love to work?

-Devotchka, hands down.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

-Sometimes, if I really love a band, I'll approach them directly, most times its a venue asking if I want to design for bands. More rare is when a band comes directly to me.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

-Being clever, coming up with an original idea that both conveys the attitude of the band and developing an image that will make a viewer want to go see them.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

-Ive been on gigposters for a long time, I think just by being known by them is what led them to invite me to be in the book. I've also been part of a calender one year and some other things. Its a great site.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

-More like part of the rock poster scene, made splash for a second when my book came out, if only for a second. There seemed to be a few of us at the same moment when it got really exciting for me. Artist such as Brian Ewing, Tara Mcpherson, Andrew Bawidamann, and Scrojo to name but a few.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

My site rblack.org, the theatre im part of shotgunplayers.org, Facebook and of course Gigposters. One of my Occupy posters was featured on the Rachel Maddow show and another one on the Huffington Post. I also had a book published some years ago by Dark Horse, you can get on Amazon for super cheap.

The best praise you received lately?

Someone was mentioning that before the met me they used to steal my posters off the way at clubs, I think thats awesome, when one is moved so much to rip an item off the wall and dedicate wall space for it in their home, amazing.

What can we wish you for the future?

Opera posters!

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Jessica Seamans (Landland) (US)

2011-12-22T12:15:00.000+01:00

Jessica Seamans (Landland) (US)

Well good resolution for 2012, when I have nothing special to say, I let the artists and their works speak for themselves :) This begin .... today !!!! ;)…

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Fats Waller!

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Jessica Seamans and I am one-half of Landland, along with Dan Black. "Landland" is the name we have for the thing we do with most of our time. It includes a lot of drawing, design, illustration, screenprinting, and a little record-releasing, book-making, 3D modelcraft, and procrastination. Our main thing we our known for is our band posters.

When did you start drawing?

We've both been drawing since we were tiny babies. I focused mainly on Worlds I'd Rather Inhabit and Dan's specialty was Road Signs.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

Hmm, well, I suppose we both probably took any art class that was available to us during our first 13 years of school... and drew any other chance we got.. I went to a high school that had an arts focus, and then only one year of school at an art college, and Dan attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. We're both fairly self-directed and self-motivated, though.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

We both live entirely off of the work we do through Landland. For me, that's been the case for about 10 months now and for Dan it's been a few years. Neither of us are necessarily living super well but it's fricking wonderful to get to do this as a full time job.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Not really, I would like to be doing more of that kind of work, but we haven't quite figured it out yet.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Oh geez, well, our influence comes from all over the place. Speaking just for myself, the illustration that really moves me is usually of the past. I love Tomi Ungerer (still active), George Herriman, Maurice Sendak, Winsor McCay. I spend a lot of time looking at older National Geographic magazines, or really any older book or magazine with any well-reproduced photography from the 60's and 70's. The colors are incredible, and National Geographic has really beautiful portraiture. Really amazing. I just acquired a huge collection of National Geographics so that's kind of all I'm thinking about right now...

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Well, to make a band poster, which is our primary thing right now, we start with being asked by the band or the band's management, and sometimes they'll have some idea of what they want, but more often they'll tell us what they don't want. We come up with sketches, get approval, start final art. Dan has some really interesting processes lately; he's been doing a lot of really elaborate model-building to use as reference for whatever van pile-up or factory scene he might be drawing. It's really fun to watch. I usually just gather other images for reference. We both do pretty much all of our drawing by hand, so it isn't until all of our drawing is done that we scan it into the computer and do some final cleaning up in Photoshop. Then we print separations (the image from which each screen for each color of the poster will be made) and start printing.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Really, everything is by hand. When we're doing CMYK printing, which is the stuff of ours that looks more like watercolors, we make the entire drawing/painting and then separate it into the various halftones in the computer, and Dan will sometimes do some color stuff on the computer but all the drawing is done by hand.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It takes about as much time as we have, plus a day or two.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Hmm. Well, I would probably nail running horses, and have fun doing it, to be honest. But yes we mostly do what we want, or rather, the people that come to us never seem to ask us to do anything wildly different than the kinds of things we would be good at. There are definitely things that would be way outside of our capabilities.

For which band have you already worked for?

We've worked for a ton of bands... Lots and lots of local Minneapolis bands. Our own bands. Friends bands. Some of the slightly bigger people we've done stuff for are, Iron and Wine, the Swell Season, Arcade Fire, Das Racist, Built to Spill, the Hold Steady, I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton.

For which band would you love to work?

R Kelly! Prince! It'll never happen.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Not usually; typically bands will come to us, but sometimes we contact people if we see they're coming to town and we think it would make sense for us to do their Minneapolis poster.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

For me, it's either committing to a concept or not getting sick of it by the time I'm to the printing.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

Clay, the person who compiled everything in the book, just asked us. We're kind of an official part of the whole gigposters community now, so I guess that helps!

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Wow, that's a tough question. I could say who we would be flattered to be considered peers of, but it's hard to say who are our actual peers... I guess, within the gigposters scene, we might be part of a group of people who make more, um, sensitive-looking band posters... And the other people that I would place in that category would be people like Nate Duval, Sonnenzimmer, maybe with Jay Ryan at the head of the pack.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Landland.net is our infrequently-updated website, and in real life, you can come visit us at our studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The best praise you received lately?

It's always really flattering when people want to buy a poster you made when they've never even heard the band it's for. That has been happening a lot lately.

What can we wish you for the future?

In-studio masseuses.

Thomas Perrodin (CH)

2011-12-20T18:16:00.000+01:00

Thomas Perrodin (CH)

"Designing a basic rock poster is not difficult because rock have stereotypes, skull – wings – guitar-etc…", on one hand this statment is 100% true and Thomas gave me the best reason for this blog to go on, as you may have already noticed if you sometimes read it, no, definitly no, rock poster art is not ONLY about skulls, wings, topless ladies and devils. The best evidence ? Just take a look at Thomas' work, this is definitly not Griffin-esque ;)

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Actually this Haus Arafna album (Rhapsody in New York), and Italian Tarantella.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I 'been raised in Paris. I quit school early , then I worked in many unqualified job to see what it looks like (school kitchen, computer technician : cable disconnection... for corporate relocation, security, mobile phone seller for just 1 day, etc…).

After those two years of mind wandering (and doing a bit of graffiti) I started a preparatory class to learn the basics of graphic design and drawing, then moved to Angoulême to do a fine arts school where I met a lot of people who were doing comics (a universe I was not close to). I get my bachelor diploma in art/communication option, then moved to Geneva for a “new media postgrade” that was very deceptive (as I was interested by what new technologies socially engaged, and we were doing Vjing or moving dots on buildings… and for me it does not make an interesting sense), so I spent much of my time doing etching and silkscreen.

I still live and work in Geneva now.

When did you start drawing?

Like any child soon, more when I used to do a bit of graffiti when I was a teen, then it became really serious when I’ve been in fine arts.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

As I was unable to draw Sangoku in the margins of my schoolbooks (I drew Krilin), I learn it in a preparatory class when I was 21yo, academic style, as I remember, my first nude drawings looked like whales.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I’m an assistant for the screenprint workshop in the fine arts school in Geneva, and extra money come from my art, mostly what I do for live show spaces or releases covers.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Fanzines mostly, micro self edited sceenprint books and collaboratives art books, I collaborated with 3 friends to create the core of the “Chiens Fous” (mad dogs), we do exhibitions-installations and books.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

A little non limited fields disorder for my actual taste :

Kuniyoshi and Japanese print in general, Olafur Eliasson, Joe Daly, Daisuke Ichiba, Kels book, Fuel publishing, alchemic, mystical and obscure works, antic art works, many others people well known and many, many works of unknown people …

What are the principal steps in your work ?

It depends,

I used to work a lot with computer but know it’s more like a support for colors.

In screenprint, if I draw by hand (not with high pressure water or blockout with brush), I always make a drawing at the size of the print on transparent paper with markers or lithographic pen.

Then I make colors with the same stuff or autocut film.

But I love incidents so I often start with an experimental point of view, to find other ways to use screenprint, erasing stuffs, drawing with tools or products that are not basically made for it.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Mostly by hand, even stuff which look like vector.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It depends on the approach, It can take 4 to 10 hours (or more) including the print.

Generally, I just go to the workshop with an idea and do everything in one day, I sit, start to sketch (often very lightly) then draw or work directly, ideas comes during the elaboration process of the picture.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I dunno, it will be funny to do this kind of pictures because I love backdrops, but generally I have “carte blanche”.

For which band have you already worked for?

Mostly for the experimental music scene, but also for well known bands & complete unknown band, here’s a list :

Cut Hands - Aspect – 1400 points de suture – Acid Mother Temple– Aiuto – Anthea Caddy – Avarus– Badtrip Inc – Balata Eyes – Balazs Pandi–Belfi, Grubbs, Pilia Trio– BlankTapes – The Black Heart Procession– Bulb –James Chance – Chicaloyo – Chris Corsano – Chulki Hong– Envy– Error– Esmerine – The EX – Secret Chiefs 3 – The Melvins– Damo Suzuki - Keiji Haino – Makoto Kawabata– Le pré ou je suis mort–Mind over Mirrors– Rangda – Jean-François Pauvros– Phil Niblock – Gary War – Hype Williams –MoHa! – Wooden Wand– Zu – Redback – Tshetsha Boys – Praed – Imperial Tiger Orchestra – Ghédalia Tazartes – Rudy Decélière – Hasna El Becharia – Vincent de Roguin – Thierry Simonot – Plaistow –Orioxy – Raaga Trio – Kiko Esseiva – Murièle Begert – Jarse – Mik Quantus – dQtc – Conformists – High Wolf– Helena Gough – Pirx– Massimo Pupillo – Eric Cordier – Sunburned Hand of the Man - Hans Grüsel's Krankenkabinet - Liz Allbee – Projet 202 – Terminal Hz – Monno – Mir - Germanotta Youth – Zea – Loup – Marvin – Papaye – Master Musicians Of Bukkake – Uiutna –One man nation – Cancelled – Delmore FX – Hamayoko – Frank Stauffer – Ryu Hankil – Jin Sangtae - Choi Joonyong – Tujiko Noriko – Lawrence English – John Chantler – Damo Suzuki – D’incise – The Skull Defekts – Atsuhiro Hito – Valerio Tricoli – Jeff Carey – Nicolas Field– Thavius Beck – Bioviolence – Afrodizz – The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble – Bleubird – The Somnanbulist – Lambig Butter Explosion – Free Moral Agents – Subtitle – Drumcorps – CardoPusher – Mr Connard – El g – TG – Network 23 – Le Crabe – Kro de la Bestiole – J Rocc – 2 mex – High Tone – OBF sound system – Caterva – Dub 4 – Kid Koala – Dj Lord – The Jungle Brothers – Lee Scratch Perry - Lusine– Foreign Beggars – Woody Madera – True Ingredients – Solar Skeletons – Ms 30 – Scappare di Casa– Massicot - Pneu – One fuck One – Pat V & the Pat Vs– H– Stemmms – Yinsh…

For which band would you love to work?

Boredoms, Aphex Twin, Merzbrow, Coil (but they’re dead), The Cramps (but Lux Interior is dead), Autechre, MF Doom, The Usaisamonster (but it’s over), Judas Priest (for the fun), Godspeed You Black Emperor, Hijokaïdan, Brian Eno, Boris, Sunn O, Otto Von Schirach, Venetian Snares, Arvo Part, Alva Noto, Haus Arafna, Maska Genetik, Chrome Hoof, Hawkwind, NHK, Primus, Ruins, The Psychic Paramount, John Zorn, John Cage, Bad Brains, Jello Biafra, Peter & the test tube babies, Dick Dale, Radikal Satan, Diamanda Gallas, Cannibal Ox (but I think it’s over now like Company Flow), classical ensemble for opera, etc…

Other bands are over for a long time I think…

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Sometimes yes…

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

From a point of view above technical level, designing a basic rock poster is not difficult because rock have stereotypes, skull – wings – guitar-etc… Funny to do but not so refreshing, difficulty(interest?) in those kind of posters comes when you want to disturb those stereotypes and shift them.

it’s very interesting, mostly for experimental/deviant/hybrid music that have no graphic codes or a very tiny amount.

How you can dive into the sound and extract pictures from it is what I found very interesting.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else?

The fact that I’m answering to this interview is the answer : )

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

My blog, where there is, I think, all of what I’ve made or make :

http://thomasperrodin.blogspot.com/

In real life, exhibitions just ended, one in Rennes (France), a solo exhibition of music posters, and an other in Geneva (Switzerland) with Chiens Fous, a really funny “end of the world” installation, called “No New Age Gondole Wave Banana Spleen”.

A solo exhibition is planned at the Poulpe, in Reigner (France) from january to february.

In November also, in Geneva, a four handed contribution for a Titans exhibition, huge size screenprint, during a convention that where are preparing at Usine Geneva. Check the blog : http://monstrefestival.blogspot.com/

In December (I don’t know when) in Labo Geneva, a wall painting in the gallery for the varnishing of a LP from wich I made the cover.

And for 2012 we will see…

The best praise you received lately?

A friend of a friend of mine, that I met at the end of the recent Melvins live show in Geneva, told me first that he liked the poster, then after 10 minutes of chit-chat told me he knew my work well and was a huge fan. I had to quickly find another topic of discussion as I was hugely embarrassed.

What can we wish you for the future?

Happiness, love and many projects before the end of the world.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Ammo (FR)

2011-12-20T16:57:00.000+01:00

Ammo (FR)

Christmas time is here again, and I wanted to give you (my worldwide readers) a truly rare gift. I must admit I did not have to look really far to find it, as he is french, worldwide known if you consider he worked for bands such as Unsane, Isis, Keelhaul, Aguirre, Weedeater, Zoroaster or Eyehategod and he has been kind enough to do the whole interview in english (which is not that easy especially when you are french, and I know what this really means). So today the Crew is happy to welcome one of the most talented poster artist I discovered lately … Le Grand Ammo!

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Yop ! Well, for the moment, I'm in my noise rock period, "experimental" or more "classical", "old" and "actual" huhuhu.

Just now, I listen to Satanized, Monno, AIDS Wolf, Bear Claw, Drunk with Guns, Hella... stuffs like this.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I was born in the south west of France, near Bordeaux, I lived there for a couple of years.

I moved with my girlfriend in Brussels, Belgium, 2 years ago, and we're quite happy here !

I try to live with my drawings, so I do different kind of work : illustrations, comics, posters, teaching...

When did you start drawing?

Since I can hold a pen I think.

I always liked to draw, during my study I was so bored that I just draw all the time.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I began with my schoolbooks, then I continued at the high school wich was an "applied art" branch.

After that I tryed Beaux arts, and it was completly useless, I was completly disgust by school so I quit and

I worked and study by myself.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I try to, so I do different kind of work : illustrations, comics, posters, teaching...

For now, a lot of things happen and I work on my first personnal comics with an editor back my ass !! Cool !

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

More and more, thats really cool ! Seems people liked my work more and more, yaaahaaa !

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

I've always been a big fan of "art nouveau" : A. Mucha, I. Bilibin... and I was also amazed by old engraved stuff you could find in old children's book, also artists like G. Doré and old medical's illustration facinate me.

I also like old american's typography at the end of the 19's century like the insurance's maps or stuff like that.

In fact, I really like tedious and high detailled work, it's really obsess me.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Well, I generally do a quick sketch, for setting up everything. Then, if I need some doc, I began to look for it on the net or with my camera or with friend's fotos...

Then I do a really detailled sketch(I more and more apreciate this part) sometimes the type is separate, depends.

Finally, I put all that mess on my light table and I ink all with a brush.

I usually use the computer for the colored part and thats it !

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I want to do more and more things by hand, like each color layer on rhodoid with felt selflight, things like that.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Depends, generally 3 or 4 days of full time job.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Huuuu, actually... yes ! Definitly ! Exept if I have 6 month to work on it and a big fucking salary !!!

For which band have you already worked for?

Unsane, Isis, Keelhaul, Aguirre, Weedeater, Zoroaster, Eyehategod, In Zaire, Headwar...

For which band would you love to work?

For now : Neurosis, Akimbo, Dark castle, Enablers... As a fantasm : The Jesus Lizards, Unwound, Shotmaker, Dazzling killmen, Harkonen... And many others that no longer exist.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Most of the time, yes, but I almost never say no to work for a band, it's my participation in music's world

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Composition/typography

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

yes, like everybody else who loves music and does things with their two hands with pleasure.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

The best praise you received lately?

Cool ! So, website : http://ammoamo.blogspot.com/

In real life, I had an exhibition in liege, and now it'll move to Brussels then Paris, more info soon;

The best praise arrived two weeks ago. I received a financial assistance for work on my comics, thats was really hopeful !!!

What can we wish you for the future?

Work for great bands, finish my book and having fun, that would be not bad...

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

David Moreira (Skatradioh) (US)

2011-12-20T12:23:00.000+01:00

David Moreira (Skatradioh) (US)

According to his facebook profile, Skatradioh "like(s) to screen print what (he) design(s) in (his) studio. (He)'ve done dozens of posters for local and touring bands. (He) love(s) paper and ink", but, what is more surprising is that he also says: " Eating, watching movies on vhs, art, skateboarding, screen printing, and pulling a squeegee." as hobbies. Watching movies on VHS ??? but where, in 2011, does this guy comes from ? Let try to find out below .…

What are we listening to when we come to visit you?

It's not uncommon for me to be listening to a bunch of music from the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN). Right now it's been Total Fucking Blood, Marijuana Deathsquads, Gay Witch Abortion, Skoal Kodiak, and Brute Heart. If I'm in a working grind I'll prolly put in Kylesa's Time Will Fuse Its Worth, Big Business' Mind the Drift, or Baroness.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name's SkatRadioh. Well not really, as a poster artist yeah, but otherwise it's David Moreira. SkatRadioh comes from one of the songs Terry S. Taylor did for Doug TenNapel's (Earthworm Jim) game The Neverhood. I was really into that soundtrack growing up and I think I can blame those two for permanently affecting me for the rest of my life. I still listen to the Neverhood Songs and sing along to all of the babbling lyrics.

Speaking of babbling... I am just the local "poster guy" in the big-small city of Duluth, MN. I came from the suburbs outside the Twin Cities and moved up north to work on a Graphic Design/Studio Art degree at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. During my years there I developed a side project of finally gathering and building the things I needed to screenprint in the various places I was renting. Now I am making the transition from being a student to working in the local arts community. I'm finding more work as a designer/printmaker, but I do spend time fulfilling various roles with the Ochre Ghost Gallery and Northern Prints Gallery.

When did you start drawing?

Since before I can remember, like everyone else.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I've been creating things for people since I was young. Once, I had a business partner in elementary school where we would make a variety of Origami to sell to kids. During that time people caught on to stuff that I would draw referenced from video game magazines and some silly comics in the rhetoric of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants. In high school I became more aware of the greater internet communities, Penny Arcade's Artist's Corner forum in specific, were very helpful for critique and collaboration. Towards the end of high school I was running between the Art room and Graphics Lab to complete any class projects. I was exposed to a large two-room, photographic camera which I used to make transparencies I needed to make stencils for an offset press. While mostly black and white photography and offset press was being taught in-class, I started to ask more and more about printing in the graphics club I became part of.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living?

All the time put into learning print has begun to pay off and I can now find work providing people with printed objects. Printing is not my only focus for work, but I also enjoy working in galleries that present new artists' work regularly and give the general public a place of dialogue for the things we all make. Then there's the part time regular income I can count on at pizza world...

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

Roosterhouse.org has been a base for collaborating with some of the contributor's to make covers for some zines that they've written. I haven't been working on this lately, but I'd like to get back into it soon. There are a few projects still on the table for completion.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

What opened the door to doing music related poster art was seeing both DWITT and Adam Turman's posters in the Twin Cities. They both had such a graphic style and were doing posters for some of my favorite bands too. All kinds of things, both poster and non-poster related, are now influencing me.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Look at a bunch of photos, listen to a lot of music, and design. Get transparencies, use my hanging lamps to expose my photographically sensitive screens, and washout the image in a large sink. Mix my inks, put the screen into some clamps on a table I built, start pulling a squeegee by hand and printing onto paper.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Most of my work is done with a tablet on my computer, but I will sometimes draw with pencil and ink and scan it in to work on it digitally.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

A few to a dozen hours or more for the design and a couple more hours to print. I'll usually take a few days to design and then print.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I'm always up for a challenge to try some new things, but I have been using a lot of the same tools and techniques for many projects. Some of the work I do for clients end up needing to look a certain way, maybe cleaner or with a certain subject. Luckily I have control in many of the projects I take on. The line quality is pretty much the same across the board and I really like the occasions where I can do drawings with multiple overlapping perspectives of a subject.

For which band have you already worked for?

I've had the chance to promote In Defence, Total Fucking Blood, Skoal Kodiak, Sass Dragons and even the Meat Puppets (in a print collaboration with Jay Whitcomb). Lots of my posters are for smaller local acts that are supporting a touring band.

For which band would you love to work?

I'm still looking for a chance to do something for STNNNG or Skoal Kodiak again. It would be awesome to do a Kylesa/Baroness/Big Business @ the Triple Rock or First Avenue in Minneapolis. I kind of owe it to them for listening to them so much!

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Not really. Usually someone I know is setting up a show or event here in Duluth and I'm the poster friend who might have time to make something.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster?

Spending too much time designing a poster. I can end up being overly scrupulous sometimes, but the reward is that I end up with something I can truly enjoy.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else?

I've done my work both independently and collaboratively out of the interest of printmaking in general and sharing that learning experience with others. I like teaching people how to print and this includes people of various arts and non-arts backgrounds. The GigPosters.com forums provide me a connection to talk with and see other print artists' work. Currently I don't adhere to any one specific visual group right now, but have been recently thinking about working cooperatively with other printmakers to develop a large studio for ourselves.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

Updates on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SkatRadioh

Full documentation on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skatradioh/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SkatRadioh

For Sale: http://www.gigposters.com/classifiedads/u31840-skatradioh.html

The best praise you received lately?

I've been hearing good things from some of the people putting together the major Duluth Homegrown Music Festival. This is a week+ long fest with hundreds of local bands at multiple venues. They're starting to ask me about potentially doing some work for the next upcoming festival and I'm very excited to do such a cool project.

What can we wish you for the future?

To keep printing and work with art!

Thanks!

Anville (US)

2011-12-15T15:24:00.000+01:00

Anville (US)

Once again, I will never be able to thanks Clay (from Gigposters.com) enough for all the work he did and all the artists he helped me to discover. Anville is one of them and, once again, I am really impressed by the quality of his drawing and when he refers to Gustave Doré and Spawn (along with other artists) it is not just a pose, but you can really find both those inspirations in the same drawing which, finally, is just 100% Anville style....

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Most of the time I am rotating between some chaotic, heavy stuff, contemporary classical, hip hop and chill indie rock thrown in for good measure. Lately it has been Volumes, Cloudkicker, Daughters, Structures, Jesu and Cave-In. Mixed in there is more chill stuff like Jogger, Max Richter, James Blackshaw, Pinback, Drake, Gucci Mane, Kanye West, Hecq, Ital Tek...its always a whirlwind of different styles.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I am known as Anville and I have an obsessive compulsive problem when it comes to artwork, along with a large dose of hyperfocus. I have lived in Texas all my life. Apart from going to school, buying comics, building computers and class , I was always drawing. After dropping out of high school, I didn't draw for a few years, until eventually it found me again. I developed a portfolio, and went to art school. I am currently doing the non art day-job thing, which is excellent for me creatively right now. It keeps me in reality, pays the bills, and allows me complete freedom in my spare time.

When did you start drawing?

I don't have any memories where I wasn't holding a pencil. I remember sitting on the living room floor as a child, busting my ass trying to draw a VW Bug. I have a box of stuff from when I was 6, all I drew for a year were '57 Chevys. Then it was Lamborghinis, Ninja Turtles and dinosaurs all thorough middle school. After that it was Spawn, Judge Dredd, The Crow, Matrix, etc.....

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I always drew what I wanted to in my free time, though I did enjoy art class more than most. I did indeed draw in the margins of all of my books, even in Art School. My mother would get calls from the teachers when I was young, complaining I was drawing too much. My grades were good then, so I never got in trouble.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Currently I am not living from my art, even reasonable deadlines wreck my life as I try to get a project out in-between being at the office all week. Art prints do provide some excellent supplemental income, and eventually would like to transition completely to drawing full time. At the moment I am doing art for me, and taking a break from anything that has to be done by a certain time. My current day-job is not art related, which is fantastic for my creative side. Most days, I come home, and sit right down at the drawing table, anxious to sketch out new ideas that were brewing at work.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

With the level of detail I work at, collaborations don't really go too smoothly. If I decide how something looks, I have usually sketched it out in great detail, and therefore it would be too time-consuming to change. I have done small pieces for magazines, but I don't see much of it in the foreseeable future.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

There were several key moments where I was awakened at various levels of growing up, and certain things spoke to me and I reacted. When I was 10 I found a Spawn comic, penciled by Greg Capullo and inked by Todd McFarlane, which rocked my world at the time. This was the first big kick, several other moments were discovering Micron Pens, having access to the internet with endless reference, and lately its just discovering other artists work and being inspired by their technique. I found Aaron Horkey's work in 2005 and that was one of the biggest jolts of inspiration, to get cracking and start taking art seriously. Since then I have found Roger Dean, Gustave Dore, James Jean, Vania Zouravliov and lately Arthur Rackham and Paul Laurenzi.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

The beginning actually is the hardest part. Having an idea and adding to it, removing things from it, and even when you put it down on paper correctly, most times it still doesn't look right without some further modification. Sometimes I'll spend a week without drawing, just slamming ideas into each other in my head, then when I sit down to draw it spills out perfectly. The ISIS poster was like that; I spent 3 days just pondering, thinking and daydreaming and when I got the idea, I drew it in 2 hours and was ready to ink it. Sometimes I will be in the mood to try out a new technique I have recently discovered, like using 3 colors on a print, and seeing how far you can take it. The Circa Survive print is a good example of my attempt at minimalist color use.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

I do all sketching, planning and inking by hand. When it comes to scanning, colors, trapping, pantone, DPI and all that, I rely on photoshop. I will always try to do lettering by hand, but when a deadline is looming, I will use the computer. At the very least, I have an original piece of art, even if there are a dozen or so layers in the computer, there is always an original.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

Depending on the interest and budget, 2-3 weeks is my turnaround with the 50 hr workweek. If I am particularly exited about a project and have a whole month or longer, then I'll go all out and add all kinds of unnecessary detail. This can be seen in the Coheed and Cambria print, I relaxed and enjoyed inking it over the course of a month.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Right now I am pretty selective on what projects I will take on. In the past I have done some pretty banal illustration work (though I would love to try painting some horses...it would be something new). The last couple of commissions were from people with ideas that were interesting to manifest, and I had freedom to go about making it interesting in my own way.

For which band have you already worked for?

I have done posters for Mastodon, Electric Wizard, Coheed and Cambria, The Black Dahlia Murder, Animal Collective, August Burns Red and Circa Survive.

For which band would you love to work?

I haven't done a hip-hop poster, so right now I'd love to do a Gucci Mane or Drake poster for a change of pace. A few I would love to take a crack at are Chevelle, Deftones, Atari Teenage Riot, Tool, Kylesa, Trail of Dead, a dozen more I can't think of. Preferably something with a completely unique sound.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Yes, Ill turn down a job if I am not inspired by the music in some way. For example; I would not do a Pearl Jam poster. I believe they are dedicated and talented musicians, their music just does not speak to me. Almost all of the rock posters I have done were a result of me chasing down the band and showing them my work and asking if they were interested. Being pro-active in this aspect helps a lot.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Trying to visually capture the sound of the music with imagery / mood / color theory of the poster. I got some negative feedback on my Animal Collective poster because it was a woman surrounded by animals (how original right?), but with the colors I felt pretty confident. I was listening to the album a lot, and the pastel shades kept reappearing in my head. Most of the time it is deciding the subject matter, and you want to do something that hasn't been done before, to make it stand out from the bands' other posters. It would have been a quick choice to do a viking warrior on a dragon for the dethklok poster, which is awesome if that's what works for you, but I wanted to try something that would strike people from a different angle. I have randomly meet people around Houston who know my work and say "Oh you did that train poster! I bought it at the show!"

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

Clay invited me to be a part of the book, and I sent in everything early and to spec and kind of went on to other projects and forgot about it. When the book arrived, it completely took me by surprise. It was incredible to see my work alongside a lot of fellow talented people.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

In my head, I feel like a small part of a turn-of-the-century pen &ink revival with a few other contemporaries. Whenever I meet a fellow ink aficionado, we talk about the same people. Bernie Wrightson, Virgil Finlay, Alphonse Mucha, Jeff Jones and Franklin Booth among others. I am a big fan of artists who follow this aesthetic; attention to detail, lavishly rendering animals and foliage, classical elements and graphic design of decades past. Jeremy Hush, John Dyer Baizley, AngryBlue, Vania Zouravliov, Glyn Smith, Ken Taylor, Aaron Horkey and Daniel Danger are some artists who are good examples of this. The fact they they are doing something similar in spirit, yet making it their own, inspires me to do my own work.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

http://www..anville.net/ is my site, and I have a mailing list which is sent out before all print releases. The next print release is an 8 color Barn Owl print, with 2 metallics and a split fountain, the most complicated print yet, which will be released through Pedal Printing in a month or so. I also have a facebook page, where I post sketches and paintings in progress.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anville-Art-Archive/122191591134763

I am not showing in galleries much lately, almost all of the art hangs out in my living room after I scan it, or occasionally gets bought by some close friends.

The best praise you received lately?

I usually show my girlfriend the latest piece in progress, and its always from her.
What can we wish you for the future?

That the human race continues to farm coffee beans, and honestly that things keep going how they are going. I am grateful for all of the people who have given me opportunities and supported me by buying art that I spend long hours creating. Looking from 5 years back, I never would have imagined that the work would be in a book, or even to have done some posters for bands that are very influential to me. Success in any amount is a huge bonus to doing what you love. There are no real expectations of things I wish would happen in the future, doing the art is fulfilling enough.

Kunny van der Ploeg (NL)

2011-12-15T11:41:00.000+01:00

Kunny van der Ploeg (NL)

If you'rev familiar with the blog, you may have noticed that one of the goal was to show how international the rock poster scene is. Unfortunatly, most of the medias related to it are US based only, and this is one of the reason why gigposters.com is so important. Thanks to the book published by the site, I discovered a new dutch artist I am particulary proud to introduce you today.....

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Ha, it really depends on what I am doing; Often when I start working on a poster I begin with listening to the music of the particular band I have to design for, but, to be honest with you it is often really quiet here in my studio! I need silence when i am working on an idea. I like to quietly browse through books and doodle around and let my thoughts flow. Classical music sometimes is great as a background though. Once i have an idea and start creating I like listening to the more, how to say it, 'calm' country and blues, Mississippi John Hurt is a good favourite at the moment, as well as some of Doc Watson but also The Doors, Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Waits... erm...Reigning Sound... While screenprinting i love to put up some more energetic stuff and play it loud; early rock n' roll, rockabilly, country, bluegrass, garage rock, psychedelic soul and all the nice genres that you get when you mix those styles. King Khan's always great music to print on, or Reverend Horton Heat, that kind of energy.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

Well, I'm a freelancing graphic designer // illustrator living in the north of the Netherlands in a lovely little city called Groningen. I went to Academie Minerva art college here in town, and also did a year of art school in Exeter, in the UK. After getting my degree here I moved to Edinburgh for two years to get my master in graphic design. I really enjoyed living abroad and i learned so much from it, I can say it really shaped me, not only education wise. It really widened my horizons in every way. As for graphics / illustration; I met so many people form all over the world who taught and showed me new things, who showed me different books, designs, artists, films, views on life etc. So it was very inspiring. I also learned screenprinting en in general there was a lot of interest in 'the handmade' in my year. Authentic designmethods with letterpess, collages, screenprinting; things i was already into, but developed strongly. The nice thing about living abroad is that ordinary things become special, at least for a while. Somehow you're more focussed on getting everything out of your time (there), and you're more aware of your surroundings. I tried to keep that feeling when i returned to my home land, even though it's easier to sink back into a certain routine and not notice what's around you. One of the things i did to keep the workflow going was to join the Art Division of the Vera Club, in 2007, I think the best venue for underground music in the Netherlands. They're the only venue that still creates a unique screenprinted gigposter for every show they have, in a little attic in-house studio. That's how i got into creating posters and that's where i can experiment with styles en develop myself continuously. We are completely free to create what we want, as long as the poster is legible. That amount of creative freedom is priceless. And it's a great showcase for your work.

When did you start drawing?

I think that started very early, like most children I loved to draw, and I did it a lot. More then nowadays I can say. Around the age of 6 or 7 i got pretty serious about it, my father gave me a proper hardcover sketchbook and some good pencils and i also went to see my first real exhibition, of Frans Hals paintings. I remember the portraits very vividly. I bought some postcards of my favourite paintings and i still have them. I also liked copying the drawings and paintings my parents had framed on the walls. And arranging little still lifes and draw those. Yes, somehow along the way i lost that dedication to drawing again, I mainly use my sketchbooks for shopping lists and notes nowadays.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I did go to art school but I cannot really say my drawing techniques improved there, since in my graphic design courses was not that much attention for drawing techniques. I never really did life drawing in art school and only started to follow a course last year in my spare time, which was great. I do not really see myself as a 'drawer', I use drawing for sketches and doodles, but my illustrations are usually papercuts, collages or a combination of that. But I am always jealous of people with sketchbooks full of daily observations, visual diaries so to say. I'd love to do that too, and develop a unique drawing style of my own. Which starts with learning the academic techniques, in my opinion. Of course I learnt a lot about concept, about composition, about executing ideas in various ways. So in that way my visuals improved a lot, of course. But drawing is just not a main characteristic of the way i work.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

It's a big part of my income, but since freelancing is always kind of risky and unpredictable, I also work a couple of hours in the bar of an art house cinema; to make sure i can pay the rent and to have an every now and then break from the solitary studio work and have some interaction with colleagues. Besides that I can go to the movies for free, a benefit not to be underestimated.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

I do occasional editorial illustrations for magazines, yes.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

ooof, there are so many people that inspire me that sometimes I get an artist block :)

Yes, many influences come into my head, from way back in the days, the pioneers that started to use photomontage and collage and experimental lettering; the Dadaists, the surrealists, Russian avant garde book and posterdesigners, Polish and Czech postermakers; people with an open attitude towards the use of various materials and found imagery and objects, works with a genuine authenticity and originality. People that work in the realm of both art and design. I'm also very intrigued by the (applied) arts from (former) communist countries; the highly inventive ways of communicating your ideas in restricted regimes with a lot of censorship. I love it when a work communicates on different levels, that demands something from the viewer, that reveals multiple meanings. A couple of names; Berlin dadaists Hanna Hoch &Raoul Hausmann, Russians El Lissitzky and Rodchenko for their photmontage (and great childrens books too!), Czech (film)postermaker Karl Teissig, who created such inventive and intelligent works... Polish designers Roman Cieslewicz, Jan Lenica, the very surreal stop motion animations by Jan Svankmajer, also Czech, and the Quay Brothers. Then there's UK artist Eduardo Paolozzi, whom I will always mention as an inspiration for his amazing variety of work, as well in screenprinting as in sculpture and textiles. A few contemporary favorites are UK illustrators Graham Rawle and Sara Fanelli, US book designer Chip Kidd, postermaker Michel Casarramona, especially for his great handlettering and drawing skills and I could go on for ages. A recent exhibition curated by Rick Poynor called 'Uncanny: Surrealism and Graphic Design' contained many artists that I mentioned above, and it's well worth looking that one up online if you have similar interests.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

Forming a loose concept, and let a lot of space open for chance and 'lucky accicdents'.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

A real 50 50 combination of both, though I use the computer mainly as a tool for assembling, arranging and messing around with scanned in hand made elements and found imagery and objects. I do not like digital effects and always strive for the hand made look.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

A week on average, of which a main part is thinking thinking and then creating and collecting various loose elements that I connect with the music and the feel of the band, then about 3 days of shifting and scaling and combining those elements and the actual printing takes one day.
You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

I like to have a good conversation with a client before starting a job, and try to find out what his or her wishes are, and try to find out why they came to me. Usually then you can come to a final piece you're both happy with.

It's trying to find the right balance between meeting those wishes and at the same time be true to your own artistic values. So i'd ask that someone why he wants that painting and why he comes to someone like me who mainly makes collages and gigposters to do an oil painting of horses. I'd actually be really curious to find out. The conversation might turn out that he ends up realising that getting a collage with machine horses staring into the dark woods is something much more suitable. If he still wants the oil painting with horses, I'm probably not the right person to do it, cause I'd have to take an education in painting first, and then anatomy lessons....etcetc. It's cost me 10 years!

No but seriously;

I'm always up for new things and for other peoples input but there are limits, if someone has such specific wishes as in 'I want a logo, it has to be blue and square and you have to put it in such and such a way' then i feel like a marionette. Same as with the oil painting horses question. I have ideas and opinions about certain visual problems and I do not want to be used mainly as a tool for executing someone elses ideas...Maybe not even if i really need the money, because it'd give me such a bad feeling.

For which band have you already worked for?

Many bands....From local bands to famous bands to not so famous bands; all played at the Vera Club and I loved all of the work. As long as i like the music and get inspired to make a poster both the band and i are happy with the job is a succes.

For which band would you love to work?

I do not have a particular wish for the moment to be honest, every job's a challenge, no matter if the band is dead famous or a local gem. As long as I love the music and i have creative freedom it's great no matter what. The underground scene suits me pretty well I have to say. There's a lot of space for your own input as a designer.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Yes, most of the time. All the artists that come to the Vera Club are on this list, and you can sign up for the ones you like to design for. Everyone in the group has his or her favorite genres, and ususally those do not clash that much so there are no designer fights.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

Getting started, most definitely

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

I submit all my posters to gigposters.com, cause it's a great community, and so i was approached by Clay Hayes one day if I wanted to submit some of my posters, a happy day that made me feel very honoured!

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

Not so much stylewise because there are so many styles involved, but I think I am part of the current gigposterscene in general, yes. Screenprints that is. A scene that is pretty huge in the US, and growing in Europe due to the awareness that events like Flatstock Europe in Hamburg create.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

In real life; at the Vera Club in Groningen, or every now and then at a Flatstock convention, at exhibitions ; I am currently showing work at the Goodfoot Gallery in Portland, USA, in a show called the Art of Musical Maintenance 8, opening December 1st, and we're organising another show in Groningen soon around January next year during the Eurosonic Festival.

Besides that of course in Gigposters Volume II, the book by Clay Hayes

and online at my website http://www.kunnyvanderploeg.nl/, and http://www.vera-groningen.nl/ and at gigposters.com

The best praise you received lately?

Seeing my posters being ripped off the walls at the Vera Club, people coming up to me saying they have my posters in their living room, things like that. People who collect my work. Chatham County Line mentioning my poster on their blog, after treating me with one of the best concerts of the year at Vera.

What can we wish you for the future?

Being able to live off my work completely, creating tonnes of more posters and keeping on trying new things and develop myself as a designer, maybe also teaching a bit in the future, sharing ideas with students and being able to inspire aspiring designers.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

thanks to you too for showing an interest

John Knoerl (US)

2011-12-14T18:10:00.000+01:00

John Knoerl (US)

And here we go again with a discovery I should thanx Gigposter2 book for. Mainly digital but still very personal, the art of John Knoerl has a kind of poetry I would feel very uncomfortable to describe but that really touches me. As I think I am not the only one to feel this way, this interview is for you ....

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

I have a wide range of music genres that I listen to depending on what type of mood I’m in. The bands I currently have in heavy rotation are: Yellow Ostrich, Hundredth, Youth Lagoon, Com Truise, August Burns Red, Purity Ring, and The Black Keys.

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is John Knoerl. I’m a recent college graduate who has a passion for music and art, which led me to teaching myself the craft of screen-printing because it allows me to combine the two. I have been designing and printing posters since late 2009.

When did you start drawing?

I have drawn my whole life. My family is very art oriented, so I began at an early age, and I still draw all the time.

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

When I was younger I would usually draw players from my hockey cards or musicians that I liked. I would always doodle in school too though. It was one of the best parts of class.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

Not currently, but one day I hope to be able to. Right now I have a day job as an Art Director at and advertising agency.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

I haven’t really had the opportunity come up. I haven’t been doing this for too long, but would definitely look forward to the chance to be able to.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Most of the inspiration for my work comes from the music of the artist I am designing for. It helps me get a feel for how I should visually express their music. I also get a lot of inspiration from other artists that I admire. Just to see what others are doing can really open your eyes, and make you think differently.

What are the principal steps in your work ?

I usually start off on the computer playing around with type. From there I develop an idea/concept and keep trying different things until I get an idea that I think will work. Then I keep working and tweaking the design until it gets to where I think it looks good. I can be a bit picky about how the design looks, so I sometimes find myself making a ton of small tweaks to my designs until they look just right to me.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

A majority of my work is done on the computer. Sometimes I’ll sketch out an idea I have in my head or draw some type.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It varies from job to job. Sometimes it can take me a long time to finish a design and other times, it just clicks from the start and I can get one done in a night.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it?

One thing I love about creating posters is the creative freedom it allows so I would probably have to pass. Even if I’m given a concept to work with, I still have the freedom to create what I feel works.

For which band have you already worked for?

Some artists that I’ve done work for so far are Andrew Bird, Passion Pit, Tokyo Police Club, My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, and The Black Keys.

For which band would you love to work?

A few that come to mind right now are City and Colour, Bon Iver and Local Natives.

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Since the start I’ve generally reached out to bands that I really enjoy and like to listen to. I have also worked with different venues to produce posters for shows.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

I would have to say the constraints of the medium. You have to take that into consideration when you are creating a design so you don’t end up with a design that can’t be executed.

You feature in the new gigposters 2 book, how did you find yourself involved in it ?

Clay from gigposters.com noticed my posters that I uploaded to the site and got in touch with me about having my prints in the book. I’m real excited to have my work in the book with all of the other great artists.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else?

I would say I’m part of the gigposter scene since that’s I majority of the work I do.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

All my work can be found on my site: http://nerlsaysdesign.com/

You can also see projects I’m working on my dribbble page: http://dribbble.com/NerlSays

Or follow me on twitter ( I usually post process picks when I’m printing posters) https://twitter.com/#!/johnknoerlsays (@johnknoerlsays)

The best praise you received lately?

Being included in the book Gigposters Vol. 2

What can we wish you for the future?

To continue being able to print posters for great bands.

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!