I recently finished up my latest series, 15 show posters for the band Phish’s summer tour. I done posters for past shows, but only a handful (aside from my illustrated setlists for every show). I wanted a bit of a challenge, and wanted every poster to have a common theme. I also wanted to get back to drawing figures, as well as working with micron pens. Using the obvious fishing theme, I used the state fish of each venue (as well as fish found in the area for multiple shows in the same state.) Some of figures used were actual Phish fans who submitted pictures!
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All the posters are available at www.phishart.com. I also have a couple “unphished” versions available in my Etsy shop.
I recently had the honor to participate in an all Latino group show put together by Sean 9 Lugo, a fellow artist from Jersey, who’s work is seen on and off the streets in Philly and NYC. The show took place at 17 Frost Gallery in NYC this July, and featured over 30 artists.
My piece for the show. It had been a while since I’d done an all graphite drawing. The piece is still available, contact me for inquiries.
Apologies all around! I have been neglecting this site this summer. I’ve been busy on my other site, illustrating Phish setlists, and trying to get ready for a wedding in about 2 weeks. So it’s been waking up at 8 and treating this as a job, since it’s what I do all day. Summer started out without a hitch, I was doing Free Art Fridays, as well as The First Friday on July 4th (it was a weird one).
One of my favorite bands, Phish, started touring in July. As anyone who follows this blog knows, Summer= Phish related art. I even created a blog just for it. This year was nonstop phish art, in part because I’ve been illustrated every setlist of every show this summer, in real time, either by attending or listening to audio streams of the show live.
Drawing/listening everywhere I went
What started out as drawing random songs (which I’ve posted here in the past), and drawing their short setlist when they played on David Letterman as a challenge, kinda blew up. I posted it on my tumblr, which doesn’t seem to be visited much, and shortly after Letterman’s official tumblr account (Who knew he had a tumblr?) reblogged it, although by looking at the notes it seems not a lot of people follow it. I started doing the next few shows, and eventually someone retweeted it, and it went crazy from there. I was contacted by Phish.net about them, who allowed me to use their set notes on my art (which happens to be copywrited) and they even used them in their show recaps! I have the entire tour available for sale, and will soon start taking commissions for specific shows, possible as larger sized and hand drawn/colored. With the sale of these prints, a portion is donated to the Mockingbird Foundation, who provide music education to children.
Spring time is here, which means that lots of things will be happening artwise for me. First is my spring sale on my Etsy site. I’m in need of space in my apartment for new work, and will happily sell some work at a decent price to accomplish that. So from now until April 25th, you can use the coupon code SPRINGBREAK to receive 25% off anything in my shop. I’ve also put up listings that had previously expired (many etchings!), so you can can take full advantage of this offer. 69 (more soon) prints, paintings, etchings, and drawings to choose from.
In Phish related news, I’ve been hard at work on stuff to sell this summer. With my wedding in August, this will be a slim year show-wise. I’ll be at the Mann Center in Philadelphia (huzzah! 20 minutes from my house) for their 2 night run July 8th and 9th and Merriweather Post Pavillion in Maryland on July 26th and 27th. Sadly I won’t be making it to SPAC ($$$), but I won’t discount a possible night at Randall’s Island.
I’ll have some new antelopes to sell, including some Philly related ones.
I’m on the fence whether I want to offer these as prints or just try to sell the originals at the lots. They are currently available on my Etsy shop, but I’ll be making more if they sell out for this summer.
Sketch for a possible Mann Center Poster. It’s very fitting, since the Mann is right next to the Philadelphia Zoo. I Actually looked up every Phish song that was named after an animal and drew a map showing where you can find them at the Philly Zoo. Sadly there are no ocelots or llamas there…
I admit it, I’ve been horrible at updating my site. Although I’ve been creating new work, you wouldn’t think so by looking at this site (to be honest, I’m way better at updating my Facebook page and Instagram.) As the holidays approached, it seemed prudent to finally get motivated and post some new art up for sale on my Etsy, as well as share what I’ve been up to. I’ve been working on various series, ADD style. Some will continue into the spring, others won’t. But they are all up for grabs, and by using code FESTIVUS15, you can get 15% off! As usual, all orders ship with stickers and whatnot.
I recently was asked to create some holiday cards to help benefit Musicopia, a Philadelphia organization that makes sure that music stays in school. They have various programs that help instruments get in the hands of children, and help them play and perform in the area. I made some cards, including these Festivus cards which will be sold at a fundraiser held at the 3G Lounge on 3rd and Girard in North Philly December 13th. I was excited to be involved, since it helps a good cause in my community, plus Festivus cards are fun to do!
I’ve been continuing the Phish theme in my art this summer. Last weekend was their 3 day run at Saratoga Springs, NY (I made it to 2). I’ve spent the week recovering from those shows and preparing for 2 nights at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Coumbia, MD. During this time I’ve worked on a couple things, including some paintings and sketches for possible show posters. While working on sketches for Gamehendge, I’ve also been sketching random songs as well. I eventually ended up with a series that covers their first album, Junta. I’ll be giving these out/putting them up this weekend, as well as a few in Philly. Time permitting, I’d like to draw other albums, although some of the songs can be pretty abstract. Any requests? Just add a comment with your song choice, and I’ll try my best!
Fee, YEM, Esther, Golgi Apparatus
Foam, Dinner and a Movie, Divided Sky, David Bowie
Fluffhead, Contact, Sanity, Union Federal, Icculus
I also made this painting that sums up my weekend at SPAC, with the highlight of Sunday. They played one of my favorites, You Enjoy Myself (YEM) shortly after it stopped raining, and included an unique Run Like an Antelope (run like a meatstick!) I was debating making prints of it, but for now it hangs on my wall.
Meatalope/ Run like a meatstick out of control
Keep an eye out for my Antelope signs on the lot (They’ll be hard to miss!) If you miss me, I’ll have them up on etsy as well.
Find me in the lot at Merriweather, and I’ll give you a sticker as long as they last!
I’ve just finished (and have available for sale) the first four illustrations in the Gamehendge suite I’m currently working on. Inspired by a couple songs by the band Phish, Gamehendge was originally guitarist Trey Anastasio’s senior thesis at Goddard College. Originally called The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday (TMWSIY), it is a collection of songs that tell the story of a retired colonel who is transported to the land of Gamehendge and rescues a document called the Helping Friendly Book from an evil dictator named Wilson. I have been planning to work on a visual form of it (originally as a graphic novel) for a couple years. I have illustrated the song Esther as a series of block prints in college, and created 2 stenciled prints last summer. There are quite a few songs in the saga; 8 in TMTSIY, as well as some additions they released later. I hope to illustrate these, as well as the narration that accompanied the original thesis in the months to come. I’ll be offering prints for sale, and maybe a book of the complete series, along with visual interpretations of other Phish songs.
Divided Sky- watercolor and acyrlic 8.5×11
A chant performed by the Lizards, the race of people who inhabit Gamehendge and are dependent on the writings of the Helping Friendly Book for their survival. They would stand on the edge of a rhombus and shout to the sky, praising Icculus, the Supreme God of the Sky and author of the Helping Friendly Book.
Rutherford the Brave- watercolor, ink, and acrylic. 8.5×11
Rutherford the Brave is the head knight of the Lizards who leads a team of allies to help overthrow Wilson, a traveller who arrives in Gamehendge and eventually captures the Helping Friendly Book from the Lizards and locks it in the top of his castle, thus becoming the sole ruler of Gamehendge. He appears in the song “Lizards”, telling the retired colonel (Col. Forbin) tales about Gamehendge and the Helping Friendly Book. At one point, he attempts to lead Col. Forbin across a river while still wearing his armor, causing him to sink.
AC/DC Bag- ink, watercolor and acrylic. 8.5×11
AC/DC Bag is a robotic hangman with a bag on its head used to hang traitors and enemies of Wilson, the dictator of Gamehendge. The song “AC/DC Bag” tells the story of the execution of Mr. Palmer, Wilson’s accountant. Palmer was using Wilson’s money to secretly fund the revolution, and was therefore hanged in the town square by the AC/DC Bag, a mechanical hangman.
Fly Famous Mockingbird- ink, watercolor, acrylic
The Famous Mockingbird is a bird who is sent by Icculus to fly to the very top of Wilson’s castle and retrieve the Helping Friendly Book for Colonel Forbin, thus saving the people of Gamehendge.
I’ll be selling these at the Phish lots at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 6th and 7th, as well as Merriweather Post Pavillion July 13th and 14th (Fingers crossed for Holmdel, NJ July 10th). I also have them on sale on Etsy, with a special deal if you buy all 3! Stay tuned for Series II, coming sometime in July!
I meant to post these a couple weeks back, but totally forgot! The Festival was great, I had Froot, R2F!, P Nub, and Dash join me at Tattoed Mom’s tent. We sold a bunch of stuff, and got to meet a lot of people familiar with our work. I’ll be putting the stuff I didn’t sell on Esty soon, so be sure to check it out!meet a lot of people familiar with our work. I’ll be putting the stuff I didn’t sell on Esty soon, so be sure to check it out! Also be sure to check out the work of my fellow artists (You won’t be disappointed)
We noticed the words “street art” tend to get people’s attention.
You’d think we have a sun allergy
Doing collabs is a great way to get people to watch over your shoulder.
Our view for about 8 hours. We couldn’t help but take refuge inside Tattooed Mom’s from time to time.
We couldn’t help ourselves.
Froot posing with a Pnub piece. Now hanging over my tv in the living room (the painting, not Froot)
I really appreciate these guys coming together at the last minute and represent Tmoms and Philly…some great artists in this city. Find Froot, Pnub, and R2F on instagram, most of their stuff is for sale. You can also usually find us on First Fridays in Old City Philadelphia!
Josean Rivera 