Tag: phishart
I’ve had a busy year so far (although I haven’t posted enough here!) Since the beginning of this year, I have been working on a series of posters for Phish’s summer, and eventually their fall tour. The series is inspired by vintage sci-fi and monster movie posters, inspired by Phish songs, lyrics, as well as where the shows were taking place. Since the tour dates this year were announced early, I had plenty of time to research and find the right theme. I was drawn to the vintage posters, finding many I wanted to recreate. I didn’t realize at the time, but the ones I choose were often illustrated by Reynold Brown as well as Albert Kallis. I recreated the posters as ink and watercolor illustrations, trying to make them as similar to the originals. As I became more comfortable recreating the style, I took more liberties with the images. The posters were created in segments, which were then scanned and digitally put together to create the final poster. I had planned to only to do a summer tour series, but the feedback and requests inspired me to also continue the series for the fall tour. I will create one more for the New Years Eve run at Madison Square Garden, and then the series will come to an end. All prints are available in my shop, www.joseeen.esty.com. They are 13×19 prints on cardstock, signed and limited to an edition of 150.
Summer Tour
Click on the thumbnails for more info/ work in progress pics:
Fall Tour
Click on the thumbnails for more info/ work in progress pics
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!
All the posters are available at www.phishart.com. I also have a couple “unphished” versions available in my Etsy shop.
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!
Josean Rivera 