The assignment for my visual design class this week is to design a movie poster. As I was surfing the web doing research for my initial layout and design for the poster, I came across some great tutorials for GRINDHOUSE style movie posters on youtube. This tutorial is not only excellent for mock/parody/original posters, but for all types of printed media. Check it out!
Grindhouse Poster Photoshop tutorial (4 parts)
Now, it's necessary that before you complete your design for a grindhouse poster to make it appear GRITTY and GRUNGY. What you will need are some grungy paper textures. I've added links to more tutorials and sites that have paper textures available to you for FREE!
A cool tutorial as well as paper texture towards the bottom of the tutorial
Another great tutorial on how to make a wicked looking grindhouse poster (download the support files to get the paper textures)
Sets of high-res paper textures here
Another 6 textures here too!
From the looks of most grindhouse style posters (old and new), the key is to stick to 3 or 4 colors.
*The server is not letting me upload example images of mock grindhouse posters for some reason (??). So here is a link to another blog where you can view them: Grindhouse Poster for Great Movies!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
JASON BECKER - More Than a Prodigy
Jason Becker is an American neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the young age of 16, he and friend Marty Friedman (who went on to play for Megadeth) became part of the Mike Varney produced duo Cacophany. In 1987 they released Speed Metal Symphony and Go Off! the following year. In 1989 the duo split and Becker went on to do solo work, having released his first solo album Perpetual Burn in 1988. Becker later joined David Lee Roth's band, replacing Steve Vai who went on to join Whitesnake, and recorded one album with him.
However, while recording the A Lil' Ain't Enough album with Roth and preparing for a subsequent tour in 1989, Becker's success was held-up when he began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" on his left leg. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with Lou-Gehrig's Disease and was given three to five years to live. In 1996 Becker lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes with a system developed by his father. Despite his disability, he still composes music and released an album in 2008.
There is currently a documentary about Becker's awe-inspiring story being produced. You can find more information at http://www.jasonbeckermovie.com/ .
Jason Becker is truly an inspiration.
Nothing can stop Jason Becker.
check out these links from youtube/vimeo:
Promotional Clip for 'Perpetual Burn: The Jason Becker Story'
Jason Becker performs at his high school. Strange that no people exploded....
Jason Becker (with Cacophony) live in Japan. Truly amazing.
Becker's masterpiece "Air" from Perpetual Burn.
PERPETUAL BURN
However, while recording the A Lil' Ain't Enough album with Roth and preparing for a subsequent tour in 1989, Becker's success was held-up when he began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" on his left leg. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with Lou-Gehrig's Disease and was given three to five years to live. In 1996 Becker lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes with a system developed by his father. Despite his disability, he still composes music and released an album in 2008.
There is currently a documentary about Becker's awe-inspiring story being produced. You can find more information at http://www.jasonbeckermovie.com/ .
Jason Becker is truly an inspiration.
Nothing can stop Jason Becker.
check out these links from youtube/vimeo:
Promotional Clip for 'Perpetual Burn: The Jason Becker Story'
Jason Becker performs at his high school. Strange that no people exploded....
Jason Becker (with Cacophony) live in Japan. Truly amazing.
Becker's masterpiece "Air" from Perpetual Burn.
PERPETUAL BURN
Monday, November 22, 2010
The King of Macabre Japanese Art: SUEHIRO MARUO
SUEHIRO MARUO is a Japanese manga artist, painter, and illustrator. At 17, he made his first manga submission for Shonen Jump but was rejected by the editors because it was considered too graphic for the weekly magazine's mass market. At the age of 24 in November of 1980, he made his official debut as a manga artist in Ribon No Kishi. It was then that this young artist was able to pursue his artistic vision without restrictions over the content of his work. Two years later, his stand-alone anthology Bairaro no Kaibutsu (Rose Colored Monster) was published.
Much of Maruo's nightmarish illustrations depict graphic sex and violence. The manga falls under the Japanese category of "erotic grotesque" (ero-guro). The stories often take place in post-WW2 Japan. As one can see in Maruo's art, he has a fascination with human oddities, deformities, birth defects, and circus sideshow "geeks". However, Maruo is not just another "sex and violence" artist - he is also one of the greatest retro artists working in the field today. His drawings are elegant and he uses innovative page designs. Today, his art and stories go beyond the readers of ero-manga.
Though most of his prominent works remain unpublished outside of Japan, his work does have a cult following. As of now, his work has only been published in the U.S., Italy, Brazil, Spain, Russia, France, and Germany).
Even though he is most known as a manga artist, he has also produced illustrations for CD jackets (Naked City), concert posters, magazines, novels, and other types of media. Some of the characters featured in his work have also been turned into figures. His most famous works are 'The Planet of the Jap' and 'Mr. Arachi's Amazing Freak Show'.
*I will only post his "milder" work here...
Much of Maruo's nightmarish illustrations depict graphic sex and violence. The manga falls under the Japanese category of "erotic grotesque" (ero-guro). The stories often take place in post-WW2 Japan. As one can see in Maruo's art, he has a fascination with human oddities, deformities, birth defects, and circus sideshow "geeks". However, Maruo is not just another "sex and violence" artist - he is also one of the greatest retro artists working in the field today. His drawings are elegant and he uses innovative page designs. Today, his art and stories go beyond the readers of ero-manga.
Though most of his prominent works remain unpublished outside of Japan, his work does have a cult following. As of now, his work has only been published in the U.S., Italy, Brazil, Spain, Russia, France, and Germany).
Even though he is most known as a manga artist, he has also produced illustrations for CD jackets (Naked City), concert posters, magazines, novels, and other types of media. Some of the characters featured in his work have also been turned into figures. His most famous works are 'The Planet of the Jap' and 'Mr. Arachi's Amazing Freak Show'.
*I will only post his "milder" work here...
Artist Spotlight on Testsuya Ishida
Tetsuya Ishida was born in 1974 in Shizuoka, Japan. His paintings were known for their dark portrayal of ordinary Japanese life. The characters in his paintings always appeared unhappy while being trapped or as a part of a machine or other objects.
He died on May 23, 2005 by being hit by a train. His death was ruled as an "accident". However, because of the dark nature of his artwork, there are those who consider his death to be a suicide.
Because of the dark nature of his work and the circumstances surrounding his death, increase in Ishida's work has increased dramatically.
Ishida left behind about 180 pieces created during his 10-year art career.
He died on May 23, 2005 by being hit by a train. His death was ruled as an "accident". However, because of the dark nature of his artwork, there are those who consider his death to be a suicide.
Because of the dark nature of his work and the circumstances surrounding his death, increase in Ishida's work has increased dramatically.
Ishida left behind about 180 pieces created during his 10-year art career.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
WELCOME TO BUCKETHEADLAND
Let me hit you with some knowledge about one of the most underrated musicians out there....
He was born in a coop, raised in a cage. Children fear him, critics rage.
He's half alive, he's half dead. Folks just call him BUCKETHEAD.
Brian Carroll, better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist whose talent spans several genres and styles of music that include metal, jazz, hip hop, avant-garde, bluegrass, progressive, rock, funk and electronica. He is distinguished not only by his musicianship, but also his stage presence wearing a white mask and a KFC bucket on his head. His solo work could be described as epic, phenomenal, hyperactive, horrifying, catchy, touching, delicate, emotional, soulful, glorious, crusty, beautiful and chilling. Since 1991, he has released 29 studio albums and has appeared in over 50 albums by other artists.
Unlike his counterparts, he incorporates dancing and nunchucks into his unique live performances.
I hope you enjoy all of the following clips.
Buckethead live at Rock in Rio during his short-lived stint with Guns N' Roses:
"Whitewash", the darkly calm first track off his more slow-tempo album Colma:
Another clip from Rock in Rio performing "Hog Bitch Stomp", followed by a short and pathetic solo by Robin Fink:
Buckethead shredding on the banjo with an excerpt from "Hog Bitch Stomp" towards the end (From the Secret Recipe DVD):
Buckethead on bass guitar (starts about 30 seconds in):
Another clip of Buckethead on bass with a member of The Deli Creeps(circa 1990-91):
Buckethead performing with Praxis (Brain Mantia on drums and Bootsy Collins on bass) "Interworld and The New Innocence":
Buckethead messing around with Brain Mantia. From 1:30, can you tell who influenced Buckethead's dancing?
"Spokes for the Wheel of Torment" music video that uses the art of Hieronymous Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. Quite possibly one of the best uses of fine art for a metal video:
Lastly, a Dj Qbert animated music video with Buckethead on guitar. It's a very interesting concept for a video:
Here are some tracks I've posted up for you to download (Paste to browser):
"Final Wars" from Elephant Man's Alarm Clock-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431748461/02_Final_Wars.wma
"The Homeing(Landing) Beacon" - A Song for Michael Jackson
http://rapidshare.com/files/431756420/buckethead_-_a_song_for_michael_jackson_-_01_The_Landing_Beacon.mp3
"Nottingham Lace" from Enter the Chicken-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431756704/11_Nottingham_Lace.wma
"For Mom" from Colma-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431757459/02_For_Mom.wma
Apologies if the links don't work :|
He was born in a coop, raised in a cage. Children fear him, critics rage.
He's half alive, he's half dead. Folks just call him BUCKETHEAD.
Brian Carroll, better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist whose talent spans several genres and styles of music that include metal, jazz, hip hop, avant-garde, bluegrass, progressive, rock, funk and electronica. He is distinguished not only by his musicianship, but also his stage presence wearing a white mask and a KFC bucket on his head. His solo work could be described as epic, phenomenal, hyperactive, horrifying, catchy, touching, delicate, emotional, soulful, glorious, crusty, beautiful and chilling. Since 1991, he has released 29 studio albums and has appeared in over 50 albums by other artists.
Unlike his counterparts, he incorporates dancing and nunchucks into his unique live performances.
I hope you enjoy all of the following clips.
Buckethead live at Rock in Rio during his short-lived stint with Guns N' Roses:
"Whitewash", the darkly calm first track off his more slow-tempo album Colma:
Another clip from Rock in Rio performing "Hog Bitch Stomp", followed by a short and pathetic solo by Robin Fink:
Buckethead shredding on the banjo with an excerpt from "Hog Bitch Stomp" towards the end (From the Secret Recipe DVD):
Buckethead on bass guitar (starts about 30 seconds in):
Another clip of Buckethead on bass with a member of The Deli Creeps(circa 1990-91):
Buckethead performing with Praxis (Brain Mantia on drums and Bootsy Collins on bass) "Interworld and The New Innocence":
Buckethead messing around with Brain Mantia. From 1:30, can you tell who influenced Buckethead's dancing?
"Spokes for the Wheel of Torment" music video that uses the art of Hieronymous Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. Quite possibly one of the best uses of fine art for a metal video:
Lastly, a Dj Qbert animated music video with Buckethead on guitar. It's a very interesting concept for a video:
Here are some tracks I've posted up for you to download (Paste to browser):
"Final Wars" from Elephant Man's Alarm Clock-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431748461/02_Final_Wars.wma
"The Homeing(Landing) Beacon" - A Song for Michael Jackson
http://rapidshare.com/files/431756420/buckethead_-_a_song_for_michael_jackson_-_01_The_Landing_Beacon.mp3
"Nottingham Lace" from Enter the Chicken-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431756704/11_Nottingham_Lace.wma
"For Mom" from Colma-
http://rapidshare.com/files/431757459/02_For_Mom.wma
Apologies if the links don't work :|
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
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