Punk Noir

Woman from Brooklyn, Australian legends Lubricated Goat, and Pop. 1280 also from NY. Not really 100% on this one, but I definitely nailed the film noir vibe I was going for, which was requested by "the client". I think there may be too many textures or... I dunno, I just wish it was more legible, I guess. At any rate, boy do I love film noir. This was a total blast to draw.

Elevation

It's a wooden robot, with a magical steam powered jet-pack. Recycled Rainbow is a weekend long event themed around radical self-reliance, and self-expression. It's actually deeper than that, so check out www.recycledrainbow.org if you're interested.

Skeletal Antlers

Zs, Self Destruct Button, Bbob Drake + JGuy Duo, Wolfdowners at Now That's Class on June 25th, 2009.

When you repeat something you've already done, it's not called ripping yourself off, it's the calculated continuation of a motif. Things are crazy in The Cave right now, I'll update with actual postings soon. Busy.

Cookiepocalypse: Phase One

So, every Tuesday Laura Long makes cookies and sells them at Now That's Class. They're vegan, and hydrogenated oil free, and only $1 each. And they're big. They're so big you could say they're apocalyptic. SO, for the next four weeks we'll be presenting the Four Phases of The Cookiepocalypse. Phase One, the White, is a Macadamia Nut cookie of CONQUEST.



As for the design of the "horseman" riding the White Cookie of Conquest, according to wikipedia's Four Horseman page, in Revelation 6:1 - 6:2 it says "...When the Lamb had opened the first of the seven seals, I heard the first of the four beasts say with a thundering voice, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow: and there was given unto him a crown, and he departed as conqueror and to conquest." So with those main components in hand, I got to drawin'! I knew I wanted my "Horseman" to actually be a "Horsewoman", and I really loved the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when I was a pup, so that's where I gripped the idea for the look of the crown from. The bow and everything else I just made up, but I did look at a bunch of both surfing and archery photos for a while. Making High Heel Converse All Stars may have been both the stupidest and most brilliant thing I've ever done.

Champagne of YouTube III

This is a collection of videos of bands performing at Champagne of Fests III that has been circulating. This weekend is gonna be apeshit bonkers.

On another note, I will be there both nights selling the poster we had screen printed, and a plethora of other posters and zines and stuff.

On with the show:

COTTON MUSEUM



THE FLAT CAN CO.



KRALLICE


EMERALDS


REALICIDE


TELECULT POWERS www.myspace.com/telecultpowers


SWORD HEAVEN



AARON DILLOWAY


SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON


SKIN GRAFT


RYAN JEWELL


LAND OF BURIED TREASURE


JASON ZEH


CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR


CRYSTAL ANTLERS


FLUXMONKEY


TUSCO TERROR




Schedule

////////SATURDAY////////////////////////////////////////////////////

12:50 - 1:30 ///// Krallice ///////////////////////// Main Stage
12:25 - 12:45 //// Tusco Terror ///////////////////// Basement
11:40 - 12:20 //// Sword Heaven ///////////////////// Main Stage
11:15 - 11:35 //// Fluxmonkey /////////////////////// Bar Stage
10:50 - 11:10 //// Falling Rock ///////////////////// Basement
10:20 - 10:45 //// Telecult Powers ////////////////// Main Stage
9:55 -10:15 /// // Mammoth ////////////////////////// Bar Floor
9:20 - 9:50 ////// Crazy Dave Tapes ///////////////// Bar Projector
8:45 - 9:15 ////// Cotton Museum //////////////////// Main Stage
8:20 - 8:40 ////// Tiger Hatchery /////////////////// Basement
7:50 - 8:15 ////// Clan of the Cave Bear //////////// Main Stage
7:25 - 7:45 ////// Fragments //////////////////////// Basement
6:50 - 7:20 ////// Ryan Jewell ////////////////////// Main Stage
6:30 - 6:45 ////// Andrew Kirschner ///////////////// Bar Stage
6:00 - 6:25 ////// Sick Llama /////////////////////// Main Stage
5:00 DOORS OPEN

////////SUNDAY/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

12:50 - 1:30 ///// Crystal Antlers ////////////////// Main Stage
12:20 - 12:45 //// Skin Graft /////////////////////// Basement
11:45 - 12:15 //// Land of Buried Treasure ////////// Main Stage
11:20 - 11:40 //// Jason Zeh //////////////////////// Back Patio
10:40 - 11:15 //// Emeralds ///////////////////////// Main Stage
10:10 - 10:35 //// The Flat Can Co. ///////////////// Bar Floor
9:35 - 10:05 ///// Realicide //////////////////////// Main Stage
9:00 - 9:30 ////// Jonathan Death /////////////////// Bar Stage
8:25 - 8:55 ////// Aaron Dilloway /////////////////// Main Stage
8:05 - 8:20 ////// Pimlo //////////////////////////// Basement
7:35 - 8:00 ////// Self Destruct Button ///////////// Main Stage
7:10 - 7:30 ////// Anal Cheetahs //////////////////// Basement
6:45 - 7:05 ////// KBD ////////////////////////////// Main Stage
6:25 - 6:40 ////// E.E ////////////////////////////// Bar Stage
6:00 - 6:20 ////// Blisse /////////////////////////// Main Stage
5:00 DOORS OPEN

ART FUR ANIMALS 2009

Here's a graphic I made for the Art Fur Animals Benefit for The Friends of the Cleveland Kennel. This was used for both a poster, and post cards. They're out there, if you look for them. Here's more info:

5th Annual
Art Fur Animals
Friday, May 22 2009
6-10 pm
The Galleria at Erieview
(1301 E. 9th St, Cleveland)

Event features:
• Live Auction of Limited Edition custom designed
ceramic dogs 20 talented Cleveland artists.
*Dog mold custom designed by sculptor Kristen Cliffel.
Read more about her work here!

• Dozens of gallery quality art work up for bid in silent auction, created by national & NEO artists

• Delicious food provided by Porcelli’s Bistro and vegan food from acclaimed vegan chef Jakob Mejstrik.

• Open bar by donation

• Music DJ Funk-Shway

• Win valuable raffle prizes donated by dozens of local businesses!

• Friends and fun gathered to enjoy art
& benefit an amazing cause!


100% of proceeds from this event benefit the homeless, neglected & abused animals at the Cleveland Kennel.

Here's a list of the artists with links:

Billy Naininger
Carol Adams
Dana Depew
Dave Cintron
George Kocar
JoAnn DePolo
John Howitt
Kimberly Engel
Kristen Cliffel
Krisztina Lazar
Linda Alexander-Radak
Mark Yasenchack
Maureen Ryan
Meghan Fischer
Michael Greenwald
Mikel Mahoney
Mitzi Lai
Ruggero Fatica
Scott Pickering
Sean Higgins
Steve Yusko
Susan Begin
Sylvia Masek
Todd V

Also, these artists I couldn't find links for:
Janet Macoska
David Betlejewski
Dominga Marquez
Beth Gregerson
Jonathan Alexander-Hofer
Judy Brandon
Kelly Finley
Kenn Louis
Alane Sandoval
Barb Stiebeling
Bernie Smith
Carol Isgro
Sean Kelly
Stacey Richardson Crawford
Terri Snider

I submitted the original art from the graphics I did for the event for the show. The Friends of The Cleveland Kennel are getting these framed, so... hopefully these will find a good home:





Also, there will be a t-shirt I also did the design work for, here's the final art:

Your Requisite Ice Cream Social for 2009

If you slept on the Caveman Diaries Vol. 6 Release Party/Opening, or "didn't know about it", or were off playing dodge ball... here's your SECOND and LAST chance to see this art show at Front Room.

It's sort of a last minute thing, but something I think could kick ass and be pretty fun. Ice Cream rules, so does Root Beer. It's also free, though I do still have a handful of copies of Caveman Diaries Vol. 6 Limited Front Room Edition left, and there's other back issues of Shiner Comics, and of course the art and prints, if you're interested in those types of things.

Front Room Gallery is at 3615 Superior in Building 42 on the 3rd floor- it's in Tyler Village just off Superior on E. 36th street. Hey look, Google went there just for you and took this picture:


View Larger Map

Dos Muertos

TOMORROW. This show, MAYhem, opens at Lowlife Gallery in scenic Collinwood, Ohio! This is the flyer with the updated artist list. I saw the gallery today and there is so much goddamn art in that space. It's totally ridiculous and awesome. This party will be one for the ages.

My contribution is a limited signed and numbered print of the image from the flyer/poster. Dos Muertos is an edition of 12, archival prints on indoor glossy vinyl. It's roughly 16 x 22, and through the gallery they're $40. If you're interested in one, but can't get to Cleveland, or Lowlife, feel free to email me (jgritty@gmail.com) and I'll hook it up. These are some crummy photographs, but... that's them:





I matted and framed the print in the exhibit myself. The matte board looks like I cut it by chewing through it with my teeth. I suck at that stuff, and it's such a pain in the ass. BUT, even that looks a lot nicer than just clamps and pins for this piece. It's a big group show, and I'd rather not look like the guy that doesn't care, especially when I do. Sometimes I don't. ...maybe even most times. This time I do.

The Godfather

So, this month the sandwich special at Melt is The Godfather an Italian Feast of a sandwich.

The official description:

THE GODFATHER

Homemade 3 Cheese Lasagna

creamy ricotta, smoky provolone and rich romano

fresh made fennel & oregano sheets from Ohio City Pasta

layered with spicy red tomato sauce and served bubbly hot on garlic spiked grilled bread with more gooey provolone

add a new Melt veggie antipasto salad for a true italian feast

Hey Meat lovers... we won't disappoint you!

a ground beef and italian sausage version is also available

I had it for lunch today, and it was awesome. I went with the meat option, but before the month is out, I am definitely going for one without meat, because I think it may have actually been too much food!

So, about the poster. This one was actually an idea from Matt Fish at Melt. He sent me a description of the sandwich (I'll get to that in a minute), and an idea he had for the visual:

"The poster idea I kinda had was looking down a big table from one end with the sandwich in the foreground. In table would continue out of sight with the background being a mixture of people, animals and aliens eating an enormous Italian feast at this table. Plenty of wine glasses, bibs and a mixture of the lasagna sandwich and other varied Italian dishes ( spaghetti & meatballs ect...) Have it take place in doors. Really high ceilings with OS candle chandeliers, rafters ect... The first two posters were outside so I thought it would be cool to come inside."

This is awesome because it gives me a place to start. This is also a fun idea and I could begin to visualize it even as I read this description. Sometimes when people give me ideas, they're not this fun. In fact, mostly they're either the most obvious cliché thing possible, or not even something that can be drawn. People are weirdos, man. So, after a bunch of rough drafts and sketches and then a penciled final and a final where I drew the background and foreground together, I realized I wanted to draw the ceiling and the table separate to make for easier coloring once I pieced it all together in photoshop.





I used a shitload of math and magic to get this stuff to look like it does. The perspective was all measured out and then drowned in root beer. I probably should have, but I didn't use a reference for this drawing at all. I just tried to remember the hours upon hours of my young life I spent day dreaming and not paying any attention at church while staring at the vaulted ceilings. I always wondered why they didn't fall in... the answer: Math and Magic. I should probably scan the sketches with all the rough lines everywhere, all that perspective. That would give anybody reading this a better idea of how much went into it, but... whatever. Anyway... the depth, I think works. So I pieced them together, and got to coloring:



SO: With that nailed down, here's Fish's description of the actual sandwich:

"I am going for an Italian theme for May. The sandwich is going to be a 3 cheese lasagna sandwich on garlic spiked grilled bread. The lasagna sandwich will have 3 different cheeses - creamy ricotta, romano and provolone, a hearty red tomato sauce and fresh fennel & oregano pasta sheets from Ohio City Pasta. A meat version will also be available with spicy ground beef and sausage. The drawing of the sandwich will have 3 different pasta layers, bottom, middle and top. The pasta should have a slight green tint. Red sauce and oozy cheese between the layers. The bread should have garlic and parsley specs in it. Let me know if you have any more questions on the look."

This shit makes me so happy. I get to find out about the special before almost anybody else, and then it's this crazy ass idea! I love it! I don't know why, but I fucking love drawing food!



So, I'm glad I hadn't used a green plate yet, because I knew I wanted to do it up to recreate the Italian Flag imagery on this one:



So, after I got the description and the idea for the poster I wrote back to ask about the name and get the details proper. I told Fish I was thinking I wanted to use the Godfather logotype for whatever the name was going to be, but wasn't sure because that might be a little cheesy... He wrote back and said "Hell, let's call it The Godfather!". So it was done:



I tried really really hard to fit the marionette hand thing with the strings in there, but it would have really cramped the top of the poster. I actually watched The Godfather and the first half of The Godfather Part II while drawing this thing. They're such great movies. Makes me want to do crime comics. About sandwiches. So, I drew the info from the bottom kind of hastily, but I think it came out okay. I think I had been working on the poster for like, 16 hours already and the clock was ticking. I like the banners, it's simple and ads an element that makes things pop.



So, there it is. The Godfather, at Melt throughout May, 2009. Go get it!