Tim Doyle's "Unreal Estate" Art Show (EXCLUSIVE)

UPDATE (2/21): For the next few hours (until midnight tonight PST) the following two Simpsons inspired prints will be available for purchase. They can be purchased separately or together! In fact, you can buy them through the Spoke Art store right now!

"742 Evergreen Terrace" Art Print
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Separate) / $100 (Matching Set) - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: The Simpsons

"742 Evergreen Terrace" Art Print (Glow in the Dark Variant)
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
$70 (Separate) / $100 (Matching Set) - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: The Simpsons

UPDATE (1/31): You can find the other exclusives at /Film and Inside the Rock Poster Frame. Check 'em out!

Remember that episode of The Simpsons when Homer became a fully realized computer-generated 3D character? It was part of a their annual "Treehouse of Horror" special, if my memory serves me. Or when the city of South Park was transformed into an anime battleground, complete with throwing stars and brightly colored nunchuks? Or more recently, when the series Community channeled the claymated winter wonderland of Rankin-Bass, albeit in a much more disturbing and hilarious manner? I do, and I don't think I'm alone in admitting there's something innately enthralling (and jarring) about a show's reality, whether it's live-action or animated, being turned on its head and transformed into something else. Something foreign, yet undeniably familiar. Cue Tim Doyle's new solo show "Unreal Estates," which poses the question: what if the warped and assuredly twisted mind of Mr. Doyle was to reinterpret some of our favorite televised locales? The answer: they would look a lot like what you see below. Duh. In much more concise and poetic terms, here's how Tim described his newest solo endeavor:

"'Unreal Estate' is a collection of locations that many of us know and have been to on a weekly basis at times, but can never actually visit. These places are in our memories transmitted and entrenched there through a cathode-ray tube. Some of us have been going to these places for decades, some of these places were taken from us, way too soon."

Did anyone else get a Videodrome-esque vibe from that summary? I'll be using tonight's post to preview some of the show's unbelievably cool artwork for Tim Doyle's "Unreal Estate" which opens on Thursday (2/2) at the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco. I have five images to discuss here, but I wanted to start things off right by premiering (yes, you read that correctly, PREMIERING) Doyle's King of the Hill inspired artwork "Rusty Shackelford." You saw it here first! Unless, of course, someone already appropriated the image from my site and put it on their blog or Tumblr page, in which case, you saw it here second...or third...or fourth (you get the idea). Here we go!

"Rusty Shackelford" Art Print (POSTEROCALYPSE EXCLUSIVE)
Tim Doyle
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100
Inspired By: King of the Hill

"Rusty Shackelford" Original Drawing (POSTEROCALYPSE EXCLUSIVE)
Tim Doyle

I'm always kind of amazed that King of the Hill had such a long run on television. The show was so region-specific and never really went for the humorous non sequitur (I'm looking at you Family Guy) or the pop culture-friendly one-liner (I'm still looking at you Family Guy). Instead, we were treated to the diverse goings on of a town called Arlen and the lives of the families who lived there. I really don't mean to make it sound like a made-for-TV Lifetime movie, but I did want to stress that a good deal of the laughs King of the Hill garnered came from a place that felt very real and were definitely earned. Alright, the long-winded sermon is over, let's talk about Doyle's print, shall we? When I first laid my eyes on "Rusty Shackelford," which just so happens to be Dale Gribble's oft-used alias, two words popped into my brain: "dust" and "bowl." Tim has perfectly captured that iconic Texas look with muted and earthy tones. So much so, that I'm tempted to rub the screen with my thumb and see if I can wipe some of that caked-on grit off. And how impressive is that line-work? I included all of the original drawings, because I really think it gives you a better idea of how fleshed out each of these designs already are prior to any coloring. Well, that's enough from me. Here's what Tim had to say about his ode to Arlen:

"King of the Hill is an odd duck of a show. Set in a mythical suburban Texas town, a mix of a very real Richardson and Garland (both towns adjacent to Plano, where I grew up), it rings with an authenticity any Texas-raised child would recognize. The thing that's odd to me is that the show was aired anywhere else in the nation, much less the world. No matter how extreme the characters are on screen, I know someone who could have been the archetype they were based on. I WISH I could say I never met a gun-nut conspiracy theorist like Dale Gribble, but I knew that guy, mirrored sunglasses and all. I'll never forget my friend's parents pulling out the night vision goggles one evening to see what the cops were doing up the block, a loaded handgun on the coffee table. The provincial and Protestant Peggy Hill was no parody, but an accurate representation of just about every teacher I had growing up in Texas. If there's a character in television history that is most representative of my life- it's Bobby Hill. A short, fat, awkward outsider, obsessed with fruit pies in a football dominated culture. (I still literally could not tell you the rules of the game to this day.) Now, my parents were East-coast transplants and my family life wasn't anything like Bobby's, but I've been to that house and seen that family repeated dozens of times, I tell you what.

I remember driving past the local propane dealer time and time again, never really understanding what the hell those places were for. We were charcoal briquette people. (Hank would be ashamed.)

I purposefully went for a dusty, gritty look for this print- trying to echo the sometimes frightening weather of central Texas. I spent more than a few hours under a mattress in my parent's hallway, waiting for the tornado to come and kill us all, only to get the all clear signal from the local siren. (Seriously- I can't believe I live in a world where that is real- one day you're just watching Mr. Peppermint on TV, and the next- wind is coming to kill you.)"

The "Rusty Shackelford" print will be available at the Spoke Art Gallery on Thursday (2/2) and available through Spoke Art's online storefront the next day. The poster measures 16" x 20", is signed and numbered, and is limited to an edition of 100. To learn more about Tim Doyle, be sure to visit his online portfolio and his print studio at nakatomiinc.com (I recommend picking up a copy of Bad Cat Comics while you're there).

"Night over the SNPP" Art Print
Tim Doyle
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
Price TBD - Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Simpsons

"Night over the SNPP" Original Drawing
Tim Doyle

Please raise your hand if, during your childhood, you spent at least three to five hours every week watching The Simpsons after school and on Sunday night. If you're anything like me, The Simpsons played a VERY large role in shaping you as a person - your sense of humor, your alarmingly apathetic handling of plutonium rods, and your general distrust of monorails and the men who sell them. Seriously, this was an incredibly important show to me, and even though I've since ceased regularly tuning in, The Simpsons will forever hold a special place in my heart. And I think out of all the prints from Tim's show, his Simpsons inspired work may be my favorite so far. Beyond the immediately familiar setting, I'm head over heels for the beautiful billows of purple, pink, and blue smoke rising up from the nuclear plant's cooling towers. I also appreciate the care Doyle has taken in so meticulously crafting the power lines and utility poles - the criss-crossing of wires and cables is at once gorgeous and grotesque. If "Rusty Shackelford" brought to mind a dust bowl, then "Night over the SNPP" makes me think of cancer and carcinogens. Tim Doyle on his Simpsons prints:

"The first three prints I created for the show were all inspired by The Simpsons- I knew I had to kick them out of my head up front and move on, as The Simpsons could very easily dominate the entire exhibit if I let it. I purposefully set these three images at night or sunset to force the color scheme away from the pastel and neon palette of the show."

The "Night over the SNPP" art print will be available through Spoke Art Gallery on Thursday (2/2) and will be purchasable online soon after that. The print measures 16" x 20", is signed and numbered, and is limited to an edition of 100. If you haven't already, I recommend signing up for Spoke Art's mailing list to make sure you don't miss any drop info.

"Amanda Hugginkiss" Art Print
Tim Doyle
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
Price TBD - Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Simpsons

"Amanda Hugginkiss" Original Drawing
Tim Doyle

I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of folks aiming to pick up all three Simpsons prints. Doyle's approach to the Simpsons posters manages to balance a certain classiness, with their twilight color palettes and wonderfully realized depictions of Springfield, while also paying respect to the overall silliness that's so integral to the series. Oh yeah, and it features freaking Bleeding Gums Murphy! How can you not immediately fall in love with "Amanda Hugginkiss"?! Wait, that came out wrong. And it's impossible not to appreciate the Lard Lad Donuts sign, which will forever and always remind me of the "Treehouse of Horror" episode when Lard Lad comes to life. Here's what Mr. Doyle had to say about his jazzy Simpsons print:

"This one is my favorite of the bunch- the blue to pink split fountain echoing the setting sun.

The problem with starting a series like this is that you might write up a list of all the pieces you want to do, but once you've got a few images in, you've already thought of a whole list of brand new images you want to do first and the original 'sacred cows' you wanted to hit get bumped further and further down. (All In the Family is a casualty of this process.) This two part print of America's favorite street is one of the ones that popped up and refused to wait it's turn."

Tim's "Amanda Hugginkiss" measures 16" x 20", is limited to an edition of 100, and is signed and numbered. The print will be available through the Spoke Art Gallery once "Unreal Estate" opens Thursday (2/2) night, and depending on whether it sells out or not, may be available online the next day. Be sure to follow both Spoke Art (@Spoke_Art) and Tim Doyle (@NakatomiTim) to keep with all their shenanigans and any poster-related news.

"10 Cents Gets You Nuts" Art Print
Tim Doyle
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100
Inspired By: Arrested Development

"10 Cents Gets You Nuts" Original Drawing
Tim Doyle

There's always money in the banana stand. Words to live by, right? I jumped on the Arrested Development bandwagon during its second season on-air and was immediately caught up in the labyrinthine dramas and intrigues the Bluth family continually (and hilariously) bungled through. Tim Doyle's "10 Cents Gets You Nuts" print depicts the constantly-in-a-state-of-repair banana stand in all its kitschy glory and has somehow made what was already a beautiful locale look even more picturesque. Tim on his feelings about the show and its recently announced return:

"I went a little bit more contemporary with the Bluth Banana stand. This show wormed its way into me post-cancellation, I'm embarrassed to say. But I'd guess that's the case with the vast majority of AD's fans today. As I was working on this print, the news broke that Arrested Development was in fact coming BACK to television, albeit through the subscription service Netflix, and later into theaters in a long-rumored film. This is fantastic news- and what I believe is a first for network TV- the internet spoke as a collective and WILLED this show back into production. This isn't the case of some stiff in a suit saying 'You know what was popular? 90210. Let's do that again, even though no-one ever asked for it.' The only reason Dallas is back on the air is because people recognize it as a BRAND, not as a show anyone was dying for more of. But this is something...else. We weren't done with the Bluths, and we demanded a family reunion. And we're getting it. Now, who wants to start a Kickstarter to get Firefly back? The internet has spoken."

I could definitely get behind that! Tim's "10 Cents Gets You Nuts" art print will be available through the Spoke Art Gallery on Thursday (2/2) and placed online shortly following that. The print measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 100. Be sure to visit Spoke Art at spoke-art.com for more info on the "Unreal Estate" show.

"The Big Salad" Art Print
Tim Doyle
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100

"The Big Salad" Original Drawing
Tim Doyle

I think this may be Tim Doyle's most loaded print out of the posters mentioned here. It features references galore (take a quick look at the license plate if you don't believe me) and is sure to please the Seinfeld fanatic in all of us. At this point, I recommend you just stare into the craziness that is this print and find some of the little Easter eggs that have been hidden in plain sight. Tim Doyle on the poster's setting:

"For a show based almost completely around interior locales, there is one stand-out exterior shot in Seinfeld- the restaurant. Unlike the other prints in this series, the restaurant is an actual location you can visit and touch- reality and fiction intertwined. While the diner is called 'Monks' in the show, it is in fact Tom's Diner (of the Susanne Vega song) on 2880 Broadway in New York. Fun fact I learned while researching this print is that the exterior of the actual diner in no way matches up with the set that was built in LA."

"The Big Salad" will be available on Thursday (2/2) at the Spoke Art Gallery and online shortly after. The poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 100.

I think it's officially time for me to pass out from exhaustion now. "Unreal Estate" opens on Thursday (2/2) at the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco. Any unsold prints will be available online the day after at store.spoke-art.com. This is sure to be a great show, and (out of intense jealousy) I curse anyone who can make it there in person! Good night all!

Mondo's "Planet of the Apes" Movie Poster Series

The five prints included in this post have already gone on sale as a set, and IMMEDIATELY sold out, but since there'll be a few more copies of each poster sold separately later today (minus Edmiston's "Go Ape"), I wanted to write a brief review for each print available. It's what I do. Let me start this entry off by saying I honestly think every single piece of artwork here is insanely impressive - there's not a dud in the set. And there's no denying that Mondo, and all of the artists involved, really brought their A-game to this anthropoid abundant series. Now on with the show!

Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 415

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I really, really like Martin Ansin's Planets of the Apes poster. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's my favorite in the collection. I saw this design printed on wood at SDCC last year and was very close to pulling the trigger, but thankfully my fiscally responsible doppelgänger got the better of me. As usual, Ansin's eye for composition and his ability to create some truly jaw-dropping photorealistic primates is on full display here. I'm not sure if this is at all intentional, but it looks like all the characters included in this poster come together to form a vague skull-like shape. Color me intrigued. Bottom line: it's another stunner from Martin Ansin and almost assuredly going to make it into my top 10 of 2012. To learn more about the artist, be sure to visit martinansin.com and follow him on Twitter @martinansin.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Ken Taylor
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 395

I feel like Ken Taylor's posters always have a somewhat reverential quality to them. I don't mean that in a bad way, that's actually one of the things I really like about his work. Ken's monolithic arrangements remind me of a shrine or altar in their construction, which is absolutely perfect given the Planet of the Apes film he's covering (please note the nuclear bomb being worshipped in the poster's center). Also, I love the color scheme! It just exudes dark, dingy, dankness! If you'd like to find out more about artist Ken Taylor, head over to kentaylor.com.au.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Rich Kelly
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 320

I'm a huge fan of Rich Kelly's work, and I think this may be his strongest piece yet. Rich's pencil-sketch style only emboldens his slightly askew interpretation of the characters and their proportions, lending the artwork a smile-inducing and slyly surreal appearance. Out of all of the posters in the series, I think this is easily the most pleasant surprise in the pack. And if what I've been reading is true, I'm not the only one who feels this way. To learn more about artist Rich Kelly, be sure to visit rfkelly.com, his storefront and follow him @TheRichKelly.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Phantom City Creative
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 370

The Planet of the Apes poster series from Mondo, is pretty much a who's who of incredibly talented artists that I'm completely obsessed about. As proof of that, I'd kindly like to direct your attention to Phantom City Creative's Conquest poster above. Phantom City has put together a wonderful looking design that evokes the propaganda of yesteryear. Seriously, if you put a Che beret on Caeser, I could picture this being plastered on city walls and used as a rallying cry for the enslaved apes. Here's one for the little guy ape! For more info on Phantom City Creative, be sure to visit phantomcitycreative.com, their store, and follow them on Twitter @PhantomCityCrtv.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes Movie Poster
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
$230 (Entire Set) - Limited to 345

I think out of all of the prints mentioned here, Florian's poster is the one that most needs to be seen in person to be appreciated. Returning to my ecclesiastical comparisons, if Ken Taylor's artwork is similar to a shrine or altar, than Bertmer's work brings to mind a medieval stained-glass window belonging to a creepy church that may or may not have dabbled in ritual human sacrifice during the early 1350s. It's just pure evil. The man is also known for his crazily ornate borders, so I can't even imagine what this will look like in-hand. Spoiler: it's going to look great! To learn more about Florian Bertmer, checkout his website at florianbertmer.blogspot.com and the Moon Editions store.

All of these posters, except for Jason Edmiston's "Go Ape" print which, due to time constraints, I didn't have time to write about, will be individually available for purchase through Mondo later this morning (1/27) at a random time. Be sure to follow @MondoNews for all the drop details. Good luck! Now get off my lawn, you damned dirty apes!

Tracie Ching's "The Princess" Art Print

I meant to write about this on Monday, but up until recently I've been sans any quality blogging time. Finally, now that I've got a few moments to myself, I can share with everyone the wonderful artwork of Tracie Ching. I didn't know much about Tracie (read: nothing at all, actually), but her incredibly classy Leia inspired "The Princess" blew me away.

"The Princess" Art Print
Tracie Ching
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Star Wars

I'm not entirely sure why this print so immediately clicked with me, but I think it mostly has to do with how simple and elegant the design is. I especially like the fact that Tracie's depiction of Leia isn't perfectly symmetrical. I think with these straight-on portraits, it's so easy to be tempted into creating an unrealistic proportionality, and while there's no denying that sometimes the art can call for that, I like the authenticity that a little intentional imperfection brings to the table. I'll admit, I'm not as familiar with the Star Wars emblems as I should be, but I'm assuming the standard behind her head has something to do with her political affiliation in the film's universe. My ignorance of galactic legislative machinations aside, I love how the emblem frames Leia's head and creates a sort of politically-charged halo. This poster just totally works for me, and I'm finding myself really digging Tracie's minimal style.

"The Princess" Close-up

"The Princess" Close-up

Tracie Ching's "The Princess" poster is currently available through her storefront for $30. The screen print measures 16" x 20" and is limited to an edition of 50. If you can't spare the money right now, Tracie is also running a "Princess" print contest, where she'll be giving away two copies of her Leia inspired poster. Be sure to visit her website, Facebook page and DeviantArt blog for contest info. And if you'd like to know more about the lady behind this very neat and nerdy artwork, check out all of the previously mentioned blogs / sites and follow her on Twitter @tracieching.

"The Admiral" Art Print
Tracie Ching
16" x 20" - Signed and Numbered
$40 (Currently $35 on Kickstarter) - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: Star Wars

If "The Princess" still isn't enough Star Wars for you, I thought I'd also mention Tracie's next print, "The Admiral," which can currently be purchased by donating at least $35 to her "Admiral" Kickstarter project. I'm a big fan of her Ackbar inspired poster and have already chipped in my money toward this worthy cause. But most importantly, be confident in the knowledge that...it's NOT a trap!

New Flesh's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Movie Poster

I felt like this was an appropriate follow-up to yesterday's "The Man from Gallifrey" post, because in much the same way Doctor Who fans have their favorite Doctor, pretty much anyone with a pulse has a favorite Bond. Mine would probably be Connery, but there's no denying that that's the safe choice. And while I don't think Lazenby was the best Bond or that On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the best Bond film, I do have a lot of respect for what Peter Hunt was attempting to do by ditching the gadgets and trying to more closely reflect Ian Fleming's original books.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Movie Poster
Craig McDaniel
18" x 24" - Numbered
$25 - Limited to 50

Craig McDaniel's poster celebrates the only actor who played Bond just once, and it's a very classy depiction of George Lazenby at that. The print wonderfully captures the sophisticated and debonair image that 007 has so cultivated since his inception by paying tribute to Bond's iconic mannerisms with an elegantly understated design. I think what I like most about McDaniel's Majesty's Secret Service poster, is that Bond has a sort of stencil graffiti quality to his construction. I could picture Lazenby's face stencilled on the sides of buildings across a vast metropolitan landscape. Yeah, I know I'm weird. Strange street art ruminations aside, I also love the poster's restrained use of color, which not only tells the viewer that, yes, this is most definitely a Bond film, but also serves as a fantastic background and helps form the silhouette of 007's female companion. Craig McDaniels on what he was attempting to do with his design:

"There are so many different images that seem to be strictly associated with Bond. So coming up with something that features Bond-like imagery while doing something original is a challenge. I wanted to cover the bases of a Bond poster while staying minimalistic in design. The blood dripping from the gun barrel, the classic pose, the female silhouette are all old style Bond imagery and I wanted to combine them in a way that compliments them all. The characters under the main figures are designed after the title sequence as is the crown above the main title. The part of the poster I am most pleased with would have to be the way the female silhouette flows with the cutout of Bond and the dripping of the blood. Designing something for this under-appreciated Bond adventure was a joy, and who knows, maybe someday I'll have a poster for each film in the series."

McDaniel's On Her Majesty's Secret Service poster will be available through the New Flesh store on Monday (1/23) at 10:30 AM CST. The print measures 18" x 24", costs $25 and is limited to an edition of 50. To learn more about artist Craig McDaniel you can visit popworkmedia.com, and to keep up with everything New Flesh related, be sure to visit newfleshprints.com and follow them on Twitter @newfleshprints.

Fernando Fro Reza's "The Man from Gallifrey" Art Print

I remember being a youngster in the Bay Area and staying up late on school nights watching PBS. I know, badass, right? We didn't have cable, meaning there wasn't much in the way of channels, and I didn't have a computer in my room, so the Internet wasn't easily accessible after the bell tolled midnight, but I did happen to have an old TV set. Every once in a blue moon, KQED (at least, I think it was KQED) would host a telethon with some pretty amazing programming. Occasionally the on-air fundraiser would yield a disappointing evening filled with British sitcoms that clearly weren't aimed at my demographic, like Are You Being Served, As Time Goes By, and the Canadian handyman series, The Red Green Show. But sometimes, the planets aligned and I was introduced to some spectacular science fiction, like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Red Dwarf, and the focus of tonight's post, Doctor Who. I was immediately taken with The Doctor. Now keep in mind, this wasn't the new Doctor Who, this was the older series, the 1963 to 1989 series. And I loved every corny, weird, cost-effective minute of that show. I mention all this, because when I first saw Fernando Fro Reza's impressive Doctor Who inspired print, I was immediately reminded of just how much the series meant to me when I was younger, and the indefatigable nature of the Who franchise.

"The Man from Gallifrey" Art Print
Fernando Fro Reza (Fro Design Co.)
11" x 17" - Signed and Numbered
$60 - Limited to 150
Inspired By: Doctor Who

Fernando Fro Reza's "The Man from Gallifrey" art print features not only the newer Doctors (Eccleston, Tennant and Smith), but all the Doctors past (even Paul McGann). And while the fact that it covers the entirety of the Who-niverse is great, the print also offers a ton of smaller Easter egg-type touches for all us Who-ligans (please, somebody stop me). I had the opportunity to ask Fernando why he was such a fan of the series, but even more importantly, who his favorite Doctors were - here's what he had to say:

"I've heard from a few people that your favorite Doctor is always the one you came in with, and for me that was Eccleston who did an amazing job. But after watching all of the new series and a bit of the older ones I think it really comes down to David Tennant and Tom Baker. Something that Doctor Who does really well is treat incredible situations in a very real and grounded way and as zany and stylized as Baker's and Tennant's portrayals could get, they still felt very real. I really like the idea that for 50 years there has been a lineage of men playing the same person, each actor adding more layers and quirks to the character. And based on its success it's poised to continue for a 100 more. Which is why I hope this tribute is fitting, in a way it features all the Doctors past present and future."

For the record, I totally agree with his opinion of Tennant and Tom Baker. And when asked to point out a few of the hidden gems this print features, Fernando was nice enough to share a secret or two:

"As for the Easter eggs there's a few little things thrown in, if you look closely the broken spring in the top left is actually the spinning flight trail of a small Tardis. At the bottom there's a group of Doctor Who villains, the character on the far right has two hearts and is supposed to represent the Master."

It's a fantastic design, but I think the coolest thing about the poster, besides Tom Baker's colorful scarf of course, is that Fro Design Co has "future proofed" the print. Here's the basic concept: every time a regeneration takes place, Fernando will send you a vinyl press-on of the new Doctor along with instructions on where to place it. It's a pretty novel idea, and one that I think is incredibly inspired and totally in line with the themes of Doctor Who. So, there you have it. The print is a bit more expensive than many of Fro Design Co's past offerings, but the idea of having an always up-to-date Doctor Who picture is pretty awesome.

Unique Certificate that Comes with Each Poster

Fernando Fro Reza's "The Man from Gallifrey" art print is currently available from Fro Design Co's website for $60. The giclée measures 11" x 17" and is limited to 150. To learn more about the artist and his work, be sure to visit frodesignco.com and follow Fernando on Twitter @frodesignco. EX-TER-MIN-ATE!

Martin Ansin's "TRON" & "TRON: Legacy" Movie Posters

I'm going to throw any pretense of an unbiased review out the window right now. Pretty much every word I write from this point forward will be in praise of Martin Ansin's two TRON posters, and are very likely to be gushing and / or lacking in any sort of restraint. Prepare yourselves.

TRON Movie Poster
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$90 (Sold as a set with TRON: Legacy print) - Limited to 390

Martin Ansin's more photorealistic take on the TRON films (at least when compared to Eric Tan's Mondo poster set) may initially seem to be incongruent with the film's pixelated nature, but let's not forget that whether these movies take place in our world or in an antiquated motherboard, the majority of the characters / players are very human in their ambition and behavior. Alright, alright, I might be reaching a bit, but there's no denying that these posters are supremely awesome and that it's kind of refreshing to see Ansin take on something a bit more timely than The Mummy or Dracula. I'm personally partial to his TRON: Legacy artwork over his TRON print, but that's just because the (virtual) world is a bit sleeker / more sophisticated (read: Legacy wasn't made in 1982) and I like the darker color palette, which really goes a long way in making those neon blues and oranges pop. With that said, I appreciate all the care he's given to accurately capturing the "cutting edge" 80s CGI with his TRON poster and will no doubt be among the herd of F5ers trying to grab one of the many print sets going on sale tomorrow morning.

TRON: Legacy Movie Poster
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$90 (Sold as a set with TRON print) - Limited to 390

Martin Ansin's TRON and TRON: Legacy movie posters will be available tomorrow (1/19) through Mondo's storefront. Both posters measure 24" x 36", are limited to an edition of 390 and will cost $90 per set. To be one of the first (of hundreds) to learn the exact drop time, be sure to follow Mondo on Twitter @mondonews. And if you'd like to find out more about artist Martin Ansin, then head over to martinansin.com and follow him @martinansin. Pretty straight forward, right? Good luck everyone! We're going to need it...

Gallery 1988's "Adult Swim" Art Show

If any of you are like me, you love the animated non sequitur that is the Adult Swim programming block. And if, like me, you possess an unbridled passion for all things Gallery 1988 and have complete trust in their ability to come up with great shows and find incredibly talented artists, you knew it was only a matter of time before Gallery 1988 got in bed with Meatwad, Brock Sampson, Space Ghost, and the rest of the freaky deaky Adult Swim lineup. As you've probably already guessed, I'll be using this post to talk about some of my favorite pieces from the show along with some brief reviews. The only limitation I placed on myself, was that all of the artwork mentioned below needed to be available at the time of this writing - that means no Iron Jaiden, Olly Moss or Kevin Tong, among others. Let's do this, shall we?

"Brock, By Odin!" Art Print
Anne Benjamin
20" x 28" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 85
Inspired By: The Venture Bros.

I have absolutely no problem saying this: I have a huge man crush on Brock Sampson. He's the type of guy I wish I could be, and by that I mean tall, muscular, animated and voiced by Patrick Warburton. Anne Benjamin's print celebrates all those qualities and presents Brock by way of Thor in a fittingly badass pose. I love the retro vibe this print exudes and the worn textures she used on some of the shadows and background that only strengthen the poster's antiquated aesthetic. Here's what Anne had to say about her print (taken from her blog):

"I've been wanting to draw Brock Samson as Thor for a long time and Gallery 1988's Adult Swim show was the perfect opportunity. At 20" x 28", this extra large screen print is bursting with muscles, mullets, rainbows and white hot pants."

The "Brock By Odin" art print is currently available through Gallery 1988's website for $40. The poster measures 20" x 28" and is limited to an edition of 85. You can learn more about Anne Benjamin by visiting her website annebenjamin.com or her Etsy storefront.

"Space Ghost" Art Print
Graham Erwin
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Space Ghost Coast to Coast

I'm not sure what it is about Graham Erwin's artwork, but I just love his designs. His prints are very calculated and they feature an almost hallucinogenic symmetry, but most importantly, they just work. I didn't pick this piece up, since I was never really a big fan of Space Ghost Coast to Coast (cue the hate mail), but art-wise, I really dig what Graham has done here. I especially love Space Ghost's massive chiseled chin and the retro looking ray gun in the lower left hand corner. The "Space Ghost" print is available through Gallery 1988 for $40. The art print measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 50. Visit grahamerwin.com to learn more about the artist, and also be sure to checkout his Etsy store and follow him on Twitter @GrahamErwin.

"Doctor Orpheus" Art Print
Delicious Design League
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 104
Inspired By: The Venture Bros.

I love this poster! Delicious Design League created an awesome ode to The Venture Brother's Doctor Orpheus. For those not familiar with the series, Doctor Orpheus is a necromancer (a magician who can communicate with or raise the dead) that rents some property behind the Venture Compound. The artist(s) brilliantly chose to capitalize on the supernatural qualities of the good Doctor and have placed a bold red pentagram over Orpheus' visage. It's a wonderful touch and really does a great job conveying the mysticism the character is constantly spouting (much to the chagrin of those around him). I'm also a huge fan of the muted color palette and the funky typography used to spell out Orpheus' name. Delicious Design League's "Doctor Orpheus" print is currently available through Gallery 1988 for $30. The poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 104. Head over to deliciousdesignleague.com and follow them @deliciousdl to learn more about the design and illustration boutique.

"Brutal Masters" Art Print
James Flames
18" x 18" - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 75
Inspired By: Metalocalypse

There were a handful of Metalocalypse inspired prints at the Adult Swim art show, but I think James Flames' piece most accurately conveys the tone of this darkly comic animated series. This print is seriously dripping with some heavy metal rage and destruction, and I think it's safe to say that nobody does skeletons like James does. I have no idea if this was his intention, I'm guessing it was, but would this not make for the most kick ass Metalocalypse album cover ever? Great concept, perfect execution! The "Brutal Flames" print is currently available through Gallery 1988 for $30 and measures 18" x 18". The screen print is also signed and numbered, and is limited to an edition of 75. To learn more about James Flames, checkout jamesflames.com and follow him on Twitter @thejamesflames.

"Monarch" Art Print

Becky Dreistadt
11" x 14" - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 10
Inspired By: The Venture Bros.

Here's another Venture Bros inspired print, this time taking aim at the Venture family's self-appointed arch nemesis, The Monarch. Becky Dreistadt's print shows the softer side of The Monarch as he engages in one of his favorite activities as a lepidopterist (someone who collects or studies butterflies). This piece is a bit more traditional than a lot of the other prints mentioned here, but that's exactly why I like it so much - not to mention it's jaw-droppingly beautiful. Becky's poster seems to depict an almost Disney-like portrayal of the character, that is, if Disney created an insanely vain, whiny, and murderous, but inept super villain with a penchant for Monarch butterflies. The "Monarch" print is still available through Gallery 1988 for $50. The giclée measures 11" x 14" and is limited to an extremely small edition of 10. If you'd like to see more of Becky's work, be sure to visit her website tinykittenteeth.com, follow her on Twitter @beckyandfrank and buy things in her store!

"The Brak Show" Art Print
Joshua Budich
12" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 75
Inspired By: The Brak Show

This is another case of, "I wasn't a huge fan of the show, but I love, love, love the artwork!" It probably goes without saying that I'm a huge fan of Joshua Budich's art. I think I've written about (at least) four or five of his posters since starting the site, and the guy just continues to amaze me. What really surprises me, is that his Brak Show artwork doesn't look or necessarily feel like a Budich print in many ways. I'm struggling to fully explain what I mean, but ultimately I'm super impressed at how successfully he translated the cartoon's visuals to the printed page. This poster looks like it would make for a great comic book cover, doesn't it? Joshua Budich's "The Brak Show" print is available through Gallery 1988 for $40. The print measures 12" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 75. To see more of Joshua's art, visit joshuabudich.com and follow him @jbudich.

"Where's My Chippy" Art Print
Miranda Dressler
8" x 18" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 20
Inspired By: Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

There's no denying that Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is an acquired taste, but I happen to eat it up (like shrimp and white wine). This rogues' gallery of strange characters played by the titular Tim and Eric perfectly captures the ridiculousness of the show, while also posing the question: where's my Chippy? Alright, alright, it's getting late and my brain is obviously turning to mush, bottom line: this is a must own for any fans of the show. It's bright, it's colorful, it's weird, it's completely Tim and Eric! Miranda Dressler's "Where's My Chippy" art print is currently available for purchase through Gallery 1988. The giclée costs $40, measures 8" x 18" and is limited to an edition of 20. Head over to mirandadressler.blogspot.com and checkout Miranda's Etsy store if you'd like to learn more about the artist. Spaghett!

”Xenomorphis Mooninitus”
Darin Shock (State of Shock Studios)
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Aqua Teen Hunger Force

I love this concept! Combining the Alien chest-burster with Aqua Teen Hunger Force's Mooninites is simply genius. Darin Shock has crafted a disgustingly hilarious tribute to the Mooninites, and just about every aspect of this print is perfect. I especially appreciate how Darin was able to make the lunar hell spawn look completely different from the style of artwork around him, thereby bringing even more attention to the otherworldliness of Ignignokt (that's the name of the green Mooninite pictured above). My hat really goes off to Mr. Shock. This print is amazing and very, very funny! State of Shock Studios' ”Xenomorphis Mooninitus” print is available through Gallery 1988 for $40. The print is limited to an edition of 50 and measures 18" x 24". To find out more about the artist and buy his work, be sure to visit stateofshockstudios.com.

"Darkplace: The Movie" Art Print
Doe Eyed Design
18" x 24" - Numbered
$25 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

This is the last one, so I'll keep it short, but if you've ever seen Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, then you know how absolutely perfect this poster is! And at only $25, the cheapest print mentioned here, it's a total steal. Doe Eyed Design's beautiful artwork imagines a world I want to live in - a world where a Darkplace movie actually exists. I love the greenish color used for the title and characters' faces, because it evokes the garish and jarringly unrealistic look of the show. This was also the first poster I saw at Gallery 1988's Adult Swim exhibition that I knew I had to own. Doe Eyed Design's "Darkplace: The Movie" print is available through Gallery 1988 for $25. The poster measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 50. To learn more about Doe Eyed Design, visit doe-eyed.com and follow them on Twitter @doe_eyed.

And that's it. What were some of your favorite prints?

New Flesh's "Birds" and "Rear Window" Movie Posters

It's been a really impressive few months for New Flesh in my estimation. The Austin-based design studio, screen printing house and organizer of guerrilla movie screenings, has already built up an exceptional body of work and and is showing no signs of slowing down. Working in collaboration with the Blue Starlite Drive-in, New Flesh has created two beautiful posters in tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Rear Window.

The Birds Movie Poster - N.E.
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 50

I've loved everything New Flesh has released so far, but I think it's safe to say that they've reached new heights with the double feature Hitchcock prints. N.E.'s Birds poster features detail aplenty with its intricately shaped Bodega Bay topography, comprised of what looks to be some pretty intense cross hatching and shadowing. But as is usually the case, it's the little things that really tend to drive me wild (in a good way, of course) when it comes to movie artwork. I'm talking about the bird-lined power lines. I didn't immediately catch it when I first saw the poster, partially because it's so minute and there's so many other things to look at, but the fact that it's there totally ups my appreciation of this wonderful print. This is also something I'll be repeating later in the post, but I love the color palette N.E. decided on - it really captures that by-the-bay backdrop.

Artist N.E. from New Flesh was nice enough to provide some insight on what he was trying to accomplish with his Birds design:

"I wanted to do something that I had not seen before for either one of the movies. I knew I wanted to make something for The Birds that recalled the travel posters from the 50's and 60's. I like the idea of having the birds be a subtle element of the poster that surfaces when you look closely at the image."

The Birds poster will be available through the New Flesh store on Monday (1/16) at 10:30 AM CST. The poster measures 18" x 24", is limited to an edition of 50 and will cost $25. To learn more about New Flesh and artist N.E., be sure to follow them @newfleshprints, visit their website, and check out their store.

Rear Window Movie Poster - N.E.
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 50

Out of the two Hitchcock prints, I think this may be my favorite. N.E.'s poster marks a pretty thrilling scene in Rear Window when the wheelchair-bound Jeff (James Stewart) uses a camera's flash to temporary blind the home-invading Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr). And in my opinion, this heart-pounding moment comes through spectacularly unscathed due to the artist's use of feverish color and a more stark, but dynamic, design - both elements running somewhat contrary to what was done with The Birds print. The success of N.E.'s color choice is two-fold, really: not only do they reflect what someone might see in the aftermath of a bulb's flash, but they're also spot on with what are widely considered Hitchcock's "warning colors" - yellow, orange and red. I'm really excited to see New Flesh consistently raise the stakes and will definitely be making a poster purchase come Monday (1/16).

Artist N.E. from New Flesh on his Rear Window poster design, and some Star Wars related trivia I had absolutely zero knowledge of:

"For Rear Window the options are always slightly limited, just because it's about a man in his room confined to a wheelchair with a telephoto lens. I love how Hitchcock uses effects to simulate point of view. In Vertigo it was the push / pull camera trick. In Rear Window it was the blinding light that was simulated when Raymond Burr confronts James Stewart. That image has been "burned" in my head (pun intended) since I first saw the film. The red / orange / yellow color scheme came from this camera flash. (Side note: the camera flash that James Stewart used in Rear Window was the main part they used for making the hilts for lightsabers in Star Wars. So technically James Stewart uses a lightsaber to defend himself in the movie. Or you could say Darth Vader uses a camera flash in Star Wars.)"

N.E. on the poster set as a whole:

"For the Hitchcock posters it was important that they were similar enough that they could be in a set and potentially a series. I also wanted the technique and the color to be completely different or opposite from the each other. This is where the blue green / dark blue / blue for The Birds came from. Both posters are very impressionistic compared to most of my other posters. The goal was to convey mood or a feeling more then just illustrate an image from the movie."

Much like The Birds print, N.E.'s Rear Window poster will be available through the New Flesh store on Monday at 10:30 AM CST. The print measures 18" x 24", will cost $25 and is limited to an edition of 50. To learn more about New Flesh, be sure to follow them on Twitter @newfleshprints, visit their website, and check out their store.