Heads Up: Oliver Barrett's "Cujo II" Movie Poster

I last wrote about Strange Kids Club's fantastic "what if" poster series in mid-October. And here we are, not even a full month later, with yet another killer print. Following Nathan Milliner's inspired The Burning 2 artwork, SKC hooked up with artist Oliver Barrett to celebrate the rabid, drool-covered sequel that never was. That's right, I'm talking about Cujo. More specifically, I'm talking about Cujo II. I mean, who wouldn't want to see a film with a tagline like, "More Dogs. More Rabies." Right? I rest my case. While there's a decent amount to highlight here, my favorite element in the poster has to be the eyeball in the dog's mouth. No contest. Here's what Oliver had to say about designing this print:

"Cujo appealed to me because it's one of those few horror films that still holds up to this day. While a rabid dog wreaking havoc on a small family is pretty outlandish, I could put myself in that situation and be terrified of a giant [bloodthirsty] St. Bernard. A sequel would have been equally outlandish, so that helped me make the decision to put together this bunch of rabid pups."

I can relate. Granted, chances of my Shih Tzu - Terrier mix going all "Cujo" on me anytime soon are slightly more outlandish than Cujo II becoming a reality.

Cujo II Movie Poster
Oliver Barrett
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered
$35 - Limited to 25

Oliver Barrett's Cujo II movie poster is currently available through Strange Kids Club for $35. The giclée measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 25. To learn about the next print in the "sequels you never knew you wanted" series, be sure to visit strangekidsclub.com religiously and follow @strangekidsclub on Twitter. And for more info on the artist, you can check out oliverbarrettdesign.com, ohbarrett.com, his Tumblr, and follow him @oliverbarrett. I don't know about you, but all of this killer canine stuff is reminding I need to revisit the Lance Henriksen-starring Man's Best Friend.

Best Of: Spoke Art's "Mucho Machismo" Art Show

First things first, apologies for the lack of updates everyone. It's been a busy, busy, week or two for me recently. I not only left my job of several years last Friday, I'm getting married this weekend. Separately, those two things would probably be enough to throw me off my game or, at the very least, interrupt my regularly scheduled posting. But together, they've created the perfect storm that has made publishing anything on Posterocalypse all but impossible these past few days. So, here goes nothing.

I heard about "Mucho Machismo" a few weeks ago and was instantly intrigued. For those of you with your head cocked sideways and a quizzically raised eyebrow, "Mucho Machismo" is a poster show put on by Spoke Art and curated by artist Jon Smith. Here's Jon's mission statement (taken from his blog):

"Violence is cool. So are guns and explosions. When it’s fake. It’s okay to be tough and flex your muscles as long as you’re a good guy and you say your prayers and take your vitamins like a real American. Pain don’thurt.

These are just some of the truths prescribed from the hyper violent media that saturated the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The golden age of the action movie, professional wrestling and the dawn of arcade fighting games and the first person shooter provided endless yet completely ridiculous entertainment to generations.

'Mucho Machismo' embraces the spirit of this era as modern action movies are now PG-13 and video games are hyper realistic and less cartoony in their violence."

I, like many of you, reveled in the over-the-top violence of yesteryear, when the kicks and punches were often as badass as they were hilariously ridiculous. And I can assure you that "Mucho Machismo" sports some of the most unapologetically testosterone-filled artwork I've seen all year...and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. Jon has assembled an A-list group of folks and put something together that should speak to the heart of anyone who fondly remembers when high fives were without irony and puns were an integral part of the enemy murdering process. Below, I've selected a few of my favorite pieces from the show that still happen to be available for purchase, but in all honesty, there's not a bad apple in the bunch.

"They Live" Art Print
Smithe
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: They Live

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum." These are the words that changed a generation! Okay, hmm, maybe it wasn't that big a deal, but I think we can all agree that They Live is a great snapshot of 80s sci-fi action, features some amazing ideas, and boasts one of the most ridiculous fight scenes ever filmed. I don't know much about Smithe, but I love this print's execution and am really digging his line work. Smithe's "They Live" print is currently available through Spoke Art's storefront for $50. To see more of the artist's work, be sure to check out his Tumblr. Consume. Obey.

"Commando" Art Print Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz) 18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered & COA $50 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: Commando

"Rambo" Art Print Grzegorz Domaradzki (AKA Gabz) 18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered & COA $50 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: Rambo

If it's Gabz, I'm in. It's that simple. Does it help that these prints celebrate the kings of 80s manliness? Well, yeah, of course it does! But it's Grzegorz's consistently gorgeous work and obvious passion for film that really take his art to the next level. I'm telling you, this guy is going to be making some big waves this year and next. I can feel it. (Note: I'm cheating a little bit by including both prints in just one section, but I'm having a hard time thinking about these posters apart from one another for too long, and I think we all know about Rambo's well documented separation anxiety and kennel cough.) The "Commando" and "Rambo" giclée are now available for $50 each. For more about info on Gabz, head over to iamgabz.com.

"Wez" Art Print
Kraken
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior

Kraken's Mad Max 2 inspired print is straight up terrifying. The artist took what was already a great character and somehow made Wez even more primal and predatory looking. Just a quick aside, this show has really exposed me to some great new artists. Case in point: I had absolutely no familiarity with Kraken initially, but thanks to "Mucho Machismo" will now be closely following. The "Wez" poster is available for purchase at $50. To see more of Kraken's work, be sure to visit krakenkhan.com and follow @krakenkhan on Twitter.

"All Hail the New Flesh" Art Print
Godmachine
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered
$50 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Videodrome

This may be the most cerebral piece of this bunch and I'm completely okay with that, because not only was the print inspired by David Cronenberg's best film (just my opinion - hold the hate mail, please), the poster was also conceived and created by artist / mastermind Godmachine. Beyond illustrating the film's grotesque / amazing flesh-gun, the artist has his boob tube for the 21st century set. It took me a while to figure it out, but there's an iPhone button on the right side of the set. It's little details like that that make this print stand out and show how clever an artist Godmachine is. "All Hail the New Flesh" is now available for $50 and is limited to an edition of 50. You can learn more about the artist by visiting his blog and following him on Twitter @godmachineuk.

"It's Always Sunny on Mars" Art Print Tim Doyle 16" x 20" (Screen Print) - S / N $40 - Limited to 80 Inspired By: Too Many Things to Count

"Murphy Delivers the Law" Art Print Tim Doyle 18" x 24" (Screen Print) - S / N $40 - Limited to 80 Inspired By: Robocop and Terminator

What's not to love here? While a few of the artists featured in "Mucho Machismo" may have played their prints a little more straight and narrow, Tim Doyle aimed right for the funny bone. For example, "It's Always Sunny on Mars" cleverly references It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Total Recall, and motherf-ing Twins (and possibly even Junior!) Say, what?! The artistic and logical contortions necessary to make these posters work is incredibly impressive and speaks volumes about Tim's delightfully twisted imagination. "It's Always Sunny on Mars" and "Murphy Deliver's the Law" are available through Spoke Art for $40 each, which makes these the most affordable prints in my post. To learn more about Tim Doyle, head over to nakatomiinc.com and follow @NakatomiTim on Twitter.

"Up Up, Down Down..." Art Print
Oliver Barrett
18" x 24" (Giclée) - Numbered
$60 - Limited to 50

Last, but definitely not least, we arrive at Oliver Barrett's Contra meets Aliens meets Commando / Predator meets Rambo mishmash. Can I just ask, why wasn't this a real game? What gives? While Konami may have failed us on that front, it's clear that Barrett came to the party guns loaded (with pixelated ammunition) and delivered something that's a true pleasure to behold. Now I'm getting a little misty-eyed thinking about my complete inability to beat that game without using +30 lives cheat code. Time to download an emulator! Barrett's "Up Up, Down Down..." is now available for $60. For more info on the artist, visit ohbarrett.com and follow him @oliverbarrett.

That's all folks! Have a great morning and I'll return later today with a "Best Of" on Bottleneck Gallery's latest exhibit!

Best Twenty Posters of 2011

Wow. This was a really, really, REALLY difficult post for me to compile, and there's a pretty good chance that if you asked me what my favorite posters from 2011 were a week from now, you might get something slightly different. With that said, I think I've created a pretty kickass list and, believe it or not, they're not all Mondo releases! When putting this together, the only restriction I imposed on myself was that all eligible artwork had to actually be purchasable at some point last year. Now onto the good stuff!

1. AKIRA Movie Posters by Tyler Stout

Akira Movie Poster (Regular)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 180

Akira Movie Poster (Variant)
Tyler Stout
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80

I can't get over how stunning these prints are! Tyler Stout has somehow created something that is 100% Tyler Stout, and yet completely different than anything he's ever attempted before. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of his much sought after The Thing and Robocop prints, but this, THIS, is the Stout artwork I long to own. The amount of stuff he was able to pack into these works of art is mind blowing and totally reminds me of the insanity that is Tetsuo's telekinetically rebuilt trash arm. Love it!

2. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Movie Posters by Olly Moss (Review)

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Regular)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 420

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Japanese Variant)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Mondo? Olly Moss? Studio Ghibli? Hallelujah! Olly absolutely nailed the look and feel of this Miyazaki classic, taking care to balance beauty, adorableness, and the almighty forest spirit Totoro. Take note folks: this is how you do a variant. By the way, I recently rewatched My Neighbor Totoro. So good!

3. THE MUMMY Movie Posters by Martin Ansin (Review)

The Mummy Movie Poster (Regular)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 385

The Mummy Movie Poster (Hieroglyphic Variant)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 150

My love affair with Martin Ansin's work continues and this was by far my favorite piece from him in 2011. Not surprisingly, Martin packs so much realism and detail into the mummy's bandaged and shriveled face, that the idea of touching the poster's surface gives me the willies. And remember what I said about the Totoro variant? Well, it holds true for this print as well. Yes, those are actual hieroglyphics people!

4. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Movie Posters by Grzegorz Domaradzki (Review)

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Regular)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Night of the Living Dead Movie Poster (Glow in the Dark - Silver Variant)
Grzegorz Domaradzki
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 100

Grzegorz Domaradzki is an artist to watch out for. He's already done some BRILLIANT vector movie concept posters, but this was his first film poster design to actually become a screen print, and it's a pretty amazing one at that. I guess I've got a thing for skulls, because there's not one, but two posters on this list that come together to form the outline of a skull. Very creepy. By the way, a few of the regular versions are still available for sale through Kryptonite Prints & Apparel.

5. DUNE Movie Poster by Kevin Tong (Review)

Dune Movie Poster
Kevin Tong
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100

I had to pick this print up on eBay after it sold out in the blink of an eye, but the inflated price was well worth it. Seriously, this poster is loaded to the brim with desert, sandworms, and backstabbing nobles (oh my). And no matter what you think about the film Dune (I'll admit it's kind of crazy and not a total success), you've got to applaud Kevin Tong for perfectly capturing the insanity of David Lynch's adaptation.

6. HELLRAISER Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 245

Hellraiser Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
22.5" x 31.5" - Numbered
Limited to 70

Nobody depicts satanic stuff better than Florian Bertmer. That's just a fact. His artwork makes my skin crawl (in a good way), which is why I'm fairly certain Florian has at some point either made a pact with the Prince of Darkness or solved the Lament Configuration, thereby gaining access to the forbidden arts. This was my favorite poster from the Mondo Mystery Movie LA film series by leaps and bounds, and that's saying a lot given all the talent involved.

7. FRANKENSTEIN Movie Poster by Drew Struzan (Review)

Frankenstein Movie Poster
Drew Struzan
15" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 325

It's freaking Drew Struzan! Of course he was going to make the top ten. His gorgeous Frankenstein poster reminds us why he's still the undisputed king of the illustrated one sheet and pays tribute to a monster movie classic. Following Stout's Akira print, Struzan's Frankenstein is probably the most sought after poster in my top twenty.

8. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST Movie Posters by Oliver Barrett (Review)

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dawn Edition - Regular)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 170

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Dusk Edition - Variant)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
Limited to 60

I love these posters! Oliver Barrett is an artist I've been following since his amazing American Splendor print, but I think I may have found my new favorite when it comes to his body of work. And remember what I was saying about my subconscious and altogether creepy fascination with skulls being masterfully inserted into movie artwork (please refer to number four on this list)? Well, here's the second (and final) creative cranium mentioned in this post. These are completely sold out through Tommy Good, but a few are still available for purchase through Oliver's store and Dark City Gallery.

9. THE BURNING Movie Poster by Phantom City Creative (Review)

The Burning Movie Poster
Phantom City Creative
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 250

Phantom City Creative has been one of those consistently amazing design studios since day one. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I'm sure I could have included several Phantom City designs in this list, but this was by far my favorite poster of theirs in 2011. The Burning is a ridiculous 80s slasher that features a not-yet-bald Jason Alexander, but I'll be damned if this poster doesn't somehow make the movie a more respectable work of art just by association. Beautiful design. Perfect execution. Blood rendered in biblical proportions. Flawless.

10. “FIGURE 1: VULPES VULPES” Art Print by Rich Kelly (Review)

"Figure 1: Vulpes Vulpes" Art Print
Rich Kelly
16.5" x 23.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 100
Inspired By: The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox isn't my all-time favorite Wes Anderson flick, that honor goes to The Life Aquatic, but it's definitely up there. This amazing Rich Kelly art print inspired by Anderson's lone animated creation is just a joy to look at. Kelly masterfully depicts the titular Mr. Fox, but also manages to comment on the stop motion production method with gorgeous results.

11. "THE OPEN ROAD" Art Print by Scott Campbell (Review)

"The Open Road" Art Print
Scott Campbell
12" x 12" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 50
Inspired By: Easy Rider

I wasn't sure if this was ever going to be an actual print, since the above artwork was originally part of a larger movie poster for the All Tomorrow's Parties / Criterion Collection screening of Easy Rider, but here we are. Scott Campbell's amazing "The Open Road" poster is one of the jewels in my collection and is still available for purchase through Gallery 1988.

12. THE LIFE AQUATIC Movie Poster by Joshua Budich (Review)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Movie Poster
Joshua Budich
24" x 36" - Signed & Numbered
Limited to 150

Joshua Budich has been an artist that has consistently amazed me and continues to one-up himself with every new poster release. Created for Spoke Art's awesome "Bad Dads" show, Budich's Life Aquatic poster conveys the quirky, colorful, strangely hilarious brilliance of Steve Zissou and company. Highlights include: Seu Jorge playing guitar in the lower right corner, the candy-striped seahorse mucking around under the title, and an angry gun-toting Steve Zissou front and center.

13. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Movie Poster by Jeff Proctor (Review)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Jeff Proctor
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 345

Jeff Proctor really made a name for himself this year with a number of amazing Mondo posters including, but not limited to: Hobo with a Shotgun, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dawn of the Dead, and of course The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This print is utterly horrifying and practically exudes unyielding Texan summer heat...and chainsaw wielding psychopaths. That too.

14. FAIL-SAFE Movie Poster by Lloyd Stas (Review)

Fail-Safe Movie Poster
Lloyd Stas
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Lloyd Stas' brilliant Fail-Safe print combines the obvious and the subtle with amazing results. I think it's safe to say that even if you haven't seen Sidney Lumet's Cold War what if film, you can still enjoy the obvious care and attention paid to this artwork during its conception and creation. Lloyd Stas is another young artist to be on the look out for.

15. DEATHRAP Movie Poster by Jacob Van Loon (Review)

Deathtrap Movie Poster
Jacob Van Loon
18" x 24" - Numbered
Limited to 35

Much like Lloyd Stas' Fail-Safe print, Jacob Van Loon's Deathtrap poster was part of the Kingdom of Nonsense curated "The Machines Are Winning" art show. When I first saw Jacob's design I was immediately drawn in by the confusingly convoluted intertwining of machine and Cronenbergian sentient life form. Is anybody else getting a vague Naked Lunch vibe from this print? If this is any indication of what we can expect form Jacob Van Loon, I hope he starts doing a lot more film-related stuff in the near future.

16. FANTASTIC MR. FOX Movie Poster by Randy Ortiz (Review)

“We Got the Tail, but We Missed the Fox” Fantastic Mr. Fox Movie Poster
Randy Ortiz
18" x 24" - Includes a certificate of authenticity
Limited to 75

Randy Ortiz is somebody I didn't have the slightest familiarity with prior to 2011, but am now avidly following. It's even been intimated that he might do some work with Mondo in the near future - so that's cool. With his Fantastic Mr. Fox print, Randy has crafted something that's minimalist, but by no means simple. I can't wait to see what else this guy has up his sleeves.

17. THEY LIVE Movie Posters by Shepard Fairey (Review)

They Live Movie Poster (Mondo Edition - Regular)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

They Live Movie Poster (OBEY Edition - Variant)
Shepard Fairey
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 500

How could I not include Fairey's only Mondo movie poster on my list? I don't think there's a single artist better equipped to handle John Carpenter's alien invasion meets 1984 by way of Fahrenheit 451 film than street artist Shepard Fairey. This goes without saying, but the print is very pretty up close.

18. PAN'S LABYRINTH Movie Posters by Aaron Horkey

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Regular)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 420

Pan's Labyrinth Movie Poster (Variant)
Aaron Horkey
15" x 37.5" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 125

If I had to choose (please don't make me), I'd have to say that Pan's Labyrinth is my favorite Guillermo del Toro film. It's a wonderful story that blends the real and the fantastical, and is as horrifying as it is beautiful on both counts. Aaron Horkey seems to understand that and has created a print that's gorgeous to look at, but also a bit disturbing.

19. SWAMP THING Movie Posters by Florian Bertmer (Review)

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Regular)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 230

Swamp Thing Movie Poster (Variant)
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
Limited to 90

If you couldn't tell, I'm a huge Bertmer fan. In fact, he's the only artist on this list mentioned twice. Florian created two insanely exceptional posters this year, and while I slightly preferred his Hellraiser posters over his Swamp Thing prints, they're both pretty much perfect.

20. THE FLY Art Print by Dan Mumford (Review)

Dan Mumford's horror movie art print series has been an absolute blast to follow. His organic and stringy line work is the perfect match to Cronenberg's terrifyingly disgusting remake (I use the word "remake" in the loosest sense here). Brundlefly has never looked more gooey, and yes, that was most definitely a compliment.

Well, that's the list! What did you think? What were some of your favorite posters?

Oliver Barrett's "Once Upon a Time in the West" Movie Posters

UPDATE (11/19): These are available! Head over to tommygood.com to pick one (or two) up now! The post has been updated accordingly. Now go, go, go!

UPDATE (11/14): Updated post with release date. The prints will be released this Wednesday (11/16) in the afternoon. I'd recommend paying close attention to Tommy Good's Twitter feed around 12 PM PST.

Are you a fan of impossibly detailed prints? Do you love all things Sergio Leone? Is my introduction getting annoying? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you'll be pleased to know that tonight's post will focus on Oliver Barrett's gorgeous Once Upon a Time in the West movie posters recently commissioned by Posterocalypse favorite Tommy Good.

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Regular)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
5 Color Screen Print - Limited to 170

If you've ever seen an Oliver Barrett print (I've written about a few on this site), you'll know just how insanely complex his creations can be. Whether he's drawing the face of Jeffrey Lebowski from the Coen brothers classic or Frank's (Henry Fonda) grimacing mug from Once Upon a Time in the West, there's a rugged and jaw-dropping topography to his subjects' features. This cross-hatching style couldn't be more appropriate considering the film's unrefined desert setting and the weathered faces of Leone's cast. And by making those intricate portraits such a significant part of the design, Oliver has, knowingly or not, made a nice nod to the beautiful cinematography in Sergio Leone's films, which often favored a tightly framed close-up of a time ravaged and unkempt face followed by a lengthy long shot.

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Close-up

Once Upon a Time in the West Movie Poster (Variant)
Oliver Barrett
16" x 26" - Numbered
5 Color Screen Print - Limited to 60

In addition to the individual character portraits, there's a far deadlier force rearing its macabre visage in Barrett's design. I'm of course talking about the skull, a symbol of death, that's formed by the poster's seemingly disparate elements. Artist Oliver Barrett briefly spoke about this grim theme with Tommy Good in a fantastic interview that's currently up on their website, and which I've partially duplicated below.

"Well, to me, the film is about the end, or death of things. One being the old, wild west and the advent of the industrial revolution. There’s also the element of revenge, which only brings about sorrow and in this film’s case, more death. That being said, I was focused on bringing that theme of death into the poster. Obviously, I wanted to do some portraits in the poster, but I wanted it to be a part of the concept. After a series of rough sketches I arrived at the concept of creating a skull out of imagery from the film. The key portions being portraits of the film's protagonist and antagonist and the film's epic opening shootout scene."

As you can probably tell, the interview is great read and is super informative. I recommend checking it out.

Oliver Barrett's Once Upon a Time in the West posters is currently available through tommygood.com. There's a regular and variant - or as I like to think of them, dawn and dusk - edition of the poster, both measuring 16" x 26". The regular version is limited to 170 and the variant is limited to a much smaller edition of 60. To keep up with Tommy Good's future releases, I highly recommend following them Twitter @thisistommygood and signing up for their mailing list. To learn more about Oliver Barrett you've got a few options, including his website at ohbarrett.com, his Tumblr blog, his storefront, and his Twitter handle @oliverbarrett. There you have it.

Spoke Art's "Quentin vs. Coen" Art Exhibit Round 3

Part three of Spoke Art's awesome "Quentin vs. Coen" show has landed in Los Angeles and with that comes some amazing new prints. All of the prints below were released yesterday, but as of this writing are still in stock and ready for purchase. I only chose a few of my favorites out of the new inventory, but rest assured, there's a lot more available through Spoke Art's online store.

"Walter" Art Print
Oliver Barrett
18" x 24"
$40 - Limited to 125
Inspired By: The Big Lebowski

"The Dude" Art Print Oliver Barrett 18" x 24" $40 - Limited to 125 Inspired By: The Big Lebowski

"Donny" Art Print Oliver Barrett 18" x 24" $40 - Limited to 125 Inspired By: The Big Lebowski

I've written about Oliver Barrett's quote-posters (quosters?) before, but what the hell, I like 'em so much, I don't mind blathering their praises all over again. Barrett's style is fully intact with his next wave of "Quentin vs. Coen" prints, where, this time, he decided to tackle the Dude's entire motley crew. My favorite by far is his depiction of Walter, which appears to be a study in anger and disbelief (two expressions Walter wore well in the film), and features a quote that cuts straight to the heart of everyone's favorite enraged Judaic bowler. In addition to the amazing "Walter" print, Oliver created another Dude-inspired print (check out the original Barrett "Dude" print in my write-up of Round 2) and an all new "Donny" print. Does anyone else get a kick out of the fact that a Walter quote made it into the "Donny" print? This will most likely be the final round of "Quentin vs. Coen" artwork, so if you're waiting, stop, and buy these immediately. Each of the posters is screen printed and is available for $40 apiece through the Spoke Art store. The prints all measure 18" x 24" and are limited to an edition 125. Check out more Oliver Barrett art at ohbarrett.com and oliverbarrett.tumblr.com.

"Furious Anger" Art Print
Serge Gay Jr.
18" x 20" (polaroid-style border)
$50 - Limited to 100

I've never mentioned Serge Gay Jr. on this site before, but his Life Aquatic-inspired "Life" painting is legendary in my eyes, and it seems like with every new painting or print he releases he manages to one-up himself. Serge's "Furious Anger" is a cool mishmash of a lot of elements from a film that's filled to the brim with cool elements, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that this print is, well, cool. Serge's artwork reminds me of a massive mural I might find painted on a brick wall behind a long abandoned video rental place; no one knows how it got there, who did it, and most importantly, no is willing to defile it. Pedantic meandering about a made-up backstory aside, I really dig this print and if I hadn't just secured my entry to next year's Fantastic Fest I would pick this up in an instant. Serge Gay Jr.'s "Furious Anger" print is available for purchase through the Spoke Art store for $50. The giclée measures 18" x 20" and is limited to an edition of 100. More crazy, wonderful, strange Serge Gay Jr. artwork can be found, purchased and oggled at sergegayjrart.wordpress.com. And if you're a fan of Serge's work it looks like he's having a solo show at the Spoke-Art gallery later this year. Nice!

"True Grit 1" Art Print Jeff Proctor 9" x 24" $45 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: True Grit

"True Grit 2" Art Print Jeff Proctor 9" x 24" $45 - Limited to 50 Inspired By: True Grit

This was a complete surprise to me. I've seen lots of Jeff Proctor artwork, and I've purchased practically all of his film-related stuff, so I was a shocked when I saw these posters and had no idea who the artist was (prior to reading Jeff's name, that is). I could be completely off base here, but these prints really seem like a departure from a lot of his Mondo stuff, and that really, really excites me. I'm impressed by the simplicity and restraint of the composition, but it's his use of the diptych format that I find really inspired. The majority of the time I see diptychs and triptychs, they're used to convey parts of a single image, but Proctor's True Grit-inspired artwork reminds me of a traditional film narrative (albeit a very short two frame narrative); point A to point B. Great stuff! Jeff Proctor's "True Grit 1" and "True Grit 2" are currently available through the Spoke Art store. Both posters measure 9" x 24", are limited to an edition of 50 and cost $45 apiece. The best way to keep up to date with Mr. Proctor is to visit makenonsense.com.

Didn't see something you were absolutely in love with? Well fear not, because there's a lot more available through the Spoke Art store at store.spoke-art.com. While you're visiting the Spoke Art website, I'd highly recommend signing up for their newsletter and following them @Spoke_Art. In closing, I'd like to leave you with one more thing.

"Nihilists! Fuck me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos." - Walter (The Big Lebowski)

Good night!