Showing posts with label Zero Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zero Friends. Show all posts

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Kevin Ang's & Alex Pardee's "Attack the Block" Prints

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my US readers, and a happy Thursday night to everyone else! I've haven't been able to write nearly as much as I wanted to this past week, but I'm hoping tonight I can right that wrong. You may not be aware of this, but I really, really enjoy movies. I like funny movies, sad movies, fantastical movies, action packed movies, adorable movies, and I really appreciate any movie that can effortlessly combine all of those elements in a single package. Which is why, for my money, Attack the Block was one of the few films this year that pretty much worked on every level, and it's for this reason that I'm really pleased to talk about both Kevin Ang's amazing Attack the Block movie poster and Alex Pardee's beautiful Attack art print.

Attack the Block Movie Poster (Glow-in-the-dark Ink)
Kevin Ang
18" x 24" - Numbered
$30 - Limited to 60

If your ears perked up when you heard the name Kevin Ang, you might be remembering his amazing 12 Angry Men print (somehow still available for purchase) from the Kingdom of Nonsense curated "The Machines Are Winning" show. Well, Kevin has done it again, although this time with a slightly more contemporary and out-of-this-world movie. I was really excited when I found out about this print because even though I feel like the entirety of the Internet got behind Attack the Block, there were very few artists who actually attempted to create something inspired by the film. Kevin's poster features the majority of the cast, as well as the amazing and downright ferocious alien creatures complete with glow-in-the-dark fangs printed with glow-in-the-dark ink. What I love most about this print is Mr. Ang's depiction of the alien infested building and, more specifically, his inclusion of the black-as-midnight monstrosities scaling the Block. I'm also a huge fan of his lettering. I'll admit, it took me a while to get behind the cartoonish looking font he chose to go with, but now that I think of it, Kevin's comic book-esque style really captures the intense and unbelievable situation these kids find themselves in. I imagine this poster would be the cover for an Attack the Block graphic novel. The only complaint I have, and it's by no means a deal breaker, is that Nick Frost's character portrait (above the title between Jodie Whittaker and Hi-Hatz) is just a little too feminine for my taste - it took me a second to figure out who it was supposed to be. That minor criticism aside, I'm a huge fan of this print and will definitely try to grab one of these poster tomorrow (11/25). Kevin Ang's Attack the Block poster will go on sale through the Kingdom of Nonsense storefront on Friday (11/25) at 10 PM MST (that's 9 PM PST for us West Coasters and midnight for the East Coast). The poster will cost $30, measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 60. I couldn't find any sort of Twitter or blog affiliated with Kevin, so I'll instead direct you to follow @tweetofnonsense for future releases and to visit the Kingdom of Nonsense website and storefront for more info. Believe, bruv.

"Attack the Block" Art Print
Alex Pardee
17" x 22" - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: Attack the Block

I remember when Alex Pardee saw Attack the Block in theaters and was so blown away*, that he not only designed a "My Favorite Monsters" print depicting the movie's relentless alien attackers, he also created the above image in tribute to what remains one of my favorite films of 2011. With that said, I had no idea that his Attack the Block art print was actually something I could own until this morning, and I couldn't be more pleased. Pardee's print really highlights how perfectly the creature design in the film is executed and how dark Attack the Block was, both in set design and lighting. As a fan of Pardee's work, I know this print will be absolutely mind blowing up close and the detail is sure to delight. I'm also really digging this print because it highlights one of the coolest movie characters seen this year, and by that I mean, John Boyega's sword-toting hoodlum Moses. It's a beautiful print and I'm through the roof excited now that I can purchase one of these for myself and as a gift for the alien-obsessed loved ones in my life. Alex Pardee's Attack the Block art print is currently available for purchase through Pardee's Zerofriends store. The print measures 17" x 22", costs $50 and is limited to an edition of 100. For more info about the artist and his future releases be sure to follow @alexpardee on Twitter and visit his website at eyesuckink.com.

* Note: I wasn't stalking Mr. Pardee or anything (I've stopped doing that), I just follow him on the Twitter...is what I'll tell the jury.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Alex Pardee's "My Favorite Monsters" Prints Part 1

I was going to call this post "My Favorite 'My Favorite Monsters'," but that seemed a bit confusing, so in place of a perplexing title I figured I would sum up, as quickly as I can, tonight's write-up.

A little more than a year ago, Alex Pardee started releasing small prints that featured some of his favorite cinematic baddies, calling the collection "My Favorite Monsters." These were open edition (meaning they're not limited) 5" x 7" prints made with archival inks and were very affordable. Fast forward to this year's Comic-con and me aimlessly walking the convention center floor when, like a body of water in a desert, I see Pardee's Zero Friends booth and immediately commenced spending quite a bit on Alex's wonderfully monstrous creations (i.e. I bought a bunch). I've purchased way more of his "My Favorite Monsters" collection than I'm willing to talk about in just one post (it would be a massive post), but I've decided that every once in a while I'll take a moment to shine a light on some of my favorite "My Favorite Monsters." Are you as confused as I am?

"ALIEN" Art Print
Alex Pardee
5" x 7"
$10 - Open edition
Inspired By: Alien

I thought I might go with the alien theme tonight, and where better to start than the alien from Alien? The thing I really like about these prints, beside the fact that they're spectacularly affordable and kind of awesome in every conceivable way, is the slightly quick, slightly messy watercolor aesthetic Pardee goes for here. I'm also partial to the way in which the artist combines the more detailed parts of the alien   (the Russian nesting mouthing) with the less defined portions of the body (everything else). The "ALIEN" print is available through the Zero Friends store for $10. The print measures 5" x 7" and is an open edition.

"Gorilla Wolf" Art Print
Alex Pardee
5" x 7"
$10 - Open edition
Inspired By: Attack the Block

I love Attack the Block! It is, without question, my favorite film this year (so far, at least), and it appears that Alex Pardee liked the film quite a bit as well. So much so, in fact, that he created this print in honor of the badass extraterrestrial creatures from the film. Absolutely brilliant stuff! I've ordered two of these (one for hanging, the other for safekeeping) and can't wait to get them in the mail. The "Gorilla Wolf" print is available for purchase through Zero Friends, costs $10, is an open edition and measures 5" x 7". To learn more about Alex Pardee be sure to visit eyesuckink.com.

"PREDATOR" Art Print
Alex Pardee
5" x 7"
$10 - Open edition
Inspired By: Predator

Let's finish this post up with 80s action icon and sworn enemy of Arnold Schwarzenegger (sorry T-1000, you've got nothing on this guy). Yes, that's right the Predator. Unlike Pardee's "ALIEN" and "Gorilla Wolf" print, his "PREDATOR" print has a lot more fine detail - which really accentuates all of his dangerous hunting gear and armor. Pardee's "PREDATOR" print is an open edition, costs $10, measures 5" x 7" and is available through the Zero Friends storefront. Check out eyesuckink.com to learn more about the demented mind that created all of these prints.

That's it for this round, but at some point in the future I'll put together a part 2.