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?

Malleus' "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" Movie Posters

UPDATE (1/2): I was a little early with my guesstimated release time, but the regular version of the print is now available for purchase through Dark City Gallery! The variant has already sold out, so now's your chance! Go, go, go!

It's hard to believe I've never written about anything created by the supremely talented Malleus Rock Art Lab, but that's all about to change thanks to a series of what are sure to be beautiful movie prints. To my great pleasure, Dark City Gallery recently announced that they're teaming up with Malleus to celebrate nine, yes NINE, of Dario Argento's key films. The first of those films is the 1970 giallo entry, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, or as it's known in its native land, L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo. Behold!

L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo Movie Poster (Regular)
Malleus
19.5" x 27.5" - Signed and Numbered
£40 (around $63) - Limited to 175

I think I'm in love. I'm not sure I've ever seen posters that more perfectly reflect the tone and innate Italianism of Argento's giallo filmography. This is a bit of a tangent, but if you've ever seen an older Italian film, whether it's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage or A Fistful of Dollars, you probably noticed the somewhat questionable dubbing on display. The same can be said of the locales featured in early Italian cinema - whether the story claims to take place in New York or London, there's usually one or more scenes featuring a distinctly Italian or Spanish setting that clearly state otherwise. I mention this, not as a comment on Malleus' extraordinary artwork, but to illustrate how, even when an Italian film was trying not to be Italian, there were some pretty clear (and now nostalgically charming) giveaways. Could there be a better group of artists to pay tribute to Argento's directorial debut than the Italy-based Malleus Rock Art Lab? Based on the two prints included in this post, I'd say it's a pretty clear "no."

Malleus has done a masterful job of injecting the posters with the mysterious and violent elements that made Argento's films so titillatingly fun to watch, but also manages to make it wholly their own (seriously, nobody does sentient hair like Malleus does). And much like the film, the artist(s) managed to blend the gory and disgusting, as represented by the bloody splatter, with the beautiful and graceful, as exemplified by the titular bird behind the film's title. As far as I'm concerned, these posters are breathtaking in their execution and bode very well for the rest of the Dario Argento print series. I can't wait to see what's next! Logically, my money is on The Cat o' Nine Tails.

L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo Movie Poster (Metallic Ink Variant)
Malleus
19.5" x 27.5" - Signed and Numbered
£60 (around $93) - Limited to 70

Malleus' The Bird with the Crystal Plumage movie posters will be available through Dark City Gallery on Monday (12/2) at around noon GMT, meaning 4 AM PST (i.e., very early for us West Coasters). The posters measure 19.5" x 27.5" and will be signed, stamped and numbered. The regular version will cost £40 (approximately $63) and be limited to 175, while the metallic variant will cost £60 ($93) and is limited to an edition of 70. To learn more about Posterocalypse favorite Dark City Gallery, be sure to visit darkcitygallery.com and follow them on Twitter @darkcitygallery. And to learn about the artist collective known as the Malleus Rock Art Lab head over to malleusdelic.com and follow @malleusdelic. Pretty simple, right? Good luck people!

Giveaway - "Alien" Movie Poster by Dale Peart

UPDATE (2/2): Wow guys, this was the most successful giveaway yet for Posterocalypse! Very cool! Random.org has picked a winner and it's Sean Byron! Congrats Sean! He'll be receiving the Alien movie poster later this week. Thanks for entering everyone! I've got a lot more posters to hand out, so be on the lookout for another giveaway next week. Most importantly, thanks for reading!

Happy New Year everyone! To start off 2012 right I've decided to make today a giveaway day! Huzzah! I was toying with the idea of giving this print away closer to the release of Ridley Scott's Prometheus (synergy and whatnot), but I'm just too damn excited to hold Dale Peart's poster back AND the longer it stays at my house, the more likely I am to keep it all for myself. I wrote about this print in December and from the looks of it a few are still available for purchase. If you'd like to ensure you get one of these beauties the old fashioned away (i.e., not a giveaway) I recommend emailing Mr. Peart as soon as possible. By the way, I should probably mention this was the first giveaway print I've received directly from an artist, meaning I didn't have to purchase it myself, so that's kind of a big deal for me and hopefully something that continues to happen. Well, that's about it. Good luck everyone and here's hoping 2012 is a great year for all of us!

Alien Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 15 (First Edition)

1) Alien movie poster by Dale Peart

Unfortunately, since I'm the one paying for shipping this contest is only open to readers in the US (sorry everyone else, international shipping can be expensive and complicated). The rules are pretty simple: the only thing you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post with your email address and name and on February 2nd I will randomly pick and email the winner to get his or her shipping address. Entries are limited to one person per household.

Martin Ansin's "Dracula" Movie Posters

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Martin Ansin is, hands down, my favorite artist. His aesthetic choices are usually perfectly in line with my tastes and he always manages to make bridging the gap between the fantastical and the photorealistic look easy. Much to my (and probably your) relief, Ansin's previous entry in Mondo's Universal Horror series, the jaw-dropping Mummy posters, were not to be his last, as Justin revealed Martin's beautiful Dracula prints earlier today.

Dracula Movie Poster (Regular)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 350

Dracula Movie Poster (Metallic Variant)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$85 - Limited to 100

Martin Ansin is stupefyingly great at taking a character's countenance and creating intricate, organic, complicated roadmaps. Take, for example, the mysterious visage of Bela Lugosi's Dracula. Look at the way Martin creates depth and texture with thick, wavy strokes, and carefully injects shadow to flesh out the Count's stronger facial features. I'm reminded of how Tyler Stout is able to place blocks within shaded blocks and create amazingly realistic figures, but with Ansin's art, the subjects appear even more lifelike, almost to the point where motion is discernable. I guess what I'm trying to say, albeit not very eloquently, is that on top of his already gorgeous designs, there's something lively (and clearly somewhat undefinable) about the work of Martin Ansin. With that said, you'll probably be shocked to hear that this isn't my favorite Ansin piece - that honor belongs to his Mummy posters. Still, this is another knockout print, that's both a wonderful tribute to and reflection on (insert vampire pun) a Hollywood classic. And holy crap, how about that wood coffin variant? Perfection.

Dracula Movie Poster (Wood Coffin Variant)
Martin Ansin
21" x 36" - Numbered
$135 - Limited to 75

Martin Ansin's Dracula movie posters will be available on Friday (12/30) through Mondo at a random time. Both posters measure 24" x 36" and are hand numbered. The regular red version of the print will cost $45 and is limited to 350, while the metallic ink variant is limited to 100 and will cost $85. The uber limited wood coffin variant measures 21" x 36", costs $135 and is limited to an edition of 75. To get the exact drop time be sure to follow @MondoNews on Twitter. To learn more about the talented Mr. Ansin be sure to visit his website at martinansin.com and follow him @martinansin. Good luck everyone!

Joe Wilson's "True Grit" Art Print

Joe Wilson, an artist I've recently come to adore, just released two new posters (four if you count the two Blade Runner variants), but his True Grit print may well be my favorite.

True Grit Art Print
Joe Wilson
600 mm x 410 mm (23.622" x 16.142") - Signed
£60 - Open Edition

Rightly or wrongly, I was fairly vocal about my dislike of Horkey's True Grit artwork, not because I thought Horkey did a bad job, he didn't, but because I wanted to see more of the film's characters (characters that I felt made the movie so memorable) included in the design. Well, I'm happy to report that this is the poster I'd been waiting for. Joe's finely detailed style, similar in many ways to Horkey's, lends the artwork a rugged wood-hewn look that would be perfectly at home in the story's untamed universe. Unlike his more minimal (just to be clear - I don't mean minimalist) Blade Runner print, Joe's True Grit poster has so many different things going on that it can be hard deciding where to actually focus your attention. Whether it's Rooster Cogburn pointing his Single Action Army revolver, or my personal favorite, the Bear Man and his stoic gaze, this print is able to pack pretty much every important character into its 24" x 16" confines. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Joe Wilson's True Grit art print is currently available through Joe Wilson's storefront for £60 (around $94). The giclée measures 600 mm x 410 mm (AKA 23.622" x 16.142") and is an open edition, meaning there's no limit to this run, or more accurately, you can order as many of these as you want until the artist decides to remove it from his website. For more Joe Wilson goodness, be sure to check out his website at joe-wilson.com, his store, and follow him on Twitter @joe_wilson. Here's hoping we see more from Joe in the near future!

Rhys Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" Art Print

I couldn't in good conscience go to bed without publishing something about this awesome Drive inspired poster. Rhys Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" art print is currently available for pre-order and will only be available for purchase till the end of Monday (12/19). The amount he sells will be used to determine the edition size.

"The Scorpion and the Frogs"
Rhys Cooper
12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: Drive

It was devastating to learn that we were deprived a Drive print due to creative differences between the production company and Mondo, but thankfully several artists heard the techno-tinged synth call and unveiled their interpretations of the film to us, the hungry public. My favorites were from artists Luis Fernando Cruz, Jeff Boyes, and James White, but I think Cooper's print may be the best yet. Rhys' gonzo touches perfectly capture the intense flashes of violence that make Drive so memorable, and not since Oldboy has a hammer been this iconic. As far as I know this is the first film inspired print that Rhys has done completely on his own (i.e., not commissioned), meaning I'm both incredibly impressed and really hoping to see more projects like this come out of Studio Seppuku.

Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" art print is currently available for pre-order through Studio Seppuku for $40. On Tuesday (12/20) the print will no longer be available for purchase, so if you're planning on picking one of these up - act now. The poster measures 12" x 36" and will be signed and numbered. To learn more about Rhys Cooper be sure to visit his storefront and Facebook page.

Olly Moss' "My Neighbor Totoro" Movie Posters

UPDATE (12/16): Go figure, Olly Moss' My Neighbor Totoro prints sold out in about a minute. For the majority of people who weren't able to grab one, Olly has stated that he'll have some signed APs available through his website in 2012.

I'm exhausted and ready for bed, but I'd despise (that's right, despise!) myself if I didn't mention Olly Moss' newest creation (i.e. the biggest thing on the Internet come Friday). I'm almost positive I could hear the Internet's collective wheeze of excitement when this poster was first announced, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't one of the geeky masses praising Allah / Studio Ghibli / Olly Moss / Mondo / whatever you want to call the higher power that made this possible.

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
$50 - Limited to 420

If you have any interest in the work of Hayao Miyazaki, and let's be honest, who doesn't, then this is going to be a must buy for you. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure every Miyazaki fan in the world (with an Internet connection) also knows about it. Looking at these prints, I'm hard pressed to think of a better Moss design from 2011 that even approaches how amazing his Totoro print appears to be. First and foremost, I want to mention how fun and beautiful these posters are. I love Olly Moss, as does pretty much every art fan on planet Earth, but I feel that his prints can sometimes be a bit too clever. Don't get me wrong, it almost always works either way, but My Neighbor Totoro is a property that doesn't need clever as much as it needs optimism and innocence, and I think Moss absolutely nails it here. Secondly, how amazing is that variant? I know I say this all the time, but wow, you've really got to appreciate a variant that offers more than just a smaller edition size and a different colorway. Great stuff all around. I'll definitely be trying my hand tomorrow with the rest of you. Good luck!

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Japanese Variant)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
$90 - Limited to 170

Olly Moss' My Neighbor Totoro posters will be available on Friday (12/16) through Mondo at a random time. Both versions of the print measure 20" x 36" and are hand numbered. The regular version will cost $50 and is limited to an edition of 420, while the variant will cost $90 and is limited to 170. To find out the exact drop time be sure to follow @MondoNews on Twitter. And to learn more about artist Olly Moss, you can follow him @ollymoss and visit his website at ollymoss.com.

Dale Peart's Turner Classic Movie Prints

If you've been collecting movie art prints for any length of time, you've probably noticed the recent trend (and by "recent" I really mean the last two years) of artists favoring minimalist film posters. It makes sense, doesn't it? Minimalist designs don't theoretically take all that long to complete or require many resources to create (again, theoretically), and can often be a great platform to exhibit one's intellectual prowess. That's not a condemnation or promotion of minimalism, that's just my way of saying it's popular - really popular. And since I've seen so many great minimalist designs already, a poster really needs to be better than great for me to take notice. In my opinion, Dale Peart's three Turner Classic Movie ("TCM") prints rise above the crowd, because not only do they beautifully celebrate some fantastic films, they also share a thoughtful design philosophy that's both clever and comments on the movies they seek to commemorate.

If you've looked at all three posters, I'm sure you immediately noticed that there were some similar visual elements repeated in each design. Here's what Dale had to say about his overarching approach to the TCM prints (every quote in this post was merrily lifted from his blog):

"I decided that each of my films must link visually, each must link with their idea, but they also must sum up the main message of the film, or what the film is about. Without these, the posters wouldn't succeed as a representation of the film or as a set.

I spent some time deliberating how to link all these posters together. I did so not only with the idea, but also visually. After analysing all three films, noting down important and iconic moments within each and what was the underlying message behind them all. It became apparent the main theme / subject of each, was about something or someone hiding, or chasing."

Color me impressed. I really like that interpretation and can honestly say I've never thought to group Alien, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, and No Country for Old Men together before.

Alien Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

I'll start with my favorite of the set, Alien. I remember seeing this image on Tumblr a while back and really digging it, but I wasn't aware this could actually be purchased, figuring it was just concept art or something TCM had featured on their website. The following is how Mr. Peart described his inspiration:

"Ripley sets a self destruct sequence blowing up the Nostromo and seemingly wiping out the Alien in a visually spectacular explosion. Not all is as it seems though and the Alien is perfectly hidden amongst the architecture of Ripley's escape pod. Giger's design works at its finest during this scene to create one of the ultimate shock scenes in film history. I abstracted what the architecture of the pipes looked like and visually represented it using this single line, which the alien can hide within."

I remember that scene well and the idea of a predatory Alien (not the Predator) hiding in a worn, dirt-caked spaceship is wonderfully recreated here. And fear not Giger enthusiasts, even this stripped down version of the Xenomorph has retained its iconic phallic shape. Dale's Alien poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16 (approximately $25). To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

I remember watching this film in theaters and being blown away by the creativity on screen, cementing in me a lifelong admiration for Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman. Dale Peart's Eternal Sunshine poster elegantly visualizes Joel's (played by Jim Carey) struggle to retain his memory and ensure he never forgets his lively Clementine (played by Kate Winslet). Dale's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16. To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

No Country for Old Men Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

Finally, we arrive at No Country for Old Men. This modern-day classic brought to life one of the most frightening characters to ever grace the silver screen, Anton Chigurh. Peart's print admirably immortalizes Chigurh's ingenious and terrifyingly mundane tool of death, the cattle gun. But beyond shaping Anton's weapon of choice, the vertical lines also call to mind the suburban picket fence slats in the film's final scene and setting. Then again, I might be reaching on that one. Dale's No Country for Old Men poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16. To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

To learn more about Dale Peart, be sure to visit his website at dalepeart.co.uk. And there's a very real chance that I might have some Peart prints to give away in the near future. So that's cool!

Iron Jaiden's "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" Movie Poster

This one is going to be a bit short, because I'm sure it'll sell out quickly, but I thought it was so sharp that I had to share it with as many folks as possible.

The Spook Who Sat by the Door Movie Poster
Iron Jaiden (AKA Jay Shaw)
13" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 73

Any fans of Blaxploitation cinema are going to want to grab this.  The Spook Who Sat by the Door is a film (and a book) that I'm not personally familiar with, but I've heard and read about. And with what little I know about the film, I feel confident in saying this is a superb poster. I could include the plot in text form, but I think the trailer does a much better job of conveying the plot and tone of the film. Check it out below:

There are symbols aplenty in this poster, but let's start with most visible. The sheep, which represents how people view our hero Dan Freeman, the titular "Spook" (with "spook" being a word with multiple meanings in this case), is an animal that's both harmless and a follower. With that said, the trailer clearly makes the case that this couldn't be further from the truth, as we see the (literally) explosive black panther shadow (another symbol!) that the powerless farm animal casts. Add to that the brilliant retro design, along with the inclusion of the credits from the original one sheet (or at least a spot-on facsimile), and you've got yourself an awesome little print.

Iron Jaiden's The Spook Who Sat by the Door movie poster is currently available through Cinema Overdrive's online store. The print measures 13" x 24", is limited to an edition of 73 (the film was released in 1973) and costs $25. To learn more about Cinema Overdrive, check out cinemaoverdrive.net. And if you're interested in seeing more of Iron Jaiden's artwork, be sure visit kingdomofnonsense.com and follow him on Twitter @tweetofnonsense. Have a great night everyone.

Matt Verges' "Jaws" Movie Posters

Duuun dun duuun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun BOM BOM dun dun dun dun dun dun doo dedoo doo dedoo dede doo dede doo dededoo. For those unsure of what just happened, that was the text version of the Jaws theme song. And if you're still confused, I'll go ahead and direct you toward the two images below. And if you're STILL not grasping what I'm writing, you're gonna need a bigger boat. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Jaws Movie Poster
Matt Verges
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
$24 - Limited to 150

Jaws Movie Poster (Variant)
Matt Verges
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Sold Out - Limited to 50

I wasn't all that familiar with Matt Verges' portfolio, but I'm really impressed with these prints. One of the first things I noticed, besides the massively terrifying shark and voluptuous skinny dipper-cum-shark chum, which are pretty hard to miss, was how perfectly the inconspicuous background scenes complement and flesh out Matt's shark-infested composition. In many ways the design reminds me of Tim Doyle's artwork with its thicker lines and comic book-like sensibility. I'd even go so far as to say that these posters would make for some utterly kickass Jaws comic covers, or a jaw-dropping (wordplay!) first page as there already appear to be several comic-friendly panels present, the majority of which are cleverly divided by the shark's body. And while I still would have appreciated this artwork if the background images were darker and more easily visible, the fact that the Verges wisely chose to not bring the smaller illustrations to the forefront shows he understands exactly why people wanted to see Jaws in the first place - a grotesquely large shark and the ominous threat of attack lurking beneath the water's placid surface.

Unfortunately, I got to this one a little late, meaning the red variant was already sold out (sorry), but the insanely affordable regular version in aqua blue is still available through the Three Barrels Store at threebarrels.bigcartel.com. The regular version measures 24" x 36", is limited to a version of 150 and only costs $24. Yes, you heard right, only $24 for a 24" x 36" screen print! It gets better! A portion of the money made from these posters goes to the Shark Trust, a group based out of the UK dedicated to shark conservation around the globe. It's a win-win folks! For more info on The Three Barrels, head over to thethreebarrels.com and follow them on Twitter @TheThreeBarrels. And to learn more about artist Matt Verges, you can visit matt-verges.com, check out his blog, and buy stuff from his store. Sweet!

Adam Fantome's Film Inspired Art Prints

I don't know too much about Adam Fantome, but I know what I like, and I really dig this guy's work. Adam manages to masterfully blend iconic bits and pieces from the films we know (and love) with his obvious passion for art and creativity itself. In the end, we're left with something that would be as comfortable in a fancy gallery, as it would be in a crowded dingy theater full of bespectacled cinephiles. And by that, I mean it's cool. Really cool. I've included my favorite pieces from Mr. Fantome's website in tonight's post for your enjoyment, but this is only a fraction of what he has in stock. As of this writing, all of these are still available for purchase.

"Max Gold Edition" Art Print
Adam Fantome
59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered
£75 - Limited to 25
Inspired By: Mad Max

Prior to Mel Gibson losing his marbles, the guy was in some pretty fantastic films, one of them being the incredible Ozploitation franchise-starter Mad Max. Adam's "Max Gold Edition" print uses the classic Mad Max one sheet as a jumping off point and transforms Mad Max Rockatansky from a sawed-off shotgun-toting MFP (Main Force Patrol) officer to an equally badass, but much more creative, leather-clad artiste by removing his firearm and equipping him with paint and brush. There are times when you want to see tons of color, this is not one of those times. The stark, but intricate, design of Mad Max and his golden gonzo style splatter hit all the right notes. Unfortunately this print is a bit out of my current budget, but I encourage anyone who can drop £75 (roughly $117) to pick one up, as this poster is sure to look great on any wall. The print is currently available through adamfantome.com, measures 59.4 cm x 42 cm and is limited to an edition of 25.

"Apeworld" Art Print
Adam Fantome
69 cm x 50 cm - Signed and Numbered
£50 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Planet of the Apes and Westworld

When I first looked at this poster, I picture someone yelling, "You got your Westworld in my Planet of the Apes!" And the other person angrily responding, "You got your Planet of the Apes in my Westworld!" I never really thought of these two films as compatible, but I now see the error of my ways. The dated palette, the retro typography, the ridiculous tagline - it's all here and it's perfect! I especially love all of the pistons and cogs that you can clearly see through the ape's torn robotic skin. "Apeworld" is bit more affordable than the Mad Max inspired print at £50 (approximately $78) and is currently available through Fantome's store. The print measures 69 cm x 50 cm and is limited to an edition of 50. Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius!

"Fury" Art Print (Red & Gold) Adam Fantome 59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered £75 - Limited to 25 Inspired By: The Warriors

"Fury" Art Print (Blue & Silver) Adam Fantome 59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered £75 - Limited to 25 Inspired By: The Warriors

"Warriors, come out to play-i-ay." How can you not love this movie? And perhaps more importantly, how can you not love this print? Similar to "Max Gold Edition," Fantome's "Fury" uses another iconic 1979 film, but this time transforms a menacing member of the Baseball Furies gang (alright, maybe "menacing" isn't the most appropriate word) into a somewhat comical looking painter. All of these prints are a ton of fun and speak to both the film and art lover in me. Both editions of the "Fury" print can be purchased through Adam Fantome's store for £75 (about $117), are each limited to an edition of 25 and measure 59.4 cm x 42 cm.

If any of the above piqued your interest, be sure to visit Adam's new website at adamfantome.com, follow him on Twitter @AdamFantome and join his mailing list. And if anyone is wondering what to get me this holiday season, I wouldn't mind that "Max Gold Edition" print. Just sayin'. Have a great night!

Florian Bertmer's "Cowboys & Aliens" Movie Poster

When I wrote about the previous batch of Cowboys & Aliens Mondo posters I acknowledged that, while I had heard some not-so-great things about the film, I was hoping for the best and still fairly optimistic about Favreau's latest. Well, it's four months later and I still haven't seen the film, but I think that might be a positive at this point, because I won't be influenced by my thoughts on the film, disappointed or delighted, and can appreciate Florian Bertmer's beautiful artwork for what it is. Beautiful artwork.

Cowboys & Aliens Movie Poster
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 170

Where to start? How about the seriously incredible framing of Daniel Craig's cowboy, Jake Lonergan, and the hulking mass of an alien he's facing? It's amazing how seamlessly Florian is able to to use the space creature's massive body to pierce the part bullet, part circuit board border, and I haven't even mentioned how intricate the design is yet. One thing that always blows me away when I look at a Bertmer print is how absolutely PACKED his posters are with detail. I have the distinct feeling that if Florian ever created a piece of art that was solely made up of a single black circle on a white background, that circle would be the most detail-crammed orb you'd ever seen (and he'd probably turn it into a pentagram if you let him). Bertmer's artwork is always a joy to view and while I haven't seen the film, the brilliant artwork alone justifies a purchase in my opinion.

Florian Bertmer's Cowboys & Aliens movie poster will be available tomorrow (12/6) at a random time through Mondo. The print measures 24" x 36", is limited to an edition of 170 and will cost $45. To get the exact drop time be sure to follow Mondo on Twitter @MondoNews. And if you'd like to learn more about the very talented Florian Bertmer, head over to his website at florianbertmer.blogspot.com and the Moon Editions shop.

Kevin Ang's "Seven Samurai" Movie Poster

If you've ever taken a college course on film history, or even a cursory glance at a book on the subject, there's a good chance you'll have heard of what is widely considered one of the greatest Japanese films ever made. Hell, one of the finest movies ever shot. Period. And if you read the post's title or looked at the image below, you could easily ascertain what film I'm talking about, but I like to think that even if you only had this paragraph to go by, Akira Kurosawa's wizened face would still briefly flash through your head. Yes, I'm of course talking about the exceptional samurai epic Seven Samurai.

Seven Samurai Movie Poster
Kevin Ang
12" x 18" - Numbered
$10 - Limited to 77

Just take it in for a second. Let its beauty wash over you. Kevin Ang, who had previously stunned us with his amazing Twelve Angry Men poster and Attack the Block print, has done it again. Now that I'm somewhat familiar with Kevin's work, I think I can safely assume two things: he's a hugely talented artist, and he has incredible taste in movies. For the record, I've seen several Seven Samurai concepts online, and have found them to be, more often than not, minimalist to the point of almost being nonexistant. And while I appreciate the intention behind the proliferation of cleverly sparse designs, I don't think I've ever seen one of Kurosawa's masterworks celebrated in such an obviously skillful manner. You can look at each of the seven men above and easily tell who's who, which is all the more impressive when you realize that every character also sports a somewhat indefinable quality as their outlines appear to fade in and out of the white or black background. The alternating lines of light and dark used to separate the titular feudal warriors are also inspired, as they look like they could be strokes from an antiquated calligraphy brush circa 1587 (just ballparking it). When it comes down to it, this poster is pretty much perfect in my opinion and I would gladly live in a world where Mr. Ang's artwork graced the cover of Criterion's lauded release of the film - and that's just about the highest praise I can give any work of art.

Kevin Ang's brilliant Seven Samurai print will be available later today through the Kingdom of Nonsense store for $10. Yes, you heard right. $10! The print measures 12" x 18" and is limited to an edition of 77 (I see what you did there). The poster will be available at 12 PM MST (11 AM on the West Coast and 2 PM on the East). For more information on artist Kevin Ang, be sure to checkout his website, deviantART page, or his Tumblr blog. Good luck everyone!