Ten Questions With Dan Grzeca

Well, it’s my birthday, so I’ll probably be taking most of the day off, but I wanted to drop another interview with another great artist, Chicago’s own Dan Grzeca.

Age: 39

Location: North Side of Chicago

Years Doing Posters: Designed my first one in 1992 (Tar’s Final show). Started making a lot more in 1994 ish.

Favorite Poster / Art Print You’ve Done: Favorite Poster probably is the “Insane Buck” poster I made for the Shipping News in 2004. It was a watershed for me in that it was the first time I used scratchboard , so it opened up a lot of new possibilities for me and made me think about texture a lot more in my screenprinting. My favorite Art Print so far is probably “Conquistador”, I’m happy with the tactile feel of the print and the directness of the image. That one has also sold very well, which is always nice.

All-time Favorite Poster / Art Print that Someone Else Did: I can’t do just one “All-time” because I’m a Libra, therefore indecisive. But I’m going to say for Dead Artists: “revolutionaries” by Max Beckmann and “Bulls in Vallauris-1954″ by Pablo Picasso. Actually all the posters Picasso did for Bullfights and exhibitions in Vallauris are incredible. AND they were used as posters to promote the events… For current artists- I really love the last few Dave Kinsey prints and Diana Sudyka’s etchings. Poster-wise does it get better than Burwell or Horkey? I don’t think so.

Music Currently In Rotation: Attack and Release- The Black Keys, Don Giovanni-Mozart, Smile and Rainbow by Boris/Michio Kurahawa, Unhistories - Singer, Chairs Missing and 154-Wire, Moa Anbessa- The Ex and Getatchew Mekuria, Relics- Gary Numan and Tubeway Army, Live in San Francisco- Thelonious Monk, Angels nad Demons at Play- Sun Ra, Rescue EP- Explosions in the Sky, Bumper Crop-Volcano Suns , Ethiopiques 14-18.

Last Print, Poster, or Toy Bought: I bought the last Little Friends Of Printmaking letterpress print that Tiny Showcase published.

Art Hanging On Your Walls: 6 etchings and a painting by Diana Sudyka , Tony Fitpatrick etchings, Nick Butcher Paintings, Jeff Tady prints, John Parot painting- Our Daughter Ella by far has the best art room in the house. She has a Jay Ryan lithograph, Nick Butcher painting, Jesse LeDoux painting, Bryce Mcloud and Diana Sudyka prints. I have a ton more stuff in storage waiting on our basement to be refinished. Not enough wall space.

Upcoming Stuff: 4 Black Keys posters, Shipping News, Okkervil River and Ladyhawk posters. A shirt design for Threadless Select. I’m finishing about 6 new art prints in the next 3 weeks that I’m very excited about as well. I’m working on the scratchboard for this new one called “The Last American Bear” It is huge and ridiculous.

Words of Wisdom: Be patient about the right things. Use your energy wisely and with great intensity. All that sugar REALLY is bad for you.

To see more of Dan’s work, visit his Etsy shop.

Drew Millward’s Flatstock Europe Poster

Man, Drew got this one done super early.  This is for the 2008 Flatstock Poster Convention in Germany later this year.  There’s really not much info to report about the poster yet, I just thought it was amazing, so I posted it.  I’ll keep you updated on availability.

New Art Prints by Aesthetic Apparatus

When not busy creating amazing concert posters, Aesthetic Apparatus are constantly adding to their DoomDrips series of art prints.  These new additions to the series are all awesome, and very reasonable ($20 each).  Head over to AestheticApparatus.com.

New Mike Giant Art Prints

Mike Giant just recently dropped these brand new art prints, and I’m loving them.  Both “Bicycle” and “Flying Skull” are 18″ x 24″ screenprints, are limited to 50, and are $70 each.  Visit MikeGiant.com.

Ten Questions With Guy Burwell

Hope you guys aren’t sick of reading interviews yet. This time I’ve asked Guy Burwell to answer the ten questions. He rules. Enjoy.

Age: Mmmmm 42 like

Location: Currently Portland, Oregon.
Years Doing Posters: Hard to say. I think some of my earliest pieces in proper poster and flyer making have dates from 1988 or so, so about 20 years, now. But there were others before I could get into bars and such, so perhaps twenty two or twenty three years.

Favorite Poster / Art Print You’ve Done: It changes with each week that goes by, and we all would say either our latest or perhaps that we can’t choose a favorite, BUT if I had to pick a few, I would say that I like the Black Keys with Jay Reatard, for it’s adventurous feeling at the time, for me, and my Teenage Fanclub print for how fun it was at the time. I always like my first Neko Case print though as with any print there is that one thing that drives me bananas with each glance. Mudhoney was a grand success and the Mono print, as my first self-pulled screen print, satisfies, though I wish I knew then what I know now.



All-time Favorite Poster / Art Print that Someone Else Did: I have a Coyne print I have had for years and years before I started with making prints. I don’t collect prints but I love the work of plenty of others. I like European sensibilities though I don’t think I can attempt to possess those sensibilities myself. The art prints I like are mostly from cartoonists or illustrators. I love the hand work of illustrators and designers of the 50’s. I like a lot of things but I don’t claim them for possessions, I keep their impulses and impressions in my head to linger.

Music Currently In Rotation: The Pernice Brothers and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The Reigning Sound, Anders Parker, MMJ, The Flashing LIghts. Misfits. That kind of thing.



Last Print, Poster, or Toy Bought:
Mmmmm the oversized “Pink Pearl” print from Jordan Crane struck me as fun so I bought one of those. And several Keegan Onefoot original paintings.

Art Hanging On Your Walls: The above print, Keegan Onefoot originals that I commissioned, a Bibby painting, a lot of my own prints to agonize over, a great many small pieces from Bwana Spoons and other locals. A Gunsho original that I don’t have a frame for, and some other odds and ends, mostly small pieces and things that I commissioned from people.

Upcoming Stuff: Shibbit, I have several official tour prints and other pieces that bands have asked for for specific dates and shows. I have plans for more personal materials and hope to take a break from posters for a few weeks and add to my Jazz and Shoe series’ and start on two special sorts of projects and take a trip and give my brain a big fat break. Okay?

Words of Wisdom: Everyone should try to relax. Not that I can do it, but everyone should try.

To see more of Guy’s work, visit GuyBurwell.com.

New Evan Hecox Art Print: “Mire Dentro”

Arkitip just keeps cranking out the awesome Evan Hecox prints, including this one, Mire Dentro.  This is a 16″ x 20″ screenprint, has an edition of 200, and is $125.  Visit Arkitip.com.

New Jamungo Sqwerts

Wow, these may be two of my favorite Jamungo figures yet.  Just announced, these two new Sqwerts by MAD and Brian Morris (aka ooo000ooo) are set to drop in the next week or two.  Each color will be limited to 250-500 pieces.  Keep you eye on your favorite toy site or store.  Check out Jamungo.com.

Jesse Phillips’ Speed Racer Poster

Seriously, how many good movie posters can Mondotees release? This time it’s another one from Jesse Phillips for a Speed Racer screening. This one is a 24″ x 36″ screenprint that glows in the dark. The price is $30. Visit Mondotees.com.

Tonight’s Tiny Showcase Print: Ben Kehoe

Tiny Showcase is on a roll, I tell ya. Tonight they are releasing a print by Andy’s brother, Ben Kehoe. I have featured Ben’s work on here before, and it’s really great. The print is bound to be small and inexpensive, and will come out tonight at 7:30 pm EST. Visit TinyShowcase.com.

Tiny Showcase doesn’t preview their prints, but here is some of Ben Kehoe’s other work:

To see more of Ben’s work, visit BenKehoe.net.

Jim Flora and More New Stuff From The Faded Line

The Faded Line are really doing the art-inspired clothing thing right.  They just started doing Jim Flora merchandise.  If you don’t know who Jim Flora is, check out these quotes by some of your favorite artists about his influence.  Furthermore, they just released Emek’s Cyberman image on a polo shirt.  Super nice.  Visit TheFadedLine.com.

PS:  Watch this site for an EXTRA special new product announcement from the Faded Line  within the next week or so.