FIGHT layout pt 3

"FIGHT, or everything you ever wanted to know about ass-kicking but were afraid you'd get your ass kicked for asking", is the new book from writer eugene s. robinson, also known for his work in oxbow - he being the vocalist of said group. you can read more about eugene and the book here: http://www.eugenesrobinson.com/. i haven't finished the book yet, but what all that i've read thus far has proved quite good in my estimation...

ANYWAY, hydra head has licensed the rights from the publisher of FIGHT to release an audio version of the book, read by eugene himself (forgive me if i've mentioned all this before in a previous post). i've been working on the layout for this release, which you can view below. there are many more pieces to the layout, but i didn't want to give it all away, so this is just a small preview of the contents. i should also note that this is a work in progress and may change some before the final version is realized.

the design of the CD is based around the design of the book itself, which i had nothing to do with putting together. basically this means this layout is a reconfiguration of someone else's ideas, with just a bit of my own touch. while the design is not necessarily what i would've done had it been my project from the get go, i liked the original design, and the process of engaging with someone else's work and reinterpreting it was a good way to get out of some of my design habits/ruts...

i will be out with isis for about a week and may or may not be able to post anything else until i return.
we shall see.

come to the shows if you happen to live anywhere near, or even if you don't.
we'll do our best to make it worthwhile ....

FIGHT layout pt 2

FIGHT layout pt 1

DRAWING VOICES cd-r pt. 2

below are photos of the original version of the drawing voices debut album, which is a collaboration between myself and craig dongoski. the album was initially intended for release in conjunction with an the opening of an exhibition of craig's, somewhere in berlin (the name of the gallery now escapes me). i didn't finish my work on the album in time to get the fully manufactured discs, so i ended up putting together 50 CDR version of the album, in it's unmastered/unedited state with alternate artwork. the package consisted of a banded digipak, with black bottom CDRs, and series of 8 vellum inserts with some video stills from craig's films, and some of my drawings. i sent the bulk of them to craig for the opening and kept a few for myself - most of which were given away... not sure if craig got rid of all of his at the opening or not. anyway, the full release of the album via hydra head materialized about 6 months or so after the CDR version after having been mastered and edited by james plotkin and revamped artwork completed.

i will be posting photos in the next couple days of a similarly executed house of low culture CDR...

DRAWING VOICES cd-r pt. 1

ROSETTA pt 3

below are images from the rosetta "gallilean sattelites" layout which i completed for translation loss a couple years back. the first three images are the original ink drawings used for the interior and exterior of the layout. the second group of 3 images is the original layout and color scheme for the project which was rejected by the band. i was pleased with the final version, but i still liked this version too, so i thought it'd be good to share it...

...and to answer another question about the layout process: some one asked if i re-traced the ink drawings in illustrator after scanning them. the answer is no. there would be no purpose in doing so, especially since part of the intent in drawing stuff by hand is for those hand drawn images to retain their organic feel in the context of the layouts for which they are created.

i'm currently at work on the cd layout for "FIGHT" the latest opus from eugene s. robinson of oxbow fame. "FIGHT" is a book which eugene has written for harper collins, to be released nov 13th, followed shortly there after by the audio version (read by the author) on hydra head. the book centers around (you guessed it) fighting, and more info on the book and eugene's other writings can be found here: http://eugenesrobinson.com/

also check this: http://iwilldestroyyounews.blogspot.com
art and news on the work of artist tom neely. more on tom and why he's cool in a future posting....

ROSETTA pt 2

ROSETTA pt 1

CAVITY pattern drawing cont.

this is a pattern drawn for the upcoming reissue of the cavity album "laid insignificant". it was inspired by a similar pattern found in the background of the miles davis cover artwork for "live evil"... not sure how this will be treated in the context of the layout. still very much a work in progress.

somebody asked how i work the pen and ink drawings into the final layouts for which they are created. well, generally i just scan the drawings after completion, and then arrange and color them in photoshop and/or illustrator - illustrator being the preferred program for this purpose. depending on the project, the drawings are occasionaly altered beyond being colored and resized, but it's a rarity - when alterations do occur they are almost always quite minimal. i prefer to do as much of the work by hand as i can as it's a more enjoyable process for me, more intuitive.

heading out of town for a few days, but i should have some new postings upon my return next week...

CAVITY pattern drawing

HOUSE OF LOW CULTURE fan myspace page....

...and there's this:

http://www.myspace.com/submarineimmersiontechniques

a fan-run house of low culture myspace page. i had no idea this existed, but here it is...
thanks to the person that did this... i'd be happy if you wanted to maintain this page. if you don't mind adding HOLC related news from this blog that would be great. might be cool to throw up some tracks from related projects as well? drawing voices, lotus eaters, etc.... please feel free to leave your email address so that i can contact you directly.

TUSK drawings 3

(below): some drawings from the forthcoming tusk album "the resisting dreamer". these were completed about a month ago, and they final layout was completed shortly there after. a preview of the cover for the album is on the hydra head blog....

TUSK drawings 2

TUSK drawings

SHIRTS PART TWO

these designs (see previous posting), are for the upcoming ISIS tour... courtesy of aaron horkey, NED, and myself.
we will launch them in the webstore after the tour is concluded.

to answer a few questions while i'm at it:

the ISIS 12 x LP box set will be available through the robotic empire, conspiracy, and isis web stores, as well as at the shows (speaking of which we may not have them in time for the east coast shows...). i don't know how much they will sell for yet.

house of low culture just released a new 12" on bottrop boy as part of the en/of series (past volumes of the series have included thurston moore, stillupsteypa (i know i spelled that wrong), merzbow, stereolab etc.). the premise of the en/of series (as far as i undertand it), is to pair a visual artist with an musician to create a a coherent whole from complementary counter parts. in the case of the new HOLC 12" i've been paired with german artist thomas scheibitz to interesting effect... there will be another HOLC 12" out on aurora borealis next year: www.aurora-b.com... i think. perhaps a new album as well in 2008. some other HOLC related projects in teh works, but nothing set in stone just yet.

all for today.

NEW SHIRTS

ISIS BOX SET

there is an ISIS 12xLP box set in the works to commemorate our 10 year anniversary. it will contain all our recordings on vinyl, minus the remixes and live releases. it will be split release between conspiracy records and robotic empire, with a total of 600 copies pressed. the artwork/design is in the works, and is mainly a collaboration between myself and hydra head employee james o'mara, with an additional contribution from aaron horkey. horkey's drawing will be featured on the front of the box and should look about like the jpeg posted above. this a variation of this piece is alo being used for a new isis t shirt and tour poster - hats off to mr. horkey for more fine work on his part....

the box will hoepfully be released in time for the upcoming ISIS shows in november, but we're currently running a bit behind as usual.... we shall see.....

DAY TWO

hi again.
glad to see some folks have already caught on...
please spread the word.
thanks to everyone who responded with offers to build a site for me.
i may very well get in touch with some of you about this.

for the time being i'll leave you with another new piece. the above is the 12" jacket for a forthcoming ISIS single for the track "holy tears". both the cd and 12" are being released by ipecac, and both contain the album version, a live version of "holy tears" (the live track features justin chacellor on bass/effects as well), and a melvins/lustmord remix of "not in rivers, but in drops". the cd version also contains an amazing video for the title track, directed by dominic hailstone. some of his work may be found online and i strongly urge you to seek it out.

you can also view a larger version of the image here: http://www.hydrahead.org/hh/4Aaron/ISIS_HT_12inch_sleeve.jpg

lastly, someone asked about the cavity layout i mentioned in the last post..... hydra head will be rereleasing the mammoth "laid insignificant" album (originally released on bacteria sour) in feb. or march of 2008. so far there are only plans for a CD version, but hopefully we'll b able to do an LP as well.

that's it for today.

and so it begins

for years i've been claiming that i would create a website to showcase my artwork and various musical projects, and well, it just hasn't happened. first of all, i have no web design skills/knowledge what so ever, and on top of that i can't seem to find anyone who's willing to build a site for me... so for the sake of convenience i've created this here blog in order to keep any interested parties informed as to my past, present, and future projects.

i don't have anything in particular to report for this inaugural edition of the blog, so i'll just post an unseen piece of work created some time last year. it was based off the art i created for the reissue of tusk's debut "get ready", and was originally intended for a line of t-shirts that never really launched. the t-shirt line was meant to be an offshoot of hydra head records call "robotic boot", which theoretically would've produced high end custom garments with artwork by folks such as seldon hunt, aaron horkey, stephen o'malley, and myself. however, due to lack of experience on our part and lack of expertise on the part of those who weren't meant to help us in this endeavor, the project never really got off the ground. there was a small run of shirts made using designs from the aforementioned hunt, o'malley, and myself, and some of these made their way to a couple retail outlets.... but most of the shirts weren't made to our specifications and as a result we shitcanned the whole program... though it may one day be resurrected. i do have a few remaining copies of the "skull-stache" shirt i designed which i will auction off on e-bay at some point, which i will announce here when it's ready to roll.

other projects currently in the works:
xasthur layout, cavity layout, new musical project with james plotkin, etc....
more updates soon....