Coverdesign and Illustration I did for Jo van Nelsen. The audio-book is called “Die Schlangendame”. The original Book was released in 1896 by Otto Julius Bierbaum and Jo van Nelsen is reading from it and playing original shellack records on his grammophone. I loosely based my illustration style on that timeframe around 1900 and Can Can Posters. In 2015 I already designed a CD Cover for Jo van Nelsen when he released "Lametta, Gans und Siegerkranz" with a christmas theme. This time I pushed for an illustration on the front to make it even more unique and original. I would like to thank Jo for making this happen and trusting me. Now we are both happy with the result!

Denim

Free Projects / Music

Some free projects inspired by vintage sheet music covers. I often see those booklets on the fleamarket and although I don't really play an instrument (except guitar in a punk band when I was 17) I really love the cover artwork. So sometimes I buy them just to look at it. The colors are limeted and the shaped are bold and playful at the same time. The first picture is also a visual joke about detachable collars, which were common in the first half of the 20th century

Happy Halloween 2014

T-Shirts for Vecona Vintage

Most of you already know I am friends with the people behind the label Vecona Vintage. They asked me to design some T-Shirts aiming at Lindy Hop Dancers. So I took two popular songs and made them into shirt motives. "Straighten up and fly right" for an Aviatrix motive à la Amelia Earhart (even if the lyrics go quite differently) and the chorus of the "Tiger Rag" with some 1930s collegiate figures!

Get them at www.vecona-vintage.com

Die Liebe der Matrosen ("The Sailors' Love")

"Die Liebe der Matrosen" is a little Illustration I made for an art group in Wiesbaden. We meet every 2 weeks and give each other "homework" to some topics. This time it was to draw something about the sea. I tried to keep it simple with only few colors. More can be found on my tumblr:

http://drawfastdieyoung.tumblr.com

GRUSS VOM KЯAMPUS

Apache Gals

To understand the titel you might want to read more about Apache Dance. The name derieved from early 20th century parisian street gangs that were famous for their cruelty but also for their unique style. They appear to have been quite peacock-ish with their outfits.

The famous dance includes a fight between a gangster (or pimp) and a prostitute and became part of the popular culture of the first half of the 20th century. If you do a search on youtube you will find many movies with it ranging from comedies and musicals to crime flics. While I love the style of the costumes and the dance moves I felt uncomfortable with the violence against women thing. I decided to give it a twist and let the women fight back. Their attitude resembles Riot Grrl comics like "Tank Girl" now.

Yes, it still includes violence but if society still blames the victims of sexism if the don't defend themselves... well the guys were "asking for it", right?

Unpublished Illustration: King Kong climbs the Marktkirche

This actually was a version of the Sensor "Cinema" Cover (see the last post) that has not been published.
I quite like it because of the "Old Hollywood" vibes. The border between B-Movies and Blockbusters can be quite thin at times. ;-)

Sensor Wiesbaden Cover "Filmstadt zwischen Hoffnung und Abgesang"

If you live in Wiesbaden chances are high that you have already seen some of my artworks. Reason one is the "SENSOR Magazin" which can be found in almost every bar, store, barber shop and café all over the town. For the february issue I made a cover illustration with a "cinema" theme. My idea was to include the "Maschinenmensch" character from Fritz Langs "Metropolis" since the restorations of the long lost parts where done in Wiesbaden. The Murnau Stiftung has a huge archive of german movies starting at the silent era. To build a bridge to modern trends I made up a 3D version with the typical 3D glasses. I was delighted when I found a picture on their page with the audience in the "Murnau Filmtheater" wearing 3D glasses and holding the magazines with my cover. Thank you, Sensor.

Visit the Sensor Wiesbaden homepage or their facebook page.

Illustrated calendar 2013

This is another project together with some of the Illustrators from Mainz / Wiesbaden. A calender for the year 2013. We sell it at our exhibition in Rüsselsheim for only 5€ (two for 8€). But of course you can contact me to get one too. My picture is for the month Movember ;-) It was made exclusively for this calendar. The business cards (made in a playing card size for every exhibitor) are for free.

Calendar layout by Martina Theisen and Christian Weber.

Workshop: Das illustrierte ABC

This was an artwork for a workshop linked to the exhibition in Rüsselsheim.
The illustrated Alphabet would bring Illustration and handwritten Typography together. The ABC is the core of our language. I planned to do a collection of illustrations to every letter in the alphabet. The participants would choose a few letters and at the end of the course we would present our work together. Every media can be used: ink, pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint, scissors and paper, digital...

It seems like it won't take place now but if you are interested please contact the VHS Rüsselsheim and ask for the Workshop: "Das illustrierte Alphabet" If we are lucky they will get it back into the programme.

"Making Of- Illustratoren in die Karten schauen" Ausstellung/ Exhibition

Together with 16 other illustrators from the Mainz/Wiesbaden area I currently have an exhibition in Rüsselsheim. It is called "Making Of" and therefore we show many work in progress sketches. Each illustrator has a different way to work and a different style. Childrens books are there as advertising or technical millustrations. I can tell you it is a great experience to see the wide range of our work. The vernissage was last friday and the exhibition is open until october the 20th. Here are some pictures from the vernissage. You can find more information on the page of the museum.
Stadt und Industriemuseum Rüsselsheim
The poster was designed by a fellow illustrator: Christian Weber

I hope some of you might be able to come to the museum and enjoy the beautiful work of 17 illustrators.

Sensor Magazin Cover

The cover of the September Issue of the SENSOR magazine. The title was "Modestadt Wiesbaden" I took the Schiller statue in front of the theatre and made it into a catwalk. Note the fashion bloggers ;-)
There is also a nice article about fashion designers from my area including my favourite label Vecona Vintage.I will tell you more about them soon.

It was a good experience to see my own work in all the shops, bars and restaurant in Wiesbaden. You can read the issue fore free here: Sensor Wiesbaden

Making Of: "Sensor" Title Illustration

Today I want to share some "making of" pictures from one of my latest works with you. It's the title illustration for a local magazine in called "Sensor". The topic was "Modestadt Wiesbaden" so it was all about local fashion. You can already see some pictures that made it into the final artwork.

Fashion Illustration for VECONA

Ladies and gentlemen I proudly present to you my new illustrations for VECONA. This time it is a 1930s leisurewear theme. Beach pajamas are wide legged pants that were established in the late 20s as resort wear for glamourous ladies. They soon started a craze and were part of the rise of sportswear to everyday fashion. Along with linen dresses and blouses with puff sleeves they are the perfect choice for warm weather. You can get the oufits at her website and make my illustrations come to life.