Wes Wilson “is generally acknowledged as the father of the ’60s rock concert poster” (Erlewine, M. n.d.) and as someone who is interested in illustration his work is hugely motivating. He uses Lithography to create his posters and having just finished an illustration brief where I used screen printing, I am now interested in printing and its various forms. His poster ‘The Sound’ is the one image that stands out to me the most. The illustration of the woman is first and foremost, as she is in the centre and is brighter than the surrounding text. I admire his use of clean, simple lines to create her form, which is accentuated by the text.
Another image I came across was a cover for the ‘The East Village Other’. The colour red was the first element that stood out to me as it is associated with revolution and reminiscent of Communism. I also enjoy the collage, cut and paste style, it feels rough and unrefined but so that the message is still communicated clearly, proving that a simple style can go a long way in communication. This newspaper was created using an offset lithography printing technique, which is a technique I’d like to use when creating multiple editions. The main picture is made of two images. The image of the man is small against the backdrop of the flag, but is still powerful as it the white contrasts the red.
My last image is a poster for a Pink Floyd gig by artist Bob Masse. I absolutely adore the use of the classic psychedelic colours such as green, pink and red, which are then used in a style inspired by art nouveau and painter Alphonse Mucha. The illustration of the woman is equally beautiful and inspiring. She is graceful in her pose, about to drink a coffee, surrounded by flowers in her hair and on her dress. I enjoy the way the text of ‘Pink Floyd’ is coming out the cup in the way that steam does. The blue frame reminds of the frames on stained glass windows in a house or in a church, and gives the image a vintage feel, adding to the art nouveau style.
Wes Wilson. (n.d.). A Brief Biography, by Michael Erlewine. [online] Available at: http://www.wes-wilson.com/a-brief-biography-by-michael-erlewine.html [Accessed 8 Nov. 2017].
Wilson, W. (1966). The Sound. [Lithograph] Museum of Modern Art.