Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Posted on March 3, 2009 - by ChrisDub

Edgar Regalado is Dead Serious

www.myspace.com/edgar_in_ruins
Photo By: Nazvil Photography

Let the record show your name, age, and place of residence.
Edgar Ozzie Regalado, 21, Mission, Tx.

How long have you been in this art game thang?
Well I did one free design for the now broken up band; Firstborn From the Dead but the first “real” client was actually in October of 08′ when I lost my job and was trying to make money how ever I could. The first one design I did (for Face The Guillotine) was actually out of the blue and they were the ones that suggested I should keep designing for bands.

So making money with your art is still something fairly new to you?
Yeah, its still fresh, its still a bit strange asking for friends to pay. It’s not settled where I know I can get something every week but I enjoy doing it and if it includes a little something on the side then, I’m happy and the clients are happy.

Is this something you’d like to make a career out of?
I do see myself doing it for a while. They day I stop is when I have no ideas left but as long as the noggin keeps working, I’m working.

Any formal “art training”?
Only one art class in college, but it was strictly “still life” in charcoal. I did learn a few things regarding lighting and perspective but I would always add color and abstract florals so the professor never graded any of my stuff. Bummer.

What an ass. Wasn’t “traditional” enough for him, or what?
Well I kinda pushed the limits at times too. For example when we were asked to pick up a magazine and draw a model from it, I would substitute the models face for a skull or I would draw antlers coming out of an old boot. I always liked pushing it.

How would you describe your art style?
I like to mix some realism with pop comic style blends and colors with some what of a retro feeling to it all. I try not do it as much, but I love adding animal features to humans. I don’t know why though?

You stuff reminds me of 80’s skate art. Ever consider designing skateboard decks?
I’ve always wanted to do something like that. I know a couple of skaters that appreciate a good looking deck. I might just take you up on that and sketch on some friends boards.

Talk through your idea/art process, where do you start and where do you stop?
It’s usually in the morning when the brain begins to wake up and function. I like to write down ideas and when I have a solid image in mind I begin a rough sketch with pencil. I don’t discard any work, its rare when I have to re-draw anything, I just go over it with a ball point pen and add detail to the rough sketch. After that comes the long process of scanning, color and edit. Patience is my best tool.

What is your first art-making memory as a kid?
Haha. Mother’s day crafts!! All those cups, flowers and hearts with glitter, bathed in glue.

Nice, Moms rule hard.

The thoughts and emotions only able to express on paper through art are endless.

Inspirations?
Local bands, horror flicks and zines, fecal face, the great Brazilian artist Eduardo Recife, video games, and of course family.

Your play music too, tell us about that.
Its been about four going on five years since Lay In Ruins formed. We have seen so many bands come and go within those years. Its great to see new faces in the scene as months go by but I still miss those who were there when we started. Theres so many bands starting out that don’t realize how hard it was to get a show as a death metal band five years back, it kinda seems that there’s little respect for those old school bands and production companies that laid out the concrete for all these new, up and coming bands. with [that] said, I want to thank Adam Valley (VTHC), Mike with South Texas Metal Productions (STMP), Firstborn From The Dead, The Ones You Call Good Looking, DTD, Armed To Intervene, Phil Lotus, Dying Embrace and Walk the Graves (then know as Loyalty In Death) for making us feel welcome when we started out.

What’s the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
Clinics….too many clinics.

Clinics?
Since the baby was born it’s just clinic appointment after clinic appointment. I spend most my time in lobbies than I do behind a mic.

Tell us about the kiddo.
She’s something else. So aware of everything with her little wondering eyes. Shes so incredible that words cant begin to describe her. Tiny hands and feet, I’ve never been so excited about shopping for tiny clothes.

Something about yourself the average person wouldn’t guess?
I was raised in Mexico for three years in a small ranch. Outback restrooms, wells (no plumbing), and tons of goats. Haha. We had to entertain ourselves shooting rocks and seeds, the size of quarters, to goats out of slingshots.

If you could only make one for the rest of your days; music or drawn art, which would you choose?
Hard question… I love the impact that one line has in a drawing and how the colors can express emotion. The thoughts and emotions only able to express on paper through art are endless, on the other hand, all the kids smiles at shows are something I can never give up. The stage diving and sing alongs… I love drawing but definitely music.

Where can people go to see your work, or get in touch with you?
Of course, MYSPACE!!!! www.myspace.com/edgar_in_ruins or just GO TO A SHOW!!!

Any parting words of wisdom you would like to share to the curious?
Never bring your ideas down to fit peoples comfort, stay true. Oh…and respect, it takes you places. My biggest problem with the world is that it seems like the art of respect is slowly being lost. Never lose respect.

Thanks for your time Edgar.

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by ChrisDub

Fred Benitez Interview

How are ya’ Fred?
I’m doing well.

For those that don’t know you, give us some background. Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you at? Where are you going?
My name is Jose Alfredo Benitez and I was born in Harlingen Texas. I now live in Denton Texas where I recently graduated from the University of North Texas. I plan on staying here for a few years for various reasons [the lady, the scene, and my new teaching job]

You sent me a bunch of really cool, hand screened, band posters/flyers. Explain the process behind making something like that.
The first step is usually contacting the band, because without their approval you can not showcase at Flatstock. Flatstock is a huge poster convention held two times a year in Seattle and Austin, so we are lucky to be close to one. Once the band agrees with the promotion, you begin designing. I try to do the images and text by hand, then work them out in Adobe Illustrator. Once the design is complete, you print out the design on transparency paper. This is so you can burn the image onto the actual screen. You have to lay a coat of photo emulsion on the screen. Also, with multiple colors there will be multiple screens. So you lay some heavy lights on the floor, say under a glass table, then in order, screen, design [transparency], some weight [books or sheets of wood]. Burn the image for a few minutes and there you have it. Now you get the type of paper you want, I try and use a heavy stock so it really picks up the inks and the color you want. Then you mix your inks, lay the paper on a flat surface, place the screen on top and then pull the ink over the screen with a squeegee. Done.  I usually have a run of 30-50 prints and I try and keep them under three colors. But thats because I’m lazy.

Why not just print them out on the computer?
I don’t know. When I moved to Denton, I planned on promoting bands from the Valley with digital designs and computer print outs. When I started working as a graphic designer for the university and one of my coworkers screen printed, I wanted to learn, and she taught me. Now I catch myself studying posters on the outside of businesses to see which ones are digital and which ones are screened. It’s usually easy to tell once you’ve seen a screened piece. I don’t think I’m any better than anyone else for screen printing or think less of digital prints, it’s just a detail I’m interested at this point in time and wish more people would print this way.

You said you only got paid for one of the posters (The OctopusProject), and that was because the band asked to sell them at the show, do you have any interest in making a profit from your work?
Yeah, It was the second Octopus Project poster I did for them and theyare fantastic people, and they offered to sell the posters and give me the money. It was cool. But that was them being nice. I haven’t thought about doing this for money, because it’s a hobby and an interest. Its time consuming and can get expensive over time, but I like the idea of promoting bands I like in my new town. I actually persuaded one band in particular [Battles] to come to Denton, they were only booked to play in Austin, but I offered them posters for free and a place to stay if they played Denton, and they did. Huge show too.

Do you see yourself as a promoter, a fan, both?
Definitely both, I do help promote the bands and so far, they are bands I like.

When I was younger I had a fascination with monster myths, like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot and so on.

I wanted to ask you about the “Kind of Like Spitting” flier. What’s with the dino emerging from the water?
Weird. When I was younger I had a fascination with monster myths, like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot and so on.  I was really nervous about the design because I’ve been a huge fan of KOLS for a long time and I didn’t want to mess anything up. I was stressing out and had a designers block for a while, then I saw a story on the Loch Ness Monster on T.V.. And there it was. Its a play on Nessy and her loneliness in and out of the water.

These differ greatly in design and layout than most other show fliers (that I’ve seen anyway). Usually you see the typical flier with cluttered grunge text, grungy background, with a grungy picture for good measure. Could you explain your style?
Hmm. Simple?I don’t know, I like sharp looking, clean (designs). I’d like to catch someones attention and then I’d like for them to be able to read it easily. I like cartoons too, so I use a lot of drawn objects. This is the best way to describe my style. You could just call it crappy.

You sent me a photo of some of your work hanging in a gallery of some sort. Is your work on display for people to check out?
It was up at the University of North Texas Union Gallery, Which was really cool. I never thought I’d have the chance to do that, I even got free drinks and fruit at the opening! Its not up anymore, but it was fun while it lasted and I got some nice reviews from it.

You seem to use alot of animals with your imagery. Can you explain that?
I like animals. I draw a lot at work and at school. Usually it starts out as nothing but ends up as an animal or robot. I also like food a lot so I think my next poster is going to have food in it.

Tell us about Ultimate.
Ha. Its my favorite hobby, maybe over screen printing. I don’t know what to tell. I play for the U.N.T. Men’s Team and have traveled around the U.S. on the school’s budget, just to play Ultimate. Its a disc sport, 7 on 7, fields 40 x 70 with 25 yard end zones. First to 15 or two hours, which ever comes first. You advance the disc by catching and throwing amongst your team, you can’t run when you have the disc but you can certainly run to get open. If there is a dropped disc, intercepted, knocked down or out of bounds disc, it’s a turnover. Offense and defense switch instantly. Its a lot of fun. I started playing in the summer of 1998 and have played since. There is a team in the Valley out of Weslaco/Mcallen. You can get more info on Ultimate at www.upa.org.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?
Well, I’m about to start teaching at South Garland High School and I’m sure that will take up my time. But I’m hoping to continue printing and I hope that more bands from the Valley will come up to Denton so I can make some posters for them. There are a lot of good things coming from the Valley, The Child Forgives and Creates, Dignan, Ennui Jolt, and of course .td (The December Drive). But there are others and I want to help them get up here and see what North Texas is all about.

3 websites you visit daily.
www.gigposters.com
www.upa.org
www.websudoku.com

3 places to visit.
Japan
Mexico
Home

3 restaurants.
The Tomato – Denton
TXRJ’s Burgers – Denton
Tacolandia – Mercedes

Last Words?
Thank you for reading this. Feel free to contact me at fred@texascurse.com

Catch up with Fred at www.texascurse.com

Posted on February 16, 2009 - by ChrisDub

Ruining the Sundays

Our buddy Lu Garza just dropped some new hotness to the internets. It’s his “experimental animation final project” he did for school. Lu is a graphic designer from the south Texas area going to school in San Francisco to make fricken video games! The song is called “Ruining Sundays” by James Figurine. Please silence all cell phones and enjoy the show.