Crewkoos Interview.

My interview for Benoit over at Crewkoos is now up. Thanks to Benoit for asking me to be a part of this.
You can check it out here:

Crewkoos Santos Interview

In other news, the polls are now closed on the question of what people would like to see available for sale in an online store. Prints were #1 with 72%, new Santos shirts 2nd with 56%, and stickers and misc merch came in at 27%. Looks like I'll be starting with the prints and shirts. I'll be looking into making prints for the new Howl "Demons & Diamonds" design and the older High On Fire "Bastard Samurai" design.

This week, I'll be starting on putting together the next THICK AS THIEVES packs. I'll post more info on those soon with a pre-order to follow. All of the art is sick as hell, so be on the look out for info.

Demons & Diamonds.

Orange version. Design might be printed in two different colorways.

 It took a little over a year for the HOWL guys and I to get the ball rolling on this design, but it's done and just ahead of the release of band's sophomore album.

In March of 2011, I had the pleasure of tour managing Kylesa on the first Metalliance Tour. As it was a package tour, HOWL were one of the bands included and I was able to see them tear shit up on stage nightly. It's always good to tour with a band. You get to know them and their music and when it comes time to work with them, you have a better idea of what they're looking for and what will fit their aesthetic. This was the case with HOWL.

After the tour,  Rob, Vince, and I were talking about making a shirt relating to the song "Heavenless" and coinciding with the release of the video for the song. As it was only a few weeks before the video premiered, we opted to wait and work on something to go with the next album. I was still influenced by the song when I sketched out the design, but knew that above all I wanted the design to be metal as fuck. If you've seen them live, you know that they are one of the sickest metal bands out there. Why not match that intensity in the design? All of the classic metal elements are included within the design from the evil goat priest and cannibalistic demons to the dissected angel. I also wanted a sort of sinister beauty to come through by adding the nightshade growing from the mouth of the angel. You can also figure out the symbolism tied to that one pretty easily. The one aspect that I didn't figure on was that the design looks good when you look at the design upside down, too. Having the angel on top produces a different look and makes it so that you can double the use of one shirt design.

Lastly, there's also a nod to the one and only Dick Diamond in the piece. Who's Dick Diamond? Good question.

Taking the day off.

HOWL's beast of a detailed design is finally done after 3 weeks and I'm taking the day off to rest. Here's a pic of a simply colored design, but I'll be posting up a full color, full pic of the design in the next week.

As for today, I'll be sitting back and resting up so that I can tackle putting together the next edition of the THICK AS THIEVES mini print packs on Tuesday. I'll have the pre-orders up in a week or two.

I'm going to enjoy the outside world for a while.

Volcom hooking up the ads.

Another box from Reid at Volcom was waiting for me at the PO. Inside were a few decks, some records, and a copy of Alternative Press from June. Inside the copy of AP was this awesome two page advertisement for TORCHE's Harmonicraft. Volcom really knows how to hook it up!

Volcom Entertainment has a nice stable of bands and has put out a lot of records that I had never known were out. You can check their catalog here: VOLCOM ENTERTAINMENT.

Torche and goats.

The last time that Torche came through the Pacific NW, I was able to catch a ride with them to their Portland show. While we were there, we stopped by Wealth Underground Farms. We got to run around with some goats and were given a tour of the amazing garden that they tended to.

Chris and Nolan have a podcast as well as run the farm, so after a delicious lunch made from fresh veggies out of the garden, they interviewed Torche. You can hear the interview and check out the Farm To Artist blog and podcast here: FARM TO ARTIST: Lunch w/ TORCHE.

Free Randy Blythe!

Quick drawing. I took the placement of the mic from live photos of Randy.

If any of you have been following the story behind Randy's arrest in the Czech Republic, you know that's it's been a crazy time for him, his friends, and family. There is a lot to the story and as I don't know all of the circumstances, I will not elaborate. But, you can look it up and read up on it later.

For now, I wanted to draw up a little something for them. They've always been really good to me and a few other artists that I know, so I wanted to help by bringing some attention to Randy's situation.

You can help Randy's legal defense by donating here:
RANDY BLYTHE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

You can sign this petition, as well:
PETITION TO HELP RANDY

Thanks to everyone in their support of Randy. Hoping for the best in this situation. I am also truly sorry for the loss of life, concerning the fan.  Hopefully, everything can be worked out.

UPDATE: Fellow ink slinger, Brian Mercer has taken this simple design and is adding a border to it. We will be giving the design to Mark and the LOG fam for use in any way that they see fit.

INNOVATE THE MIND Collective.

 Ryan Kasparian is a sick artist via the Midwest US.  He's been putting out brutal designs and making sites for labels and bands that stand out from so many others at a time when most designers have me snoring by the end of the page. Ryan has also run his own shirt label and recently asked a few of us to be a part of the INNOVATE THE MIND Collective. I'm honored to be a part ITM and am in the company of some of my favorite artists today.

Check out the site and show some love to some great guys and amazing artists:

INNOVATE THE MIND

Inking.

I've been busy inking the new design for HOWL and thought that I'd post a quick pic of detail. It's a small section of the design and there is so much to go on this thing.

I'm going to start posting "in progress" pics from now on. Keep checking back for more.

Merch?

For the month of July, I will have a poll up here in the right hand column that is asking what you would like to see produced as far as Santos Illustration merch goes. Please vote. And, if you would like to see me make something specific, FEEL FREE TO WRITE IT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. I will be writing down and considering every idea given.
If you'd like to see prints made, let me know which designs you would like to see printed. Thank you, all!


You can follow me on Twitter as well:
SantosIllustration@EyeBleedInk