On this penultimate day of S&D’s poster party, I present to you the great KEVIN MERCER.
Spoon
2 color screen-print
As previous poster party posts suggest, I think overprints are magnificent. One of the most special aspects of screen-printing is the capability to create overprints! I love the layers of color, and the partial opacity of the ink. This exclusive get-to-know-Kevin-Mercer is an extra special treat, because HE IS A MASTER OF OVERPRINTING. The above poster was inspired by the Spoon song, “My Little Japanese Cigarette Case.” The asiany lion is slickity slick! It reminds me of Chinese New Year parades and lion dances.
TV on the Radio
3 color screen-print
THIS POSTER IS OUTRAGEOUSLY AWESOME, and proves his strong command of complementing colors. Hardly afraid of using S&D-bright colors, Kevin creates wonderful compositions full of stellar textures and graphics.
Arcade Fire
4 color screen-print
Kevin’s compositions have an exalted aesthetic, and are characterized by delicate hand-sketches.
(left to right) Fortune Magazine illustration, book jacket design
Those who want further affirmation of his heightened sense of style and unarguable talent should take a peak at his commissioned pieces. Kevin has done work on behalf of large clients, and has demonstrated great versatility. Above are samples, an editorial illustration (for FORTUNE MAGAZINE!) and a book jacket. Wee!
In 2006, I received a CD sampler from Polyvinyl Records (note visual above). I immediately fell in love with the CD sleeve. Not only do I get to listen to a band with “Boris Yeltsin” in its name…I get to own a pretty CD case too? Woah. TOO MANY COOL POINTS TO COUNT. Thus began my obsession with Kevin Mercer. Kevin designs under the alias Largemammal Print, his delightful design company. Although Sydney Bristow may be able to survive a North Korean(<insert any other minority here, because TV shows like playing the racist card..cough cough 24 ..cough>) firing squad, in terms of impeccable art, she has nothing on Kevin. Learning more about Kevin Mercer is only a skip-it count away.
1. Describe your background.
I started making show posters in late 2002. I was an unemployed carpenter’s son, a year out of art school, without direction. Needing to find creative work, I gathered a few unemployment checks, bought a bunch of supplies, and set to work on building a makeshift studio in my basement.
I’ve always been a huge fan of poster art and album cover design. I’d go to shows and steal the posters from the walls of the shows I was seeing, and I thought that I could make better ones than what I had been seeing around town. My influences stemmed initially from modern painting and Pop Art, but as I began studying poster art and graphic design I was drawn to mid-century American designers like Alex Steinweiss and Saul Bass, as well as the original rock poster masters like Wes Wilson and Martin Sharp.
2. I would describe my style as…
Restless. I pride myself on being flexible, at the expense of a consistent visual style. I do what works for each individual piece.
3. I’m inspired by…
Long drives in my car.
4. Can you describe the creative process that goes into making a print?
The process can vary depending on what I’m working on. I typically check out a band’s music to find some visual cues, and then I do some sketches. More often than not I scan the sketches and goof around in Photoshop until I’m close to something that I am happy with. I have a big junk drawer of unused sketches too that I pull from. I have a habit of doing a type treatment first to see if I can get some ideas from it.
5. My favorite print is…
Randomly chosen, but some faves include
Robert Motherwell’s portfolio “A La Pintura”
Robert Rauschenberg’s set of prints “XXXIV Drawings for Dante’s Inferno,”
Yeehaw Industries‘ Johnny Cash “Dollar Bill”
6. What’s on your walls at home?
Aesthetic Apparatus‘ Melvins “Baby with Hammer”
Kozik’s Sharon Tate art print (reprint of old Marilyn Manson poster as art print)
My Arcade Fire print. (I’m out, sorry no reprints.)
Couple revolving poster spots, currently hanging some sweet Amy Jo stuff. A velvet elvis.
7. I am currently listening to…
Sera Cahoone, Hayden, Graveyard, The Night Marchers….
8. I support…
The paper industry.
9. I am against…
Inkjet prints of hand made artwork.
10. My best recent purchase was…
2 dozen Maryland crabs.
11. I am currently obsessed with…
Teaching myself web programming.
Dianogah
3 color screen-print
…mother birdie assassinating baby birdies? or on-top-of-G-birdie losing out at natural selection?
Go check out Largemammal Print’s website is full of lots of neat things. See you tomorrow for the finale. It will be spectacular. FYI.
Click here to see other poster party posts!
2 Responses for "poster party day 7: Largemammal Print"
I love the overprinting & bright colors!
Hysterical reference to 24.
[...] Cardoso recently acquired some notable Elvis recipe magnets, and a wall of Kevin Mercer’s home features a velvet Elvis. Kevin Mercer loves Robert [...]
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