July: Bastille Day -- The Captains of Industry Calendar

THE CLIENTS

Eyerus + Visual Communications Studio
The Captains of Industry

THE ASSIGNMENT

A calendar, illustrated in the style of '70s Blaxploitation movie posters. Each month will focus on an extremely esoteric holiday (or a popular holiday handled in an extremely esoteric way), all staring The Captains of Industry.

The Captains of Industry are: Graham Funke and StoneRokk, two innovative and eclectic DJs known for their creativity, sense of humor, and opinionated worldviews. You may find them working high-profile corporate and celebrity events around the country, or at their Las Vegas residencies at the Palms Casino Resort. They are "Your favorite DJ's favorite DJs."™

THE CHALLENGE: JULY

July's featured holiday is Bastille Day. Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14, and commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 -- the start of the French Revolution and a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression. When told the French people were starving while the royalty were languishing in comfort, Marie Antoinette allegedly said, "Let them eat cake!" These words figure prominently in July's art, as the guys play the parts of French royalty, gluttonously indulging on a gold-studded Chippendale table, while the peasants rise in rage, from behind, deciding they've had enough.

GETTING STARTED

The Capts took part in a photo shoot. They cover the bases from regal and proper to gluttonous and over-the-top.



With these images and direction from my art director, it is time to marry concept and vision.

THE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

- Tell a horizontal story in a square format (a long table needs to have its longness aptly shown)
- How to bring a French landscape into the picture that screams "French!"
- How to bring integrity to French Revolution period clothing.
- How to depict desserts that are unmistakably decadent and truly fit for a king (or kings).

For my initial sketches, I started with the first visual problem -- portraying the scene in a square format. I started by showing an angle shot, attempting to use perspective to relay the longness of the table, while filling the frame with the guys, and telling the remainder of the story happening in the distance.






The sketches worked okay, but didn't fulfill the objective of showing the table as the guys envisioned. So, I turned the "camera" to show the table and desserts in all their glory, bringing more prominence to the uprising happening across the landscape in the distance.

In order to keep some diagonals in the scene (remember, diagonals are generally more interesting that static vertical and horizontal lines), I played up the flow of the landscape and its hills, leading their lines down to The Capts.



Approved! This solves the challenge of telling a horizontal story in a square format.

THE FINAL ART

Now to solve the rest of those visual challenges.

Remember, reference is key. Don't skimp or make up stuff. There is a plethora of information to aid us illustrators on the web. And, for those specific needs, set up your own photo shoot. That's exactly what I did, recruiting Melodie and Ricky to don my rented French period attire. Costume shops and theater companies are filled with knowledgeable folks who love to help on the subject of period clothing.



I also enlisted myself. Notice my yellow notepad with scene notes and my early sketches for inspiration, as I get into character.



How about those other challenges...

The French scene that screams, "French!" Through diligent research, I found rolling hills and pastoral colors from French countryside that screamed, if not hollered, "French!" to me. Problem solved.

How to depict desserts that are unmistakably decadent and truly fit for a king (or kings). The basic cupcake just won't do. We need concoctions that are as much an architectural feat as they are an indulgent feast. To the web I go to scour for ideas. Like any composition, this table of food is its own diorama. It needs a pleasing flow with large focal point "stars" and smaller supporting characters. It's a character of its own.

THE SECRET 'STACHE

Each month of this calendar features Graham rocking a different mustache, integral to each story. This month, he is sporting "the French curl" (third image, below).






Thanks, again, to the amazing team at Eyerus for allowing me the opportunity to be involved, for their direction, and for fostering an environment for creativity that any illustrator would cherish. Thanks, too, to The Captains of Industry for conceiving such a wonderfully-inspired collection of ideas for the world to devour, as well as for their very generous write-up about the project and their kind words toward me. See it, here.

You may secure your own calendar at The Capts Online Haberdashery.

Over the coming weeks, I will show and tell the stories behind each month's art. Stay tuned. Tell your friends. You won't be disappointed!

Allan Burch is an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist, providing solutions for editorial, book, advertising, and institutional projects.
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June: Gay Pride Day -- The Captains of Industry Calendar

THE CLIENTS

Eyerus + Visual Communications Studio
The Captains of Industry

THE ASSIGNMENT

A calendar, illustrated in the style of '70s Blaxploitation movie posters. Each month will focus on an extremely esoteric holiday (or a popular holiday handled in an extremely esoteric way), all staring The Captains of Industry.

The Captains of Industry are: Graham Funke and StoneRokk, two innovative and eclectic DJs known for their creativity, sense of humor, and opinionated worldviews. You may find them working high-profile corporate and celebrity events around the country, or at their Las Vegas residencies at the Palms Casino Resort. They are "Your favorite DJ's favorite DJs."™

THE CHALLENGE: JUNE

June's featured holiday is Gay Pride Day. There is actually no set day to celebrate this holiday. June is reserved as the month of recognition, and cities can decide when to host their own festivities. The guys wanted to represent this holiday via a mash-up between a stereotypical gay pride parade and the iconic Spirit of '76 painting, by Archibald MacNeal Willard. StoneRokk and Graham would be the leaders, playing the fife and drum, respectively.



GETTING STARTED

The Capts took part in a photo shoot, staying pretty faithful to the poses from Willard's famous painting. The intent was to be very much over-the-top, so, one alteration I would need to make to the guys, in order to have them properly fit in with the crowd and tell their story, is to increase their buffness levels, in the final art. More on that, later.



Like May, before this, the potential for storytelling is huge, here. The rainbow colors and free-for-all personal expression of the crowd invites a very animated approach to telling this particular story. I had permission to essentially go nuts.

My reference gathering included the basics, such as 1776 period clothing, the fife and drum, rainbow flag, and fireworks. But, the real interest comes from the details. I scoured the web for reference of gay pride parades, looking for the most ridiculous scenes I could find. I scoured the web for ridiculous scenes that were not part of a gay pride parade, but could inspire the folks in our parade.

Using the composition from Spirit of '76 as a basis, I created this winding, pyramidal scene



Upon review, I received specifics on what Stone and Graham wished to be wearing. Stone (the fife player) wanted the revolutionary coat, speedos, and combat boots, untied and folded down (to show he was a lover, not a fighter, to quote Matt, my art director).

Graham (the drummer) wished to be wearing a leather vest, cutoff jean shorts, and cowboy boots.

Okay, you got all that? Good, because it's time to take the next step.

THE FINAL ART

I needed to book a buffed-up model, as body doubles for the guys. That's not such an easy task, as it turns out. My Craig's List ad got flagged and deleted, multiple times. And, for some reason, those who responded to the ad fell silent upon hearing further details of the project. Who knew seeking a buff male model to pose for a gay pride parade photo shoot would cause such a controversy? Bummer.

But, thankfully, I secured Rashaud, via Model Mayhem.com. He was absolutely perfect, and knocked it out of the park for us, not only as our main characters, but also as some of the other expressive folks mingling about. I extend many thanks to Rashaud for his excellent work.

In another happy twist of fate, the theater company from which I rented many outfits for this calendar project happened to have a leopard-lined leather vest used for productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Perfect!

How about some leopard-print cowboy boots to match? And, a bedazzled drum strap? Perfect!



THE SECRET 'STACHE

Mustache research was an integral part of this project, since Graham was to be rockin' a unique mustache to punctuate each story. I've amassed quite a compilation of crumb-catchers. What's the secret to deciding on the right mustache for the scene? We had two alternatives, as I saw it.

1. Go for the silliest looking 'stache.

2. Go for a 'stache that relates their story to a similar popular culture story.

I opted for the latter, because there is an extra element of thought behind this option. It further adds another layer of interest for the viewer to decipher, and echoes the peppering of popular culture reference to just about every illustration in this calendar.

Graham is rockin' the "Freddy Mercury" 'stache, in this scene.

For fun, here are some of the inspired 'staches I deliberated about, throughout this project.





WHAT CONTROVERSY?

There is no controversy, that I'm aware of. But, my sources tell me this image has been one of the more talked-about, among the calendar illustrations. When I showed early concepts to someone, not directly involved with the project, their reaction was immediately laughter, followed by a cautionary warning that some might find the scene offensive. I don't know if anyone has found it offensive, but I do know that person's reaction was a positive reflection on the strength of the concept, devised by the guys. A thoughtful concept that provokes discussion can only be a good thing, in my opinion.

Besides, who can take anything seriously that involves a ball-gagged, leather-clad pooch?





Thanks, again, to the amazing team at Eyerus for allowing me the opportunity to be involved, for their direction, and for fostering an environment for creativity that any illustrator would cherish. Thanks, too, to The Captains of Industry for conceiving such a wonderfully-inspired collection of ideas for the world to devour, as well as for their very generous write-up about the project and their kind words toward me. See it, here.

You may secure your own calendar at The Capts Online Haberdashery.

Over the coming weeks, I will show and tell the stories behind each month's art. Stay tuned. Tell your friends. You won't be disappointed!

Allan Burch is an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist, providing solutions for editorial, book, advertising, and institutional projects.
•View more of his work»
•Sign-up for his newsletter»
•Purchase prints»

May: Kentucky Derby Day -- The Captains of Industry Calendar

THE CLIENTS

Eyerus + Visual Communications Studio
The Captains of Industry

THE ASSIGNMENT

A calendar, illustrated in the style of '70s Blaxploitation movie posters. Each month will focus on an extremely esoteric holiday (or a popular holiday handled in an extremely esoteric way), all staring The Captains of Industry.

The Captains of Industry are: Graham Funke and StoneRokk, two innovative and eclectic DJs known for their creativity, sense of humor, and opinionated worldviews. You may find them working high-profile corporate and celebrity events around the country, or at their Las Vegas residencies at the Palms Casino Resort. They are "Your favorite DJ's favorite DJs."™

THE CHALLENGE: MAY

May's featured holiday is Derby Day. In an homage to 1985's James Bond entry, A View to a Kill (starring Roger Moore, as Bond, Christopher Walken as villain, Max Zorin, and Grace Jones, as slinky red-caped villainess, May Day), the guys are posed as the team behind the Kentucky Derby winner. With restrained jubilation (as if they've been there, before), the guys bask in adulation in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs.

THE PROCESS

The Capts took part in a photo shoot, exploring different expressions and postures as the winning owner and jockey -- from subtle to over-the-top -- with their victorious horse. Their vision was very much with a nod to the Derby scenes in A View to a Kill. Graham (the owner) is Max Zorin. The Zorin Industries blimp flies, overhead, as a further punctuation to the scene.

The potential for storytelling is huge, here, from the extravagant hats and attire of race-goers, to the flamboyancy of the jockey's outfit, to the magnetic draw of the crowd, calling us to hide characters within.

How should I lay the foundation?

My reference gathering began with figuring out what the Winner's Circle really looks like. We want to lend integrity to the scene.

A perspective view, rather than a straight-on view, brings another level of interest and allows me to build space and depth. A low vantage point retains a sense of power which runs constant, throughout the calendar, and echoes the Blaxploitation posters we're using as inspiration.

HOW TO START?

My direction was approved and the favored poses were chosen. Now, it's time to fill in the blanks with reference -- including details such as the exact attire of Max Zorin (Which lapel does the flower go on?), the exact layout of the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs (including the design of the flag atop the building), and the best jockey outfit to create for StoneRokk.

For the latter, I scoured the web, looking at contemporary outfits, vintage outfits, and all manner of jockey-inspired fashion from around the world. I decided on bold, geometric shapes -- a familiar constant, and favorite amongst the jockey community -- and used complementary colors for maximum attention. As a final flourish, I added a faux shoulder dressing to designate StoneRokk's royal position among jockey-kind.

Then, to my lovely models, Melodie and Ricky, to give me their best exuberant race-goer.

As promised, observant viewers will see dignitaries in the crowd, including Max Zorin, himself, as well as his pal, May Day. If you are very observant, you may even see Mr. Kentucky (Fried Chicken), Colonel Sanders, who is also the model for Graham's May 'stache.

Thanks, again, to the amazing team at Eyerus for allowing me the opportunity to be involved, for their direction, and for fostering an environment for creativity that any illustrator would cherish. Thanks, too, to The Captains of Industry for conceiving such a wonderfully-inspired collection of ideas for the world to devour, as well as for their very generous write-up about the project and their kind words toward me. See it, here.

You may secure your own calendar at The Capts Online Haberdashery.

Over the coming weeks, I will show and tell the stories behind each month's art. Stay tuned. Tell your friends. You won't be disappointed!

Allan Burch is an award-winning illustrator and portrait artist, providing solutions for editorial, book, advertising, and institutional projects.
•View more of his work»
•Sign-up for his newsletter»
•Purchase prints»