SECRET FUN BLOG

CRAZY 4 CULT 3-D: FAMILY PORTRAITS

2009-07-16T00:35:00.005-05:00

Once again I had the honor of contributing a collection of film family portraits (done in colored pencil) to the now annual Crazy 4 Cult art show at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. The show begins today and runs until the 8th of August. UPDATE: the entire show can be seen online here.

Here they are (You can click each one for a super-enlargement)...

The Johnsons
based on The Jerk
(SOLD! woohoo! To Paul Scheer no less!)

In following with the tradition of most movie sequels I decided to go bigger this time— with the biggest family yet. So I turned the face count up to eleven (to take a cue from another favorite cult film.) I like how it depicts an important story/character point, but it's also a sight gag plain and simple. I have to give credit to my friend Jeremy for suggesting this one. I don't know how I was overlooking the possibility. It holds a place of honor on my DVD shelf and is easily one of my all-time favorite films.

The Emersons
based on The Lost Boys

I count The Lost Boys among the top five most influential films of my youth. (Incidentally, the others are Pump Up the Volume, The Karate Kid, Footloose, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.) I wanted to see what it might look like if mom would have talked to the boys into a photo shoot in an effort to redefine their post-divorce family unit. I could see Sam (Corey Haim) getting into it (he may have had some say in the cheesy curtain backdrop) while Michael (Jason Patrick) would have had to struggle to tolerate such an outing. Keifer Sutherland's character David might have provided more visual interest, but the notion that he and his dad would ever get together for a photograph was too far fetched.

The Mitchells
based on The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Though this is more of a neo-cult movie, I couldn't resist because to me Billy Mitchell is one of the most captivating characters to have ever graced the silver screen; which is even more amazing considering the fact that he's a real person. (But couldn't you see Ben Stiller playing him perfectly?)

Billy was the subject of an artwork by Aiyana Udensen that appeared in one of the I Am 8-Bit shows, which gave me pause, but then I realized I was the one destined to usher the lovely Mrs. Mitchell into the pop art world. I broke from my Olan Mills motif here and tried to venture into Glamour Shots territory. (And thanks goes to Jamey for urging me on this one.)

However, this piece will not be appearing in the show proper because the frame glass broke in the mail and left some marks. (I'm going to touch it up and it will remain available for purchase on the G1988 site.) I searched extensively for just the right cheapo, gaudy-glamorous frame, so it stands to reason that the glass would betray me.

The Plainviews
based on There Will Be Blood
SOLD!

Yes, another newbie in the film world but the cult of Paul Thomas Anderson is a mighty one. When this notion crossed my mind I liked the idea of spreading this wacky portrait concept into another era, and I grew eager to draw Daniel Day-Lewis's face. The more I studied it the more I wondered if he's ever been kicked by a mule. This only contributes to the fact that when he's on the screen I can't remove my eyes.
I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen the picture, but I love that this moment captures a particular deception, and I positioned the subjects accordingly.

So why these? As was the case with last year's selections, it gave me another chance to create four more love letters to four of my most beloved cinematic productions. I also chose them because family plays a strong role in each of these films.

Interestingly, I happened to discover this week that all the other artists abided by a list of cult films that was designated by Jensen, the curator. Since I was a latecomer both years I managed to miss out on this detail. On one hand it was nice not to be constrained (there might not have been enough families within the list that would work with this particular concept), but I'm cringing as I imagine the other artists saying "Wait a minute, I would have liked to do [film x]! Who does this guy think he is, some creative renegade playing by his own rules?" Well.. maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they thought that.

I spent the month of June (plus a week before and after) immersed in these silly things. It was an interesting and debilitating artistic exercise. Just like last year, I think the outcome is a mixed bag of successes and failures. I often found myself comparing the work to drawing Ziggy comics.. Both are single panel gags in a sense, and the effect I'm hoping for is similar- a momentary grin or perhaps a slight audible expression of pleasure at best. But the Ziggy artist can be thankful that his don't require one third of his summer just to draw four.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. If you're interested in purchasing any of them (starting this evening at 7PM Pacific time) call 415.409.1376 or you could email at...
Gallery 1988 [at] aol.com

For convenience sake here are my submissions from last year too...

based on The Shining
(This piece is being offered by the gallery this year as a signed, limited edition print (50 total). It's 65 bucks. If you're interested, call once the show has begun.)

based on Fargo

based on Poltergeist

(this is the only one from last year that is still available)

based on National Lampoon's Vacation

Check out this post if you care to hear more about the process behind them.

100 MEMBERS

2009-07-14T08:00:00.006-05:00

Yes sir, the Secret Fun Blog now has 100 official members! Or is it followers? I don't know but I thank you all for your support! I thought I'd return the love by listing your respective sites below. (This also serves as proof that I've visited every one of them!)

I realize that the vast majority of you readers aren't represented here, but please know that I'm profusely thankful to you as well.

So what benefit is there to being a member/follower? Best I can tell it just makes it easier to integrate a blog into Google Reader. Plus you get to publicly show your allegiance I suppose. Oh, and you also receive my personal admiration. If all of this is in alignment with your desired lifestyle and you'd like to join, then look for the little member's box in the margin on the right side of the page and join away.

So here you go world, have a look at this handsome bunch. I'm so proud...
.
adelessspookyart
jean-francois demers
Strange Jason
Cb
Hollygoyle
John Rozum
Bob
MJwho
JAFO
christine samson
katchaya
CraftDiner
RahneFan
Sue
Anthony
Tanya
prof. grewbeard
skeeeeeetz
Chris
TOMCODY75
Ron R.
Scooby Snakx
Frank
molesteban
Mr. Mantia
Tim Walsh
Dr. Jitters
John Freeman
...
Yogeh
Todd Franklin
tomcornfoot
MODERN NEEDS
horseflesh
Aaron the Truck Driver
Ugly Scott
Aaron
Angelo Vilar
Steven A.
Jessica (Hey Lola)
'77Elizabeth
William Butler Yeaves
Marilyn Roxie
Brandon
The Elevated Observationist
Lubbert Das
Jay Amabile
Vivir en Tucson
typeitasoneword
Waffle Whiffer [Brandon]
Erick
Brian
Das Brick
Phillyradiogeek
merwing
vintage_heat
Monster-Maniac
Nicole
Hawanja
Maria
magikalseasons
little miss ashleigh
~Trix.
Galan y Giles
FunTooSurf
NeatStuff
The Camel's Farmer
Jeremy
GluePenny&FishHead
Jessica Cangiano
Nilay
Nick Savides
Supreme Nothing
AllHallowSteve
chunky B
Pam Hobbs
Stac
Sarah
Stephanie
Dano
Matt Hunter Ross
Darla {Retro Ways}
Dan
Howie Pyro
Atom Kid
Mr. Joatmon
Anthony
Digital Butter
stupid_angel
christi jensen
Lushie Peach
p.nut
OhhBintang!
Patches
jen rarey
Steven Graziano
abbs
Jami Solomon
Michael Sean

If I screwed up and linked to the wrong site, just let me know in the comments. The same goes if you'd prefer that I link to a different site, or if you'd like to be removed from the list for some paranoid reason. Thanks for joining!

SPECIAL UPDATE:
Welcome #101!... Madhypnotist and more...
Melody
Steph
Ron Roxx
Liam
Jbooth
Steve
Becky
(I promise I didn't mean to punish all you RSS readers!)

THE SIGNING OF THE SHINING

2009-07-08T12:32:00.001-05:00

Yes, those chimp-like hands are mine, fearfully signing fifty prints of my Torrance family portrait for the Crazy 4 Cult show- fearful of screwing one up. These will be available on July 16th when the third installment of the show opens. You can order yours by calling the gallery at 323.937.7088 or emailing gallery1988 [at] aol.com

I wanted to give the signing event extra significance so I used an old novelty skeleton pencil that I got as a stocking stuffer in 1987. I'm not sure how it relates to the project, but it's more special than a boring ol' #2.

Most of the art I buy comes from flea markets, which explains why I was so blown away by the quality of these prints. The paper is actually thicker than the stuff I used for the original colored pencil piece! They did such a fantastic job.

The original piece currently resides among the private collection of actor Michael Rappaport who has described his typical film roles as "the dumb white guy." How I would love to see the rest of his art. I like envisioning him plucking my piece from his wall and sending it back to the gallery for scanning as he did earlier this summer. I immediately follow this thought with memories of seeing him on the big screen in flicks like Cop Land and Metro. This sort of shorts out my brain.

GOTTLIEB HAUNTED DESKTOP

2009-06-24T12:30:00.001-05:00

As a kid, I constantly longed to be wherever video games were, be it the lobby of the grocery store, the local arcade, or ideally, gamer havens like Showbiz Pizza. Even after my supply of quarters was diminished I didn't want to leave the comfort of those warm, buzzing monolith-like machines. I often found myself among them with nothing to do but study their demo screens and cabinet art (and finger the little garage-like coin return slots for stray quarters.)

One of the most inviting, most intriguing images I ever encountered among those electronic wonders was the backglass for Gottieb's 1982 masterwork of pinball, Haunted House. Its stunning rendition of the classic Victorian haunted abode was illustrated by Terry Doerzaph (who also did cabinet graphics for Q*bert). The typeface is gorgeous, the color choices are unexpected, and the entire piece has a flawless quality. And how amazing is that cluster of floating skulls in the window? The answer is very.

I was recently overjoyed to find a beautiful, high-res scan of the art on this site. Of course my first move was to use it as desktop wallpaper. I started with the entire thing (as seen above) and later I cropped it for a closer view (see below). I invite you to click on either of the images (for larger versions) and grab it as well. It's such a welcoming sight every time I sit down for some good ol' computing.

More images of the machine are here and here. See also this screenprint by Sam Chivers inspired by the piece.

CRAZY 4 CULT 3-D

2009-06-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

Awesome illustration by Dave Perillo

One big reason it's been so quiet around here this month is that I've been hard workin' on a new set of cult film family portraits for this year's Crazy 4 Cult show! I'll reveal the set right here in conjunction with the show's opening on July 16th. I'm also happy to report that prints of one of my pieces from last year, The Torrances, are currently in production thanks to Gallery 1988. Naturally I'll post more on that as soon as they're ready. In the meantime I must...keep...drawing...

UPDATE: My contributions can be seen here.

THE SIGNTIST

2009-06-19T12:15:00.001-05:00

This is impossibly cool– Secret Fun Blog reader Kevin Anetsberger has lovingly translated some vintage signage that has previously appeared on this blog into its pure, beautiful, vectorized form.

The pizza-approving gentlemen seen above came from a photo from my trip to Pizza Parlour in Fort Smith, Arkansas....

Kevin also adapted their amazing logo...

Wow, it's such a joy to see those letters dance on the screen.

Additionaly, he immortalized the type from this doomed sign for a local strip mall...

Ahhhhhh, just the sight of those pristine characters takes me to design-geek nirvana. His timing couldn't be better because the original sign was sadly replaced with a heinous revision just this month. But thanks to Kevin it shall be preserved for generations of web surfers.

Mr. Anetsberger also serves the world by offering vintage record albums on his blog and retouching album artwork for Kiddie Records Weekly.

Thanks Kevin for restoring these obscure masterworks of typhography to their full glory!

COLLECT ALL 21!

2009-06-06T17:45:00.006-05:00

I'd like to point out Collect All 21!- Memoirs of a Star Wars Geek by John Booth for two reasons. One is to simply show off the cover that I re-designed for it. When I saw his original cover I was instantly enamored by his decision to cleverly utilize the classic Kenner proof of purchase as a design element. It's a brilliant move because it serves as a litmus test of its potential readers. Put simply, if you recognize it then the book is for you.

These little discs were printed on the blister cards of each Star Wars action figure, and they proved more valuable than money to Star Wars-collecting kids because a pile of them could be exchanged for exclusive mail away offers. (One of which granted early access to the infamous fan favorite, Boba Fett.) If you're not among the book's target audience it's just a blue and white circle containing some wonky font choices. But even in that case, the image hints at an appropriate planet-like orb.

More important than all that is the fact that this book is highly entertaining and well written. And here's the truly amazing thing about it— it's full of all of your own memories. Really! I spend half the time reading, and the other half experiencing long-forgotten Star Wars flashbacks. It has sent pulses into my brain that are reawakening moments and stories that have been dormant for decades. And when you enjoy visiting the past as often as I do, that's no small feat. As an added bonus, in many cases these thoughts are triggering non-Lucasfilm related retrospection too. A few pages can send me into a warm bath of childhood wonder.

So if you've ever used scissors on your Star Wars toy packaging then you may just want to order yourself a copy.

SECRET FUN INTERVIEW

2009-05-04T08:30:00.002-05:00

Me (at age 4) and my uncle Cliff after a successful trip to the Disney World magic shop.

To celebrate the induction of my Life of the Party book into the Archie McPhee catalog, I did an interview for their Slightly Less Disappointing Blog. In it, I trace my obsession with toy and prank collecting back to its origins and I plot my infiltration of the S.S. Adams company.

If you care to hear me ramble on about some of the most pointless aspects of life on yet another site then definitely check it out!

PARTY AT ARCHIE'S!

2009-05-04T01:09:00.002-05:00

There are two reasons why I'm very excited...

1. Life of the Party, the visual history book I created for S.S. Adams Prank and Magic company, is now available at Archie McPhee! If you're wondering, McPhee is the name of one of the greatest novelty outlets on this particular planet. They preserve the heritage of our nation's novelty biz while advancing it further all at once. So I'm thrilled to know my book is residing in the same room as the Mighty Monkey and the Frogmen versus the Radioactive Octopus set.

2. They are selling the book at its lowest price ever! Since it came out three years ago it's never gone for less than forty-five bucks— but now it's $23.95!
This means that you no longer have to be magician David Copperfield to own this book!

See what J.J. Abrams was clamoring about in this months Wired Magazine!
Order your copy today! Bring Life of the Party to a party and become the life of the party. Make life a party! Now you too can literally bring extra life to any party. Get more out of life and parties! (Hey, I'm like one of those Ad Wizards!)

APRIL OF FOOLS: FAKE PUKE

2009-04-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

The inevitable conclusion to a solid month of gags.

I hope you enjoyed the binge!

APRIL OF FOOLS: FAKE MEAT

2009-04-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

Who knew that "rollschinken" was German for "rolled ham?" And who knew that "imitation" was German for "imitation?"

See, pranks can make you more smarter.

APRIL OF FOOLS: FAKE FOOD

2009-04-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

"See the dismay and then the joyous discovery that it's only a joke!"
So to prank someone is to ultimately bring them joy. This is the sort of rationale that saves us pranksters from a magnitude of guilt.

APRIL OF FOOLS: HAND BUZZER

2009-04-27T00:00:00.002-05:00

Potentially the most socially damaging gag known to man.

APRIL OF FOOLS: SQUIRT CIGAR

2009-04-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

Observations on the Trick Squirt Cigar...

-The header card depicts a real cigar. (An effort to remind the consumer how cigars are traditionally used?)

-The illustrated smoke is disrupted by the pricing circle. (This is sort of awesome.)

-Its capability to deceive is nonexistent. There are only two possible scenarios:
1. A kid with a cigar in his mouth (chance of deception= 0%)
2. An adult with an unlit piece of plastic awkwardly positioned between his teeth, trying to look natural as he awaits the moment when he can finally bite down and expel the liquid. (chance of deception= 0%)

Maybe that's why it comes in a two-pack.

APRIL OF FOOLS: THE OUT-HOUSE

2009-04-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

There are two basic types of pranks. There's the kind that attempts to seamlessly blend in with the environment, then there's the kind that lures its potential victims with that which is purely unusual. Unfortunately, the latter creates a world laden with small plastic outhouses populated by urinating simpletons.

APRIL OF FOOLS: TRICK FLIES

2009-04-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

APRIL OF FOOLS: BANG GUN

2009-04-23T00:00:00.003-05:00

I purchased this classic Bang Gun during my one and only visit to the M. Gordon Novelty shop in Manhattan. Sadly, it is now among the many dearly departed retailers of its kind.

Photo by Runs With Scissors

When I first approached the building a black and white Wolfman poster hanging in a window high above the entrance assured me that I had arrived at the best possible place.

The feeling I got when I walked in is difficult to put into words. The air inside was different. The sense of history and mystery was intensely palpable. Beyond the front door there was a vinyl rope blocking the passage to the cramped shop floor. I stood behind it confused until the clerk nodded me in. I still don't get it. Is this some big city technique? Does it deter shoplifting? Or does it simply contain the mystical forces inside the shop?

One of the walls was lined with hinged panels that you could flip through, you know, like the ones that display posters. Only these were smaller and ancient, and they were brimming with gags that had been stapled on haphazardly. And they were really old ones. I immediately inquired about a couple of the most exciting items- a rubber monster and a pack of fake cigarettes.

"We don't sell those anymore."

"What about the giant squirting flower?"

"Naw."

Again I was confused, yet quite thankful that they were doing the world the service of publicly displaying these joke relics. However, my gratitude couldn't cover the pain I felt in my gut as I perused the unobtainable items.

"Do you sell the gun with the flag?"

"Um, yeah. I think I've got some of those."

Forever later the guy emerged from the back with my pistol.

Ah, "the back." The mere thought of the back of M. Gordon Novelty sends bittersweet waves over me. It really existed. With a front like that, what must the back have been like? There must have been corners and crevices and buried boxes that hadn't been cracked open for decades. Judging from the layout of the building, it had to be ten times the size of the front. It must have been a wonderland.

As I continued to browse it became obvious that the clerk was in the process of doing inventory. He was not the glimmer-eyed little old man I might have hoped for, rather he was an oafish, no-nonsense loudmouth who didn't seem too keen on offering his service to the customers.

"Ya got any more monocles back there?!"
he yelled to an invisible co-worker.

"WHAT?"
he shouted as he left his perch annoyed. He returned with a huge box of costume monocles. He plopped them down, picked up a clipboard and seemed to struggle to incorporate the find into his existing monocle calculation.

I will always savor the moment when he finally looked up from his note pad. His face was flushed and he appeared genuinely perplexed as he calmly spoke with his heavy Brooklyn accent to nobody in particular,

"Jeeeeeeez. We showa do have a LOT of monocles."

APRIL OF FOOLS: SQUIRT CAMERA

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

J.J. ABRAMS, S.S. ADAMS, WIRED MAGAZINE AND ME

2009-04-21T07:17:00.002-05:00

The latest issue of Wired Magazine is fantastic.

Okay, 47% of my motivation for saying that is because J.J. Abrams happened to mention my design work and my S.S. Adams book in this month's Wired Playlist!

But the other 53% of my intent is purely inspired by the fact that this issue is phenomenal. Unexplained phenomenon that is. Abrams guest edited the whole thing, and he's managed to create something abnormal– which is to say, something not normally found on the magazine rack. First off, the entire issue is a puzzle. But for those of us lacking that sort of mind power there's stuff about Art Bell, Mystery Spots, secret codes, magic tricks, a Chris Ware comic, and a great essay penned by J.J. regarding the nature of Spoilers. The cover features Abrams' gorgeous Mystery Box as discussed in his TED talk. They even let him hijack the logo with a wonderful vintage-inspired typeface. Or is it hand-lettered? Another mystery.

Thanks again for the magic Mr. Abrams.

APRIL OF FOOLS: FAKE GORE

2009-04-21T00:00:00.002-05:00

It's okay if you need to vomit.

APRIL OF FOOLS: FLOOR PENNY (WITH BONUS WORM!)

2009-04-20T00:00:00.002-05:00

The Floor Penny alone just wasn't doing it for me. Then it occurred to me to add the Worm to this post. Ah, sweet perfection. You've done it again Demarais.

APRIL OF FOOLS: BROKEN GLASS

2009-04-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

The Window Smashers are a set of four pieces of sheet metal that sound surprisingly similar to shattering glass when dropped.

The Cracked TV Tube is a decal that looks nothing like a crack in a TV tube.

Don't trust the floating pixie head, as it will lead you astray half of the time.

APRIL OF FOOLS: BLACK EYE TUBE

2009-04-18T00:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a great way to hinder promiscuity before it even has a chance to develop. Just leave this tube out where a curious young man will find it. The tube says...

"Photo view of artists models. For men only. For best view hold close to the eye and revolve slowly."

Wait for the guilty pleasure-seeker to come along and really stain up his eye socket. When the moment is right, go ahead and emerge from your hiding place as you loudly inquire "What are you trying to see, huh?" (It's even more effective if the boy's mother is in tow.) For best results bring in a young girl (as seen in photo) to reveal to the victim that he's dirtied his face (not to mention his heart). Congratulations, you've just made a public shaming! The effect will last for decades. Even as an adult this fellow will grow uneasy during Three's Company reruns.

APRIL OF FOOLS: SNEEZING POWDER

2009-04-17T00:00:00.002-05:00

Harmless Fun! Well, yes and no. If we're talking about the original sneezing powder, the stuff that was sold up through the 1940s, then we should call it by its real name– dianisidine chlorosulphonate. This substance was adopted by the Germans in WWI as a chemical weapon. They poured it into shrapnel shells and fired it at the French, but its use was discontinued because "it has only limited ability to create casualties on the battlefield..." (quoting Chemical and Biological Warfare by Eric Croddy)

When you think about it purely from a pranksters perspective, it's almost a shame that the government banned dianisidine. It's been reported that a tiny dose of early sneezing powder was capable of causing an entire room full of people to have a mass sneezing fit. It's no wonder the product was key in launching the entire industry of commercial pranks.

These days sneezing powder is merely finely ground pepper. I guess the phrase "Harmful Fun!" just doesn't move product as well.

APRIL OF FOOLS: JUMPING CANDY

2009-04-16T00:00:00.004-05:00

Are you a portly bald man who's fed up with the office tease? Let's face it, you don't stand a chance with her. So why not return a portion of the suffering that this insensitive broad has caused, all while earning the esteem of others at her expense? Don't worry, the act will be entirely socially acceptable– celebrated even.

The moment that piece of "candy" leaps from her sweaty paws maybe she'll finally begin to understand what it's like to have a tempting delight dangled before you, only to watch it spring out of your grasp right when you think it's yours for the savoring. And as the roar of laughter fills the room, and as your victim begins to shrink, you can take a step back with a grin and whisper to yourself "All of this is my doing."

"Can be used over and over." Perfect. Because there are so many others who require the same lesson. And you are just the man to teach it. Have fun!