This is one of my top favourite drawings of all time!
My first description of this artwork was:
“THIS IS INCREDIBLE HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK HOLY SHIT”
It’s a fake poster depicting an imaginary musical performance featuring Mel. His whole name is spelt at the top as Mel O’Dion, and there’s also a subtitle under the title which reads “THE LIVING INSTRUMENT MIRACLE!”, implying that Mel is some sort of unnatural sentient instrument being that is going to perform something.
There’s also a bottom subtitle reading “LIVE PERFORMANCE TICKETS ARE VERY LIMITED”, implying that the show is very popular and exclusive, and already mostly sold out prior to the printing of the poster.
The location is also fictional, and set inside the universe of my characters, especially the metropolis Dogean Capital of Doge. Doge’s Palace in that world isn’t a landmark, but likely an events hall in that city.
Mel is drawn in a very funky pose, which almost looks as if he is in motion on top of a waving piano keyboard ribbon. He is also clothed, which shows that he is intentionally clothed for a show.
I liked this poster so much that I printed a small version of it on my workplace’s printer and pinned it on the corkboard next to my desk for it to inspire encouragement and hope in me, as seen here:
Facts about this piece
- The pose in the poster is inspired by one of the posters for the 1989 movie Great Balls Of Fire!, which showed Jerry Lee Lewis, piano man, keyrolling on a large piano keyboard.
- Doge’s Palace in real life is nothing like the fictional events hall mentioned in the drawing. It’s a palace in Venice that once belonged to the Doge of Venice in the 15th century.
- The colour palette used for this poster is directly inspired by 70s kitch. Mustard, orange and brown were the most memorable colours of the century worldwide, especially in America.
- The fonts used in the poster are also 70s-inspired.
- The design of the poster has been peer-checked by a real person who lived in the 70s, and has been confirmed to accurately represent the aesthetics of the era!