Mightyjoecastro.com

Post #1062 – Put us on MTV, all we really need….

// September 22nd, 2011 // No Comments » // art, design, music, posters

Sometime this past August, I was approached by the MTV World Design Studio in Buenos Aires to create a “gig-poster style” print ad for their 2011 European Music Awards, which will feature a live performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Now, as a late 80′s skate rat, I grew up on the Chili Peppers, picking up the Uplift Mofo Party Plan on cassette after watching them live via VHS at the Vision Skate Escape, and even though I haven’t really followed the group over the past few years, I was still stoked to work on something for the band.

MTV provided a specific reference photo for the illustration, as well as the EMA logo, a style guide and three specific colors that needed to be used (the pink, purple and dark purple that you see in the poster, which, as you might imagine, proved a little difficult to work with.)  After a few rounds of back and forth, what you see to your left is what we came up with.

Internally the folks at MTV Design dug it, but higher-ups in the company decided to go a totally different direction, preferring to use a photo of the soon-to-be-announced host instead.  A bummer for sure but what can you do.

So, instead of leaving this to languish in some digital graveyard, I decided to post it here for your enjoyment.  Like Kurtis Blow said, these are the breaks.

Post #1057 – My Friends, Atlas

// August 18th, 2011 // No Comments » // art, design, music

This Friday night, be sure to catch two of the better up and coming bands from Delaware, Atlas and My Friends, as they celebrate the release of their brand new, split EP (on glorious 12″ vinyl) at the Queen in Wilmington.

I was honored to be asked to design the record sleeve, which features the collage, In Adhesion on the cover. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s much more satisfying working on a 12 inch record, rather than a rinky-dinky CD jacket so I personally can’t wait to see the finished product. I’ve heard both sides, and they’re really good – you can check them out for yourself down below – but be sure to pick up a copy of the record as well, since these guys put a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money into this thing. Honestly, I was first approached about doing the artwork around this time last year, so these guys have been working on this for a few years now. As always, support good music.

Also playing that night are Troubled Hips (who I keep hearing nothing but great things about) and Easy Pyramids, so it should be a good night. The show started at 8:30 pm and is $7 at the door. Friday, August 19th at the World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE.

Copies of the EP will be avialable on this site shortly as well, once we get the new store up and running. Stay tuned true believers.

And on a side note, some of you might remember the Atlas track, Blue Lakes, from mighty joe castro podcast #2, Something to be proud of.

Post #1053 – Friday Morning

// July 22nd, 2011 // No Comments » // art, paintings

I recently finished a new painting, entitled Friday Morning.  This one is oil paint on board and measures 16″ x 16″. Purchasing inquiries, please contact me at mightyjoecastro@gmail.com

Post #1049 – So you guys wanna see a dead body?

// June 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // art, design, skateboarding

I recently designed a t-shirt for Kinetic and Switch skate shops in Delaware, to help raise money for the new 7th Street skate spot in Wilmington.  The tee is loosely based on the film Stand By Me, as an inside-joke to the way-out-of-the-way location of the new park – it’s basically a long walk down a deserted, overgrown road to an abandoned boat dock where the side walk ends.  Regardless though, the spot is heavily sessioned by the local kids 7 days a week and worth checking out – I-Path, Mystery and the Vans teams have all been through lately.

All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go toward pouring new concrete obstacles for the park.  You can pick one up at either Kinetic or Switch skate shops or, if you’re from out of town, you can now order them online as well. Thanks for the support.

And for all the cinephiles who will undoubtly cry out “…but Castro, it wasn’t Teddy Duchamp who said that line in the movie, it was the fat kid Vern. You’ve got it all wrong!” – well, yeah, I took a little artistic license here because it made a cooler shirt.  Plus you can never go wrong with one of the Cory’s, bro.

Post #1044 – Maya

// May 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // art, paintings

Recently finished a new painting – entitled Maya - a tribute to avant garde film maker Maya Deren. Oil on board. 18″ x 24″, complete April 2011. Available for purchase – shoot me an email if you are interested.

Post #1031 – The Way It Was

// February 18th, 2011 // No Comments » // art, music, press

About a year and a half ago, I got an email from an old friend, Michael Sanchez, asking if I’d like to work on an album cover for an upcoming EP by his band, The Way It Is.  Originally planned as a vinyl release for first quarter 2010, I was super stoked on the project since album art always looks better on a full size 12 inch record cover.  To make a long story short, the files went out and communication went silent so I assumed the project was shelved due to either lack of funds or a change of heart on the material by the very finicky musician.  Anyway, he’s finally made the EP available online – it’s called Music is My Boyfriend.  You can read a great review of it over at Ball of Wax, or listen to the thing yourself here.

Anyway, PhillyBroadcaster.com recently posted a nice little piece on last weekend’s opening at Fringe – click here for the collection of words and additional visual documentation.

And below’s a very cool video interview with former Stone Roses guitarist turned artist, John Squire, where he talks watercolor and describes some of his techiniques for creating art.  I’ve always loved this art and it just seems to keep progrssing.

Post #1030 – Playing on the Waves

// February 17th, 2011 // No Comments » // art

This is another recent collage, from December 2010, that was later used on a poster for the band Deerhoof.  It’s entitled Playing on the Waves.  Mixed media on paper and matted to 16″x20″.  Sold.

Post #1029 – In Adhesion

// February 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // art

I finished a couple of new collages especially for the show at Fringe, including this one – it’s entitled In Adhesion. Mixed media on paper and matted to 16″ x 20″. February 2011 and, for those interested, already sold. Hope you dig it.

Post #1023 – Lost Interview?

// January 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // art, interview, press

Sometime toward the end of 2009, I got an email from the folks over at Artprojekt requesting an interview for their blog, followed by 5 short questions. In all honesty, I took a few months before finally getting around to responding and, although I was told it would go live sometime last spring, it most likely just got lost in the shuffle. No big deal, no worries.  Anyway, I was cleaning off some old files from my hard drive and came across a copy of it and figured I might as well share it now. Enjoy.

Artist Proof: Joe Castro

What inspires your art?
Music mostly – not in the clichéd rock-n-roll all night way or anything – more just the mood it sets in a room. Vintage movie posters – that idea of expressing a whole story through one image.  Just sitting back and watching people – how they move, talk, interact and lie is generally inspiring as well.

What is the relationship between technique and content in your work?
Billy Bragg once sang “The temptation to take the precious things we have apart to see how they work must be resisted for they never fit together again.” I try and take that to heart.

Describe your first experience of making art and how it affected your life’s journey
My older brother was really into drawing comics – seeing what he drew was always inspiring.   I don’t know – there was never really a conscious decision made about it. It’s just something I always did.

Describe your most recent experience of making art.
Holed up alone in a small 8′ x 10′ detached playhouse that was originally built for the previous home owner’s three daughters. it’s snowing outside so the space heater is pumping full blast.  Tom Waits familiar growl is in the air and a fresh pot of coffee was just emptied into my awaiting mug. I’m putting paint to canvas and there’s not a clock on the wall.  it’s heaven, really.

Take us on a guided tour through a day in your life as an artist
I’m not gonna front – I spend most mornings watching “Live with Regis and Kelly”. It’s pretty much down hill from there.

Post #1020 – Radiant Children

// December 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // art, movies, music, Uncategorized

I finally had a chance to sit down and watch the new Basquiat documentary, A Radiant Child, and really, really enjoyed it.  Very well done and insightful – the bebop sound track was on point and the vibe of the whole thing just seemed really spot on.  And I liked how they tracked back to some of his influences, showing side-by-side comparisons – it gave a bit of understanding and depth to his work that I didn’t appreciate before. Inspiring and sad to say the least. Definitely check it out on Netflix.

I have two art pieces featured in the Fall 2010 issue of the Main Street Journal, so be sure to pick one up if you’re in Newark, Delaware anytime soon. It’s free.

And The Sky Drops just released their brand new single Explain It to Me, today via iTunes and  it’s really, really good.  A bit dirtier and covered in a blanket of warm fuzz, it’s got a great riff and a great sound - drop 99 cents and pick it up.  McD’s cant’ front on that value meal.