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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.