Artist Series: Post #2 Alex Pardee

Alex Pardee

Artist look series #2 has arrived! (I know, you just couldn't wait) Today's post is about none other than Mr. Alex Pardee. One of my all time favourite artists.

Hard to believe he's an all time fav considering I have only known about his work for maybe 3 years, but that's how fast he grows on you. He's like a virus, but not the itchy kind.

What I love about Pardee is his self-proclaimed influences include 1980s horror movies, pop art, and graffiti. Artistically, he adored The Garbage Pail Kids, The Maxx, Spawn and Tales from the Crypt. Basically he loves everything I loved growing up, so I guess I feel a kind of kinship with him and his work.

So here's a little info about him:
Alex Pardee (born February 5, 1976) is a freelance artist, apparel designer, and a writer (which by the way, he writes the most entertaining blog I have ever read. I look forward to his posts constantly) born in California, USA who is best known for illustrating The Used's album artwork. He has also done works for Hurley International, Twenty Twenty Skateboards, Bay Area rapper TopR, Upper Playground, Street Drum Corps, Aiden, Kid Robot, and lately the cover of In Flames's ninth studio album, A Sense of Purpose, and its first single, entitled "The Mirror's Truth". He is a member of the groups Cardboard City and Zerofriends. He runs the website EyeSuck Ink which includes links to his blog and store. Through his art he has admitted to overcoming depression and anxiety disorders along with emotional struggles. He uses pens, ink, watercolors,dye, and is trying to use more acrylics, oils, and latex. Pardee has recently finished working on his short, but amazing motion picture "Chadam" as well as various art shows and products. Pardee released his first official art book, titled Awful Homesick in October 2008. Recently he has started to donate his proceeds to needy charities, including Purple Heart and To Write Love on Her Arms. He also designed the artwork for Zack Snyder's movie, Sucker Punch which was introduced this July at Comic Con in San Diego.

Of Course trying to find a Bio or an artist statement on Pardee is next to impossible. But I did manage to find a "not-so-self-written" bio on his My Space page which gives you an example of just how entertaining his writing can be:

I'm a freelance illustrator, apparel designer, writer, and i do some other artsy stuffs, which includes loving movies. I have a HUGE pancreas. I like back pain. I draw. And kiss. And eat. All at the same time. I like you. Unless your name is Simon Birch. In that case, you are a frog. If i am not creating, i will die. here is my "official" bio, which just means its a bunch of stuff about me that sounds weird cuz even though i didn't write it, i am posting it here, and it seems like it is in the third person, but check it out anyway. i contemplated changing all of the "alex pardee"s to "me" or "my" but then it sounded even more pretentious. ps. i love LOST, late 80's horror movies and soundtracks to extreme sports movies like Rad and Bloodsport more than i love you, but there is still room in my heart for you. I promise.

BIO: "Alex Pardee’s unique style is one conceived through watching years of horror movies, writing graffiti, and listening to gangster rap. His work best represents that of a circus sideshow cemetery. Final pieces are often brought to life by translating random shapes and colors into signs of torment and absurdity. By juxtaposing these two conflicting moods, Alex makes his works more personal to his viewers, forcing them to project their own feelings and emotions onto each character in his twisted universe. After months of hospitalization and many futile attempts at seeking out professional help, Alex finally overcame his battle with severe depression and anxiety through his own form of therapy: art. His love for drawing and painting spawned from his fascination with the grotesque images of Garbage Pail Kids and Tales from the Crypt comics. For years Alex used sketch drawing and graffiti as an emotional outlet. He started photocopying collections of his sketches and scattering them around the Bay Area. He began placing his homemade books between the pages of tattoo and porn magazines, in clinic waiting rooms, and in public bathrooms.

With the help of street canvas and Kinkos, Alex was able to overcome his emotional setbacks and move forward in the world of artistic expression. In 1999 Alex was convinced by other artists to reprint his books professionally. He began working long shifts at a local toy store to finance this reprinting, and later that year My Book of Colors was released. Since the release Alex has devoted every minute of his life to creating an entire universe of characters and monsters. In the past five years he has continued to release books like The Secrets of Hollywood and the popular Bunnywith series. The comics have spawned an entire plush line, calendars, and art exhibitions. Alex Pardee’s devotion to his art has gained the attention of Warner Bros., Reprise Records, Freeze Management, Hurley International, KidRobot, Twenty Twenty Skateboards, and more. In 2004 he was tapped by the gold-selling rock group The Used to design the artwork for their album, In Love and Death. Alex’s designs were not only applied to record, but also the band’s merchandise, Website, marketing campaign, and the music video for the single “All That I’ve Got.”

More recently, Alex Has been working with Def Jux recording artist CAGE, as well as STREET DRUM CORPS, TOP-R, EL-P, and high-fashion designer Dr. Romanelli. In addition to demeaning celebrities, Alex continues to use his art as a means of self-medication, creating emotionally charged images on canvases, sketchbooks, and any other surfaces he can cover with his bizarre characters. to see more of his work go to http://www.eyesuckink.com/

I also recommend checking out his wonderful series "Chadam" found here: http://www.thewb.com/shows/chadam

You like what you see? Check out his My Space page (yeah he is on Facebook, but he barely updates that) to see more video's, live sketching, crazy commercials he's directed, and more artwork. http://www.myspace.com/alexpardee