Technicolor Motor Home Rock Art Poster

My latest project has been creating a gig poster for the Steely Dan Tribute Band called 'Technicolor Motor Home.'  My goal for putting together this poster was to recreate the feel of the psychedelic rock art posters of the sixties and seventies. I actually plan on doing a few different band designs in this style, since I had so much fun playing! This colorful genre of psychedelic artwork was influenced by the artists of the San Francisco era such as Wes Wilson,  Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, Rick Griffin, Victor Moscoso, and Bonnie MacLean. They were famous for designing many of the rock posters that advertised the Bill Graham events at the Filmore, and the Family Dog concerts at the Avalon Ballroom. These artists and others, opened the door visually to a new way of expressing the 'feel of a band or musician' through their art, and some went on to make album cover art as well. They are also credited with having a hand in giving birth to the San Francisco Haight Ashbury hippie scene through presenting musical events, happenings, and their wonderful engaging artwork. Some of these same artists are still painting today, and I recommend you check them out, and see what they are up to. If you want to purchase your own authentic rock art poster from those days gone by, go online to 'Wolfgang's Vault,' which sells posters from that era. This company owns many of the original negatives and plates of the psychedelic originals, and they also have the largest collection of vintage and retro memorabilia. You could peruse this website just to view their historic poster collection.

As a young high school girl I wanted to create album cover art when I grew up! Alas, the music world turned to teeny tiny CD art. That is just not the same glorious album space everyone looked forward to viewing, reading, and enjoying before CD's. As a designer and artist I really appreciated the beauty of the poster and album art of my past. In eighth grade I remember attempting to paint on my junior high school glass entrance panels, a tall Peter Max starry scene. Being my first attempt at public art, I had no idea how to paint on glass properly, and made a big mess of it! Geez now that I think about it, I sure wish I still had the Peter Max posters I plastered in the basement of my youth. These days Ben and I have framed many old album covers as works of art, and have them hanging around in a semi-secret area we call our "Hippie Room." Now that I've mentioned that room, I suppose I will have to do a blog post about that mysterious room too.

Some common elements I tried to evoke on my digital rock art painting are the stretched out type, happy-fun bright colors, and images not necessarily of band members. Often the poster artists used vintage images, influenced by Art Nouveau or Art Deco posters, and these were applied in their collage or paintings instead of the expected photo of the musician. The same pre-raphaelite face from a John Everett Millais painting called 'The Bridesmaid,' that I manipulated previously in the 'Babylon Sisters tribute artwork' was also placed on this new design, because I felt she recreated the woman of the 60's, 70's era perfectly. The heart and soul feeling I wanted on this poster, was the inner light of peace that prevailed during the sixties, represented by the gorgeous dove from the Graphic Fairy's archives, which is one of my favorite images from Karen. I like to call this beautiful contemplative feminine image of the woman, my 'Lady Of Peace,' for along with the dove, she holds a tiny peace sign in her hands.

I made two versions of the poster, so the band could use one to do what the rock poster is meant to do...advertise an upcoming gig. There is a space at the bottom to fill in the show and date. The show we are celebrating at the moment is in Annapolis Maryland, at 'Rams Head Onstage', which is an intimate 300 seat venue with great acoustics that is utilized by many national acts. It is exciting to see 'Technicolor Motor Home' play in such a comfortable venue with reserved seating at tables with waiter service. 

 
'Technicolor Motor Home' has been voted the best tribute band in the Baltimore area! A superb ten-piece ensemble, including back up singers and a horn section, these musicians are dedicated to presenting the jazz influenced rock music of the legendary group Steely Dan. With ten members in this fabulous band, it is hard to schedule everyone for show dates, so get out to see them when they play, because it is a true treat! I have no doubt my exceptional hubby Ben Sherman will be wailing on lead guitar!

Ben went to the local 'Office Depot' to have color copies made of both poster designs, so I could check out the color reproduction. Each time there was a different person running the printing equipment, so the intensity of the inks are different, but I loved the pair of brilliant color results anyway. Since I own the original file, the band and myself, can get copies made locally in this manner. For anyone else that is interested in having one of these 'Technicolor Motor Home' posters, I put them in one of our Zazzle stores online. The price is cheap, and they have always done a good job of printing for us on our previous purchases. Both versions of the new poster, along with other new merch/swag, are available in the Shermanator Gear Store and in the Technicolor Motor Home Shop.

So speaking of swaaaaggggg... Here are some everyday items I had fun applying different versions of this new design on. I adjusted the poster look for the tee shirts especially, because I have never been a fan of a big square box on t-shirt fronts. If you want some unique coolness just check out these new items in our store at Shermanator Gear! 

This men's yellow t-shirt shown above really says 'Summer Of Love' to me! The t-shirt design below is shown on a dark color top which makes the colors really pop! 

There are other products available too, as in travel mugs, laptop skins, large flexible fridge magnets, key chains, mouse-pads, plus numerous electronic accessories.

Great weather is here! Those big shows, and festivals of summer, are coming up! Get prepared to rock, and enjoy your Summer of Love! And be sure to get out to see Technicolor Motor Home to enjoy some great live music! Peace and Love to you all! From a very bohemian Painting Queen.

UPDATE: We had some problems getting Zazzle to print some items. So any design here that had said 'Steely Dan Tribute Band' now will say 'Baltimore's Best Tribute Band Live', or not have the words 'Steely Dan' at all. Funny "Technicolor Motor Home" has been on the same bill twice with Jon Herington from Steely Dan, and he did not have a problem with TMH saying they were a 'Steely Dan Tribute Band'. Anyway I went in and changed every single product in the TMH Zazzle store. Geesh! That's shobiz.



Poster Art - Crystal Visions Art
Credit: Dove image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy
Merchandise - available at Shermanator Gear
Band - Technicolor Motor Home

'Technicolor Motor Home' Gets Baltimores Best Tribute Band Award !!!

It just hit the news stands people! We are very excited!!!! 

Baltimore Magazine just selected "Technicolor Motor Home" 

as the 'Best Tribute Band In Baltimore!' How cool is that!!???!!!

Here is what they said in Baltimore Magazine: 
"For years Steely Dan did not tour because their songs were too darn difficult to replicate on stage. And when they did tour, they had something of an orchestra in tow. So it was surprising to learn that a local group was tackling such elegant and beloved pop music. 

Led by 'Crack the Sky's' keyboardist Glenn Workman, the band not only plays selections from every Steely Dan album, it does so with the necessary precision and passion, horns and back up singers included. TMH proves you can buy a thrill - just check out one of their shows."

It is all true! Everyone raves about TMH where ever they play! If you live in The greater Baltimore area be sure to check out the TMH website and join their facebook page. Next year is going to be big! The fearless leader Glenn Workman on keyboards, is the man to contact about booking Technicolor Motor Home. 

The dynamic duo of Ben Sherman and Bryan Ewald on guitar will satisfy your rock n roll cravings. The always spectacular killer horn section of Dave Makowiecki, Jim McFalls, and Barry Caudill rocks.

Oh Yeah we've got to have the wicked drums of Mark St. Pierre !!!

And of course you need the cool tones of the TMH back up singers Meg Murray and Kelly Butcher, along with Bass player Anthony Setola.

Congratulations everyone in Technicolor Motor Home 

for your pursuit of musical excellence landing you such an honor!

Okay! Now that you know about the best...it's time to look your best 

at the next Technicolor Motor Home performance! 

 

We've got lead guitarist for 'Technicolor Motor Home,' Ben Sherman, modeling some sweet TMH schhhwagggg. Along with the two different TMH t-shirts he is wearing in the photos above, there are other designs and products available for TMH at Shermanator Gear. 

I have more designs and artwork to come, as I want to explore doing some more designs in the 60's 70's psychedelia style. Trippy Hippie! 

For more information, photos, and videos of Technicolor Motor Home, along with one of my TMH inspired digital creations, check out my previous post about Technicolor Motor Home here.

(Isn't the hubby adorable!*)(*sigh*)

Getting Wiggy With It... At Honfest

We've got your 'Hons'... and they're right here in Bawlmer Merlin Hon!  There is a fantabulous phenom in Baltimore called 'The Hon'...  

She was made famous by Baltimore film maker John Waters in movies like "Pink Flamingos," "Polyester," and the original movie and eventual Broadway hit "Hairspray." Hon is short for the term of endearment 'Honey." Which is what I usually call my own hubby... as in "Hey Hon, whatcha doin' Hon!" 

The fab 'Hons' we are talking about here are the big bold B'more ladies with mile high beehives and a big helping of friendly sass.  

The more gaudy and covered in baubles n' baggage, well...the better for shopping and walking 'downy avenue' in Hamden Hon! Must be where Marge Simpson got her good looks. 

If you get the feeling that the Hon is a very revered woman in Bawlmer you may be correct. For the Bawlmer Hon is celebrated every year at the Honfest in kitschy hot pink flamingo style!  The Baltimore neighborhood of Hamden becomes a colorful streetfest full of those loveable tacky trashy 'Hons!' Everyone is invited to join in the fun!

 
This is one of the most wacky wonderful festivals you could ever attend! If you are a people watcher, this is surely hot pink n' purple paradise for you! Smiles fill the air...as well as pink flamingos!

The Honfest was started by Denise Whiting owner of the 'Cafe Hon' because the annual contest for the 'Best Baltimore Hon' at her restaurant became so gosh darn popular!  Below is the iconic fixture of Hamden's 'Cafe Hon'... "Big Pink!" You gotta love it!!!

The 'Cafe Hon' is a mecca for Hon lovers. In business for 18 years 
I think they know their Hons! So you can go learn more at the Cafe Hon web site which is chock full of info... on... well...Hon-ness!
 

You will find Hons both young and old dressing in this fab gear garb. The look is: colorful sixties, some sparkle, some trash, some blue eye shadow, a tower of hair well encrusted with hairspray, and a mad dash of Elvis for retro snazz. So join in and get wiggy with it!

If you need help getting your 'do' piled high, they got you covered in the foo-foo gorgeous 'Glamour Lounge' right on the avenue Hon! Relax on the sofa, and be one with the Hon you know you are!
 

This funky festival has lots-o-foodie treats, live bands, and Hot Hon glam supplies for your inner child's dress-up-pleasure. The contest for the 'Best Baltimore Hon' is still a highlight of this weekend event and here is this years reigning Queen! Isn't she lovely?

 
One thing you need to do before you come to the Honfest is to learn some Bawlmerese. Then you will understand the locals and street signs like the one below. Oh and that's Denise on the nifty sign with her pal big 'E.' They are keepin' it real and tellen' ya where to go!

Let's check in with the magic of this Honfest video just to learn a few more tips about looking 'bootiful' gals! You know you are going to have fun while you stroll 'downy avenue' in your hot pink feather boa and cats eye shades! Because "youz is lookin real purdy now Hon!"

Oh there is my hubby with our pink smoothies getting flocked! 

Aowyn was out wandering amongst the flamingo's too, and was a bit startled by the pink plastic goodness. She was not quite sure if the pretty in pink birds of this Flamingo Land were real or not!

'Hectic Red'... the absolute best Baltimore Classic Rock Band were at the Honfest! Whoo Hoo! Does not get any better than this Hon!

Everyone of all ages loves classic rock...even Hons! Take a listen to Hectic Red Live on this video and you will see why I have been a fan of those Bawlmer boys for 23 years!

There's the hubby again... the fantabulously talented Ben Sherman doing his amazing guitar thing! Yes... he is the man and my King! 
Am I lucky or whatttttttt??!!!

The Honfest Volunteers were rockin' to Hectic Red and giving them the thumbs up! Everyone young and old is dancing and moving!

Rich Filbert enjoying the energy of the Honfest crowd!

Hons were observed gathering near the big red machine!

Danny Grim was giving a shout out to the Hons, and suddenly there was a rainstorm in the middle of the Hectic Red show. The crowd came back from their shelters fifteen minutes later to sunshine and more great classic rock! Everybody is happy and dancing with joy!

To open the rain delay second half, the Hectic Red guys sang their own tribute to the Bawlmer Hon. They tickled the crowd with Bawlmerese accents to the very appropriate song by Queen, "Fat Bottom girls." (Sound is distorted by the fan's cell phone being next to the speaker stack...view the You Tube of that moment here.)
 

John Suchy wearing the Hon pink and wowing everyone with his keyboards, guitar and vocals.

At the end of the evening the crowd began chanting and flickin' their bics requesting an encore please!...and another!

Two encores were enticed by the Honfest crowd and Hectic Red gladly filled the requests. So everyone left into the sunset of the evening at Roosevelt Park and 36th Street in Hamden quite happy Hon!

I got in on some Hon action to celebrate the Baltimore Hon, and designed a line of clothing and merchandise for the Hectic Red store at Shermanator Gear 2. Now you can go get your Hon on too!

This past weekend Hectic Red's gig had a Halloween contest included. As synchronicity would have it, the winner was a little one who had asked her mommy to buy her a Hon wig while at this years Honfest. That beehive wig was almost as tall as she was! Her purse is made from labels of the local brew 'National Bohemian', which in Bawlmerese is called a "Natty Bo." Forget the Twilight crowd on Halloween...this girl was a Bawlmer stylin' Hon... and won!

 So ends this super pink Honfest post.... 
I hope you enjoyed your experience......... Hon!

Credits: Frames: Coffee Shop Blog's Vintage template pack from kpauli flicker, First Hectic Red Group Photo elements: Itkupilli - Test sheet items, Random Alpha - Deviant Scrap/Holliwood Studios