Lost In Hollywood Billboards
Who's bedroom wasn't full of posters stuck to the walls?
A select number of pieces from the very first 2016 'Lost in Hollywood' collection have been re-imagined and transformed into highly authentic, vintage billboard posters with a level of detail and production quality that is unparalleled.
BALBOA (Rocky) - Billboard Limited Edition
£995.00
- ‘BALBOA’ was my first piece where I work with smoke detail to create a silhouetted character and I am so pleased by the results. Rather than the static and stark silhouettes that are typical I have strived to inject movement and depth into mine through using the smoke textures. I love how it flows, expanding and contracting to take the shape of the body.
The image of Rocky is so incredibly iconic and exists in so many variants, so I was keen on going at this in a different way. Through using the smoke-like textures to create the body it gives off this wonderful ghost-like quality that is perfect for my ‘Lost In Hollywood’ series where we consider the characters from the film that are left behind once the filming stops and the lights go out.
The USA flag has been depicted within the body through the red, white, and blue and the stars whilst hints of the cityscape form the background. I wanted to do something that was gritty where the smoke represents the downtown Philadelphia element whilst in contrast the stars and lighting signify the bright lights of the arena and the fame that Rocky found.
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- Released: 2021
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood Billboards
- Edition Size: 10 + 2AP
- Specification:
- Hand embellished
- Floated poster and double mount
- Custom spray-painted frame
- Sticker decals
- Hand signed by artist
- Image Size: 24” x 32"
- Framed Size (Approx): 30.25” x 38.5”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
I Hope (The Shawshank Redemption) - Billboard Limited Edition
£995.00
- This piece is ultimately a gritty prison cell scene from within Shawshank State Penitentiary that features a good number of references to the movie plot which is dominated by the escape element but where this has been adapted to represent a more conceptual message that reaches out to a greater audience than just those who love the film itself.
Shawshank Redemption is such a powerful film, not just aesthetically but one that conveys such an enduring power of hope, perfect for my work and the message that I look to portray as often as possible. I have set about creating a scene that is at first study an engaging take on the plot, a window into Andy’s cell but through modifying the tunnel element to the piece it exposes a greater depth.
The tunnel is shallower yet no less dramatic, almost window-like. I have set the view through this window to show the iconic shoreline scene of Zihuatanejo - Mexico. This creates a more direct and blatant vision of where Andy hopes to be one day once free. To reinforce this, I have chosen to indicate that the hole in the wall was covered in fact by a simple picture of the same scene rather than of the poster from the movie that is torn down by the Governor. This creates a different take on the original narrative whilst more importantly reaches out to so many of us that have innocent aspirations, hopes and dreams.
The beach view could mean leaving their worries and their fears behind and creating a new life for themselves or it could simply represent a holiday. Both are of equal importance as a something deemed simpler could represent a much, much bigger challenge through restrictions such as money or other restrictive factors. Andy hoped to walk the sands of that beach from being wrongly incarcerated for close to 20 years and subjected to a terrifying ordeal, to another person it could represent their hope of one day being able to travel after being set free from the shackles of debt, cast over them from someone else’s doing, both represent good being restricted and caged, birds aren’t meant to be caged.
The image through the wall represents something different to everyone who has hope and fights to keep hold of it. Most often a task that appears huge and impenetrable can be chipped away at through time with something simple. The fact that the breakthrough was made with a tiny hammer is why I have placed the tool in the foreground, supporting its importance but reinforcing its size. On all levels it showcases the call to those have been dealt a bad card in life to not just accept it, to establish a way to win and to be free and to achieve ones’ dreams rather than giving up and accepting, to get busy living or get busy dying. The objects placed within the scene are a mix of actual objects that those who know and love the classic movie will recognise and some less obvious, more conceptual details that make you think.
Good has flown away, illustrated by the dove feathers whilst the bad remains only to look out in isolation, symbolised by the solitary black crow that is featured to represent the corrupt Governor who is left to peer through the hole in defeat. The browned falling oak leaves symbolise time escaping for Andy’s friend Red to gain freedom and set out to find what Andy had buried under that solitary oak tree. Andy was a lover of Chess, his time in prison and his plot to escape were a tactical battle, culminating in a masterstroke by the ‘Pawn’ in defeating the ‘King’, this is depicted subtly within the scene.
The other details I will leave for you to find and consider. I genuinely loved watching the Shawshank Redemption years ago, albeit back then more on face value, now, with way more life experience I embrace absolutely everything that it stands for and I hope that I have done justice to a true masterpiece.
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
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- Released: 2021
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood Billboards
- Edition Size: 10 + 2AP
- Specification:
- Hand embellished
- Floated poster and double mount
- Custom spray-painted frame
- Sticker decals
- Hand signed by artist
- Image Size: 32” x 24"
- Framed Size (Approx): 38.5” x 30.25”
-
- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
I’ll Be Right Here (E.T) Colourful Language - Billboard Limited Edition
£995.00
- This is such a brilliant film and a big part of my childhood and I have loved re-connecting with it to create my take on the Spielberg classic. I haven’t tried to change the narrative but simply put my stamp on it and make changes to key props that could so easily have happened simply by different bikes being available for example. The bond between E.T and Elliott was beautiful, god that thing was ugly but really easy to bond to, the fact that the boy had a broken family made it really special and the lovely line from E.T to Elliott promising ‘I’ll be right here’ had to be the title of the piece as it evokes that ‘no matter what’ quality, an unbreakable bond even if he did wobble off into a huge bloody space ship!
The film is 100% great throughout but for me the scene for this piece has to centre around the forest and the point where the bikers head to and the spaceship lands within the trees. I loved the lighting so felt right to embrace this with how I introduce light and ambience into my works. What I have done is to create a scene where it is up to you what is happening, where are the 5 boys that have left their bikes against the trees, is that spaceship landing or taking off? That is made even more poignant when you notice the orange glow from E.T that shines through the darkness, is he about to leave? Has he returned, is he choosing to evade not only those that chase him but the ship also? When you notice that he is there I would hope that it makes the piece even more enchanting and special.
I loved my Raleigh Grifter as a kid in the 80s, there seemed to be so many iconic bikes back then and I’ve chosen to embrace that with choosing a mix of great bikes that make up the 5 from the chase as they head to the forest with E.T swaddled in the basket. Elliott’s bike is at the front of the picture, with his name being a decal on the frame. Each bike is touched by magic that radiates from the ship which caused them to fly, a blue glow to mimic that in the film. Choosing a darkening forest, I wanted to create a rich ambience with car lights, torch lights as well as the presence of the ship and the glow that radiates from it, creating an ethereal quality so everything included made sense and had a purpose. I wanted to play on that sense of urgency and the chase, the desperation to evade those who want to undo the good and break that bond. The fact they were being chased and the fear the boys had is amplified within the forest whilst on the flip side it offers protection from the search lights both from the torches and the ship. I have left it open for you to decide what’s happening.
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- Released: 2021
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood Billboards
- Edition Size: 10 + 2AP
- Specification:
- Hand embellished
- Floated poster and double mount
- Custom spray-painted frame
- Sticker decals
- Hand signed by artist
- Image Size: 32” x 24"
- Framed Size (Approx): 38.5” x 30.25”
-
- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
Why’d It Have To Be Snakes? (Indiana Jones) - Billboard Limited Edition
£995.00
- This piece has a three-fold narrative to it and was created to embrace everything that is great about the Indiana Jones films, the colour ways of the piece are there to reflect the movie branding as well as to help create a striking image on first look. Ultimately, the concept of this piece is to create a scene completely from scratch that epitomises the atmospheric scenes from the films, in this case a temple that opens to reveal a staircase that leads up to a landscape and scenario that we can’t quite see and isn’t clear as to whether what awaits is a beautiful sunset or an environment that burns. I wanted to create a sense of suspense, intrigue, and drama where you would be wary of what lies ahead, could the huge stone heads come to life, what hides within the twisted roots and is the sky actually on fire? The scene showcases a good number of iconic film references, some clearer than others, Indiana’s’ sword, hat and whip, his pistol are all there along with the golden idol, cherub from the Ark and the odd skull!
The secondary layer of narrative embraces the roll of good vs evil that plays out in so many of my pieces, beautiful lighting combines with black smoke and eerie shadows. The steps are key here, they represent the journey that one must make to overcome constraints and conquer their challenges and face their fears to reach that next stage. There is a sense of urgency in the piece, represented in the foreground where the ground is starting to fall away, exposing skeletons of the past. The journey is blocked by the snake to represent a significant obstacle that is there to stop you climbing up. The title of the piece was chosen to represent that acknowledgement that you need and want to start your journey but accept that your personal fears exist and will be there to confront and test you. The steps are flanked by candles, the left are all lit and there to guide your every step, the right are all blown out, signifying darkness, although 1 solitary flame burns there - representing the hope to see some good in the darkest of souls. The decision to move upwards and overcome the darkness has already started and is shown in the scene with the dove in flight watched by the solitary crow and the serpent. What lays ahead is unknown at this point.
Finally, the third layer is one that you might see straight off or go searching for clues (Archaeology) to clarify the inclusion of certain objects. What I have done is to create the composition of the scene so that it looks like you are watching the scene unfold from the front row of a movie theatre and that you’re so immersed in the movie that it becomes real, drawing you in to live the scene. The idea here is that it reaches out to people who find themselves in that position where they need to make changes for the better and set foot on that step. This movie concept is why there is a discarded drinks cup and popcorn within the scene, I wanted to add this layer so that it becomes a subtle nicety that evolves the piece from simply a cool landscape-based piece.
There are a lot of references within the piece and will leave you to find them, I had to place Indiana’s’ hat at the focal point of the piece, it would be wrong not to and with it teetering on the edge of falling only to be held by the weight of the pistol it adds to the drama and is an acknowledgement of when he comes so close to losing his hat, grabbing it at the last minute. Ultimately, I have striven to create something that challenged me technically and that is immersive and intriguing that will be embraced by fans of the movies and is as deep you want it to be.
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- Released: 2021
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood Billboards
- Edition Size: 10 + 2AP
- Specification:
- Hand embellished
- Floated poster and double mount
- Custom spray-painted frame
- Sticker decals
- Hand signed by artist
- Image Size: 24” x 32"
- Framed Size (Approx): 30.25” x 38.5”
-
- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.